Water Filters for Espresso Machines: Magnesium, Sodium Softeners & Polyphosphates

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

Went on the BWT site, don't see any of the drop in the tank products, where are those? Also interested in the pitcher, my water hardness + alkalinity = 12 degrees total so BWT premium BEST is what I'd go with, does the water pitcher work for that level of degrees?

[@trito408]

Great video! I just bought a the 2.7L pitcher. Is it possible to do a video comparing the different products to see if there's difference between the inline filter vs filter?

[@user-kd2wj1ii1w]

Just noticing the BWT instructions have begun including a boil water, submerge the filter, cool filter and then replace. Am I understanding that properly?

[@jk25653]

Hi Mark! Thanks for a great review over the water filtration options. I just switched to use BWT pouch last month, because of its rating for 2 month of use. I've been seeing bacterial growth with less than 3 weeks use (2 extraction/day). I live in a 1 y/o apartment complex, so I don't have water sanitation issues at all. Do you have any sanitation issues with pouch use?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi JK, You are welcome. I have not had issues with bacterial growth. I recommend turning over the water in the reservoir every couple of days accompanied by a thorough cleaning. The pouch filter does dechlorinate the water in the reservoir so low turn-over rate could leave it susceptible to algae and other growth under the right conditions.

[@jk25653]

@@Wholelattelovepage Should I also leave the pouch out to dry once every few days?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

@@jk25653 I would not.

[@rjejames28]

How does this picture work if you don't have to test the water ahead of time and pick the appropriate filter like the inline system?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi r, The inline filters treat water much faster than the pitcher. With that, they use a bypass setting (determined by water testing) to adjust how much water goes thru ion-exchange to insure proper filtration. The pitcher system has a known flow rate thru the cartridge so it's designed with capability to properly exchange with a wide range of calcium content inputs.

[@mopikozz]

What about the calcium version filter that had from bwt? Does the magnesium filter prevent calcium buildup

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi m, The magnesium ion-exchange filter replaces some calcium in the water so you end at a mineral level that will not cause scale. Calcium at high levels is the cause of scale.

[@bigpatsalsero69]

Hi Mark. What is safer for my Synchronika? My tap water in 60 PPM. The BWT M pad or using the solution you provided ( epsom salt ) Thanks!

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Patrice, If that 60ppm is your total hardness measurement your water is fairly soft at a little under 4 degrees. No need to make your own mix starting with water that soft. BWT Bestsave M pad is a great solution for you unless you go through more than 1 reservoir of water per day. Keep in mind the Bestsave pad needs 12 hours resident time with water to work it's magic. If you go through more than a reservoir a day I recommend the BWT Penguin pitcher. It filters immediately. Hope that helps! Marc

[@bigpatsalsero69]

@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you Mark. Very clear and helpful answer as usual.

[@biniyammengistab6553]

You’ve been out of the best cup m package for months. Any idea when you’ll have it in stock?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

In stock now: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-premium-m-water-filter-cartridge

[@ericjobson2787]

Hi Mark, My house is already on a polyphosphate system. Can I run install the BWT filter after my current filtration system? Or will the poly still cause issues. Looking to plumb in my ecm syncronika.

[@Jaysfarm]

I have the bwt best max system on a plumbed in home machine that probably makes 5-10 coffees a day how often do I need to change the cartridge?

[@hotfishy]

There's actually a chart that depends what water hardness that you currently have, what bypass setting and what's the filter capacity you will expect depends on what size of filter. So it highly dependent on many factors....

[@dangibson3960]

Can I use the BWT products with my nugget ice machine in addition to my HX espresso machine? Or are they not recommended?

[@Kats072307]

Hi Mark. My apologies for my off content comment. I am looking for your honest opinion on the following three grinders. Since my first grinder is a Ceado E6P , I would like as a second, to try my luck with one of the following: Eureka Atom, Eureka Helios and Obel Mito. What do you say ?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi Kats, The Atom is available in both 65mm and 75mm version, Helios is only available in 65mm as far as I know. I've used all of those but have no experience with the Mito. I did look up the Mito and it's a 64mm with fan cooling, built in tamper... looks to be a more European setup for commercial use. If grinder is for home use the fan cooling is overkill IMO unless you are grinding a lot! I'd go with the biggest burr set so the Atom 75mm is my choice: www.wholelattelove.com/products/eureka-atom-specialty-75-espresso-grinder-in-chrome Bigger burrs generally produce a better grind quality and do it faster. Also the grinding chamber easy easy to access in the Atom with no loss of grind setting when opening up. Hope that helps! Marc

[@PanzerIV88]

Hi Mark, I've just bought another BWT Pitcher from you few days ago. I have 2 questions: 1- Why do we see in this video, a pink line at the center of the BWT filters in this video? Every replacement filters I've used in the past 2-3 years in Canada never had these even though it seems to be a legit BWT box and says that it does add Magnesium too O_o 2- If I understood correctly, Magnesium replaces the bad Calcium from tap water just like Sodium would do, but with increased flavours since it's a better taste extractor. That I get it so far. Question is, if the calcium has already been replaced by the magnesium from the pitcher, is the Rocket Sodium Pouch inside my water tank gonna add unwanted sodium to the water or if it's not since it can only bind to calcium... Which has already been exchanged by Magnesium? I'm doing both since 3 years as I was seeing the pouch as a "2nd layer of protection/backup" if ever the first one fails, if you see what I mean. At just about 15$CAD once a year I didn't mind at all to use the pouch too but am I doing more wrong than anything in my current situation by using the pitcher first? I just want to know if the sodium stays in the pouch or screw up my taste if it's used after the pitcher. Thanks in advance for the answer to my somewhat complex questions :)

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi P, 1. Addition of the pink line was a fairly recent branding change. No difference in what the filters with or without the pink line do. Still many cartridges without the pink line - I have a few in my drawer. 2. You understand correctly. But... magnesium does not replace all the calcium using the BWT pitcher. It takes out enough to eliminate scaling potential. Additional treatment with a sodium softening pouch replaces remaining calcium with sodium. But, it's overkill, not needed and may be compromising the flavor of your espresso. Magnesium and calcium ions are very good at extracting the good acids from espresso. Sodium is not. Hope that helps! Marc

[@brucem7732]

The Rocket (Bilt OSCAR) water softener will exchange both Ca2+ and Mg2+ for Na+. You don't want to be using BWT and the Rocket water softener together.

[@PanzerIV88]

@@brucem7732 Damn, even Mg2! Si I've been wasting my BWT filters for my espresso since at least 2 years it means x_x I just started few days ago to stop using the pouch and only use BWT. Thanks for the info!

[@brucem7732]

@PanzerIV I've recently switched from using a Rocket water softener to BWT filtered water (pitcher). But I'm a bit concerned about two things: 1) the cost of these BWT filters with a suggested replacement every 1 month/120L and 2) the fact that Ca2+ levels have been reported to gradually increase with filter use. I suppose the only thing one can do is to monitor hardness level of the filtered water over time and keep an eye out for any scale build-up (E61 mushroom).

[@PanzerIV88]

@@brucem7732 Hmm, such statistics would be highly interesting to see how efficient for BWT pitcher and cartridge are over time cause 99% of videos talk about it when brand new, which of course will show amazing results but what about its efficiency from 1L to 120L?! Just like most products with a "Expiry date" I tend to somewhat ignore the "Thrash after X time" and prefer to consider the "Dispose after X amount of REAL USE" so I change mine every 120L rather than once a month which I find ridiculous as I use 1/3 of the 120L within a month from living alone, and all it serves is drinking cold water from the fridge and filling the Rocket R58. It's already ~12$CAD before taxes and that is with the 6-Packs on Amazon which surprisingly WLL doesn't have, as the smaller 3-Pack are too expensive imo, and no way I'd pay 12x12$=144$/year of filters instead of 48$ from real usage at 120L/each. So if I want to monitor my filtered water with a TDS stick that looks like a thermometer, what do I need to look for and what thresholds would be good, acceptable, or alarming?

[@follow_fraser3081]

Hi Mark. Can I install the Inline filter on my cold line going to my kitchen sink facet? I dont want to add another facet.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi ff, That is possible. Be aware the flow rate will be lower than through you're standard plumbing and you're likely to go through filters quickly depending on how you use the water. For example, filtering capacity of the M size cartridge is ~2,000L for moderately hard water at 12 dKH/220ppm. Marc

[@follow_fraser3081]

@@Wholelattelovepage Marc, i should have said we have soft water in my town. Approx 22 PPM. I just bought a Rancilio silvia pro X and looking for some better drinking water too. I guess you would suggest the filter that adds minerals - the BWTBestmin?

[@Wholelattelovepage]

@@follow_fraser3081 Sorry for misunderstanding. Yes, Bestmin is way to go and that filter has a far higher capacity! 10,000L or 12 months. www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestmin-premium-m-filter-cartridge

[@follow_fraser3081]

@@Wholelattelovepage i will put in an order!! Thank you so much!

[@Wholelattelovepage]

@@follow_fraser3081 NP - my pleasure!

[@jph364]

If water is already softened with sodium (salt) is there still a taste improvement by using a magnesium water filter (pitcher)

[@PanzerIV88]

Yes as Magnesium that is added by the BWT, is a much better flavour extractor than sodium as they said in either this video and/or one other they did last week. What I still wonder though is if the Sodium pouch in my water tank can still arm flavour if it passed a BWT pitcher first as if it did then there won't be any calcium left to be replaced by sodium in theory?

[@jph364]

@@PanzerIV88 sure but as calcium is already replaced in my house by a bwt sodium based softener I wonder if there is anything the magnesium could bind to

[@PanzerIV88]

@@jph364 Very good question, it's kind of like the opposite which I'm wondering too. If all calciumhas already been replaced by magnesium, will the sodium pouch in the water tank still add sodium and worsen the taste or the sodium will stay in the pouch as it won't be able to bind to anything as there won't be any calcium if filtered first by the BWT pitcher, hmm.

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi jp h, So sodium is a poor flavor extractor compared to magnesium and calcium. Putting sodium softened water through a calcium to magnesium ion-exchange doesn't do much. There's no calcium left in the water after sodium softening so nothing left to exchange with. Answer is no taste improvement. Best flavor improvement is to put un-softened water through the magnesium ion-exchange filter.

[@jph364]

@@Wholelattelovepage that is clear and I already feared this, unfortunately all water in the house is softened with sodium as we live in an area with very hard water

[@thebigdoghimself]

Does anyone make a cartridge that fits the 20" big blue filters?

[@CamielvanVelthoven]

Dear WLL. For pitcher use you recommend the magnesium filters. How about the option magnesium + zinc? Does the zinc have any added value or maybe any disadvantage for espresso making?

[@PanzerIV88]

Good luck trying to find the Zinc version in North America. Seems like i could only find those in Europe! Even here BWT stuff is hard to come by while everyone should have one at home!

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hiu CvV, Unfortunately I have no info either way on zinc.

[@myname-mz3lo]

these are a scam ... when they say the magnesium helps extract coffee better they just mean it helps the water extract more acids . giiving you that underextracted sour shot that people try to avoid usually .... more extraction doesnt mean you are extracting the good parts of the bean

[@nuovosalario]

Having very hard tap water, is it ok to use BOTH the bwt Brita jug AND the resin filter to attach on the water tube in the reservoir?

[@myname-mz3lo]

so you pay extra for a filter that adds magnesium . and then you use another filter to get rid of that magnesium? do you really have to ask ?

[@muratozt]

Hello I have bestmax premium V at home. The technician who installed it set it to number 2 and advlced me to try 1 and 3. When I change the setting to 1 or 0, is the water supposed to get softer? I see chalk alike small particles inside when I do that and taste is very biting and harsh. The manual says I have to set it to 3 (my tap water ph being at 7) but I am afraid that my dual boiler machine can scale as water gets harder. Is that right? Thanks

[@JDBlunderbuss]

The bestmax filter head can bypass some water depending on what setting it is on. 1 is zero percent bypass, 2 is around 25% bypass and 3 is around 45% bypass. You would use setting three if you don't have very hard water and it will help the cartridge last longer. Setting 2 is a nice medium position and setting 1 will filter ALL the water going into the cartridge which will give the best result in regards to softening the water, at the expense of chewing through the cartridge quicker.

[@surjadharma3518]

@@JDBlunderbuss I use Bestmin Premium M after RO filtration and I need high TDS (around 150ppm) as BWT output, should I choose setting 3? Thanks

[@chookchack]

What product is best for RO water?

[@muratozt]

I think it should be bestmax min that adds minerals after reverse osmosis

[@myname-mz3lo]

reverse osmosis water corrodes metal ...

[@chookchack]

@@myname-mz3lo thats why you need a remineralization filter.

[@myname-mz3lo]

ahh yess just what everyone wanted in espresso ....... more acidity .... cant wait to not get this blatant insult to our intelligence ... just get a normal softener .. the only thing magnesium extracts more of is acids and that kills the natural sweetness of a well balanced cup ... noone is like "i wish this espresso was more acid "

[@Wholelattelovepage]

Hi m, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Taste tests show a heavy preference for softening using magnesium over traditional sodium units.