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Third Wave Water provides mineral supplements designed to transform distilled or reverse osmosis water into an optimized brewing medium for coffee. The company's core product consists of precisely formulated mineral packets that, when added to purified water, create specific water profiles tailored to different coffee types or brewing methods. This approach ensures water chemistry consistently enhances coffee flavor, acidity, and body, while also protecting brewing equipment from scale buildup or corrosion.
The company was founded in 2016 by Taylor Minor and Charles Nick, both experienced coffee shop owners. Their collaboration stemmed from a mutual desire to achieve consistency in coffee brewing water. Minor had developed a perfected water blend for his own coffee customers, and Nick suggested creating a concentrate of this blend. This conversation led to the pivotal insight that a portable, shelf-stable mineral additive could standardize water quality for superior coffee preparation.
Third Wave Water serves a diverse customer base, ranging from discerning home brewers to professional baristas and coffee establishments globally. By providing a reliable method to achieve ideal water composition, the company enables users to unlock the full potential of their coffee beans. Its long-term vision centers on ensuring that every cup of coffee brewed, regardless of location, can achieve exceptional clarity, balance, and flavor through optimized water.
Third Wave Water has raised $100K across 1 funding round.
Third Wave Water has raised $100K in total across 1 funding round.
Third Wave Water has raised $100K in total across 1 funding round.
Third Wave Water's investors include Barbara Corcoran Venture Partners.
Third Wave Water is a consumer product company specializing in mineralization capsules that optimize distilled or reverse osmosis water for brewing superior-tasting coffee by adding precise balances of minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium.[1][2][4] It serves coffee enthusiasts, home brewers, and commercial coffee shops, solving the problem of inconsistent water quality—which is critical for flavor extraction and equipment protection in espresso and coffee preparation.[1][3] The company has demonstrated steady growth, starting with a successful 2017 Kickstarter raising $26,795, experiencing a sales spike post-Shark Tank in 2018, launching a commercial Tethys filtration system in 2019, and reaching $1 million in annual revenue by March 2023.[1]
Third Wave Water was founded by Charles Nick and Taylor Minor, both with tech backgrounds and prior experience owning coffee shops.[1] The idea emerged when Taylor perfected a custom water blend for his shop's customers to enhance coffee taste, and Charles sought to replicate it scalably, leading to the concept of "dehydrated water" in mineral capsule form.[1][5] They launched via a Kickstarter campaign in January 2017, raising $26,795, which provided early validation and funding.[1] A pivotal moment came in Shark Tank Season 9 (episode 906), where they pitched for $100,000 at a $1 million valuation but did not secure a deal; however, the exposure triggered a significant sales boost, fueling expansion including the 2019 Tethys system for commercial use.[1]
Third Wave Water rides the wave of the specialty coffee movement, where third-wave coffee emphasizes precise control over variables like water chemistry for terroir-like flavor expression, aligning with growing home and pro barista trends.[1][3] Timing benefits from rising demand for at-home espresso amid post-pandemic coffee culture and e-commerce, plus awareness of hard water's damage to $500+ machines.[3] Market forces include the $100B+ global coffee industry shifting toward science-backed optimization, with Third Wave influencing ecosystems via partnerships (e.g., machine bundles) and education on TDS testing.[1][3] It democratizes barista-level water quality, indirectly boosting adoption of premium brewing gear.
Third Wave Water's trajectory points to further product diversification, like expanded Tethys deployments or new profiles for cold brew/tea, capitalizing on its $1M revenue base and loyal coffee niche.[1] Trends like sustainable home brewing, IoT-enabled machines with water sensors, and premiumization in beverages will propel growth, potentially attracting acquisition by coffee giants (e.g., Nespresso) or scaling via DTC/subscriptions.[1][4] Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to standard in coffee water prep, enhancing everyday brews as water optimization becomes non-negotiable for taste and longevity—proving better water truly yields better coffee.[4]
Third Wave Water has raised $100K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $100K Seed in October 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2017 | $100K Seed | — | Barbara Corcoran Venture Partners | Announced |
