Input lever
Water Chemistry
Detail panel
Water source
The base water used for brewing.
AeroPress Wheel Variable
Water TDS
Water Chemistry · Input lever
The total dissolved solids of the brew water.
Input lever
Water Chemistry
Wheel face
Measurement-friendly
Technical science
Competition practice
Definition
Water TDS is the total mineral load in the water, but it does not say how that mineral load is composed.
Why It Matters
Water TDS is useful context, but two waters with the same TDS can extract and taste very differently.
Measurement Options
TDS meter
Calculated recipe total
Avoid
- Do not use water TDS as the only water variable.
Evidence Notes
Water TDS is a useful descriptor, but it is incomplete without hardness and alkalinity.
Page Context
Water TDS is part of the Brew Supply AeroPress Wheel and helps brewers describe the total dissolved solids of the brew water.
Related variables
Input lever
Water Chemistry
Wheel face
Water recipe
A deliberate mineral recipe added to low-mineral water.
Input lever
Water Chemistry
Wheel face
Hardness
The calcium and magnesium load that drives brewing hardness.
Input lever
Water Chemistry
Wheel face
Alkalinity
The water’s buffering capacity, often driven by bicarbonate.
Input lever
Water Chemistry
Advanced detail
Calcium
A hardness ion commonly present in brewing water.
Input lever
Water Chemistry
Advanced detail
Magnesium
A hardness ion commonly used in custom brew-water recipes.
Affected outcomes
Measured metric
Cup Outcome
Wheel face
Beverage TDS
Measured total dissolved solids in the served beverage.
Calculated metric
Cup Outcome
Wheel face
Extraction Yield
Calculated percentage of coffee mass extracted.
Measured metric
Cup Outcome
Wheel face
Beverage Yield
The liquid beverage mass collected or served.
Cup outcome
Cup Outcome
Wheel face
Aroma
The smell of the brewed coffee.