What kind of water should I use?
To maintain the long-term health of your espresso
machine, use soft water with a low mineral content
(particularly low calcium). This can help to reduce scaling
inside the machine.
Search online for your local water quality report to find
the water pH and hardness versus softness. If you can’t
find that information, consider buying some water test
strips. The ideal pH is about 7.0.
We’ve seen many opinions about the right type of water
to use in the Decent Espresso machine. Here’s a short list
of what might work for you, depending on your region.
• Reverse Osmosis Water (RO)
• Bottled water, or fltered tap water
We recommend that you buy an inexpensive TDS meter
(Total Dissolved Solids). This meter can measure the
hardness of your water, which should be 120ppm or
lower to minimize scaling in your espresso machine.
A typical carbon filter does not reduce the hardness of
tap water. If your water measures over 120ppm,. you can:
• Install a water softener (a softener might not be
enough if your tap water is very hard)
• Install an RO filter (a safer solution, but it requires
multiple tools to install)
• Use bottled water.
• Use distilled water mixed with minerals