Tabletop water filters are a practical and simple way to filter water for good coffee. In general, and in almost all regions, tap water is too hard for preparing good coffee. At the same time, hard water also endangers your coffee machine, as it promotes limescale build-up.
With tabletop water filters or other filtration methods, water can be filtered so that it tastes delicious and is also good for coffee machines and espresso machines.
In this test, we tested tabletop water filters from BWT, Brita, Lotus Vita, LARQ, Aarke, Yucona, and Peak.
Good water values for preparing coffee
Perfect water for filter coffee:
Total hardness: 2 – 3 °dH
Alkalinity: 1 – 2 °dH
Perfect water for espresso:
Total hardness: 3 – 6 °dH
Alkalinity: 2 – 4 °dH
We have written more about the perfect water for coffee in our detailed blog post on "coffee water." Another test summarizes the results of the most commonly used plug-in filter cartridges for espresso machines and fully automatic coffee machines. So-called water filter pads can also soften water, but they require time.
To analyze your own water, we recommend performing a test using titration drops. In Switzerland, you can obtain the test kit from BWT and in Germany the test kit from Brita from us.
Tabletop water filters compared to water pads and plug-in filters
Plug-in water filters usually provide the best water filtration. They are inserted into the water tank. The suction from the machine's pump pulls the water through the filter with pressure or force. This results in good filter performance.
Water filter pads lie in a water tank, and there is no movement of the water. The filter's performance therefore only develops over many hours. In our test, we monitored the filter performance over many hours. Only after well over 20 hours did the water values reach the target range.
Tabletop water filters are positioned between plug-in filters and filter pads. The water flows through the filter cartridges by gravity and is filtered in a few minutes. Some of the tested filters achieved good target values because they were designed for decarbonization. Other filters missed the target values, as the test shows.
We have created two videos about tabletop water filters. Firstly, there is our main video with all the details and additional explanations.
Secondly, we recorded a second version that summarizes the results briefly and concisely in a few minutes.
How was it tested?
The tabletop filters were first prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions. Subsequently, 1 liter, 5 liters, another 5 liters, and then 10 liters of water were filtered. Samples were taken after each filtration and measured using titration drops to determine water hardness, as well as a conductivity meter.
LARQ filter and Lotus Vita filter
Both the Lotus Vita and the LARQ filter were recommended to us for testing by the coffee community. Both filters are generally presented for improving water quality, not specifically as filters for preparing water for making coffee. Nevertheless, such a test is exciting and shows the characteristics of different water filters. Both filters effectively remove total hardness, i.e., calcium and magnesium, from the water. However, they do not or hardly reduce alkalinity. The hardness of our input water is 13 German degrees of total hardness and 10 German degrees of alkalinity. Although the total hardness is reduced, we have too little filtration of alkalinity to effectively filter water for coffee preparation.
We recommend both filters for effectively removing contaminants. The reduction in total hardness is sufficient to protect the coffee machine. The alkalinity is too high for brewing delicious coffee.
Brita and BWT tabletop water filters, Peak and Aarke
The four tabletop water filters from Brita, BWT, Peak, and Aarke are all capable of filtering good coffee water. The filtration performance of the Brita filter and the Aarke filter was in a good range, while the BWT filter did not filter as effectively. To reach the exact target values, the BWT filter would need a second filtration with our raw water. The Yucona filter also does not reach the goal with a single filtration and must be used a second or third time depending on the water hardness.
The Peak filter is the most versatile filter because a flow reduction allows you to filter more or less. This is particularly interesting for raw water inputs of 10 to 15 dH total hardness. For water that, like ours, comes with about 13 dH total hardness, a setting of 4.5 filter performance is certainly perfect. Anyone only struggling with 12 dH total hardness will certainly get by with a lower filter performance. This flexibility allows for individual adjustment to local conditions - very nice!
Unfortunately, the build quality of the Peak filter is not good. The pitcher seems cheap and unstable. The Aarke filter scores significantly better here. The filter is made of glass, the filter cartridge is made of stainless steel. The filter can be refilled yourself and makes the best impression as a filter next to a high-quality espresso machine.
Summary of the results
The water filters from Peak, Aarke, Brita, and, with reservations, BWT were convincing in the test. The Lotus Vita filter and the LARQ filter are primarily intended for filtering foreign particles out of water and desalinate the water. However, they do not reduce alkalinity sufficiently. The high retained alkalinity buffers the acidity of the coffee, which is important for the balance of a complex and delicious coffee.
The Yucona filter is a decarbonizer but has only low performance. Of the filters suitable for coffee, it shows the lowest filtration effect in reducing alkalinity. Multiple filtering of the water is necessary to reach the target values.
All our articles on the topic of coffee and water can be found here.
