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If you have ever wondered why specialty coffee shops serve a glass of water with your coffee without even asking for it, and/or have a self-serve fountain, it is not pure coincidence, there is a reason behind it.
Water, with or without gas, is one of the elements with which to enhance the flavor of coffee and allow all its notes and organoleptic characteristics to be captured. Its function is very precise, following the Italian tradition of the ancient coffee roasters. But when should the water be drunk, before or after coffee?
According to the studies carried out in this regard, water should be drunk before drinking coffee, since water serves to cleanse the palate and enjoy all its nuances and aromatic properties. Sipping water before coffee, therefore, prepares the palate to enjoy coffee at its best.
However, the effects do not differ between sparkling and still water. Sparkling water could be more effective in cleansing the palate, but it could also somewhat sedate the taste buds and impair the uptake of notes. On the other hand, plain water, although not as effective in cleansing the palate, does allow the enjoyment of all the nuances diluted in the coffee.
