Head to head
San Pellegrino vs Topo Chico
Published analyses side by side, then an honest verdict.
| San Pellegrino | Topo Chico | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Sparkling | Sparkling |
| TDS (mg/L) | 853 | 630 |
| Calcium | 175 | 120 |
| Magnesium | 47 | 11 |
| Sodium | 30 | 41 |
| Bicarbonate | 235 | 171 |
| Sulfate | 430 | 180 |
| Chloride | 53 | 63 |
| Silica | not published | not published |
| Nitrate | 2.8 | not published |
The two sulfate sparklers, one Italian and grand, one Mexican and cult. San Pellegrino is the heavier, drier glass (TDS 853) with 430 mg/L sulfate and 175 calcium under a fine, soft bead, a dry and faintly saline finish made to sit beside food. Topo Chico is lighter and brasher (TDS 630), less sulfate (180) but more sodium (41 mg/L), a coarser, brisker bubble over a mineral, faintly salty bite.
Pick San Pellegrino when the water has to work a table, the dry sulfate edge cleans the palate between bites the way a big bubble alone cannot. Pick Topo Chico for the saltier, more casual pour, the one built for a wedge of lime.
Full profiles: San Pellegrino · Topo Chico. All values mg/L from the analyses cited on each water’s page.
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