Water Filtration

Water is almost all of what ends up in the cup, and in the UAE it is also the biggest single threat to the machine making it. Local supply is hard, so every litre through an unfiltered boiler or thermocoil leaves mineral behind. Scale-free, great-tasting water protects your espresso machine and improves every cup — filtration here is not an upgrade, it is the cheapest maintenance you will ever buy. This collection covers reverse osmosis systems, softeners and replacement cartridges for cafes, offices and homes.

What you need depends on the machine

A home machine with a water tank. If you own a Sage, the Claris water filter drops straight into the tank and is the simplest protection available. For any tank machine, the Aquaphor Crystal SOFT under-sink filter pairs a carbon block with an ion-exchange fibre to soften moderately hard water at the tap, so everything you fill from it benefits — machine, kettle and glass alike.

A cafe, restaurant or office. A plumbed commercial machine needs treated water going in, not filtered water poured in. The APRO 100 PRO is the standard multi-stage reverse osmosis system, stripping contaminants, chlorine and excess hardness and then re-balancing the water. The APRO 100 PRO SST is the same system with a stainless steel storage tank, which matters where taint-free storage is a hygiene requirement. The APRO-NP-120 is the higher-throughput option for a busy bar. A 20L storage tank is available as an add-on or replacement so you are not waiting on the membrane during a rush.

Cartridges and service life

An RO system only performs while its stages are fresh, and hard water shortens their life. Match the cartridge to the system: the PP5 sediment pre-filter and the Carbon B510-12 serve the APRO 100 PRO and PRO SST; the Carbon B520-Pro and the K7B serve the APRO NP 80 and NP 120; the ULP3213-1000 membrane fits both families. The KHC softening cartridges, sold as a 2-pack, are for the Crystal SOFT. Order replacements before you need them rather than after the water starts tasting of chlorine.

Our guide to hard water and your espresso machine covers descaling and filtration in the UAE in detail. See also Aquaphor, replacement cartridges and cleaning and maintenance. Prices on commercial systems exclude VAT, and we can issue a VAT invoice for business purchases.