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Quick answer
A Brita water filter mainly improves the taste of tap water by reducing chlorine and limescale; according to Brita, the newer Maxtra Pro also reduces some PFAS. A filter jug is affordable and simple, but you have to keep topping it up and a cartridge lasts only about four weeks. If you want to remove 100+ contaminants at the tap and retain minerals, an under-sink filter such as the PureFilter Mineral+ is a stronger alternative.
Contents
- What is a Brita water filter?
- What does Brita remove from the water?
- Is a Brita water filter any good? The advantages
- Points to consider and drawbacks
- How long does a Brita filter last and what does it cost?
- Brita models and prices at a glance
- Comparison: Brita jug, Brita tap filter and under-sink
- Buying advice: which water filter suits you?
- Frequently asked questions about Brita water filters
- Conclusion
What is a Brita water filter?
Brita is the best-known consumer brand for water filters in the Netherlands, with an estimated 5,400 searches a month for "brita waterfilter". The brand grew largely on the back of the water filter jug: a jug with a replaceable cartridge that filters your tap water as it runs through the funnel. Brita also offers a tap attachment (On Tap) and an under-sink system (mypure).
In short
A Brita water filter is a filter jug or tap accessory with a cartridge containing activated carbon and an ion exchanger. It mainly reduces chlorine and limescale to improve the taste. You need to replace the cartridge regularly and, with a jug, refill the water by hand every time.
Most Brita users buy the brand for better-tasting tea and coffee and less limescale in the kettle. Worth knowing: a filter jug is not the same as a full purification system. In this review we look honestly at what Brita does and does not do, what it costs, and when a different type of filter makes more sense.
What does Brita remove from the water?
According to Brita, the cartridges contain activated carbon and an ion exchanger that reduce taste and odour compounds such as chlorine and lower the carbonate hardness (limescale). According to the manufacturer, the newer Maxtra Pro All-in-1 cartridge also reduces copper, lead and a few modern contaminants such as PFAS and pesticide residues.
Where a Brita jug is less suitable:
- Complete removal of heavy metals: a jug filter partly reduces certain metals, but not with the certified assurance of an under-sink system. If you live in a house built before 1960, there may still be lead pipes; according to Milieu Centraal these release lead into your tap water.
- Softening: Brita is explicitly not a water softener. It reduces the effect of limescale on taste and appliances, but does not structurally remove calcium and magnesium from the water.
- Bacteria: a jug filter is not a disinfection step. In fact, water left standing in a jug can encourage bacterial growth if you do not clean it regularly.
If you want to know specifically how to filter limescale out of your tap water or how to tackle lead in tap water, those articles set out exactly which method does give you certainty.
Is a Brita water filter any good? The advantages
For what it is, Brita does its job well. A filter jug is a good first step if your main aim is to improve the taste. The key plus points:
- Low entry price: a Brita Marella XL costs around 23 euros and an Aluna Cool starts at about 15.99 euros. No installation, ready to use straight away.
- Better taste: less chlorine means better-tasting water, tea and coffee. For many people that is the main reason to filter.
- Less limescale: water that feels softer means less limescale in your kettle and coffee machine.
- Widely available: you can buy Brita at Kruidvat, Blokker, Action, Holland & Barrett and online.
At PureFilter we see that many customers started out with a Brita jug and only later switched to a fixed filter, usually because the refilling begins to grate or because they want more certainty about exactly what is being taken out of the water.
Points to consider and drawbacks
A Brita jug also has clear limitations. These are the points that come up most often:
- Constant topping up: a jug filters only a limited amount at a time and takes up space on your worktop or in the fridge.
- Cartridge replaced quickly: Brita advises replacing the Maxtra cartridge roughly every four weeks. That is thirteen cartridges a year.
- Limited purification: a jug filter is aimed mainly at taste, chlorine and limescale, not at broad, certified removal of things such as PFAS, pharmaceutical residues and heavy metals at the source.
- Hygiene: a filter jug left standing too long can encourage bacterial growth. Regular cleaning is needed.
Dutch tap water itself is of high quality, incidentally: according to Vewin it has to meet hundreds of requirements, and water companies carry out more than 400,000 measurements a year. So you do not filter out of fear, but for extra certainty and taste, for example around filtering PFAS out of tap water. The RIVM advises tightening the PFAS limit in drinking water to 4.4 nanograms per litre (expressed as a PFOA equivalent), and that makes reliable filtration all the more relevant for some households.
How long does a Brita filter last and what does it cost?
A Brita Maxtra cartridge lasts about four weeks. Work that through and the brand costs more over the long term than you might think at first glance. A set of Maxtra Pro cartridges costs around 28 euros for three, or roughly 9 to 10 euros per cartridge. At thirteen cartridges a year you are looking at about 110 to 130 euros a year on filters, on top of buying the jug. Have a look here at the more affordable and better alternatives to Brita filter cartridges.
For comparison: an under-sink replacement filter for the PureFilter Mineral+ costs 65.00 euros and lasts up to twelve months, which works out at less than one cent per litre. You never top anything up and you filter straight at the tap. If you want to understand how best to weigh up those costs, also read our guide to a tap filter fitted to the tap versus a fixed system.
Brita models and prices at a glance
| Brita product | Type | Price (indication) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marella XL | Filter jug | ± 23 euros | Larger jug, everyday use |
| Aluna Cool | Filter jug | from ± 15.99 euros | Affordable entry-level jug |
| On Tap | Tap attachment | ± 81.50 euros | Filtering directly at the tap |
| mypure P1 | Under-sink | ± 143.71 euros | Fixed system, higher capacity |
| Maxtra Pro cartridges | Replacement filter (jug) | ± 28 euros (3-pack) | Replacement cartridge for the jugs |
Prices are indicative and vary by shop and promotion. For a comparison of Brita alongside our own system we have a separate page where you can see PureFilter and Brita side by side. If you are looking for a comparison with another well-known brand in the same segment, read our Philips water filter review.
Comparison: Brita jug, Brita tap filter and under-sink
| Feature | Brita filter jug | Brita On Tap | PureFilter Mineral+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Jug with cartridge | Tap attachment | Under-sink, inline |
| Topping up needed | Yes, every time | No | No, straight from the tap |
| Focus | Taste, chlorine, limescale | Taste, chlorine, limescale | Purifies 100+ substances and mineralises |
| Certification | Manufacturer claims | Manufacturer claims | NSF 42, 53, 61 & 372 |
| Minerals retained | Partly | Partly | Yes, Swedish Mineral Rock™ |
| Cartridge replacement | ± every 4 weeks | Periodically | Up to 12 months |
| Filter cost per year | ± 110 to 130 euros | Varies | 65.00 euros (< €0.01/litre) |
The heart of the difference: a Brita jug improves the taste, while an under-sink filter such as the PureFilter Mineral+ purifies broadly at the source and gives minerals back at the same time. It sits at the start of the cold water line, so your water simply comes out of your existing tap.
Done with topping up?
The PureFilter Mineral+ purifies 100+ contaminants and mineralises, straight from your own tap. NSF-certified and installed in 5 to 10 minutes without a plumber.
View PureFilter Mineral+Buying advice: which water filter suits you?
A Brita jug is a perfectly good choice if you want a small investment, mainly want to improve the taste and do not mind topping up and swapping a cartridge every month. For a student room or a temporary situation that is often enough.
If what you want is convenience (never topping up again), broad and certified purification and retained minerals, an under-sink system makes more sense. Feel free to compare the wider range of water filters for the home before you choose. Still torn between filter types? Our explainer on the best under-sink water filter will help you further.
If you want to be sure of your choice without any risk: the PureFilter Mineral+ comes with 40 days free returns and a 5-year warranty. If it does not suit you, you get your money back.
Frequently asked questions about Brita water filters
Is a Brita water filter any good?
For improving the taste and reducing chlorine and limescale, a Brita jug is a good, affordable solution. The limitation is that you have to keep topping it up, that you replace the cartridge roughly every four weeks, and that the purification is less broad and less certified than with an under-sink system.
What does Brita remove from the water?
According to Brita, the cartridges mainly reduce chlorine (taste and odour) and limescale. According to the manufacturer, the Maxtra Pro also reduces copper, lead and a few modern substances such as PFAS and pesticide residues. A jug filter is not a water softener, though, and not a disinfection step.
Is Brita water healthy?
Yes, filtered Brita water is safe to drink and keeps the minerals that are naturally present. Dutch tap water is already of high quality; a filter is mainly for taste and extra certainty. What does matter is that you replace the cartridge on time and keep the jug clean to prevent bacterial growth.
How often should you replace a Brita filter?
Brita advises replacing a Maxtra cartridge roughly every four weeks (or around 150 litres). That works out at about thirteen cartridges a year; forget to do it and the filter performance drops off. An under-sink replacement filter such as the one for the PureFilter Mineral+ lasts up to twelve months (< €0.01/litre), so you replace it just once a year instead of topping up every month.
What are the drawbacks of filtered water?
Filtered water itself has hardly any drawbacks, as long as you maintain the filter properly. The points to watch sit in the system: a cartridge that is dirty or used for too long works less well and can encourage bacterial growth. So choose a filter that is easy to maintain and replace the cartridge on time.
Is it better to drink tap water or Brita water?
Both are safe. Brita water tastes fresher to many people because chlorine and limescale have been reduced. If, alongside taste, you also want broad, certified removal of substances such as PFAS and heavy metals, an under-sink filter offers more certainty than a jug.
Conclusion
There is a reason Brita is the best-known filter brand: the jugs are affordable, widely available and noticeably improve the taste of your tap water. If taste and limescale are your only concerns, a Brita jug is a perfectly good start. The flip side is the endless topping up, a cartridge that lasts only four weeks and a level of purification aimed mainly at taste.
If you are after convenience, broad and NSF-certified purification and mineral-rich water without topping up, the PureFilter Mineral+ is the logical upgrade. Water as it is meant to be, without the hassle, straight from your own tap.
Pure, mineral-rich water from your own tap
Move on from topping up to a fixed filter. 40 days free returns, a 5-year warranty and less than one cent per litre for the replacement filter.
View PureFilter Mineral+