From Chelsie Kenyon,
Your Guide to Mexican Food.
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After you soak the chiles the water will be a brownish color like very diluted coffee. Depending on the chile, it may be bitter or it may have the chiles flavor in it, which may actually be similar in flavor to diluted coffee. If the water is bitter, discard it. If the water has a good flavor to it, you can use it in the recipe in place of any water that is called for. Or you can save it and use it to cook meats in or add it to other stews.