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FAQ

Third Wave Water Basics

Who We Are:

Third Wave Water is company that helps coffee taste its best. We manufacture sticks of all-natural minerals that, when mixed with distilled water (or reverse osmosis water, Zero Water filter, etc), creates optimized water for brewing coffee.

Our Goal:

Our goal is to not only make sure your coffee taste its best, but protect your coffee equipment too. 

We improve the taste of your coffee by meeting industry standards for water for coffee, and protect your equipment by using permanent hardness and non-corrosive minerals. To  learn more about Third Wave Water and hardness, click here.

Why Minerals?

In order to extract the flavors from coffee, the oils from the grounds need something to grab onto, minerals. The right kind of minerals better accentuate flavors and reduce bitterness. As water is traveling through the coffee if there are no minerals in the water goes straight through and does not pull any flavor. Minerals are needed to properly extract the flavors as the roaster intended.

Third Wave Water is a mixture of the right minerals to create better water to help get the most out of the coffee being brewed. Better water for better coffee.

There are two main reasons as to why you should use Third Wave Water minerals for your coffee brewing: Flavor and Maintenance.

Flavor:

Each of Third Wave Water's six (6) profiles are designed to give you a much better tasting cup of coffee depending on the style or roast level you brew with. Our 3 Roast Level Profiles (Light Roast Profile, Medium Roast Profile, and Dark Roast Profile) are varied slightly in their makeup in order to give your preferred roast of coffee it's signature tastes without the bitterness!

Our Light Roast Profile, Medium Roast Profile, and Espresso Machine Profile also meet the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) standards for water for coffee for improved flavor.

Maintenance:

Each of Third Wave Water's 6 profiles are also made with your equipment's maintenance in mind. All of our profiles are equipped with only permanent hardness minerals, meaning they will not cause any limescale in your kettle, coffee maker, or espresso machine. Our Espresso Machine Profile also removes chlorides from the recipe, meaning it will prevent corrosion from damaging your machine's boiler.

No. 

Since Third Wave Water profiles do not contain any scale-causing minerals, you will not need to descale your coffee equipment (kettle, coffee maker, espresso machine, etc.). However, we do recommend following the recommended cleaning cycles for your equipment for best results!

Provide the answer to the question here.Ingredients:

Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Citrate, and Sodium Chloride

Details: 

The total dissolved solids (TDS) of this profile should be ~150 mg/L. ~40 mg/L Alkalinity (buffering from the citrate).

This profile will help you achieve the most out of your light roast coffee. It is ideal for drip coffee makers or manual brew methods! 

Medium Roast Profile:

Ingredients:

Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Citrate, and Potassium Bicarbonate

Details:

The TDS of this profile should be ~150 mg/L and ~80 mg/L Alkalinity. This profile is perfect if you brew with medium roast coffees with any brew method (espresso machine included!).

Dark Roast Profile:

Ingredients:

Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Citrate, and Sodium Bicarbonate 

Details:

TDS ~180 mg/L, and ~135-140 mg/L Alkalinity. This profile will help you get the most out of your dark roast coffee by reducing bitterness and emphasizing the darker tasting notes in your coffee. You can use this in any brew method, including your espresso machine.

Espresso Machine Profile:

Ingredients:

Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Citrate, and Potassium Bicarbonate

Details:

The TDS of this profile should be ~150 mg/L and ~80 mg/L Alkalinity. This profile is perfect if you use an espresso machine! You can also use this in any other brew method that you like to use.

Cold Brew Profile:

Ingredients:

Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potassium Bicarbonate.

Details:

This profile will help reduce acidity in cold brewed coffee, highlighting the caramel, chocolate, and nutty flavor characteristics often looked for in cold brews!

Low Acid Profile:

Ingredients:

Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Potassium Bicarbonate.

Details:

This profile will help reduce acidity of your coffee by up to 300%. This profile can be used with multiple sticks to enhance the effect. You can also use this profile with other forms of water (spring water, tap water, distilled water, etc.) an experience the same low acid benefits.

Making Third Wave Water is as simple as mix, shake, brew! Add one stick of your preferred TWW profile to the proper size container of water (1-gallon, 5-gallon, or 2-liter), shake it up, and you're ready to brew. More details below.

1. Add Third Wave water minerals to pure water (ZeroWater, distilled water or RO water)

* Note, RO water still contains dissolved solids, so does not give the perfect result.

2. Shake the water container for 10-15 seconds to effectively mix the minerals. Use agitation or time; the minerals will dissolve overnight with no mixing as long as the water is empty. Make sure all minerals are dissolved.

  • There is no need to refrigerate water after mixing. Simply store at room temperature and out of direct sunlight!

3. Pour the mixed water into your coffee brewer, espresso machine or kettle and brew your coffee.

Diluting your Third Wave Water minerals could come in handy for several reasons. Some like a less potent solution of minerals in their coffee brewing water to bring out different flavors in their brews.

The easiest way to achieve a diluted concentration is to add one (1) 2-liter stick of TWW to one gallon of pure water. Since one gallon is equal to about 3.8 liters, this results in a nearly perfect 50% concentration.

Another great way to dilute is to add individual 1-gallon sticks of TWW to a five gallon jug of pure water. This is more customizable in that you can add fewer or more sticks to the jug to achieve different levels of concentration.

Currently, we create 6 water profiles: Classic Light Roast Profile, Medium Roast Profile, Dark Roast Profile, Espresso Profile, Cold Brew Profile, and Low Acid Profile. Each profile comes in a variety of stick sizes (1 gallon, 5 gallon, or 2 liter), excl. the Low Acid Profile, which is currently only available in 1 gallon sizes. Here are the details of each profile:

Classic Light Roast Profile:

This water profile is recommended for traditional drip coffee brewers or any manual brewing method (AeroPress, Chemex, V60, etc.) providing brighter, cleaner flavors and higher acidity in light roast coffees. Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Citrate
  • Sodium Chloride

Medium Roast Profile:

This profile is designed to optimize your water for medium roast coffee. It contains more buffer than the Light Roast Profile to help provide a more balanced taste with more sweetness and less acidity. It also works great with any brew method. Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Citrate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

Dark Roast Profile:

This water profile helps provide smoother flavors while preserving chocolate and nutty characteristics in your dark roasted coffees. Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Citrate
  • Sodium Bicarbonate

Espresso Machine Profile:

This water profile is specially engineered for your espresso machines avoiding the use of water boiler-destroying chlorides. It helps protect your machine's boiler while simultaneously providing fantastic shots of delicious espresso. Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Citrate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

Cold Brew Profile:

This water profile makes it easier to acquire the tasting notes commonly sought after in cold brew coffees like chocolate and molasses as well as creamier body and reduced bitterness. Reduces acidity up to 3x (300% reduction). Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

Low Acid Profile:

This water profile will help transform any of your favorite coffees into a "low acid coffee." This is the perfect profile for those who struggle with acid reflux or heartburn due to the acidity found in coffee. One stick added to 1 gallon of water can equal up to a 300% reduction in acidity as measured by pH. Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

For best results:

  • Be sure to use empty water (ZeroWater, distilled water, reverse osmosis*) *RO is not as pure as the others
  • Clean your coffee maker before use. Below are some helpful links for popular brewers/espresso machines.
  • Make sure to clean and sanitize the water reservoir in your coffee brewer or espresso machine once every 2-3 months.
  • If you use reverse osmosis (RO) filtration, make sure to replace your filters at least once a year.

The water system for cafe's is called Tethys and was launched as a beta system in 2018 with great success. It was sadly paused the following year due to logistics as we went into the Covid years. 

Today we are re-engineering the new system and it will be available soon. The date is still unknown, but will be released publicly as we closer in development. Please sign up to be first to acquire the system on this form:

https://thirdwavewater.com/pages/tethys-form

The product will not separate from solution (i.e. the water). Once the minerals are mixed with the water they will remain mixed forever.

Third Wave Water minerals will not expire or go bad. 

Each stick and box has a “Manufactured On" date that shows when the sticks were made and packaged.

To ensure the longest life possible, make sure to store the mineral sticks at room temperature and out of direct sunlight or refrigerate if you live in hot or humid environments. When exposed to excess heat and humidity, the minerals may begin to clump up and take a little longer to dissolve.

The 5-gallon sticks were created to be used with a 5-gallon carboy (≈19 liters); this is one of the most common size of water jug in the United States. Other regions throughout the world use 22.7 liters.

Mixing with 5 gallons:

Mixing the 5-gallon sticks is the same (albeit a little more difficult) as mixing the 1-gallon or 2-liter sticks. 

  1. Add minerals to the 5 gallon container to pure water (ZeroWater, distilled water or RO water)

* Note, RO water still contains dissolved solids, so does not give the perfect result.

  1. Mix the water using the TWW Mixing Stick attached to a typical power drill.

We recommend using a powered pump (we like the FloJet) to hook up your espresso machine so you don't have to manually fill your espresso machine in use.

After mixing Third Wave Water minerals into your empty water, you can store your mineralized water jug at room temperature or in the fridge. The minerals will not separate from the water. 

Storing the mineralized water in the fridge will cause your coffee maker to work harder and take longer to heat up, but will allow you to store the water longer helping protect the water. 

We also strongly suggest you don't leave your water in direct sunlight because it may promote bacteria growth. Water without chemicals like chlorine or chloride will not prevent bacteria growth.

No.

Since they are just minerals, they will never expire! The date on your box is a "Manufactured On" date that shows when the minerals were packed.

If you have any other questions about the date on your box, feel free to reach out to our support team in the chat box below or at support@thirdwavewater.com 

No. Third Wave Water mineral profiles are just mineral additives. They do not remove anything from the water. 

Why Distilled Water?

We recommend using ZeroWater, distilled water (or reverse osmosis or deionized water) as an pure base to add Third Wave Water minerals. This helps you to start at 0 (nothing in the water) and add only what you want (Third Wave Water minerals) for brewing your coffee.

There is currently no 'certification' by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) for water profiles, but we have three water profiles that meet the current SCA water standards:

Classic Light Roast Profile:

Classic Light Roast Profile

This profile is perfect for use for light roasted coffees and for manual brew methods (pour overs, drip, French press, etc)

Medium Roast Profile:

Medium Roast Profile

This is ideal for use with medium roast coffees and any brew method (including espresso machines!) and a preferred profile for cupping standards around the world.

Espresso Machine Profile

Espresso Machine Profile

This profile is engineered to protect espresso machines, but can also be used for manual brew methods.

There are many different places to find Third Wave Water. You can order from us directly, pick up some minerals at your favorite coffee shop, or on Amazon in select regions. If there is a cafe that doesn't sell us but you think they should, let us know!

Find us here:

Yes we do! 

If you are hosting an event, are a competing barista, or are interested in Third Wave Water sponsoring a social media collaboration, use the link below to sign up for a sponsorship. 

erik@tirdwavewater.eu

Absolutely! Our product profiles are designed to work excellently with decaf coffee, ensuring the best taste and quality for your enjoyment. 

If you have any further questions, our support team is ready to assist you!

Yes. Five (5) of our profiles, Classic Light Roast Profile, Medium Roast Profile, Dark Roast Profile, Espresso Machine Profile, and Cold Brew Profile are available to purchase in 2 liter, 1 gallon, and 5 gallon sizes.

NOTE: 1 gallon is equivalent to 3.785 liters.

Yes. 

The paper boxes and sticks are recyclable.

Made in America.

Third Wave Water products are manufactured in Xenia, Ohio, which is in the Dayton, Ohio area.

We are proud to support the workers and small town of Xenia.

Add our minerals to any form of pure water, mix them until they are dissolved, then brew!

Third Wave Water (TWW) works because coffee requires certain minerals in order to taste right. We take those requirements and go one step further by protecting your equipment from limescale by using only permanent hardness minerals.

The mineral blends we have created bring together your coffee's need for minerals to gain optimal extraction and your equipment's need for certain forms of hardness to help you make a better cup of coffee from any tap water, spring water, or filtered water.

Water Questions

Third Wave Water minerals should be added to any kind of "pure water." Pure water is any water with no minerals, chemicals, organic matter, etc. Typically, pure water has a total dissolved solids (TDS) measurement of 0-TDS. Some great forms of empty water include the below options:

  • Water from a ZeroWater™ Filter
  • Distilled Water
  • Reverse Osmosis (RO)*
  • Deionized Water

* Note, RO water still contains dissolved solids, so does not give the perfect result.

Some filtered waters may be labeled "filtered by reverse osmosis" on the back label. If this is the case, then it is fine to use as reverse osmosis filtration removes most of the contents (or enough) which is what is necessary for Third Wave Water minerals.

Why pure water?

When you add minerals to any of these "pure waters" (water with little to no TDS), you are creating a unique, mineralized water. Some coffee makers actually recommend using distilled water to protect their machinery, but this will flatten your coffee.

For more information about why you should use pure water with Third Wave Water, check out the blog we wrote by clicking here!

Why not other waters?

Using generic spring water, bottled water, or tap water is a gamble because you do not know what minerals at what ratios and quantities exist in the water. This is why we created Third Wave Water, to give you the exact minerals with the right ratios and quantities according to the industry standards. Adding Third Wave Water minerals to water with an unknown TDS content might inhibit the minerals from fully absorbing since our formula is based on being added to 1 gallon of pure water.

Where to find pure water:

Pure water and filters to make pure water can sometimes be found in the following locations:

  • In our shop (www.thirdwavewater.eu)
  • In the ZeroWater shop (www.zerowater.eu)
  • Grocery stores
  • Supermarkets

No. All Third Wave Water mineral profiles create permanent hardness, which does not add to limescale formation to your coffee makers. However, it is recommended that you use only our profiles without chlorides in your espresso machine.

Some equipment manufacturers recommend a "total hardness" level that is less than that of our profiles. For example, La Marzocco recommends a total hardness of 100 in their machines. However, their water specifications worksheet measures total hardness in ppm of CaCO3, which is calcium carbonate, which causes limescale. They want to make sure that your water will not cause limescale to build up in their machines. 

Since all of our profiles prevent limescale and do not contain any calcium carbonate, limescale is not a concern. Meeting or exceeding their recommended hardness level will not impact your machine's health. If you would like to experiment with lower TDS versions of our profiles, we prefer adding one of our 2-liter sticks in 1 gallon of pure water to experience a "half-dose" of TWW.

Total Hardness:

When considering a water profile for your equipment, consider the following:

  1. Total hardness = permanent hardness + temporary hardness
  2. Temporary hardness is bad (causes limescale)
  3. Third Wave Water does not contain temporary hardness

Most hardness tests only measure CaCO3, which is normal because that is what most people are concerned about since CaCO3 it temporary hardness and causes limescale.

Temporary & Permanent Hardness:

Temporary hardness should be avoided because it separates from the water (when boiled or frozen) leaving deposits behind. Each of Third Wave Water profile's create permanent hardness only and do not contain calcium carbonate, which is the primary suspect for calcification or limescale. Our CEO, Taylor, made a short video explaining this principle. You can watch it by clicking this link.

If you are wary of using distilled water or any other form of pure water because you have heard it is bad for you and your equipment, don't worry! 

Once you add Third Wave Water minerals into distilled water, it is no longer distilled water, but a unique form of remineralized water and in our case, water that is designed to help your coffee taste great as well as protect your coffee making equipment from scale.

It is also safe to drink as is. Since all TWW profiles are a blend of 3 minerals, it is completely safe to drink. You may even think it tastes better than other water!

TDS stands for "Total Dissolved Solids," and represents the amount of "stuff" that is dissolved in a liquid. This stuff can be organic matter, minerals, and even some chemicals (depending on where your water is coming from).

Why does TDS matter?

TDS matters because it effects the level of extraction you can get out of your coffee. Your coffee needs minerals in the water you brew with so you can pull the desired flavor out of the grounds. Pure water (water with 0TDS) will leave your coffee tasting dull and flat.

The SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) created a water standard that acts as a guide for your coffee brewing water. The recommended TDS is a target of 150 TDS with an acceptable range of 75-250 TDS. 

TDS will not tell you the exact amount of individual minerals are in your water, just the total amount. This helps provide a benchmark to help you dial in the right minerals. If you want to know which minerals are in your water and at what concentrations, you'll need specific tools like a photometer or titration kit to measure certain minerals.

Mineral Quantity and Quality:

The proper amount of minerals is not the only thing you want to be wary about, however. You also should look at the kind of minerals for your brewing water. Certain minerals can cause limescale to build up in your brewer or kettle, as well as corrode and damage the boiler in your espresso machine. 

All of Third Wave Water's mineral profiles utilize permanent hardness to protect your equipment from limescale buildup. TWW Espresso Profile lacks chlorides, which are harmful for your espresso machine.

TDS and Water Hardness:

Water hardness is another term that refers to the amount of "stuff" in your water. Total hardness is measured as the sum of temporary hardness (measured in mg/L) and permanent hardness (measured in mg/L). 

All Third Wave Water profiles contain only permanent hardness minerals. For our most popular profiles, Classic Light Roast Profile and Espresso Machine Profile, the total hardness is ≈150 mg/L; 0 mg/L temporary hardness + ≈150 mg/L permanent hardness.

Not Using Pure Water

The water you are using may not be truly "pure" water. For the most accurate results, test your water before and after adding TWW minerals. Starting water should read at 0-9 TDS (ideal 0 TDS).

Potassium vs. Sodium

The TDS meter is calibrated to read potassium rather than sodium. Potassium has a much higher multiplier vs sodium (~0.85 vs ~0.5 respectively), which is why you are reading higher TDS. If you are able, switch your TDS meter to read sodium.

TDS Meter Calibration

The TDS meter is no longer calibrated. Third Wave Water TDS meters can easily be calibrated. See the video on the TDS meter product page for step-by-step instructions.

Yes. Since pure water (e.g. Distilled Water, Reverse Osmosis Water, Deionized Water, etc) does not have chemicals to reduce bacteria growth (like chlorine and chloramine) it must be handled differently. 

Over time, you may start to notice some bacterial growth in your water container or reservoir. It typically shows up in a slimy or film-like texture. This bacteria that can begin to grow is not typically harmful but can cause a biofilm to develop on the inside of storage containers or filtration systems. 

Preventing Biofilm:

  1. Store empty water (mixed or unmixed) in sealed containers.
  2. Store empty water (mixed or unmixed) out of direct sunlight.
  3. Do not store empty water in clear containers or in direct sunlight.
  4. Change filters for Reverse Osmosis and similar systems regularly. (EPA) Often, bacteria may propagate inside of these systems when exiting the filters.

Cleaning Biofilm:

Clean and sanitize any container used to store empty water (mixed or unmixed) routinely; every time the container is used. This includes routinely cleaning water reservoirs for espresso machines, hot water towers, coffee batch brewers, etc.

Provide thWhere to find empty water:

Distilled water can sometimes be found at the following locations:

  • Grocery stores
  • Convenience stores
  • Supermarkets

The same quality and environmental friendly is using ZeroWater to make your own pure water. You can by a ZeroWater filter jug in our shop, or at the ZeroWater web shop (www.zerowater.eu)

Other options are:

Reverse osmosis water

Deionized water

What is Biofilm?

When dealing with unprotected water, or water that does not have any chemicals like chlorine or chloramine in it, a harmless bacteria called "biofilm" can grow. Some forms of unprotected water include distilled water, reverse osmosis water, and even water from a Brita filter. This bacteria appears as a slimy, gel-like substance in your water.

How to fix and prevent it:

If you notice biofilm growing in your water container or coffee maker's reservoir, no need to worry! This is an easy fix. We recommend cleaning and sanitizing the inside of your reservoir and/or water container and dry it thoroughly.

To delay biofilm growth, it is best to store your water in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight. To prolong even further, you can store your water in the refrigerator. Avoid using the same water container without cleaning in between uses and for more than 1 month at a time.

TDS, or Total Dissolved Solids, is a measurement of the amount of "stuff" that has dissolved in your water. This is measured in Milligrams Per Liter, or mg/L. For each Third Wave Water Profile, this number can vary because different profiles have different needs for their quantity of minerals. Each of the below measurements could see variations of +/- 10%.

TDS by Profile:

Classic Light Roast Profile has a TDS of ≈150 mg/L

Medium Roast Profile has a TDS of ≈150 mg/L

Dark Roast Profile has a TDS of ≈180 mg/L

Espresso Machine Profile has a TDS of ≈150 mg/L

Low Acid Profile has a TDS of ≈220 mg/L

Cold Brew Profile has a TDS of ≈220 mg/L

Both reverse osmosis (RO) and deionized water are suitable for making any of our profiles. They are equally effective as long as no minerals have been added back to them after the filtration process, ensuring a pure and consistent result for your coffee experience.

Yes. Our mineral profiles are completely safe for your equipment.

Not all calcium is "bad" calcium. 

Bad Calcium: CaCO3

CaCO3, Calcium Carbonate, is bad calcium. It is formed from the reaction of calcium cations and carbonate ions that are commonly found in many natural waters as well as treated waters. Calcium Carbonate is what causes limescale to form because it is temporary hardness. Its solubility decreases when temperature increases.

When CaCO3 is present in your water in your coffee maker, for example, when the water heats up to brewing temperature, it then precipitates out of solution in the water and adheres to the surface of the container it is in, causing scale because it is not soluble once the water evaporates. Over time, that layer of minerals builds up and can cause overheating, bad tasting coffee, and a decreased lifespan for your equipment.

The Good Stuff: Third Wave Water

All Third Wave Water minerals, which are permanent hardness, will not cause that same type of scale to build up. Like Calcium Carbonate, when the water evaporates, the mineral residue will be left inside. However, Third Wave Water minerals are still soluble after that evaporation, so any new water introduced will re-dissolve them. This means that there is no need to descale your equipment.

All Third Wave Water profiles contain only permanent hardness. None of our profiles will cause any scale!

One of TWW's founders, Taylor, made a short video to illustrate this difference between temporary and permanent hardness. Check out the video!

Yes and no. 

While tap water is technically safe to consume and brew your coffee with, it ends up causing issues in your equipment and in your coffee's overall extraction and flavor.

Equipment

Tap water, spring water, bottled water, and filtered water, can all cause a lot of issues in your equipment due to temporary hardness and the presence of chlorides. Temporary hardness is what causes limescale to build up in your coffee maker, espresso machine boiler, and in the bottom of your kettle. Chlorides are the main proponent of corrosion in your espresso machine boiler, so it is imperative to use water without them in your espresso machine.

Coffee Flavor

Coffee requires certain minerals in certain quantities in order to taste great. Tap water varies from city to city, house to house, and even throughout the calendar year, meaning your coffee could taste great one day, but then horrible the next day or at your friend's house. Spring water also changes depending on where it was bottled. Filtering your tap water with something like a Brita filter will only remove (a part of) chemicals and organic matter, but not take out any minerals, leaving your coffee to taste bitter.

If you filter your tao water with ZeroWater (or RO) you will get the pure water needed to use Third Wave Water, so that way your tap water is the perfect starting point to make your own coffee water.

Third Wave Water's mineral profiles are designed to give you optimal extractions for great coffee flavor depending on your preferred roast level or brew type.

It depends!

For best results with Third Wave Water minerals, we recommend using water that contains no minerals, chemicals, or organic matter present. We refer to this as "pure water." The most common forms of empty water are:

  • Water from a ZeroWater® Filter
  • Distilled Water
  • Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water
  • Deionized Water

Most other water that is labeled as "filtered water" still contains minerals and chemicals in varying amounts, which would impact your experience with Third Wave Water minerals. This same is true for the water found in filtered water fill stations at grocery stores (Primo Water is the most common).

In grocery stores, if the label on your water just says "filtered with distillation" or "filtered using reverse osmosis," it should be free of any minerals as long as there is no designation stating that there are minerals added back in. The best option is to filter your own water using ZeroWater (or RO/Deionized Water) or, just to buy the gallons labeled "distilled water."

Some home filtration systems like a Brita® filter or a PUR sink system do not remove minerals, but focus on partial removal of some chemicals and organic matter, so they would not be good options for Third Wave Water minerals.

Shipment & Order Questions

Shipping times depents on your location. In Europe we shipp from The Netherlands and Spain. Typically, all orders delivered in Europe take about 1-7 business days to arrive to your doorstep. The closer you are tou our shipping countries, the quicker you will receive your order.

How Can I Track My Order?

After you place your order, you will receive an email confirmation. Once your order has shipped, you will receive another email containing the tracking information for your order.

Yes we do! 

We do ship all trough Europe!

And for other countries, you can always contact us. We will try to find a way to help you receiving your Third Wave Water products.

In most cases the order ends up getting delivered at the day it has been marked as "delivered."

If it doesn't arrive after 2 business days of being marked "Delivered," let us know and we will track it down for you.

If your package was marked as delivered but you haven't received it, we recommend you:

  1. Check around your property and with neighbors in case the package was delivered to an alternate location nearby. Sometimes carriers will mark the package as delivered before it is physically dropped off.
  2. Wait a couple of days as the package sometimes shows up shortly after.

If you still can't locate your package after taking these steps, let us know!

If you sign up for a subscription to receive TWW minerals at a set interval, you will receive 15% off of each box! To set up your subscription, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Select your mineral profile

Select the preferred mineral profile you want in your subscription (this can be changed later). Select the "Subscribe and Save" option.

Step 2: Set desired order frequency

Once you select your profile, you can select how often you would like to renew your subscription. Initially, you are limited to up to every 6 months. After your first purchase, you can change this frequency even further.

Step 3: Complete your purchase

Add the profile to your cart and walk through the checkout process. After your purchase is completed, you will receive an order confirmation email.

If this is your first purchase with Third Wave Water, you will receive a secondary email to activate your customer account. This is necessary in order to login and manage your subscription.

Step 4: Logging in to your account

Once you activate your customer account, you can then log in and view your order history as well as access your subscription and make changes.

Step 4.a: Unable to log in

If you are trying to log in to your account to manage your subscription but your account is not being found with your email address, you may have forgotten to activate your account after your first purchase with us.

No worries! Send us an email at support@thirdwavewater.eu and let us know what is going wrong and we can re-send you the account activation email so you can get set up.

Step 5: Managing your subscription

Click on the "Manage Subscription" button. Then you will be able to select the subscription you would like to make changes to. If you have multiple subscriptions, you will need to select one at a time.

From this menu, you can:

  • Swap the products in your next shipments
  • Change the upcoming order dates
  • Change your order frequency
  • Update your payment information
  • Pause or Hold your subscription
  • Skip subscription shipments
  • Cancel your subscription

Through Subscriptions:

When you subscribe to select TWW mineral products (Classic, Espresso, Dark Roast) you can save up to 15% per order!

  • On any of our mineral profile product pages,
  • Select your desired stick size (1-gallon, 2-liter, 5-gallon),
  • Select 'Subscribe and Save,'
  • Select your preferred 'Delivery Frequency,'
  • Then click 'Add to Cart'

You can pause, cancel or skip any delivery anytime you want.

If you need to pause or cancel your subscription because you are overstocked or no longer need the product regularly, log in to your customer account and select the "My Subscriptions" button. From there you can manage your active subscriptions.

If you are unable to log in to your account, let us know and we can help you out!

If you notice that your order has been shipped to the wrong address, please reach out to us with the correct address. While billing address discrepancies do not affect shipping, it is important for us to ensure that your products are sent to the correct location.

Classic Light Roast Profile

Classic Profile Use Cases:

Use the Classic Profile (now called the Classic Light Roast Profile) for light to medium roast coffees. It is recommended for traditional drip coffee brewers (Keurig, Mr. Coffee, etc.) or any manual brewing method (AeroPress, chemex, V60, etc.) providing brighter, cleaner flavors and higher acidity.

This profile is one of several of ours that meet the Specialty Coffee Association's (SCA) guidelines for improved flavor for coffee.

Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Citrate
  • Sodium Chloride

Target Ranges:

  • TDS: 150 mg/L
  • Alkalinity: 36-40 mg/L

We recommend using only the Espresso Machine Profile for your espresso machine, as it will not cause corrosion from chlorides, which can take many forms.

Chlorides and your machine:

NOTE: In your espresso machine, be sure to avoid water profiles that utilize chlorides. Chlorides will cause corrosion on metal surfaces.

While all Third Wave Water minerals utilize permanent hardness vs. temporary hardness, our Classic Light Roast Profile contains a small amount of chlorides. This is perfectly fine for non-pressurized brewers, but not espresso machines. Scale leaves something behind (from temporary hardness) while corrosion is the erosion, removal, or breakdown of the metal itself.

Yes, the Classic Light Roast Profile works the same for tea as it does for coffee! 

Some tea blogs typically recommend 80 - 150 TDS (total dissolved solids). Our formula is 150 TDS high in magnesium helping provide natural sweetness in the flavor profiles. 

Brew times will need to be adjusted when you change waters when brewing tea (or coffee), as this is also true when you change any water type.

Yes! We get this question a lot and are proud of our many partners using Classic Light Roast Profile to brew their cold brew: Verve Coffee, Bru Brothers, and many more!

Other Cold Brew Options:

We also have a special profile just for cold brew: The Cold Brew Profile. This profile will help you create smooth, less bitter cold brew coffee and add to any cold brew concentrate. Cold Brew Profile will also help reduce the acidity of your brews up to 3x.

Medium Roast Profile

Medium Roast Profile Use Cases:

Use the Medium Roast Profile for, you guessed it, medium roast coffees. It is recommended for traditional drip coffee brewers (Keurig, Mr. Coffee, etc.) or any manual brewing method (AeroPress, chemex, V60, etc.) providing reduced bitterness and enhanced flavors in your favorite medium roast coffees.

The Medium Roast Profile, along with the Espresso Machine Profile and Classic Light Roast Profile, fits within the Specialty Coffee Association's (SCA) guidelines for improved flavor for coffee.

Ingredients:

  • Calcium Citrate
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

Target Ranges:

  • TDS: ≈150 mg/L
  • Alkalinity: ≈85-94 mg/L

About Calibrated Water

The Medium Roast Profile is our preferred 'Calibrated Water Profile' for cupping coffee.

Calibrated Water is a water that meets the series of ranges within the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) water standards. You can view those standards here: SCA Water Quality Standard

Today, the Coffee Quality Institute’s (CQI) Q-grader certification requires coffee personnel to be "in calibration" in order to cup coffee. In order to be "in calibration," you need to be re-tested every three years. The CQI uses the SCA water standard defined in the SCA water protocols for cupping. For this purpose, we define calibrated water is a water that meets the series of ranges within the SCA water standard as defined in the SCA Water Quality Handbook. Therefore, water used for cupping for personnel that are in calibration is considered calibrated water. The term calibrated water is not directly connected to CQI, but is the term used here in order to help with clarity as we discuss this complicated topic.

Yes! 

Since the Medium Roast Profile does not contain any chlorides and only contains permanent hardness minerals, it is totally safe to use in your espresso machine.

All Third Wave Water profiles contain only permanent hardness minerals, meaning that none of them will cause limescale buildup. When selecting a water profile for your espresso machine, be sure to look at the ingredients and if any of the minerals are the "chloride" form. Chlorides cause corrosion to occur in your machine's boiler.

Absolutely! 

All of our profiles are completely safe to drink. In fact, we have many customers around the world that drink the Medium Roast Profile as a form of an electrolyte beverage.

Dark Roast Profile

Dark Roast Profile Use Cases:

Use the Dark Roast Profile in for dark roasted coffees in any manual brew method (AeroPress, Chemex, V60, etc.) or automatic dripper (Keurig, Mr. Coffee, etc.). This water profile helps provide smoother flavors while preserving chocolate and nutty characteristics in your dark roasted coffees.

Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Citrate
  • Sodium Bicarbonate

Target Ranges:

  • TDS: ≈180 mg/L
  • Alkalinity: ≈135-140 mg/L

If you like light, medium and dark roast coffee, and you don't know which profile is right for you, this is the place for you. 

Flavor Preferences:

If you're a fan of the darker notes in coffee -- baker's chocolate, caramel, and nutty notes, the Dark Roast Profile would be great for you.

If you enjoy bright, berry notes and higher acidity in your brews, you may like the Classic Light Roast Profile

If you sit somewhere in between and like something a little more balanced, Medium Roast Profile would be a good fit. 

Dark Roast Profile Difference:

The main difference in the Dark Roast Profile and the Light and Medium Roast Profiles is the amount of alkalinity. We added more alkalinity for this profile to counter some of the bitterness and much higher acidity found in many dark roast coffees. 

This will help you experience the familiar bold flavor without needing to pucker or wince with every sip!

Yes! 

Since the Dark Roast Profile does not contain any chlorides and only contains permanent hardness minerals, it is totally safe to use in your espresso machine.

All Third Wave Water profiles contain only permanent hardness minerals, meaning that none of them will cause limescale buildup. When selecting a water profile for your espresso machine, be sure to look at the ingredients and if any of the minerals are the "chloride" form. Chlorides cause corrosion to occur in your machine's boiler.

Espresso Machine Profile

Espresso Machine Profile Use Cases:

This water profile, now called Espresso Machine Profile, is specially engineered for your espresso machines by avoiding the use of water boiler destroying chlorides. It helps protect your machine's boiler while simultaneously providing fantastic shots of delicious espresso.

We recommend using only Espresso Machine Profile in your espresso machine. However, you can also use Espresso Machine Profile for your favorite manual brew method (V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave, etc.)

Espresso Machine Profile, like every Third Wave Water profile, is created with permanent hardness minerals to prevent the buildup of scale in your equipment. Not only this, but it also does not contain any chlorides, which will prevent corrosion from occurring in your boiler.

To explore if TWW Espresso Machine Profile is too hard for your equipment, click on the link below to read the corresponding article.

"Is TWW too hard?"

Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Citrate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

Target Ranges:

  • TDS: ≈150 mg/L
  • Alkalinity: ≈85-94 mg/L

Absolutely! Espresso Machine Profile will not harm your espresso machine.

In fact, it was designed to protect it. Espresso Machine Profile contains only permanent hardness minerals and does not contain any corrosion-causing chlorides. This means that your machine will not see any scale buildup or corrosion throughout its life if you use Espresso Profile.

About Chlorides:

Chlorides are ions with a negative charge, or anions. These negatively charged ions are able to penetrate the passive oxide layer of some metals, including your espresso machine's boiler. Once this occurs, your boiler can start to corrode, or even rust. Avoiding chlorides altogether is the best way to prevent this from happening. Espresso Machine Profile does not have any chlorides in it for this exact reason, to prevent corrosion from entering your machine.

What others are saying:

"I am an extremely involved newbie when it comes to espresso. I use espresso profile with distilled water to make sure the electronics are able to read the water level of my Lelit MaraX and to prevent scale I may get from tap water. 

As it turns out, it also tastes great! I can honestly say: my amateur espresso taste blows away shots from my favorite coffee shop. I've tried a couple of different kinds of water and TWW definitely makes a difference. In defense of my favorite coffee shop, I am also really slow at it and I only pull two shots daily for my best customer: me! Thanks TWW."

- Hans D.

If it is a carbon filter (similar to a Brita filter), then it does not need to be removed. 

If it is an ion exchange filter or something similar (found in some espresso machines like the Lelit Bianca), then it does need to be removed. 

See below for more information.

Typically, if someone is not using tap water to brew their coffee, they are using some form of filtered water. This can be in the form of a counter top filter like a Brita filter, a “PUR” filter mounted to your kitchen faucet, or even an under-the-counter reverse osmosis filter. 

Some of the most common filters we get questions about are those that are built-in to the coffee brewers that our customers use. Some examples include: 

  • Keurig®
  • Lelit Bianca
  • Jura machines
  • Breville Espresso Machines
  • and many others

Coffee makers have two primary types of water filters: (1) charcoal filters or (2) resin filters.

CHARCOAL FILTERS

These filters are installed in Keurig® coffee brewers and many other drip coffee makers too. They are also found in Brita filters and in many refrigerators.

Charcoal filters do not remove minerals from the water. They do a great job at removing the chemicals and organic matter that may be present, but do not affect the mineral content. 

Never use water that is filtered by charcoal filters to add Third Wave Water to since these filters will leave behind the minerals in the water.

We do not recommend using them because your water will be perfect for coffee (and the coffee brewer) when mixed. But if you keep it in the coffee brewer it will not hurt it either.

RESIN FILTERS

Resin filters have many different names and come in all shapes and sizes. They can be called ion-exchange filters, deionization filters, resin filters, and more. These filters are commonly found on some espresso machines, like the Lelit Bianca and many Jura machines. Zero Water filters would fall under this category as well as reverse osmosis filtration systems.

The primary thing to understand about resin filters is that they affect the mineral content of your water. That can be by removing the dissolved minerals altogether, or by replacing certain minerals with others.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT KIND OF FILTER MY MACHINE HAS?

Most manufacturers will state what kind of filter is in your machine either in the user manual of the machine or on the product page for any replacement filters you’ll need to buy.

Definitely! 

While the Espresso Machine Profile was originally created to help protect espresso machines (and create the perfect shot), you can also use it for other brewing methods like pour-over, drip, manual espresso, etc. 

Some of Third Wave Water's close partners like Cup of Excellence even use the Espresso Machine Profile as part of their cupping protocol.

You can use Classic Light Roast, Espresso Machine, Low Acid Profile, or Dark Roast profiles for your Nespresso Machine®. They are not typical espresso machines that operate at higher pressures and temperatures. 

What about the water filter?

Some Nespresso machines have a carbon filter installed in the water reservoir and that's ok. You do not need the filter since Third Wave Water provides the optimum water for your coffee and equipment, but it will not harm your water or machine leaving it in either. Carbon filters will not filter minerals from water, just chemicals like chlorine and some organics. 

Yes it is! At higher temperatures and higher pressures, especially in espresso machines, distilled water or any form of empty water can become corrosive. This can cause damage to your machine's boiler and shorten its lifespan dramatically.

However, if you add minerals to that distilled water, it is no longer distilled. It instead is a uniquely made mineral water designed specifically to protect your machinery and enhance your coffee's flavor.

Cold Brew Profile

Cold Brew Profile Use Cases:

This water profile makes it easier to acquire the tasting notes commonly sought after in cold brew coffees like chocolate and molasses as well as creamier body and reduced bitterness. Reduces acidity up to 3x (300% reduction). 

Ingredients:
Magnesium Sulfate

  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

Deciding which mineral profile you want for your cold brew depends on what flavors you prefer when using that brew method!

Cold Brew Profile

The Cold Brew Profile is rich in magnesium and thus will help you experience much less acidity (up to 300%) in your cold brew coffee and is a great addition to your favorite cold brew concentrate. This will help you experience the flavors that are often hidden by that acidity: chocolates, caramel, nuttiness, etc.

Light Roast Profile

Classic Profile is used by many of our partners for their cold brew coffee with much success. It is a great option if you like the bright and intense acidity that cold brew is known for. This will help you experience those intense floral and fruity tasting notes.

Absolutely! We actually encourage using this profile with concentrates. We did an in-house cupping to taste the difference of Cold Brew Profile and tap water with cold brew concentrate and we were blown away by the results!

Low Acid Profile

Low Acid Profile Use Cases:

This profile makes it easier to enjoy your favorite coffees again by reducing the acidity up to 300%. With the Low Acid Profile, you can make any coffee a "low acid" coffee. It contains only permanent hardness minerals just like our other profiles to help prevent limescale buildup in your equipment as well.

Ingredients:

  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Potassium Bicarbonate

We just released our newest profile, the Low Acid Profile, which reduces coffee acidity by up to 300%, aiding those with acid reflux. Co-founder Taylor Minor developed this after his father struggled with coffee-induced acid reflux. The packet also enhances coffee's flavor with all-natural minerals. This innovation enables acid-sensitive individuals to enjoy coffee without discomfort.

No More Heartburn

One of Third Wave Water's co-founders, Taylor Minor, noticed his father struggling with coffee because of acid reflux this year and decided to help. His father, Craig Minor, explained, "I had to cut back on drinking coffee because it was hurting my stomach from acid reflux. I almost quit coffee because of it."

Craig tried low acid coffees and hated the taste of all of them. His last option was to stop drinking coffee completely, but thankfully his son Taylor helped. Taylor created the new Low Acid water profile to reduce acidity up to 300% per packet when added to one gallon of water.

You can use a maximum of two packets in empty water as well as add one packet to any water to further reduce the acidity in any water (including tap water). In one controlled test comparison between distilled water and the new Low Acid water profile, the acidity was reduced by over 400%. How does it work?

Minerals are added for buffer. Buffers (or alkalinity) resist an acids' ability to change the water to be more acidic. Minerals are added for flavor. Each stick also includes additional all-natural minerals for complimenting coffee flavors. Taylor explains, "It was a huge win to see my dad enjoy his favorite coffee again." Craig adds, "I can finally enjoy coffee again without taking antacids."

Espresso Profile - Third Wave Water