Apax Labs

Apax Labs – Mineral Concentrates for Precise Coffee Water

You have two glasses of the same coffee in front of you. The same bean, the same grind, the same extraction time. You brew the first glass with a drop of TONIK in the water. The second with a drop of JAMM. You taste both. And suddenly, they taste as if they came from different countries. The first is bright, juicy, with a clear citrus note carried by the acidity. The second is dense, chocolatey, with a sweet finish. Same bean. Different water. Different cups. This is the moment you understand that water does more in the cup than commonly believed.

Apax Labs is an Australian brand, founded by water technologist Simon Gautherin, that has brought the topic of coffee water from the lab into the coffee scene. The idea: instead of pre-mixed water or complicated chemistry kits, Apax Labs provides three high-purity mineral concentrates as drops. You add them to demineralized water. Your optimized brewing water is ready. No chemistry degree needed, no gram-accurate scales. Coffee Coaching Club is the exclusive Swiss importer for Apax Labs. The entire range is directly available, delivery in a few days, showrooms in Bern and Zurich.

Why Coffee Water is Important

A finished espresso largely consists of water. Filter coffee even more so. Every mineral dissolved in the water interacts with the flavors in the coffee during extraction – calcium and magnesium bind different taste components, bicarbonate acts as a buffer for acidity, sodium and potassium influence mouthfeel. If you brew the same coffee with different waters, you taste different cups. This is not an opinion. This is measurable, reproducible, scientifically proven.

The problem in Switzerland: tap water varies enormously regionally. Very mineral-rich in some areas, almost soft in others. In addition, there are limescale deposits that damage your machine over the years. The usual answer is filters that reduce the total mineral content – a good solution for the machine, but a bland one for the coffee, because they remove all minerals equally. Apax Labs takes a different approach: You start with demineralized water (either from an osmosis system or simply distilled water) and build exactly the mineral profiles your coffee needs. Precise, reproducible, palpable.

The Apax Labs Range

Apax Labs offers three mineral concentrates, each with a clearly defined taste characteristic. You can use them pure, combine them, or adapt them to your bean.

The Three Profiles

TONIK [1] – for Clarity, Acidity, Juicy Fruit Notes

TONIK was developed to highlight vibrant acidity and juicy fruit notes in coffee. Composition: Magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate. The approach is balanced, with a slightly higher bicarbonate content for a clear, crisp cup. Ideal for light roasts, filter coffee, and all beans where you want to make the fruit audible – Wild Peach with TONIK in a pour-over highlights the peach note as clearly as only professional competition mineralization otherwise can.

JAMM [2] – for Body, Sweetness, Creamy Mouthfeel

JAMM was formulated for body, sweetness, and creamy mouthfeel. The calcium and bicarbonate content is specifically increased, which emphasizes chocolatey, nutty, and caramel notes and gives the espresso a dense, stable crema. This is the water that barista world champions use in categories for darker roasts or natural-processed beans. For our house roasts Cozy Chocolate, Nutty Delight, and Very Nutty, JAMM is the profile we use most frequently in our roastery and in the cafés.

LYLAC [3] – for Floral Notes, Silky Mouthfeel

LYLAC is the most unusual of the three profiles – and the only one without calcium. Instead, Apax Labs relies on sulfates and potassium to emphasize floral notes, delicate aromas, and a silky-smooth mouthfeel. This is a profile for very light roasts, for coffees with floral notes (jasmine, orange blossom, bergamot), or for experiments where you deliberately work against the usual calcium-heavy standard. For enthusiasts who want to explore the limits of what coffee water can do for taste.

Box Sets

Apax Labs Box Set – all three profiles in 100ml format

The classic set contains TONIK, JAMM, and LYLAC, each in 100 ml – enough for about 150 brews per bottle at the recommended dosage of 3-4 g/L, or 1-10 drops directly into the cup. This is the entry point if you want to seriously experiment with coffee water. Our recommendation: start with JAMM pure, then TONIK, then LYLAC – each with the same bean. You will taste the difference immediately.

How to Use Apax Labs

There are two ways to use it: in the brewing water or directly in the cup. Both work, both have their justification.

In the brewing water: You start with demineralized water (from a reverse osmosis system, distilled water, or a special filter). Add 3-4 grams of Apax Labs concentrate per liter of water – best measured with a precise scale. Stir, brew as usual. The water is now optimized for your chosen flavor goal. Advantage: The minerals diffuse evenly into the grounds during extraction.

Directly in the cup: Alternatively, you can add 1 to 10 drops of Apax Labs directly to the freshly brewed coffee, stir, and drink. This is faster, simpler, and works well for everyday use. The taste effect is similar, the integration slightly less subtle. A pragmatic solution for the morning workflow.

Which Profile for Which Bean

The choice of profile depends on the roast level and the character of the bean. Generally:

Darker roasts, espresso profiles, natural-processed: JAMM pure or JAMM-heavy blends. The increased calcium and bicarbonate levels emphasize chocolate, nut, caramel and give the shot body. For our house roasts Cozy Chocolate, Nutty Delight, Very Nutty, this is our standard profile.

Light roasts, filter coffee, washed coffees with acidity: TONIK brings clarity and juicy fruit. Especially exciting for filter coffee enthusiasts who want to experience their lighter coffees more precisely.

Very light roasts, floral coffees, experiments: LYLAC for the delicate notes that are often lost with conventional water. Not for every cup, but an insider tip if you want to maximize floral notes from Ethiopian coffees or certain naturals.

You can also mix the profiles – 50% JAMM + 50% TONIK for a balance of body and clarity is a popular starting point. Experimentation is part of the appeal. This is our observation, one of many.

Who is Apax Labs for

Apax Labs is suitable for anyone who already works precisely with beans, grind, and extraction – and finally wants to get a handle on the last variable that is still open: water. Enthusiasts who understand that a good shot depends not only on the machine and the grinder, but also on the molecules that interact with the aromas. Cafés and roasteries that want competition-level water for tastings or special events. People who want to present beans at tastings as the roaster intended them.

Apax Labs is probably not the first optimization you should make. If you don't yet dose with scales, if your grind fluctuates daily, or if you work with stale beans, Apax Labs will not benefit you much. But if you have all the basics under control and want to know what's possible: Apax Labs opens the door to the next level. Those who want it know why.

What Else You Need

To get started with Apax Labs, you need:

Demineralized water as a base. The simplest solution: distilled water from the supermarket or pharmacy (intended for irons, but pure enough). For regular use, a small reverse osmosis system for the kitchen is worthwhile. For professional use or machines with a fixed water connection, the system can be integrated directly into the water pipe.

A precise scale if you want to measure 3-4 g/L. An Acaia Pearl or Normcore scale with 0.1g resolution is sufficient.

A coffee that is worth the attention. Water optimization with poor beans brings little. Apax Labs unfolds its potential with Specialty Coffee – our recommendations for coffee beans from our own roastery.

What Goes Well With It

Apax Labs is an addition to the precise brew workflow. For the grinder: Varia (exclusive Swiss importer), Weber Workshops for premium precision or Option-O for the Lagom series. For the machine: La Marzocco, Rocket, ECM, Profitec or Flair Espresso. For the kettle with precise temperature control: Varia AURA Kettle. For the scale and brew tracking: Acaia. For airtight bean storage: Airscape.

A deeper look into the topic of coffee water can be found on our deep-dive page Composing Your Own Coffee Water. Backgrounds on extraction, aroma, and perception in our Sensory World.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly are Apax Labs mineral concentrates?

High-purity liquid mineral solutions, consisting of demineralized water and analytically pure minerals (Analytical Reagent grade). You add them in tiny amounts to demineralized water to build a precise mineral profile for your coffee. Dosage: 3-4 grams of concentrate per liter of brewing water, or 1-10 drops directly into the finished cup.

Which Apax Labs profile suits which coffee?

TONIK for light roasts and filter coffee with acidity (juicy, crisp). JAMM for darker roasts, espresso, and natural-processed (body, sweetness, crema). LYLAC for very light roasts with floral notes or for experiments (floral clarity, silky). Our house roasts Cozy Chocolate, Nutty Delight, Very Nutty work best with JAMM, Wild Peach with TONIK.

Do I really need demineralized water as a base?

For the full effect: yes. Apax Labs profiles are designed so that the added minerals define the taste experience – if your starting water already contains many minerals, the profiles will overlap and be less precise. Distilled water from the supermarket works as a start, for long-term use a small reverse osmosis system is worthwhile. Alternatively: add the drops directly to the finished cup – then the starting water plays a lesser role.

How long does a bottle of Apax Labs last?

A 100 ml bottle lasts for about 150 brews at the standard dosage of 3-4 g/L. Those who only optimize occasionally will have a bottle for many months. Those who work with Apax Labs daily will use about half a bottle per year. Shelf life after opening: several months when stored cool and dark.

Can I also use Apax Labs in an espresso machine with a fixed water connection?

Yes. For machines with a fixed water connection (e.g., La Marzocco Linea Mini, GS3), a reverse osmosis system can be integrated directly into the water line, followed by a mineralization stage with Apax Labs. This is more complex, but the result is absolute control over your brewing water. For setup, we advise you personally in the showroom or by phone.

Is Apax Labs safe for consumption?

Yes. The concentrates consist of analytically pure minerals in water – the same minerals found in natural drinking water, just in a defined, controlled composition. Apax Labs is used in international barista championships and meets common food standards.

Can I try Apax Labs before buying?

Yes. In the showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b), you can experience the three profiles in direct comparison. We will brew the same coffee three times for you – once with TONIK, once with JAMM, once with LYLAC – and you will taste the difference yourself. This is the most convincing way to understand the effect.

How fast are Apax Labs delivered in Switzerland?

2 to 4 working days throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. Click and Collect in Bern and Zurich is possible at any time. Shipping is free for orders over CHF 60.

Where can I buy Apax Labs in Switzerland?

At Coffee Coaching Club – exclusive Swiss importer for Apax Labs. Via coffeecoachingclub.ch, by phone during business hours, or in the showrooms in Bern and Zurich.