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There’s a wide world of water, and this pro knows which bottles are worth your money.
Key Points
While it’s easy to grab a pack of bottled water at random when grocery shopping, different water options have a surprisingly diverse array of characteristics, flavors, and benefits.
We asked water sommelier Martin Riese to share which bottled waters he recommends buying and skipping at Costco.
Riese recommends a selection of purified, spring, and sparkling waters while cautioning to stay away from brands that rely on empty marketing promises.
Water may be the simplest beverage we consume, but that doesn’t mean every bottle or glass we sip is the same. From purified and spring water to alkaline-enhanced options and varieties that use innovative filtration methods, there’s a surprisingly diverse array of drinking water available. When you’re strolling through the grocery store aisles, it’s easy to grab a bottle at random — but which ones are actually the best?
We tapped Martin Riese, a water sommelier, beverage consultant, and co-founder of the Fine Water Academy, to determine the best bottles to buy at a store with an impressive range of options: Costco. An expert with decades of experience tasting and evaluating water, Riese treats the staple beverage — one we drink far more often than any other — as carefully as fine wine. To educate others about the differences among waters, the sommelier often posts on social media about his favorite bottled waters from major retailers, including Costco.
While water taste is highly personal, Riese says there are key characteristics to look for to ensure you’re getting high-quality hydration. “To be clear, there is no such thing as best water in general,” he notes. “Water’s taste is based on the different minerals dissolved [in it], and we all have different preferences. That being said, I think there are waters that I consider good and other waters I would not buy, but that has nothing to do with taste.” From still to sparkling, these are the waters that Riese recommends buying at Costco.
The best water to buy at Costco
According to the sommelier, purified water is typically one of the most affordable options when buying bottled water. That’s because it’s simply tap water that’s been filtered — often using reverse osmosis, a process that relies on a combination of pressure and a semi-permeable membrane to remove contaminants — then infused with minerals to improve its taste. Costco offers a few top-notch purified options, and Riese suggests that “when you want water for a good price in that category, I would buy Pure Life and Kirkland Signature Purified Water.”
Spring water, on the other hand, comes from an underground aquifer; the minerals in it are naturally occurring and not artificially added. That’s a plus for Riese, who says, “Spring water typically has way more minerals dissolved in it compared to purified waters.” When it comes to water, minerals equal flavor, which is why spring water often has a more distinct taste.
Riese also explains that many of these minerals — which will be present in varying amounts depending on the water’s source — are electrolytes. As a result, spring water usually contains a small amount of naturally occurring electrolytes. This is far less than the electrolyte content of a drink like Gatorade or Pedialyte, but it’s a nice bonus for hydration. If you’re looking for spring water at Costco, Riese recommends brands like Arrowhead Mountain, Fiji, and Mountain Valley.
When you want a bottle of something bubbly, Costco has you covered. Riese named Kirkland Signature Italian Sparkling Water, Mountain Valley Sparkling Water, and San Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral Water as the options he’d add to his cart.
The Best Waters to Buy at Costco
Purified waters
- Pure Life
- Kirkland Signature Purified Water
Spring waters
- Arrowhead Mountain
- Fiji
- Mountain Valley
Sparkling waters
- Kirkland Signature Italian Sparkling Water
- Mountain Valley Sparkling Water
- San Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral Water
The water you should avoid at Costco
Even Costco’s inventory isn’t perfect, and there are a few waters that Riese recommends you skip on your next shopping trip.
Instead of using reverse osmosis, some purified water brands — like Smartwater — rely on vapor distillation. This process involves vaporizing municipal water and condensing it back into a liquid, a method similar to the way rain forms. Riese says he prefers the relatively simpler reverse osmosis and doesn’t think methods like vapor distillation are worth the premium price tag. “There is nothing wrong with the water, but for the high price point, I would not buy that water,” the sommelier emphasizes.
Related: Does Alkaline Water Actually Hydrate You Better? Here’s What Science Says
He also warns against alkaline water and brands that boast a pH level on their labels, such as Essentia, Smartwater 9.5, and Kirkland Signature Alkaline Water, all of which are available at Costco. “The high pH in water is pretty much meaningless because when you drink the water, the pH will be immediately neutralized by our very acidic stomach fluid,” he says. “Therefore, I would not buy any purified, alkaline-enhanced waters.”
Finally, there’s one sparkling water brand Riese avoids at Costco: Maison Perrier. Although the water sommelier and educator was once a fan of Perrier’s premium sparkling spring water, he says the brand recently changed its source and is no longer made from natural spring water. “I think it’s a bit confusing for the consumer, and therefore I would not buy it,” he says.
Read the original article on Food & Wine
