Rancilio Water Recommendations

Please note: These recommendations are posted by Ranciio. We believe the TDS is too pure at 30 and too high at 150. We normally recommend 80-100 ppm TDS.

Water is the main ingredient in your coffee; it can comprise over 90% of your beverage. Proper water treatment will not only ensure good flavor for your product but will also prolong the life of your machine. During brewing/extraction, substances such as oils, minerals, salts, and sugars are extracted into your water, altering its flavor. Every water source is composed of different minerals, chemicals, and compounds due to geographic and municipal variables. Therefore, we recommend testing your water thoroughly. Doing so will allow you to select the best water filtration solution for your needs.

Rancilio Group North America does not monitor changes in water due to treatment from municipalities. Damage caused by inadequately treated water will void the machine and manufacturer’s warranty.

Water Factors for Equipment: Calcium Carbonate and Chlorides are the most significant factors that will affect your machine. Calcium Carbonate, a dissolved mineral, will settle inside the machine as scale. This is measured as water hardness. Higher levels of water hardness will cause faster scale buildup. Scale can clog orifices and block sensors from taking proper readings. Chlorides can bond with electrons in the metals of the espresso machine, which may produce salts that can alter the flavor of your espresso. This exchange of ions leads to the corrosion of the metals inside the machine.

Filtration Quick Guide: Filtration can be installed in-line directly before the machine or as part of a large water management system. When installing a machine in a building water management system, verify that the water hardness, TDS, pH, and chloride levels are within our recommendations. The machine may require an additional in-line system to make up for shortcomings in the building water management system.

Note: Having only a water softener is insufficient in most applications.

• Carbon Filtration: Water is passed through granular carbon-retaining compounds that impart taste and odor.
• Ion Exchange: Introduces desirable compounds like sodium while removing unwanted mineral components by attracting ions to its membrane.
• Reverse Osmosis: Water forced into semi-permeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles. Reverse osmosis can remove dissolved and suspended particulate from water, including bacteria. We recommend using a blend valve to introduce the desired levels of minerals to obtain your target TDS (90-110 ppm).

Filter Cartridge Exchange: A location’s filter cartridge exchange schedule is determined by use, water quality, and manufacturer recommendation.

Depending on the manufacturer and type of filter (carbon, ion, or membrane), the flow rate may or may not drop, affecting water pressure to the equipment. Refer to your filtration manufacturer for specifics on recommended filtration replacement schedule. Changing filters regularly will prolong the life of your equipment and maintain the quality of your product.

WATER QUALITY STATEMENT

RANCILIO RECOMMENDED WATER REQUIREMENTS ppm (parts per million):

• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 30-150 ppm
• Total Hardness: 2-3 grains per gallon
• pH: 6-8
• Chloride: 0 ppm
• Chloramine: 0 ppm
• Silica: <5 ppm
• Flow rate of water into machine: 0.5 gallons per minute