[rico567]

Originally Posted by Spyder

Cafiza is a backflush detergent and shouldn't be used as a descaler. Urnex does make a descaler, think it's called Cleancaf.

Citric acid is the best descaler around as it's cheap, effective and relatively safe.

Filtering water just usually gets the nasty tasting stuff out. Softening actually removes most of the minerals that contribute to scale buildup. And don't think about using Reverse Osmosis or distilled water if you want great tasting coffee as they're too pure.

Don't understand the last sentence at all. We have used nothing but RO water to make coffee for 20 years (we're on a well, and have far too much dissolved calcium and iron to use for cooking, drinking or etc.), and ours is as good as any we drink elsewhere.

[Spyder]

Trust me, water with a bit of hardness and properly balanced PH simply tastes better than water that has everything removed. Taking everything out of water and making it too pure hinders soluble extraction, leading to somewhat of a diluted drink. Especially with espresso.

[bigmike787]

Coffee is a subjective thing. What is good to you may not be good to me. If it's good to you, WTF cares what anyone else thinks.

[Spyder]

True, and opinions vary greatly!