The water in Cologne
- Hardness
- 278–323 ppm
- Band
- Hard
- Source
- RheinEnergie
Tap water in Cologne measures 278–323 ppm (15.6–18.1 °dH), which is hard, according to figures published by RheinEnergie.
Built for this water
Ligeia
Mineral-rich water brings weight but mutes the top of the cup — and where alkalinity is high as well, it buffers the acidity and the cup arrives flat. Ligeia answers with higher-grown arabica and a shorter roast — more aroma, more lift, enough brightness to still read through the mineral.
See the blend →Against the SCA target zone
At its softest, Cologne sits 2.5× above the top of the zone the SCA Water Chart marks as its target (2.8–6.2 °dH). Read that as a distance, not a verdict: the chart maps taste outcomes, it does not grade cities.
The same number, three ways
- °dH
- 15.6–18.1 °dH
- °f
- 27.8–32.3 °f
- ppm CaCO₃
- 278–323 ppm
German utilities publish °dH, French and Italian ones °f, British and Irish ones ppm CaCO₃. Same water, three conventions — worth knowing if you compare your city with one abroad.
Of the 47 cities we publish, Cologne ranks 8th by hardness.
The other cities we publish in Germany
Cities with the closest water to this one
Closest match abroad
The water most like Cologne's, outside Germany, is London.
London — 250–361 ppm →Where this number comes from
Published by RheinEnergie. We do not estimate: a city without a figure we could read on the utility's own publication is not on this site at all.
RheinEnergie →