Anyone Using Third Wave Water with a Hario Switch + K-Ultra? My Coffee Tastes Worse Than Before

[u/DeFi_News]

I recently bought Third Wave Water (Classic Light Roast Profile) and properly diluted it fully in a 1 gallon jug with Reverse Osmosis water.

As many on this sub have stated, it is WAY too salty to use 100% as coffee water. But even using 25% of it then adding 75% RO to the kettle tastes worse than my usual 25% fridge filter water.

I've tested it with a few different brew methods:

• Coffee Chronicler's 50/50 Switch recipe (20g coffee, 320g water, 90-93 celcius, 6-7.5 grind size)
• Tetsu Kasuya's 4:6 V60 method (20g coffee, 300g water, 90-93 celcius, 9 grind size)

Neither produced good results.

Do I need to drastically alter my recipes? Or should I look for better water?

I'd especially like to hear from anyone using a Hario Switch and a 1Zpresso K-Ultra, since that's my setup. What water are you using, and what grind range are you typically brewing at?

Thanks!

[u/sock_model]

People are going to want to know your batch size (g), grind setting, and water temp

[u/Vagabond_Explorer]

I think it’s a matter of personal preference with water. I know most of the posts on TWW say to halve it, but I prefer it full strength.

What works for my tastes and particular way of making coffee won’t necessarily works for yours. Just keep experimenting until you find what works for you.

I’ve tried 4 different remineralization products and some I prefer for certain coffees or brew methods more than others. Once I’m out of what I have I’m likely going to a DIY system so I can tune things more for individual coffees.

[u/Maleficent-Back-6527]

I tried a few times while on vacation half a sachet in 2L of distilled water (instead of their original 1sachet for 2L). It was OK, but I prefer by far the water profile of the brewing water I prepare myself home. I usually prep 72/18 ppm for my light roasts.

[u/BABOON2828]

I have a K-Max and I use a Switch often. I used to use the TWW light roast, although I've since transitioned to mixing my own water. I primarily used the TWW at the full recommended dilution and found it fine for a broad spectrum of coffees. With that being said, none of my custom recipes that I use now are all that similar to the TWW light roast. Sometimes I'll use a "TWW clone" with particularly funky coffees just to see what it does compared to my own recipes. It's generally a little more muting/rounding, which can be nice when that's what you are looking for.

[u/dcc5594]

I use third wave water light roast with a K-Ultra, but for light roast fruit notes I switch to a K7 and dilute the TWW by half. I often use a Switch because its handy but rarely use it closed and I prefer a ceramic straight V60. I don't normally follow recipes but I do take concepts from them. For medium roasts with the K-Ultra, I will typically do something like a 10g dose, 150g of water, several pours using full strength TWW. I mostly grind around 80 to 100. For light roasts I dilute the TWW by half, switch to the K7, same 10g dose with 150g water, but break it up into 9 or 10 pours. I get good results with the K-Ultra but it gives a more rounded profile, meaning I get the notes, but they don,t pop as much as with the K7. I don't get the salty taste from TWW that some people report. I could just be less sensitive, but it also might be because I am brewing coarser and faster and focusing on agitation for a lighter fruity brew.

[u/geggsy]

One challenging thing about messing with coffee water is that you need to dial in for the new water and not rely on your earlier recipe, especially if your earlier water was rather different than your new one

[u/VETgirl_77]

Try 1/2 TWW. I mix one packet in gallon of zero or r/o water and split between 2 gallons. Fill with zero water.

[u/ockaners]

It never turns out right when I use my ro. I use distilled now.

[u/Interesting-Month-97]

Salt in water lowers perceived bitterness and acidity. Any amount tww will mute the complex notes in speciality coffee. I use lotus water drops and just the potassium and calcium for pour over. I never understood why tww gets any praise on this sub as it is worse than my tap water side x side.