Bursting Beverage Booster Myths: Why Water Pressure Is the Unsung Hero of Drink Quality

When it comes to serving the perfect beverage - whether it’s a smooth cold brew or a sparkling soda - much attention is given to the brand, the carbonation level, or even the glassware. But what if one of the most overlooked factors is actually water pressure?

For many foodservice operators, bottlers, and beverage equipment designers, beverage water boost systems remain a mystery, something only to consider if pressure drops or customers complain. But the truth is, consistent, reliable pressure is foundational to beverage quality, equipment longevity, and customer experience.

Here, we will bust a few myths to show how beverage water boost systems are an essential part of every high-performance beverage system and not just optional add-ons.

Water Boosters: Your Beverage System’s Insurance Policy

Think of a water boosting system as the insurance policy your beverage system didn't know it needed. More than just a pump, a complete beverage water boosting system is engineered to maintain optimal and consistent flow levels, protecting against any fluctuations that can silently undermine beverage quality and wear down equipment over time.

Water boosting systems, designed with application-specific performance in mind, help stabilize operations across formats. Whether you’re dispensing coffee, soda, kombucha, or juice, these systems ensure the right pressure reaches the right component at the right time. That means more consistent carbonation, less foaming, better-tasting drinks, and fewer service calls.

Myth #1: “I don’t need a water boosting system; my pressure is fine.”

At first glance, your building’s water pressure might seem sufficient. But beverage dispensing systems don’t rely on average pressure, they rely on consistent pressure. Even minor dips or surges can have an outsized impact on how drinks pour, especially when multiple taps or machines are running at once.

A water boosting system fixes low pressure and ensures system-wide consistency. That’s vital for maintaining carbonation levels, ensuring balanced flow rates, and avoiding erratic foaming. In other words: it’s not about whether your pressure is occasionally fine, but whether it’s always reliable.

Myth #2: “Low pressure doesn’t impact drink quality.”

Inconsistent or low pressure water directly affects beverage quality. For carbonated beverages, lower-than-optimal pressure can cause under-carbonation, while spikes can lead to over-foaming or flat drinks. It also affects non-carbonated beverages, with inconsistent pressure altering their mix ratios, leading to poor taste. In coffee or tea applications, low pressure can hinder proper flow through filters, which changes the taste and temperature profiles.

Xylem’s Flojet beverage water boost systems are engineered to provide the steady pressure these processes demand – typically in the 20-60 PSI range, depending on the application. For example, carbonated beverage systems often perform best around 40-55 PSI, while coffee and tea applications may require consistent pressure in the 20-30 PSI range to ensure proper flow and flavor extraction.

By maintaining pressure within these optimal ranges, Flojet water boosting systems help ensure consistent carbonation, stable foam quality, consistent taste, and reduced syrup or CO₂ waste.

Pressure problems are quality problems in disguise. What may look like a foaming issue, or an inconsistent pour, is often rooted in unstable or insufficient pressure. Solving for pressure means solving for beverage consistency.

Myth #3: “Inconsistent pressure only damages cheap equipment.”

This misconception puts high-performance dispensing systems at risk. Even the most premium machines can’t perform properly if they’re fed inconsistent water pressure. Over time, this results in wear-and-tear on solenoids, pumps, valves, and tubing. This is not because the equipment is substandard, but because the operating conditions are unstable.

Think of it like sending a luxury car over potholes every day - it’s not the car’s fault it breaks down. Xylem’s Flojet water booster systems prevent that by smoothing out pressure spikes and drops before they ever reach your dispensing equipment.

Myth #4: “I need a large tank – and I never have to check it.”

It’s a common assumption: bigger tanks mean better performance. But in most beverage applications, oversized tanks are unnecessary and inefficient. Smaller, well-designed boosting systems are often better suited for maintaining precise control in compact setups.

Another myth? That tanks come perfectly pressurized and never need checking.

Not true. Tank pressure needs to be calibrated on installation and checked regularly to match the system's cut-in pressure, the specific pressure point at which the booster pump activates. If the tank pressure is too low or too high relative to this setting it can lead to waterlogging, in which the tank has an improper ratio of water to air; pump short-cycling; or reduced performance efficiency.

Xylem’s Flojet beverage dispense water boosting systems come with clear setup guidance to avoid these common pitfalls and make maintenance easy.

Conclusion: Boosting More Than Just Pressure

Water pressure isn’t the glamorous part of beverage dispensing, but it is one of the most important. A high-quality beverage dispense water boosting system ensures your beverages taste better, your equipment lasts longer, and your customers stay satisfied.

By busting these common myths, we hope to allow beverage system designers, installers, and operators to think beyond the pump, and see pressure stability as a non-negotiable ingredient in their success.

Looking to learn more about how water boosters impact beverage quality? Explore Xylem’s Flojet beverage water boosting systems and pumps.