If you find your tap water sometimes tastes off, or you simply want to limit your consumption of plastic bottles, jugs like those offered by Brita or BWT may seem like a good idea at first. But among all the With the advantages and disadvantages of filter jugs and the conflicting opinions that can be found on different platforms, it's quickly difficult to be sure. Here is a short list of opinions on filter jugs , to help you make the best possible choice based on your habits, but also your geographical location.
Brita: the benchmark in filter jugs (and its flaws)
It's hard to talk about water filter jugs without mentioning Brita . Founded in Germany in the 1960s, the brand is now the undisputed market leader, known for models like Marella, Style, and Flow , equipped with the famous Maxtra+ cartridge. Each of these jugs offers activated carbon filtration, combined with an ion exchange resin, which is supposed to reduce chlorine, limescale, lead, copper, and other impurities present in tap water.
User reviews
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“A water carafe that does the job (especially filtering limescale). Nice aesthetic. It's a shame that you have to be careful that the lid doesn't come off when you pour the very end of the water.”
— Edgar, verified review on Amazon“With pure water, yes, but this system is very complicated to use, the shelf life of the water, cleaning, the side effects of the contents of the cartridges (....) and the cost! In the end, I prefer to buy bottles of mineral water. Product returned!”
— Macha, verified review on Amazon
Our opinion on Brita filter jugs
Brita remains a safe bet if you're looking for a simple-to-use filter jug with minimal maintenance. It effectively improves the taste of water and is very intuitive to use, although filtration isn't instantaneous (approximately 1.26 L/minute).
Be careful, however, of the cost of the cartridges which, in this case, must be renewed every 4 weeks. In addition, the water contained in the carafe cannot be stored for long (a few hours at most) and the level of filtration remains quite limited on certain complex pollutants (nitrates, drug residues, pesticides, etc.). Last disadvantage to keep in mind, and not the least: a poorly maintained carafe (infrequently changing filters) can lead to a real risk of bacterial infection .
Philips Water: a good compromise between design and efficiency
Less well-known than Brita in the world of filter jugs , Philips Water offers a modern and rather well-designed alternative. Their flagship model, equipped with the Micro X-Clean filter , is designed to remove chlorine, microparticles, heavy metals, pesticides and even certain perfluorooctanoic compounds (PFOA).
User reviews
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“I've had the carafe for 3 months and compared to the Brita carafe, this carafe filters better and gives a different flavor to the water, plus it can be put in the refrigerator and have cold water.”
— Agata, verified review on LeroyMerlin“The carafe is very good, but I don’t know where to find new filters.”
— Gisele, verified review on Fnac
Our opinion on the Philips filter jug
The Philips Water filter jug offers efficient filtration , particularly on certain chemical substances, such as PFOA. Its design is clearly an asset, as is the lifespan of its filter (2 months). On the other hand, the lack of available models, still limited distribution and the potential difficulty in finding compatible filters can discourage some users and increase the risk of water contamination by harmful bacteria. Similarly, if you are located in a very chalky region, its efficiency may prove insufficient .
BWT: a filter carafe that relies on magnesium
BWT (Best Water Technology) is an Austrian brand specializing in water treatment. Its approach to filter jugs is distinguished by its patented technology that, in addition to filtering chlorine, heavy metals, and limescale, enriches the water with magnesium. This is why their most popular model, the BWT Penguin, is often recommended in areas with particularly hard water.
User reviews
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Very happy to have purchased this carafe. At home, the water is very very hard and the old B....a carafe (and its cartridge) did not filter sufficiently.”
— Anonymous, verified comment on Darty“The only original feature of the product, the filter wear indicator, is just a gadget without much interest: it simply counts the openings of the filling valve and therefore only gives an idea of the quantity of water filtered if you take care to only fill (completely) the carafe when it is actually empty. This is a shame, because the timely replacement of the filter is THE factor that totally determines the interest in using this type of product.”
— Vine Tester (Testers Club), verified review on Amazon
Our opinion on the BWT filter carafe
BWT clearly stands out from the competition with its promise of filtered and enriched water . In hard water areas, its effectiveness is real and the taste experience is often better than with a classic carafe. But the health benefit remains rather vague and the cost of the cartridges , to be changed every 3 to 4 weeks, is in line with that of the big brands without being more sustainable. It is therefore a good option if you are looking for an alternative to Brita , especially in areas with hard water, but its use is not necessarily essential elsewhere. Also beware of the micro-plastics that can be released into the water following the use of this type of carafe and the health risks if you forget to change the filters regularly!
Pureva: a sustainable, high-performance alternative... and without compromise
Water filter jugs have the advantage of being simple to use. But when you dig a little deeper, they have several limitations : partial effectiveness, filters that need to be changed frequently, risk of bacterial proliferation in the water, plastic waste, long-term cost, and rarely complete filtration of invisible pollutants .
Rather than a carafe, Pureva offers a filtration system attached directly to the tap, capable of filtering water instantly and eliminating up to 99% of pesticide residues, heavy metals, PFOA, drug residues and microplastics.
The concrete benefits of the Pureva filtration solution
Water filter jugs address a simple need: making tap water more enjoyable to drink. However, none of them tick all the boxes when it comes to durability, performance, or ease of use. If you're looking for a more reliable, convenient, and truly healthier solution for your daily life, Pureva is one of the best alternatives to water filter jugs available on the market.
- Zero single-use plastic , zero hassle of refilling and waiting for filtration: you benefit from quality, perfectly filtered water immediately, as soon as you need it.
- A flexible subscription system that allows you to receive your cartridges regularly without having to search for or order them. The added bonus? If you don't need a replacement filter immediately, you can adjust your subscription and postpone delivery to the following week or at least the following week, depending on your needs.
- Quick and intuitive installation and filter change, without any work or tools (we offer several adapters to ensure your equipment fits correctly on your tap).
- The Pureva filter is based on a multi-stage system based on ceramic and activated carbon, capable of retaining more than 30 contaminants, which allows you to benefit from water that is much more filtered than that produced by a carafe.
- And above all: measurable performance , tested in the laboratory .
This article was written to give you a neutral and factual opinion on the water filter jugs on the market. While these systems are certainly viable and useful, in terms of financial investment and long-term maintenance, they are not the preferred solutions.
