Understanding Distilled Water: Purity and Its Uses
Distilled water is essentially steam from boiling water that has been cooled and returned to its liquid state. Many consider it to be the purest form of water available for drinking (Blades, 2020).
While all water sources—whether from natural springs, wells, or tap—contain trace amounts of minerals, bacteria, pesticides, and other contaminants, distilling water removes these impurities, leaving nearly pure H₂O, consisting only of hydrogen and oxygen (Blades, 2020).
Can We Drink Distilled Water?
According to sources like Healthline, you can drink distilled water, but you might find its taste quite flat as it lacks minerals. There are claims that drinking distilled water can detoxify your body or improve health, while others argue it might leach minerals from your body and pose health risks. However, these claims are not fully supported by evidence (Kubala, 2018; Watson, 2019).
Due to its extreme purity, distilled water is often used in medical facilities and laboratories where it is free from contaminants like bacteria, viruses, protozoa (such as giardia), and chemicals (Kubala, 2018). Although not as commonly consumed as other purified waters, some people prefer it for its cleanliness.
The Role of Water in Coffee and Tea
Water significantly impacts the taste profile of your coffee or tea. For example, when you dilute an espresso to make an americano, the quality of the water affects the final taste. Similarly, when extracting coffee from ground beans, the presence of mineral ions like magnesium and calcium helps in extracting the rich flavours from the beans (Gagne, 2018).
Achieving the right mineral composition is crucial for a balanced taste. Starting with distilled water allows you to adjust mineral levels precisely, creating an ideal base for extracting the best flavours from your coffee.
Curious About Making Distilled Water at Home?
If you're interested in making distilled water at home, check out this guide: How to Make Distilled Water.
References
Blades, N. (2020). Distilled Water. Retrieved from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/diet/distilled-water-overview
Gagne, J. (2018). Water for Coffee Extraction. Retrieved from Coffee Ad Astra: https://coffeeadastra.com/2018/12/16/water-for-coffee-extraction/
Kubala, J. (2018). Purified vs Distilled vs Regular Water: What’s the Difference? Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/purified-vs-distilled-vs-regular-water
Watson, S. (2019). Can You Drink Distilled Water? Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-drink-distilled-water
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