How Chlorine Affects The Taste Of Coffee And Tea

Ever wonder what that sour, chemical smell is coming from your tap water? What your nose is picking up is the smell of chlorine. Chlorine is a chemical used by water treatment plants in order to disinfect water so it’s safer to drink. Unfortunately, it also gives off an unpleasant taste and odor, making our water unappetizing. The potent flavors of coffee or tea aren’t strong enough to mask it from our senses.

Most water treatment plants do their best to not over-chlorinate the local water supply. With chlorine, a little goes a long way for disinfection. Chlorine also naturally dissolves in water, though that can take up to several hours from when it leaves the treatment plant. People whose homes are closer to the plant are more likely to notice the chlorine in their water than people who live further away.

Drinking water is important. Doctors always recommend we drink more! But if the water tastes bad, it makes it all the more difficult to form that habit. Not only that, but we need water to make our other favorite drinks like coffee, tea, and hot cocoa.

Chlorine tends to suppress the natural aromatics of coffee, the stuff that gives coffee it's powerful aroma. This is why we tend to dump other flavorings to our brew; things like cream, sugar, or flavored syrups. Coffee that’s been brewed with filtered water will taste less bitter.

The best solution is to use a water filter to clear out any remaining chlorine from your drinking water. You can use a filtered pitcher or dispenser from your kitchen counter or fridge. By using filtered water to make coffee, there’s a noticeable difference in its flavor. In fact, you may even take it black!