Water Mixing Calculator

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Calculate the exact amount of mineral concentrate or packets to add to distilled water for optimal coffee brewing. Target specific water profiles for different brewing methods.

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Brewing Method Recommendations

Water Requirements

How much brewing water do you need?
Specialty Coffee Association recommended water
x concentrate

Target Profile

TDS: 150 mg/L
Hardness: 75 mg/L
Alkalinity: 40 mg/L

Mixing Instructions

Concentrate Method

15000.0ml
Mineral Concentrate
-14000ml
Distilled Water
Mix 15000.0ml of 10x concentrate with -14000ml distilled water

Mineral Packet Method

1
Packet
1000ml
Water per Packet
Use 1 packet with 1000ml distilled water each

💧 Water Quality Tips

• Use distilled or RO water as base
• Mix thoroughly before brewing
• Store mixed water for up to 1 week
• Test with TDS meter if available

Water Profile Reference

ProfileTDSHardnessAlkalinityBest For
SCA Standard150 mg/L75 mg/L40 mg/LSpecialty Coffee Association recommended water
Third Wave Water135 mg/L85 mg/L45 mg/LPopular mineral packet profile
Light Roast Optimized130 mg/L60 mg/L30 mg/LLower minerals for brighter acidity
Dark Roast Optimized180 mg/L90 mg/L50 mg/LHigher minerals for body and sweetness
Espresso Water200 mg/L100 mg/L60 mg/LHigher mineral content for espresso extraction

Water Chemistry Tips

Higher TDS extracts more flavor but can overwhelm delicate notes
Lower alkalinity highlights acidity in light roasts
Moderate hardness provides body and mouthfeel
Espresso benefits from higher mineral content than filter coffee

How To Use This Tool

Brewing water changes extraction, clarity, and perceived acidity. This calculator helps you build repeatable water from distilled water and mineral concentrates instead of relying on inconsistent tap water.

Target SCA-style or roast-specific water profiles.
Calculate concentrate additions for any batch size.
Use custom mineral goals when you want to tune for a specific coffee.
  1. 1

    Set the total water volume you need

    Choose enough brewing water for a single session or for a larger prep batch.

  2. 2

    Pick a profile or enter custom mineral targets

    The profile determines how much concentrate or how many packets you should add.

  3. 3

    Mix carefully and label your batch

    Consistent labeling makes it much easier to compare how different water profiles affect the same coffee.

Common Questions

Click a question to expand the answer.

Why not just use tap water?

Some tap water is excellent, but mineral content can change by area or season. Mixing your own water gives you a stable baseline.

What do hardness and TDS do in coffee brewing?

They influence extraction, buffering, body, and flavor clarity. Different coffees can taste brighter, sweeter, or flatter depending on the mineral balance.

Do I need distilled water for this calculator?

That is the cleanest starting point because it removes unknown minerals. If you start with mineralized water, the final profile will be less predictable.

What water profile is best for light roasts?

Many brewers prefer lower-buffer, lower-hardness profiles for light roasts because they can preserve brightness and clarity, but the ideal profile still depends on the coffee.