Operation Manual

www.schaerer.com Water quality
BASCP_EN
V03 | 08.2012
56
Water quality
A cup of coffee consists of 99 percent water. Therefore, the water has a significant effect on
the coffee's taste. To obtain an excellent cup of coffee, you need excellent water.
The water is important not only to the taste of the coffee but also to the coffee machine itself.
Poor water quality can lead to permanent machine damage.
Therefore, close attention needs to be paid to the water quality in order to obtain high quality
coffee and protect the coffee machine.
Water values
CAUTION!
Risk of machine
damage!
Poor water values can lead to machine damage.
It is imperative that the specified values be complied with. Otherwise, Schaerer AG shall
not accept liability.
The following water values are a precondition for the correct operation of the coffee machine:
• 4 – 6°dKH (German carbonate hardness)
• 7 – 8°dGH (German total hardness)
• pH value 6.5 – 7 (pH-neutral)
• Chlorine content max. 100 mg per litre
Water is referred to as hard or soft depending on its composition. The hardness of water is
referred to as its total hardness.
The total hardness is differentiated into carbonate hardness (temporary hardness) and non-
carbonate hardness (permanent hardness). In terms of the water hardness, the concentration
of bicarbonate anions (HCO3−) is of special significance. The concentration of bicarbonate
ions or the equivalent quantity of alkaline earth metal ions is referred to as carbonate hard-
ness.
If the water values do not correspond to the above-mentioned specifications, the water must
be prepared accordingly (decalcification/enrichment with minerals).
International conversion table
(factors apply to total hardness and carbonate hardness)
Unit ° dH ° eH ° fH ppm mmol/l
German hardness 1°dH 1 1.253 1.78 17.8 0.1783
English hardness 1°eH 0.798 1 1.43 14.3 0.142
French hardness 1°fH 0.560 0.702 1 10 0.1
Part(s) per million (USA) 1 ppm 0.056 0.07 0.1 1 0.01
Millimole per litre 1 mmol/l 5.6 7.02 10 100 1
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
0714
The service partner can provide detailed information on filter options and versions and can in-
stall this equipment at your location.