A commercial water filtration system is the food and beverage industry's secret to consistent quality regardless of the region where the product is created. Brewing coffee and preparing food takes skill to discover the perfect combination of ingredients, and using clean water ensures that these ingredients shine in the dishes or beverages they are used in. Because beverages are composed of mostly water, pure water provides a clean slate for the rest of the flavors to flourish. In this article, you can learn answers to common questions about commercial water filtration in the food and beverage industry.
Applications for commercial water filtration
Commercial water filtration systems treat water used in the food and beverage industry to allow the ingredients in products to shine. Unique flavor sets a brand apart in the food and beverage industry, and filtered water helps restaurants and coffee shops accomplish this goal. Consistency stems from water filtration suited to a business based on their location, water source, incoming water quality, and desired taste. The water flowing into the systems determines the extent of filtration and the type of commercial system needed.
Commercial water filtration systems are used in all of the following business applications:
- Coffee
- Espresso
- Tea
- Food preparation
- Steam equipment
- Ice machines
- Soda fountains
- Drinking water
In any business, treating water used for drinking or consuming is key to preventing illness in customers and to eliminating foul tastes and odors from the water. All municipal water treatment plants use chemical disinfectants that leave by-products in the water. When water travels through the pipes to your business, it collects sediment, debris, unwanted minerals, and other particulates along the way. A water filtration system removes anything from water that should not be there and sends fresh water to your commercial cooking and beverage appliances. To know which filtration system is best for you, conduct a water test and send it in for lab analysis to learn about the quality of your water.
1. Coffee and espresso water filtration
Water composes over 98% of a cup of coffee, so ensuring the water is as pure as possible is vital to maintaining the flavor of a professional cup of coffee. We often credit the beans for the taste of coffee, but they only makes up a fraction of the cup. You filter water for coffee and espresso to extract the maximum flavor and aroma from the beans. If the water used in your coffee or espresso machine contains the right amount of minerals and no contaminants, bad tastes, or odors, then it will enhance your coffee and tea beverages.
Target mineral range for coffee, tea, or espresso from the Specialty Association of America (SCAA):
- TDS: 75-250 mg/L
- Calcium hardness: 1- 5 grains or 17- 250 mg/L
- Total alkalinity: at or near 40 mg/L
- pH: 6.5- 7.5
- Sodium: at or near 10 mg/L
Learn more: 5 tips for coffee and espresso water filtration
Water filtration systems for coffee makers and espresso machines
Too much mineral in coffee and espresso reduces the quality of the beverage and damages equipment, but not having enough minerals creates a flat and dull taste. Total dissolved solids (TDS) ruin the flavor and aroma of your coffee and tea, but just the right amount of calcium and magnesium in water provides the perfect balance of richness. Both espresso and coffee need some minerals to extract the best flavor from the beans. Many filtration systems use phosphate to hold the hardness in solution and keep scale from forming in the brewing chamber.
Espresso and coffee are not made the same way, so water is filtered differently for coffee and espresso makers. Espresso is produced from hot water under high pressure flowing through a dense puck of ground espresso beans. Coffee is made through a slower brew where the water stays in contact with the grounds much longer.
The mineral content in water for espresso requires more specification than water for coffee or tea. Water used for espresso only has 20 to 25 seconds of contact with the grounds, which is not much time to let minerals soak in. Because extraction time is not as long, espresso filter systems contain softening resin to remove calcium deposits. Because coffee brews slowly, coffee filtration systems do not use softening resin. The water would absorb sodium produced by the softener that would alter the flavor of the beverage.
Learn more: Water filtration for coffee, tea, and espresso | A guide to commercial water filtration for coffee
2. Ice filtration
Without ice, there would be no iced coffee, ice-cold beverages, or drinks on the rocks. Despite ice being 100% water, water quality is not often considered when making it. Filtered water is the most important component in producing the best ice.
Water filtration systems for ice machines
Mineral content does not enhance ice as it does for coffee, tea, or espresso. Minerals and other contaminants in water make cloudy ice and prevent fizz in carbonated beverages from subsiding. Chlorine gives your ice a chemical flavor, and other contaminants make ice taste or smell dirty.
If your water is hard, treat it with a water softener or strip the water of most dissolved solids with a reverse osmosis system before making ice. Water filtration systems for ice production reduce chlorine and sediment that freeze in the ice and melt inside beverages. Using an ice filtration system controls scale, saving you from spending additional time and money on ice maker maintenance. An Ice Wand reduces bacterial growth and help keep your ice machine clean.
3. Soda fountain filtration
Consistent flavor in fountain beverages depends on the ratio of syrup to water, and consistently flavorful soda depends on filtered water. A combination of chlorine and sediment in water can make fountain beverages taste like slightly sweet and fizzy pool water. Coke, Pepsi, and other soda brands set standards for water filtration to make their carbonated beverages refreshing and unique. Coca-Cola requires restaurants that sell their products to remove foul tastes and odors, reduce chlorine, and remove particles to preserve flavors and protect consumers.
Water filtration systems for soda fountains
Water filtration systems for fountain beverages reduce chlorine and chloramines and reduce maintenance costs. Many food and beverage cartridges use phosphate to capture hardness minerals for flavor while preventing scale. Using phosphate in fountain beverage filtration, however, will kill carbonation and give you flat soda, but a fountain beverage filtration system will prevent dirt from clogging your soda fountain.
4. Steamer water filtration
Steamers turn water from a liquid to a gas. When water transitions to steam, very few elements pass on to the steam. Once the mineral content comes out of the solution, it clogs the equipment, so feeding a steamer with water that is already soft is key. Commercial steamers are often affected by scale and corrosion, which increases maintenance costs and ruins delicious recipes. The great taste of any recipe that calls for water could be tainted by minerals in the water.
Water filtration systems for steam equipment
Many steam applications use a water softener, a reverse osmosis system, or a scale-control cartridge to remove hardness minerals in water before use. As with any filter system, the extent of filtration depends on the water quality at your location. If your water has low mineral content, then carbon filtration will remove chlorine, chloramines, and sediment. Water filtration systems for commercial steamers or combi ovens remove corrosive salts and help extend the life of your equipment.
5. Combination water filtration systems
Combination filter systems combine multiple food and beverage systems into one. One combination system can filter water for drinking, ice, coffee, or steam. These systems can feed fresh water to your ice maker, espresso machine, and soda fountain even though they each have different water standards. The system sends water with phosphate scale control directly to your brewing machines and delivers the non-phosphate water to your soda fountain.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.