Faucet Systems

Professional baristas don’t use tap water to make coffee. It’s a matter of taste. Not "taste" in a snobby sense, but in a "this would taste bad to my customers" sense. Let’s look at why and what non-baristas should know about making great cups of coffee.

If Tap Water is Safe to Drink, Why Don’t Baristas Use It to Make Coffee?

Water is the most plentiful ingredient in a cup of coffee or espresso. (At least 90 percent.) Your barista needs a constant supply of water that consistently tastes great and has other characteristics beneficial to their coffee-making process.

The primary reason tap water is a barista’s enemy: Tap water contains chlorine. Communities add chlorine to their drinking water to kill parasites, bacteria, and viruses. A small amount of chlorine isn’t harmful to people, but chlorine has an oxidizing effect that makes coffee more bitter and "bleaches the creamy layer on the surface" of espresso. 

Additionally, chlorine compromises water’s effectiveness at extracting flavor from coffee grounds during preparation, resulting in a less flavorful cup. Using chlorinated, unfiltered tap water for preparing coffee is counterproductive for true coffee lovers.

So What Kind of Water Do Baristas Use?

Starbucks is proud of the filtered water they use in their coffee and tea drinks. (Request a cup of water at Starbucks to sample that same filtered water.) According to the coffee education site xLatte, Starbucks equips its stores with sophisticated filtration systems that use carbon filters to remove chlorine from water.

Leading-edge coffee professionals currently have science and scalability on their minds. Much brainpower and enthusiasm are focused on water chemistry, ultra-precise measuring, and other micro-details.

Where does that leave you, a regular joe who loves an exceptional cup of joe?

Can I Make Great Coffee at Home?

Yes! When it comes to being your own barista, you can make high-quality coffee beverages using filtered water. You don’t have to buy fancy bottled waters or special additives that optimize water for coffee making (yes, they exist). 

Filtering the water from your tap is easy, inexpensive, doesn’t create plastic bottle waste, and can be part of your method for producing great cups of coffee and espresso. 

PUR Products for Coffee Lovers (and Everyone Else)

Start by checking out PUR faucet systems, PUR pitchers, and PUR dispensers. Genuine PUR filters ensure that you’re benefiting from activated carbon, which coffee experts recognize as eliminating chlorine from water. 

You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing that PUR filters have been certified by two independent water testing organizations, NSF (originally the National Sanitation Foundation) and the Water Quality Association (WQA). Anyone who loves a glass–or refillable water bottle–of clean, great-tasting water will appreciate PUR pitchers and faucet systems.  

Let PUR products transform your tap water. Your barista would approve.

We’ve all heard it’s important to stay hydrated, making it an almost automatic add to any healthy living pledge. But don’t you ever wonder what all the water’s for? Why does it matter if you reach your goal of staying hydrated? It has a lot to do with the fact that our bodies are made up of a whopping 55-60% of water, depending on the amount of lean mass we carry. For something that takes up over half of us, it’s got to be doing something pretty big for our health, right? Indeed, it does! 

Water is a sneaky thing responsible for lots of stuff that makes us feel amazing. Most obvious is in digestion. Water aids in saliva creation, flushes body waste, and drives the nutrient conversion process. But it doesn’t stop there! Water is the ultimate cushy ride. Think of it as our internal bubble wrap. Not only does it lubricate our joints and keep us fluid, it also acts as a shock absorber for our neurological system. And if that’s not enough motivation to stay hydrated, it’s also critical in manufacturing hormones and neurotransmitters. Literally the stuff that makes us tick and function well. You can imagine what robbing those processes of key materials might do to how you feel. One more thing: feeling hot or cold? Water is part of regulating the temperature of our body. 

But how do we stay on track? Read on for simple tools to keep hydrated.

Eat Your Water

That’s right. The food we eat is a great place to slip in extra water, or ensure we aren’t losing water. Lots of foods are magically water rich. The most obvious being whole fruits and vegetables (try them in a smoothie!). But did you realize you can also replace carb heavy foods with these same items and get all the benefits with one easy replacement? Zucchini replaces noodles, cauliflower is a tasty swap for crusts, and lettuce can always take the place of breads or rice. It’s also important to pay attention to how much salt you add to your food. On average, we’re taking in 47% more than what we actually need, taxing our kidneys and body’s ability to retain water. Keeping your sodium intake lower keeps you happy and hydrated. 

Carry It with You

You’re on the go, so leaving your hydration at home isn’t an option. Lucky for you, taking it along has never been easier. For the active individual hiking or on a long ride, you can keep safe and at top performance with hydration packs. This practical equipment allows you to carry water directly on your back, comfortably distributed for easy carrying, and with a hands-free means of getting at a much-needed drink of water. And for everyday carrying, water bottles have continued to advance and provide selection for every need and price point. Bring on the joy! Water bottles come in any style or color imagined, making this accessory an easy statement of style. Healthy and fashionable? Yes, please! 

Start With Great Water

When it comes to the water you consume and carry, have you ever thought making it even tastier and healthier would increase your ability to reach your goals? An effortless way to improve the quality of the water you drink is to consider all of the many options you have for filtering your home’s water. These simple and low-cost options deliver all of the benefits of filtration, from removing contaminants to improving our environment, and PUR filters are certified to deliver these benefits. 

You can start with the faucet itself, by simply anchoring a water filter to the faucet. You can guarantee with a water purifier for home that each glass of water will give you peace of mind and the purest taste. PUR Faucet Systems come in numerous contemporary and standard colors, and offer various placements to ensure it fits your space needs. For the highly connected individual, PUR also has Bluetooth enabled features, tracking everything from your filter status, water consumption, and money saved. Staying hydrated has never been this clear!  

If you would rather tuck your filtered water out of sight, a filtered water pitcher or dispenser is worth keeping in your refrigerator. If you prefer the convenience of being able to serve fully filtered water beyond your kitchen, PUR pitchers are an excellent option. Sleek and comfortable, there are several varieties based on your preferences.  But if getting water from an easy pour spout and overall higher capacity is your ideal, the space conscious PUR water dispensers will provide the perfect glass of water at your fingertips. 

Happy hydrating!

Explore the PUR line of at-home water filtration products.

Water intake is key to our survival, but proper hydration can be difficult to achieve on a daily basis for a variety of reasons. In fact, as much as 75% of the US population is chronically dehydrated, and dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue and occasionally more serious conditions like seizures and kidney problems.

When it comes to sufficient water intake, there’s likely a few tired tips you’ve encountered time and time again. You’ve likely seen athletes carrying gallons of water throughout their day, or perhaps you’ve seen those large water water bottles that have measurements to ensure sufficient hydration. Perhaps you yourself have carried around one of these water bottles!

If you’re still struggling to drink enough water on a daily basis, there’s one hack you might not have tried.

The #1 Hack for Hydration? Make It Easy

Whenever you’re establishing better habits — like drinking enough water — studies show there’s one factor that helps more than others: Ease. By making the task easy, you increase your likelihood of completing it more regularly. When a task is more difficult to accomplish, a person is less likely to do it. Experts have a word for this layer of difficulty associated with habit-building; they call this “friction.”

As you’re looking to increase your daily water intake, identify areas of fiction. For example, when you’re sitting at your desk all day and you have to walk to the kitchen to refill your water, that walk to the kitchen creates friction. Or, if you’re in the car all day and you have a water bottle with you that requires opening with two hands while driving, this is friction. Similarly, if you simply don’t like the taste of certain water, this also causes friction.

By eliminating areas of friction, we make an action easier, and when a task is easier, people are more likely to do it regularly, like drinking enough water.

So, how can you eliminate friction when it comes to your hydration habits? Simple: Identify every small barrier you encounter every day in your journey to becoming a more hydrated version of yourself and work to eliminate it.

Taste Is Key

Ultimately, it’s harder to build a healthy habit like proper water hydration if we simply don’t care for the taste of the water we’re drinking. But, by investing in a water filtration system that fits right on your sink faucet, you can ensure you’ll have fresh, clean-tasting water every time.

Hydrating on the Go

Think through even the smallest considerations that may keep you from proper hydration. For example, do you hesitate to throw a water bottle in your gym bag because you’re afraid it will leak on your clothes? Invest in a leak-proof water bottle that screws tight every time.

Or do you find yourself in the car often, struggling to get the cap of a water bottle unscrewed? Maybe Hydroflask’s All Day Bundle featuring a 28 oz All Around Tumbler with a straw and a closeable leakproof lid will make it easier to increase your hydration while driving all day.

Hydrating At Home

When you’re at home, having easy access to drinking water will decrease friction and likely result in increased water intake. By keeping a water pitcher in several locations throughout your home in addition to your kitchen — like in your home office or your bedroom — you’re making it easier for yourself to drink the water your body needs.

10 Thoughtful ways to make first-time moms feel extra special this holiday season.

Becoming a mom is an exciting and magical new chapter for many, but it can also be an exhausting, chaotic and nerve-wracking time as well. Taking time out for yourself can be overwhelmingly difficult – even grabbing a shower is often a struggle – and the holidays can add an extra layer of stress to the equation for many new parents. If you’re shopping for a new mom this holiday season, show her a little extra TLC with an extra special gift that reminds her that she’s totally got this mom thing down. Sure she might be wrapped up in her new bundle of joy, but we’ve found 10 ways to show Mom she’s just as important.

1. A Coffee Subscription
“But first, coffee,” isn’t just a mantra for many new moms but a way of life. Getting adjusted to those late-night feedings and early-morning cry sessions can take some time, which makes added caffeine support a must. Make those first sips of java especially delicious by gifting Mom with a monthly, bi-weekly or even weekly shipments of small-batch, global coffee blends. Having one less item on the grocery list is also an added perk!

2. Self-Heating Coffee Mug
Coffee is great as long as you’re able to drink it when it’s hot. But round-the-clock feedings, diaper changes and being stuck under a sleeping baby can make it pretty tough to enjoy that welcome cup of coffee uninterrupted. The solution? A self-heating coffee mug that keeps Mom’s brew deliciously warm no matter how long it takes to enjoy.

3. Ultra Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
Not only is a cool mist humidifier recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to keep infants comfortable, but it becomes crucial in the winter months when heaters can make for especially dry air indoors. Opt for a filter-free model that’s easy to clean.

4. A Self-Care Package
After months of swollen feet and heartburn followed by labor and delivery, Mama is in serious need of self-care. Put together a pampering care package just for her (no baby gear allowed!). Ideas include a gift card to a spa for a massage, her favorite face mask, a yummy scented candle, a box of truffles, and richly hydrating body lotion. Throw in a coupon offering free babysitting for bonus points!

5. Meal Delivery
It’s easy to forget to feed yourself when your day revolves around the eating habits of a new baby. Save Mom from yet another frozen pizza and treat her to a few weeks of deliciously nourishing meals she won’t have to think twice about.

6. Super Soft Pjs
A post labor and delivery mom is a sore mom, and cuddly-soft pjs can make all the difference when recovering. Look for pajama sets made from extra soft material like bamboo cotton, and if Mom is breastfeeding, opt for a button-down style.

7. Stroller Organizer
Baby brain is real, which is why tools that help bring order to the chaos are very much welcome amongst new moms. If Mom is finally getting outside with her little one, help her keep her essentials in check and her arms light with a stroller organizer. Perfect for carrying her wallet, water bottle, keys, and phone, a handy organizer means she can happily leave her purse at home.

8. PUR 11 Cup Pitcher
Whether Mom’s mixing bottles of formula or working to keep herself hydrated (or both!), a trusted water filter is a must. Opt for a pitcher filter, which allows her to have the option of room temp or refrigerated water and is easy to clean with a dishwasher safe model.

9. Personalized Jewelry
Jewelry is always a welcome gift, especially when it’s personalized. Add the name, initials or birthstone of the new baby to a delicate necklace or bracelet. Or, include a special inscription that’s meaningful to Mom herself to commemorate this milestone.

10. Honeywell Designer Series HEPA Tower
With a never-ending onslaught of visitors and a serious need for quality sleep, an aromatherapy-enabled air purifier is just about the perfect new-mom gift. Give the gift of cleaner air while also creating an environment that helps Mom feel extra Zen. And be sure to look for a model that’s especially quiet so that Baby and Mama are sure to get their rest.

If you’re not using filtered water in your cooking and baking, you might not be doing your recipes justice. Filtered tap water can help reveal flavors in your food and baked goods in ways unfiltered tap water can’t. Let’s get into filtered tap water’s multiple benefits and why switching from unfiltered makes so much sense.

Water Is an Important Food Ingredient  

Because we’re all so busy these days, cooking and baking are labors of love. So if you spend time in the kitchen, you care about what you’re making and who you’re making it for. You want to make food that tastes good.

Bon Appetit knows, “The way your water tastes will affect the way everything tastes.” It’s easy to understand how bad-tasting water could ruin broth, ice cubes, coffee, and tea. It’s similar to why experienced chefs insist on cooking only with wine they would drink.

Unfiltered tp water contains chlorine. Municipalities add chlorine to drinking water as a disinfectant, which is good. PUR Water Filters reduce chlorine in the water flowing from your kitchen tap when changed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, enabling you to deliver dishes and baked goods that taste their very best.

Filtered Water is Good for Bread Making, Especially Sourdough

If you’re an amateur bread baker, you should know that the chlorine in unfiltered tap water could sabotage your hard work. Robust commercial yeasts can stand up to the chlorine, but less robust yeasts in your sourdough starter, for example, could be weakened.

The Pioneer Woman recommends that tap water with chlorine be filtered before it’s added to your sourdough starter. PUR products are designed to reduce that chlorine.

Filter Out Unwelcome Ingredients

Using costly and wasteful bottled water isn’t the best way to care for your kitchen creations and whoever you’re feeding. Consider the money you’d spend for the amount of water you use cooking and baking in a week. Also, consider the number of bottles you’d add to the environment.

PUR faucet filtration systems, pitchers, and dispensers are easy and cost-effective ways to reduce the variety of contaminants that can seep into your tap water. Filter your tap water, and you’ll allow flavors in your soups to shine through. Your cup of coffee will taste better. Your sourdough starter will actually rise. Your family may take pleasure in drinking clean, hydrating water, and you’ll enjoy peace of mind.

Resources:
https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/cooking-with-water
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_disinfection.html
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/water/
https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/cooking-with-wine
https://kneadrisebake.com/should-i-use-purified-water-for-making-bread/
https://www.thehealthy.com/hydration/what-is-filtered-water/
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a99222/sourdough-101/
https://waterandhealth.org/safe-drinking-water/wp/

Is filtered water cleaner and better tasting than tap water? Here’s a go-to guide for making the most of your H2O.

We all know that drinking water regularly is integral to our health and wellness — and with good reason! Every cell in our body needs water in order to function so staying hydrated is a must. But if the water you’re drinking isn’t as clean-tasting as you’d like, it’s unlikely you’re going to get enough daily sips. Thankfully, there are a variety of filtration systems to make your water a little cleaner and a whole lot more palatable to drink. Read on to discover what makes filtered water the best drinking choice and why it’s smart thinking to filter your water rather than to go with the flow.

What is filtered water?

Sure, many of us prefer the taste of filtered water, but what exactly are we drinking? Filtered water is groundwater or tap water that has undergone a process to remove impurities and a variety of physical and chemical contaminants in an effort to make the water cleaner for drinking (not to mention far more refreshing). These chemical and physical contaminants include certain bacteria, fungi, parasites, copper, lead, and other unwelcome pollutants. In most cases, the filtration process also works to remove chlorine in an effort to improve the water’s overall taste. However, unlike distilled water, filtered water isn’t completely free of particulates. Filtered water may still contain healthy minerals that are safe to consume and are actually beneficial to your health.

How is water filtered?

During a traditional filtration process, water flows through groupings of different materials, including gravel, sand, and activated carbon. Think of these filters like tiny nets trapping unwanted water invaders. These filters work to absorb and/or dissolve unwanted particles along with neutralizing bad odors.
But some filtration systems, like PUR, go a step further to include filters made from activated carbon for even smaller pores for the water to pass through. PUR filters also include ion exchange materials for trapping unwanted metals. As water flows through the filter, physical and chemical contaminants are adsorbed by the carbon while heavy metals like lead and mercury are adsorbed by the ion exchange materials.

Is filtered water cleaner than tap water?

Filtered water is generally cleaner to drink than tap water. However, that is not to say that tap water is unsafe to drink. Generally, tap water is safe to drink, but not all tap water is created equal. The safety of your tap water depends on its source.

Should I filter my own water or drink bottled water?

Whether to drink filtered water vs. bottled water is more of an environmental-conscious and cost decision opposed to a decision regarding taste or safety. Both bottled water and filtered water undergo processes to remove unwanted contaminants, which can range according to water bottle brand or individual filtration system. However, plastic water bottles account for a sizable portion of our planet’s daily plastic consumption. In fact, humans use about 1.2 million plastic bottles per minute in total and purchase about 50 billion plastic water bottles per year. Plus, buying bottled water on a regular basis can really add up from a cost perspective.
Alternatively, drinking filtered water in a glass or reusable water bottle can save just one person about 156 plastic bottles

What is the best way to filter water?

The two most common at-home water filters are faucet filtration systems and pitcher filtration systems. Both are effective ways to reduce physical and chemical contaminants and improve the taste of tap water, but choosing the best water filter for you depends on your individual needs. Consider what makes the most sense for your space, your lifestyle, and (perhaps most importantly) what filtration system you can properly clean and maintain so it’s as effective as possible.

Faucet Filtration vs. Pitcher Filtration

Here’s a rundown on the benefits of these popular water filtration methods:

Faucet Filtration Benefits

• Effective in filtering out unwanted chemical and physical contaminants
• Convenient, no-fill design
• Easy to install
• Doesn’t take up refrigerator space
• No wasted water
• Some faucet filters can go up to 3 months before needing to be replaced

Try: PUR Plus Faucet Filtration System

Pitcher Filtration Benefits

• Effective in filtering out unwanted chemical and physical contaminants
• Easy to clean
• Can be refrigerated for cold water
• Easy to use
• Some pitcher filters can go up to 2 months before needing changing

Try: PUR 11 Cup Pitcher

How do I clean my water filter?

Keeping your water filtration system clean with a functioning filter is the best way to ensure it is performing its best. For pitcher filters, the best way to do this is to wash and clean the pitcher at least every other week. Many pitchers are dishwasher safe, but you can also wash your pitcher by soaking it in warm, soapy water for about 15 minutes before rinsing clean. Replace the filter about every 2 months or according to the pitcher’s instructions.

Faucet filters should be cleaned and examined monthly. Detach the filtration system from the faucet and empty any filter debris from the cartridge by tapping it over a wastebasket. Soak the filter canister in mild dish soap mixed with water for about an hour before rinsing and leaving to air dry. Reconnect to your faucet and turn the water on for about 5 minutes to flush out any remaining debris. Faucet filters should be replaced about every 3 months or according to the filter’s instructions.
Whether you’re concerned about cleaner drinking water or just want better-tasting H20, there’s no question that filtered water checks the boxes. But that doesn’t mean you have to up your spending on store-bought bottled water or expensive, professionally installed filtrations systems. With simple, at-home water filtration, you can easily convert everyday tap water into delicious, thirst-quenching refreshment you can enjoy.


Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/purified-vs-distilled-vs-regular-water#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
https://www.allrecipes.com/article/what-is-filtered-water/
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/07/27/632393234/which-water-is-best-for-health-hint-dont-discount-the-tap
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_treatment.html#:~:text=During%20filtration%2C%20the%20clear%20water,parasites%2C%20bacteria%2C%20and%20viruses 
https://www.popsci.com/how-pur-water-filtration-works/#:~:text=PUR%20uses%20activated%20carbon%20that's,fill%20up%20the%20surface%20area 
https://www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-single-use-plastics/ 
https://waterfilterguru.com/how-to-clean-pur-water-filter-faucet-mount/ 

WHY PUR?

There are plenty of filter options out there. What sets PUR apart from the rest?

We've Made History

For 30 years, our goal has been to make your water clean.

1986 - PUR, formerly Recovery Engineering, was founded by 24-year-old Brian Sullivan, a Harvard economics graduate.

1989 - William Butler survived 66 days at sea with the PUR Survivor 35 – the first hand operated Desalinator.

1994 - PUR invented the first faucet filtration system with Automatic Safety Monitor (ASM) gauge that lets consumers know when the filter is finished and can no longer remove contaminants.

2014 - PUR was the first to obtain certification from NSF for a new category of contaminants called “emerging contaminants" which includes substances like DEET and pharmaceuticals, for faucet and pitcher filters.

2016 - PUR traveled to Flint, Michigan to aid in relief efforts by testing Lead contaminated water and donating filters.

Our Faucet Filters Reduce 70 Contaminants*

Why Does A Water Filter Matter?

Contaminants can enter the water system daily, most of which we can't see, let alone pronounce.* That's why filtering your water is important. There is no simple fix for America's drinking water infrastructure. But there is a simple fix for yours.

*For a full list of contaminants, click here. PUR does not filter microbes.