Meticulous Espresso
| Maker | Meticulous |
|---|---|
| Boiler | Heats per shot, no standing boiler |
| Brew boiler | Not listed |
| Steam boiler | Not listed |
| Water tank | Not listed |
| Plumb-in | Not listed |
| Voltage (US) | 100-240V (universal) |
| Maker's water filter | Not listed |
What water does this machine require?
Meticulous publishes 5 limits our water check uses for this machine. Each is quoted in the maker's own words below.
| What | The maker's limit | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Total hardness | at most 100 ppm as CaCO3 (100 mg/L as CaCO3, our conversion) | Meticulous's guidance for its range, which it says covers this machine. The maker's words for Total hardness. |
| Total alkalinity | at most 50 ppm as CaCO3 (50 mg/L as CaCO3, our conversion) | Meticulous's guidance for its range, which it says covers this machine. The maker's words for Total alkalinity. |
| Total alkalinity | at most 100 ppm as CaCO3 (100 mg/L as CaCO3, our conversion) | Meticulous's guidance for its range, which it says covers this machine. The maker's words for Total alkalinity. |
| Chloride | below 10 ppm | Meticulous's guidance for its range, which it says covers this machine. The maker's words for Chloride. |
| Chloride | below 10 ppm | Meticulous's guidance for its range, which it says covers this machine. The maker's words for Chloride. |
Shown, but not used to decide (6)
- Total hardness, at least 50 ppm as CaCO3 (50 mg/L as CaCO3, our conversion). Guidance the maker gives as an ideal, a recommendation or a care tier, not as a limit. The maker's words for Total hardness.
- Total alkalinity, at least 30 ppm as CaCO3 (30 mg/L as CaCO3, our conversion). Guidance the maker gives as an ideal, a recommendation or a care tier, not as a limit. The maker's words for Total alkalinity.
- Total alkalinity, at most 50 ppm as CaCO3 (50 mg/L as CaCO3, our conversion). Guidance the maker gives as an ideal, a recommendation or a care tier, not as a limit. The maker's words for Total alkalinity.
- Total dissolved solids (TDS), below 30 ppm. Guidance the maker gives as an ideal, a recommendation or a care tier, not as a limit. The maker's words for Total dissolved solids (TDS).
- Total dissolved solids (TDS), 30–120 ppm. Guidance the maker gives as an ideal, a recommendation or a care tier, not as a limit. The maker's words for Total dissolved solids (TDS).
- Total dissolved solids (TDS), above 120 ppm. Guidance the maker gives as an ideal, a recommendation or a care tier, not as a limit. The maker's words for Total dissolved solids (TDS).
Will my water work with this machine?
Add your water from a test strip, a report or your city's numbers, and we'll check it against the maker's limits above. It stays in this browser.
The maker's water guidance
From Meticulous's general guidance.
General hardness: 60–80 ppm as CaCO3
“Both are expressed in ppm (parts per million) as CaCO₃. ... General hardness (GH) | 60–80 ppm | 50–100 ppm”
Alkalinity: 30–50 ppm as CaCO3
“Both are expressed in ppm (parts per million) as CaCO₃. ... Alkalinity (KH) | 40 ppm | 30–50 ppm”
Chloride: up to 10 ppm
“Chloride | as low as possible | under 10 ppm”
Alkalinity limit: at least 100 ppm as CaCO3
“If your water is above 100 ppm KH, do not put it in the machine untreated.”
Softened water
“Avoid sodium-softened water.”
Total hardness: at least 50 ppm as CaCO3
“Both are expressed in ppm (parts per million) as CaCO₃. ... These minerals are what extract flavor from coffee. Too little and espresso tastes thin and sour; too much and it tastes dull and heavy. ... General hardness (GH) | 60–80 ppm | 50–100 ppm”
Total alkalinity: at least 30 ppm as CaCO3
“Both are expressed in ppm (parts per million) as CaCO₃. ... Alkalinity (KH), also called carbonate hardness or buffer, is the amount of bicarbonate. It stabilizes acidity, but it is also the ingredient that combines with calcium when water is heated to form limescale. ... Alkalinity (KH) | 40 ppm | 30–50 ppm”
Total alkalinity: up to 50 ppm as CaCO3
“Both are expressed in ppm (parts per million) as CaCO₃. ... Scale risk rises sharply above ~50 ppm KH combined with high calcium.”
Chloride: up to 10 ppm
“Chloride is the enemy of stainless steel. Even at modest levels, chloride ions drive corrosion inside espresso machines. Keep it under 10 ppm, and never remineralize with calcium or magnesium chloride. Use sulfate and bicarbonate based mineral products instead.”
Very pure water
“Very pure water needs minerals for taste. Distilled, deionized, or straight reverse osmosis water has near-zero minerals, so it will never form scale, but it extracts poorly and makes flat, sour espresso. Remineralize it (chloride-free) to the targets above for the best results in the cup.”
Total dissolved solids (TDS): up to 30 ppm
“As a rule of thumb, based on total dissolved solids: Under ~30 ppm TDS: scale will essentially never form.”
Total dissolved solids (TDS): 30–120 ppm
“30–120 ppm TDS: descale about once a year.”
Total dissolved solids (TDS): at least 120 ppm
“Over 120 ppm TDS: descale at least twice a year, or more often depending on your water. Better yet, switch to a water source in the target range.”
Remineralization
“Magnesium is your friend. It contributes to extraction like calcium but is far less prone to forming scale. Mineral recipes and remineralization products that favor magnesium over calcium are ideal for espresso machines.”
Water filter
“Filtered tap water, if tested. A carbon filter (e.g., a standard pitcher filter) improves taste and removes chlorine, but it does not meaningfully reduce the dissolved calcium and magnesium that cause scale. Test the filtered output with your drop kit before trusting it.”
Water type
“Bottled water that fits the targets. Check the label or the brand's water report for calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and chloride values. Many popular still waters are far too hard; low-mineral waters around 50–100 ppm total dissolved solids are usually closest.”
Testing
“A TDS meter alone is not enough. It reports total dissolved solids without telling you what they are. Water at 120 ppm TDS could be perfectly balanced or a scale hazard depending on its composition.”
Water filter
“Use filtered water to minimize scale.”
Where to buy
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