Regularly testing your water is the most reliable way to verify the water running through your espresso machine is within a safe range. TDS stands for "Total Dissolved Solids," which refers to the total amount of minerals in your water. Levels that are too high will cause troublesome scale buildup inside your machine over time. The TDS meter measures the mineral content within your water, not the total hardness. However, It's still important to test your water to know if an additional water softening solution is necessary for your equipment. This handy tool will give you an accurate TDS reading time and time again.
Need a full lesson on water quality? Check out Coffee School: Water 101 with Third Wave Water to learn more.