Writer Kim Jin-ho's Water and Health Story (49) Water Determines the Expression of Delicious Coffee Flavor

Coffee is the most popular beverage of choice in Korea, and many people start their day with coffee.

But how satisfying is the taste of the coffee you drank this morning?

American Starbucks coffee is the best-selling global brand coffee in Korea's coffee market.

Additionally, following famous international coffee brands like Blue Bottle and Kong Cafe, other brand coffees such as Barsha Coffee and Tim Hortons are continuing to enter the Korean coffee market.

The number of specialty coffee shops in Korea is about 100,000, and 20 to 30 new brands are opening and closing each month.

According to coffee information introduced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, coffee has both beneficial effects and harmful side effects on the body, and should be consumed appropriately based on an individual's health condition.

Coffee caffeine clears the mind and serves roles such as increased concentration and vitality, and through its diuretic action, it expels waste products and toxins from the body.

On the other hand, coffee caffeine has harmful side effects such as anxiety, nervousness, irritability, excitement, insomnia, and dehydration. People with conditions affecting the heart, stomach, or joints should drink coffee considering their health status. Additionally, caffeine interferes with iron and calcium absorption, which can lead to anemia and stunted growth, so caution is needed.

The maximum daily caffeine intake recommended by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for adults is 400mg or less.

The author recalls enjoying espresso coffee during a business trip to Europe while serving as an investment and trade advisor to Gyeonggi Province in the past.

After that, I occasionally drank espresso coffee in Korea, but it tasted less flavorful than European espresso coffee. Later, I discovered that the difference in water quality affected the coffee taste.

Korea's water quality is in a soft water region with low mineral content, resulting in weaker coffee flavor. When it rains during the rainy season, the coffee taste drops further, creating additional concerns for coffee shop owners.

To address poor coffee taste concerns, coffee shops install espresso machines that famous global baristas use, and use coffee beans from suppliers known for good roasting. However, the coffee taste often does not improve significantly.

Because of this, many shops purchase and use various types of water purification filters, but the coffee taste does not improve adequately, which remains a concern.

Since water comprises more than 98% of coffee's composition and determines its taste, it is important to correctly understand and use water purification filter functions.

Examining the functions of three water purification filters used in coffee shops—remineralization filters, carbon filters, and scale filters—and their impact on coffee taste reveals the following.

First, remineralization filters raise the mineral content of water and enhance coffee flavor.

Remineralization filters are water purification filters that prevent the decline in coffee taste in soft water regions and during rainy seasons; this is the name used in the coffee industry.

The performance of remineralization filters can be confirmed by testing purified water with 'KH reagent.'

By testing purified water before and after installing a remineralization filter with KH reagent and calculating carbonate hardness, the difference can reveal the amount of mineral increase in the water.

Remineralization filters imported from overseas are available, but recently Korea has developed and released the 'MineralMaker MM Filter.'

The MineralMaker MM Filter is a multi-functional water purification filter with remineralization function and the ability to remove chlorine and odors from water. It enhances coffee flavor and tastes good.

Coffee shop owners using remineralization filters say, "Imported remineralization filters did not improve coffee taste, but MineralMaker MM Filter raises coffee aroma and taste is good," evaluating the Korean product's performance as superior.

Second, carbon filters are the most basic water purification filters necessary for enhancing coffee taste.

Carbon filters are installed in all coffee shops and have the function of removing chlorine, odors, and organic substances from tap water.

The performance of carbon filters can be confirmed by testing purified water with 'OT reagent.'

If testing water purified by a carbon filter with OT reagent shows a yellow color, the carbon filter is not functioning properly and should be replaced immediately.

If testing water purified by a carbon filter with OT reagent shows a clear color, the carbon filter is functioning properly.

Third, scale filters are used to reduce scale buildup in coffee machines, but they also diminish coffee taste.

Scale is an oxidation film created on metal surfaces at high temperatures, with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) having a major effect.

When scale filters function properly, the mineral content of Korea's tap water in soft water regions decreases, resulting in worse coffee taste. Poor coffee taste may reduce the number of customers visiting coffee shops.

Additionally, even when using scale filters, calcium carbonate cannot be completely removed, so scale always forms around the coffee machine's boiler.

Therefore, regularly overhauling the coffee machine is more beneficial for coffee shop operations, as it improves coffee taste and increases customer visits.

Given the difficulty of current water purification filter technology in adequately filtering lime scale from water, measures must be taken to enable the use of water without limescale.

Understanding the functions of the three water purification filters explained above and their impact on coffee taste can reduce waste from unnecessary filter purchases and improve coffee taste.

However, even with delicious coffee, two problems always occur after drinking one cup.

First, people with sensitive stomachs may experience digestive issues after drinking coffee.

Second, water loss due to coffee's diuretic action causes dehydration, making skin rough.

To prevent these side effects, after drinking one cup of coffee, you should make sure to drink 1 to 2 cups of mineral water.

Water determines the expression of delicious coffee taste, but also serves as a natural remedy preventing harmful side effects to the body. Therefore, it is important to make drinking water after coffee a regular practice.

Then you can enjoy delicious and healthy coffee.