Why Starbucks' Water Tastes So Unique

Starbucks is one of the largest coffee merchants in the U.S. If you head to a local one with a friend or co-worker, it seems like everyone has their favorite go-to Starbucks drink order that they swear by. While the coffee giant is famous for their java, innovative fruit infusion drinks, as well as a variety of teas, there's another drink that people flock to Starbucks for and it might you surprise you. It's their water. 

Any coffee connoisseur will tell you that a superior cup starts with two things — quality coffee beans and filtered water. Since water is free at Starbucks, it's no wonder that so many people try it and end up loving the taste. Recently, a clip on TikTok by a Starbucks employee that goes by the username @swaze9089, spilled the beans on the water filtration system that gives Starbucks' water its crisp, clean, and unique taste.

According to Water Filtration Tips, Starbucks uses a triple filtered, reverse osmosis water filtration system. The reverse osmosis process works by water flowing through a series of filters that remove sediment, then it moves on to an activated carbon filter to reduce unwanted tastes or odors like chlorine. Then finally, it passes through a tightly woven membrane that separates the water from contaminants that can be as small as a single atom (via Culligan Water).

There are several benefits to reverse osmosis water filtration that include removing nearly all contaminants like lead, asbestos, and others, per Forbes. Removing contaminants, tastes, odors, and sediment leads to better tasting water, like that offered at Starbucks. Additionally, by removing those things from water, it also helps extend the life of your coffee machine, since sediment and chlorine can wreak havoc on coffee makers, according to Crema Coffee Garage. So, the next time you're placing your favorite Starbucks order, ask for a water and enjoy knowing a bit more about their filtration process.