LESSON 2
pH Poolside
It is full-on summer, and in the heat of July, nothing is better than heading off to the pool! As you stay cool dipping in the water and sunning poolside, it might be a good time to give a nod of thanks to the pH keeping you safe in the water. If you don’t know what those letters mean or why it’s good to be thankful for this at a pool, then it’s time to settle into your lounger and get ready for second session of camp.
How Pool Water Keeps You Safe
There is a reason for the inviting, cool blue color of swimming pools; there are many additives to the water that make it safe for humans to dip into. You can’t really just jump into standing water left to its own devices without inviting a major risk for infection or worse. So, pool water gets treated by a very specific recipe for safety, including an ideal level of pH which is the amount of acid in the water that will prevent bacterial growth while staying safe for people.
The thought of acid might frighten because it’s a substance considered dangerous, but the reality is that the amount or strength of acid is where the danger lies. In science and nature, there are natural levels of acid that we tolerate all the time. For example, think about citrus fruits; lemons are extremely acidic. More fascinating, our bodies maintain a pH level, too. We carefully measure acidity to avoid the danger zones while maintaining the appropriate, natural amounts using the pH scale.
For that proper pH to register as appropriate sourness, the pH should fall in the range of 5 on the pH scale, though subtle shifts in pH occur based on the roast or type of beans used in the grounds. Still, for quality coffee to maintain its flavor profile, the water should maintain the right amount of acidity and avoid becoming too alkaline, and that requires special treatment.
Safety In Numbers
The pH scale is designed to track the amount of acid to avoid danger. We monitor acidity using a range from most acidic to none. The scale starts at 0, most acidic, and pauses at 7 for a neutral zone before heading up the range to point 14 which lacks any acid at all, considered basic. Anything over 7 gets called alkaline, no acid. For frame of reference, battery acid is at 0 and lemon juice falls at 2.
So, we treat pool water to control the pH level to ideal ranges for human use, just as we apply treatment to water for consumption for the same reasons. Pure water might have a pH of 7, but water is seldom if never pure. Water forms solutions whenever it comes into contact with any molecule, which happens constantly and often with minerals. And, minerals can alter pH in your pool or beverage.
Controlling pH In Water
When you use ingredient water, then, it’s vital to control for pH. If minerals cause water to become too neutral, or alkaline, then the final product might lose flavor. For a prime example, this causes coffee to taste flat. However, if you filter the minerals and preserve the right amount of pH, the coffee flavor stays robust and maintains the characteristic sour flavor that consumers perceive as good tasting coffee.
For that proper pH to register as appropriate sourness, the pH should fall in the range of 5 on the pH scale, though subtle shifts in pH occur based on the roast or type of beans used in the grounds. Still, for quality coffee to maintain its flavor profile, the water should maintain the right amount of acidity and avoid becoming too alkaline, and that requires special treatment.
Since water may contain minerals that cause the acidity of coffee grounds in a solution of water to shift toward neutral or basic, affecting flavor, then beverage water should account for these naturally occurring minerals and filter them out. With proper treatment, it is possible to preserve the acidity of the final product, reduce the effects of neutralizing minerals, and produce optimal flavor.
Come On In, The Water’s Fine!
Now thanks to understanding pH in water, you can relax; enjoy a beverage and take a swim! If you’re still poolside and eyeing the beautiful water beckoning you to jump in, you are safe to do since we understand the way to properly maintain pH. Next, ensure every cup of coffee is also properly maintained with the proper pH to serve optimal flavor.
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