Operating instructions
www.schaerer.comWater quality
Operating instructions / V05 / 05.2012
61 / 66
Water quality
A cup of coffee consists of 99% water. Therefore, the water has a signicant effect on the coffee's taste. To
obtain an excellent cup of coffee, you need excellent water.
The water is important not only to the taste of the coffee but also to the coffee machine itself. Poor water
quality can lead to permanent coffee machine damage.
Therefore, close attention needs to be paid to the water quality in order to obtain high quality coffee and
protect the coffee machine.
Water values
Poor water values can lead to machine damage. It is imperative that the specied values be com-
plied with. Otherwise, Schaerer AG shall not accept liability.
The following water values are a precondition for the correct operation of the coffee machine:
● 4 – 6 °dKH (German carbonate hardness)
● 7 – 8 °dGH (German carbonate hardness)
● pH-Wert 6.5 – 7 (pH-neutral)
● Max. chlorine content: 100 mg per litre
Water is referred to as hard or soft depending on its composition. The hardness of water is referred to as
its total hardness.
The total hardness is differentiated into carbonate hardness (temporary hardness) and non-carbonate
hardness (permanent hardness).
In terms of the water hardness, the concentration of the hydrogen carbonate anion (HCO3−) is of special
signicance. The concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions, or the equivalent portion of alkaline earth
metal ions, is referred to as the carbonate hardness.
International conversion table
(factors apply to total hardness and carbonate hardness)
Unit ° dH ° eH ° fH ppm mmol/l
German hardness 1°dH 1 1.253 1.78 17.8 0.1783
English hardness 1°eH 0.798 1 1.43 14.3 0.142
French hardness 1°fH 0.560 0.702 1 10 0.1
part(s) per million (USA) 1 ppm 0.056 0.07 0.1 1 0.01
Millimol per litre 1 mmol/l 5.6 7.02 10 100 1
acidic neutral alkaline
0 7 14
If the water values do not correspond to the values specied above, the water must be prepared accordin-
gly (decalcication/enrichment with minerals).
The service partner can provide detailed information on lter options and variants and installs these on
location.
CAUTION!
Risk of machine
damage!