572 : Understanding Water For Coffee w/ Maxwell Dashwood

572 : Understanding Water For Coffee w/ Maxwell Dashwood

Author: Chris Deferio November 18, 2025 Duration: 1:03:44

Water for coffee. This is the biggest area of quality control focus that we must always monitor and check to provide constantly excellent coffee. Learning about water can come from various sources and for many busy operators it is tempting to learn a couple things and use that knowledge forever vs continually learning and gaining just as thorough an understanding of water as you do with coffee. 


Thankfully we have a resource like the book Water for Coffee that has been created and is now in production of the 2nd edition! Today we talk with returning guest and co-author of Water for Coffee, Maxwell Dashwood!

We will cover:

  • The background and evolution of the book "Water for Coffee"
  • What has changed in the upcoming new edition
  • "Built water" is great, but not always
  • Water's role in affecting coffee flavor
  • How mineral salts change coffee taste
  • The case for natural water offering more complexity
  • Why different waters are required for different methods of extraction 
  • The need to open ourselves to the nuances vs dogma

Links:

Get the new book: Water For Coffee

https://www.instagram.com/mcolonnadashwood/

 

 

Click here to register for our new webinar! 

"The Keys to the Shop: Principles for Cafe Success"

 

 

KEYS TO THE SHOP ALSO OFFERS 1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING!

If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email 

chris@keystothshop.com

or book a free call now: 

https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min 


SPONSORS

Want a beautiful coffee shop? All your hard surface, stone, Tile and brick needs! 

www.arto.com

Visit @artobrick


The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! 

www.pacificfoodservice.com

 

 
 

 


Running a coffee shop is about so much more than pulling great shots. It's a complex dance of craft, culture, and commerce that demands a unique kind of leadership. That's the space where Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders lives. Hosted by Chris Deferio, this podcast digs into the real, often unspoken challenges faced by owners, managers, and aspiring leaders in the specialty coffee world. Each conversation moves beyond abstract theory to deliver concrete, usable strategies you can apply directly to your operation. You'll hear from a diverse range of voices, including seasoned coffee professionals and insightful experts from other fields, all focused on the practicalities of building a thriving business. Episodes tackle the full spectrum of running a shop, from daily systems and financial health to fostering a positive team environment and developing your own skills as a leader. The aim is to provide a genuine resource for growth, whether you're looking to refine your barista program, improve your shop's profitability, or scale your vision thoughtfully. Tune in for honest discussions that equip you with more than just inspiration-they offer the tangible keys to building a better, more sustainable coffee business. This podcast understands that your passion is for coffee, but your success depends on mastering the craft of leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders
Podcast Episodes
SHIFT BREAK! The Trend of Backwards Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:05
Who is it we are serving when we start or work in the coffee shop? If you listen to a lot of the way people talk today, you might think we expect customers to serve our needs more than we pursue meeting the needs of and…
Shift Break! The Problem of Commiseration [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:35
In forums, trade shows, and conversations everywhere, people are talking about their problems, and that's not a bad thing! The problem starts when the talk is not productive and starts to warp reality and damages our abi…
556: Myths Coffee Shop Owners Believe Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
What we believe is often a mixture of what we heard , what we have experienced, and what is convenient for us in the moment. The truth is, we are desperate for certainty and as our desperation grows, our ability to be re…
SHIFT BREAK! Considering the Future You When Making Decisions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:49
Have you ever made a regrettable decision in the moment that you would have made differently if you had given yourself a bit more time and space to reason it through? I think we have all been there. Many are there right…
555: 3 Ways to be Better Cafe Manager [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:45
Becoming a great manager is as much for other people's benefit as it is for your own. In order to do this you have to see it as a practice that incorporates certain mindsets and habits that contribute to developing you i…
SHIFT BREAK! The Right Place for Creativity in the Cafe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:38
We like to use the word "creativity" when describing ideal traits in coffee shop staff. In some ways, this is admirable and very useful, for a lot of us though, without exploring and establishing the details behind it an…
554: Formal Education vs Real World Experience : Which is Better? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:25
What is necessary before opening a cafe? Which is better to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities you will be presented with in your career and as an owner of a coffee shop? This question is asked often by peo…