Best Water Filter Jugs + Some PROBLEMS You MUST Know About Them
Problems You MUST Know Before You Buy a Water filter Jug
Always check if the bottle is made from plastic, metal or glass. If it is made from plastic make sure it is 100% BPA free. If you don’t, the bottle can leak harmful plastic residue into your water.
Will the bottle fit in your fridge? Check its dimensions before you buy. There is nothing worse than getting your new bottle only to find you can’t put it in your fridge.
How long does it take to filter? Some filters work instantaneously while others can literally take hours.
Is the replacement filter easy to find and affordable? Some manufactures sell you a cheaper bottle only to make their money back from expensive replacement filters. A bit like how modern day printers work. Always check the replacement filter cost and availability to avoid being stung.
Product | Problems you MUST Know | Best Features |
BWT (Best Water Technology) Filter Jug 1300ml (1.3L) | 2.7 litres might be too much for a single person household. | Provides “mineralised drinking water” i.e. it filters water with a flavour carrier magnesium that transfers flavour, clarity and aroma. Approved by Good Housekeeping. BWT (Best Water Technology) filter jug also achieves the highest marks for taste in independent consumer tests. Comes with an electronic filter change indicator and refill without having to remove lid. |
Stelton Water Filter Jug 2000ml (2L) | It is made from plastic and I can't find its BPA credentials anywhere. Its round base means it won’t fit into the fridge door compartment. Difficult to use and not very functional. You don't get a free filter with jug like the others. It gets through filters quickly when compared to a standard BRITA jug. | Works with Brita Maxtra filters. Reduces carbonate hardness meaning no limescale in your kettle and a better taste. |
Black + Blum Eau Carafe 1100ml (1.1L) | If you pour boiling water directly into it, you will melt the bottle. If you freeze this water bottle with the charcoal inside, the charcoal starts to splinter and leaves you with bits floating in the water – as charcoal is too fine to ingest it’s not harmful but can be sharp. | Small enough to use as a portable water bottle as well as jug. Comes with binchotan charcoal, which is an active carbon that is made from tree branches and is very effective at filtering water. It neutralises the water’s pH levels. It absorbs impurities like chlorine. Through the charcoal, the filter bottle sends nutrients (magnesium, calcium and iron) back into the water. |
BRITA Marella XL Water Filter Jug
The BRITA Marella XL is one of the biggest water filter jugs on the market as it has a 3.5 litre capacity as well as a clever electronic countdown that reminds you when you need to change the cartridge.
It comes with a low-set filter that means you can half fill the jug and then leave it to trickle through. It also comes in a wide range of colours.
Summary
- It comes in either 2 or 3.5 litre filtered water capacity.
- The jug has an electronic interface that tells you when to replace the the filter.
- Uses the MAXTRA cartridge, one of the most popular on the market.
- Non-slip base and soft grip handle.
- It’s flip top lid is good for ‘one hand’ filling.
In the pack you get:
BRITA Marella XL Water Filter Jug (x1)
Registration card (x1)
Instructions for use booklet (x1)
MAXTRA cartridge (x1)
Positives
Large capacity, up to 3.5 litres – good for large families etc.
Quick and easy to assemble all the parts.
Drastically improves the taste of tap water.
Cartridges are available in most supermarkets so no need to hunt down specialist stores.
Electronic countdown that tells you when the cartridge needs to be replaced.
Negatives
Can be slow to filter if you want to fill the whole thing up in one go.
BWT (Best Water Technology) Water Filter Jug
This 2.7 litre jug has two very clever design features i) a flap on the top that lets you fill it without having to take it all apart and ii) a small cover over the spout that hinges open as you pour. It also comes with a digital counter that tells how many times it’s been filled and it is recommended that you replace the filter after 100 refills.
Summary
- Provides “mineralised drinking water” i.e. it filters water with a flavour carrier magnesium that transfers flavour, clarity and aroma.
- Protects coffee machines and kettles from limescale.
- Fits in all conventional fridge doors.
- Comes with an electronic filter change indicator and refill without having to remove lid.
- Approved by Good Housekeeping.
- BWT (Best Water Technology) filter jug also achieves the highest marks for taste in independent consumer tests.
Technical Details
Brand: BWT
Model Number: EJUGWHT
Item Weight: 862 g
Product Dimensions: 30 x 8 x 20 cm
Capacity: 1.3 litres
Positives
BWT filter jug was tested by 1,000 consumers and 96% of the testers said they would continue to use this water filter in the future.
Faster filtration – a cup full of water takes only a few seconds and it takes about three minutes for a full jug.
Approved by Good Housekeeping.
Protects coffee machines and kettles from limescale.
Fits in all conventional fridge doors
Electronic indicator that informs you when the filter needs to be replaced.
Negatives
2.7 litres might be too much for a single person household.
Stelton Water Filter Jug
The Stelton water filter jug is designed to reduce carbonate hardness and impurities from water. It comes from a Danish design company, has a 2 litre capacity filter jug but its round base means you probably won’t be able to store it in your fridge door compartment.
However, on the plus side, it works with Brita Maxtra filters, which are easy to get but note that it doesn’t come with a filter to start with. It also comes in 3 different colours.
Summary
- Enjoy fresh, clean water with reduced carbonate hardness and impurities.
- Use filtered water for your espresso machine or kettle to avoid limescale sediment
- Available in three colours: aqua, azure and smoke.
- Works with Brita water filters.
Good to know
- Does not come with a water filter cartridge in the box.
- It uses the MAXTRA Brita filter type.
- Even though it looks like glass it is actually plastic.
Positives
Reduces carbonate hardness meaning no limescale in your kettle and a better taste.
The jug looks great.
You can use it with easy to get Brita Maxtra filters.
Negatives
Its round base means it won’t fit into the fridge door compartment.
It does not come with any filter upfront (most bottles usually do).
Elegant though this is, it is not very functional. Unless you go to some effort to jam the lid on it has a tendency to fall off when you pour water.
It gets through filters quickly when compared to a standard BRITA jug.
Black + Blum Eau Carafe
First, let’s explain the name Black+Blum Eau Carafe. The bottle designers are called Black+Blum. “Eau carafe” is the type of glass that this water filter bottle is made from.
The jug includes a binchotan active charcoal filter, which not only removes impurities but makes tap water taste great. To top it all off, it is 100% BPA free.
Summary
- Comes with a binchotan charcoal stick. This is an activated carbon made from tree branches and is very effective at filtering water.
- It neutralises the water’s pH levels.
- It is one of the best water filter jugs because it absorbs impurities like chlorine.
- Through the charcoal, the filter bottle sends nutrients (magnesium, calcium and iron) back into the water.
Good to know (about the Black + Blum Eau Carafe)
- If you pour boiling water directly into it, you will melt the bottle.
- Each charcoal stick lasts for three months, if you boil the stick in water for 10 minutes it recharges for another further 3 months. However, you can’t do it more than once so you must buy a new stick after 6 months
- If you freeze this water bottle with the charcoal inside, the charcoal starts to splinter and leaves you with bits floating in the water – as charcoal is too fine to ingest it’s not harmful but can be sharp.
- There is no need to boil water before pouring it in as the charcoal purifies the water.
- In order to sterilise your water with a charcoal stick, it is advised that you fill your bottle with maximum 1.5L of water and to wait between 1 to 8 hours before drinking it.
- The charcoal sticks are sourced from Laos.
- The bottle looks like glass but is in fact plastic!
Positives
Made of actual glass (not plastic), 1.1L hand-blown glass and looks very posh.
The charcoal filtration system only needs to be changed once every 6 months.
It sends nutrients (magnesium, calcium and iron) back into the water.
Tastes great.
100% BPA free
Fits nicely in the shelf of your fridge
Negatives
This jug is not as big as some of the others on this list.
It needs at least one hour to work its magic.
Eight hours for maximum effect.
Comparison Table Of Best Water Filter Jugs
Product | Problems you MUST Know | Best Features |
BWT (Best Water Technology) Filter Jug 1300ml (1.3L) | 2.7 litres might be too much for a single person household. | Provides “mineralised drinking water” i.e. it filters water with a flavour carrier magnesium that transfers flavour, clarity and aroma. Approved by Good Housekeeping. BWT (Best Water Technology) filter jug also achieves the highest marks for taste in independent consumer tests. Comes with an electronic filter change indicator and refill without having to remove lid. |
Stelton Water Filter Jug 2000ml (2L) | It is made from plastic and I can't find its BPA credentials anywhere. Its round base means it won’t fit into the fridge door compartment. Difficult to use and not very functional. You don't get a free filter with jug like the others. It gets through filters quickly when compared to a standard BRITA jug. | Works with Brita Maxtra filters. Reduces carbonate hardness meaning no limescale in your kettle and a better taste. |
Black + Blum Eau Carafe 1100ml (1.1L) | If you pour boiling water directly into it, you will melt the bottle. If you freeze this water bottle with the charcoal inside, the charcoal starts to splinter and leaves you with bits floating in the water – as charcoal is too fine to ingest it’s not harmful but can be sharp. | Small enough to use as a portable water bottle as well as jug. Comes with binchotan charcoal, which is an active carbon that is made from tree branches and is very effective at filtering water. It neutralises the water’s pH levels. It absorbs impurities like chlorine. Through the charcoal, the filter bottle sends nutrients (magnesium, calcium and iron) back into the water. |
The Best Water Filter Jugs? My Pick.
1. Care more about design? The Black & Blum carafe has the wow factor because of its stunning design and also because it’s glass rather than plastic.
2. Need a stylish everyday jug for a large family that looks good for any occasion? Brita Marella XL is one of the best water filter jugs for this.
3. Is good tasting water most important to you? The BWT (Best Water Technology) filter jug has been independently tested with 1000’s of people, most of whom attest to it’s good taste.