Did you know that a cup of coffee is 98% water? Coffee may not hydrate you like a cool glass of H2O, but nevertheless, water is the number one ingredient—and the same goes for coffee’s calmer counterpart: tea! Most people rate the flavor of coffee and tea solely on the quality of the grinds or the leaves, but if they do, they’re forgetting the biggest component in the beverage.   With water comprising so much of your favorite drink, it’s no wonder that fresh, clean-tasting water is crucial for a good cup of coffee or tea. Different kinds of water can even alter the taste of the drink, such as the water’s mineral content.   Usually, the lower mineral content of “soft” water brings out a better flavor in the drink. This is especially true for tea because of its lighter flavor. A good filtration system will keep your coffee and tea tasting great.   But there is one surprising exception to this rule: Cold Brew Coffee.   Cold brew, where coffee grinds steep in unheated water for several hours, has blown up in popularity across the country. The best cold brew creates a smooth, delicious iced coffee. But there’s a trick to making the best cold brew that may surprise you. You’ll actually get a more flavorful brew if you use “hard” water!   Why is that? It all has to do with the chemical process involved in brewing. Coffee that is brewed hot relies heavily on the high temperature, but without that component, cold brew coffee must rely on the water’s ability to extract flavor. And as it turns out, hard water is much better at extracting flavor than soft water.   So the next time you brew your perfect cup of coffee or tea, don’t neglect the quality of your number one ingredient: good old H2O!