Brita Large 10-Cup Pitcher Review

The Brita 10-Cup Pitcher equipped with the Original filter failed to remove as many contaminants as other budget options. If you have health concerns, draw your water from a well, or live near an industrial or agricultural zone, this simply isn't robust enough. However, if all you care about is taste, this pitcher is easy to use and inexpensive to maintain. If you can spare a few extra bucks, though, we suggest upgrading to the Elite filter for better contaminant removal.

Lead & Metals

The Brita underwhelmed in metal-clearing performance.

It removed a solid chunk of scary heavy metals like lead and uranium, but left others like arsenic completely behind.

Lead is a concern in older homes and is highly toxic even in very low doses. So ideally, your water should have zero. While 94% is a great start, it may not be enough to bring lead levels down to the EPA's “safe” zone in the worst conditions. If you have serious lead concerns, look for a filter certified to remove it.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

The Brita also unimpressed in PFAS removal. It helped, but plenty of other budget options remove more of these “forever chemicals”.

PFAS are super common and are a concern because they can build up in our bodies and cause cancer and other adverse health outcomes.

The Brita 10-Cup Pitcher removed around 70% of two common PFAS chemicals (PFNA and PFBA). It's certainly better than nothing, but not enough to bring high PFAS spikes down to the EPA's legal safety limit.

Microplastics

Continuing its below-average streak, the Brita underperformed at removing microplastics.

The health effects of microplastics are still being studied, but we think most people can agree they're something we'd like to avoid in our drinking water.

The Brita 10-Cup Pitcher captured the larger particles, but its leaky carbon screen let the more concerning smaller stuff pass right through. Although it's made with BPA-free plastic, there are plenty of better options for microplastics concerns.

Fluoride & Nitrates

The Brita scored below average in fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate removal, but this time, we're actually okay with that. These contaminants are difficult for most standard pitchers to remove, so its low performance here isn't a con.

It helped remove some, but we wouldn't rely on it to remove any of these impurities. If you live near farmland, get your water from a private well, have smelly water, or have concerns about fluoridation, your best option is to invest in a full-on reverse osmosis system.

Taste & Chlorine

Like every other water filter we tested, the Brita removes 100% of chlorine and helps improve taste. It's not a huge night-and-day difference, with one reviewer noting it's “fine enough”, but it's still a step in the right direction if you don't want your water tasting like a public swimming pool. Plus, the vast majority of Amazon users agree that their tap water tastes better after being filtered by the Brita.

Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

Finally, a metric where the Brita 10-Cup Pitcher hit the mark. For small households, we love that it's easy to use, large enough that you don't have to constantly top it off, and that replacements are cheap. That said, if you have a large family or just high water demands, there are cheaper, more convenient options.

The Brita is very easy to set up and requires minimal maintenance beyond routine cleaning and filter changes.

The Original filters last 40 gallons, which for a household of two using filtered water for cooking and drinking should last about one month. For singles or those who only use filtered water for drinking, the filters should last about two months. You'll need to mark your calendar, though, since it lacks a filter indicator.

Replacement filters are pretty cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk. We estimate it costs around $60 for a household of two to maintain each year. For larger households with higher water demands, replacements are much more expensive. In that case, a faucet-style filter or under-sink system is more affordable in the long term.

Relative to other water filters, the Brita filters water pretty fast. This, along with its easy-to-fill flip-top lid, makes those daily refills more convenient. That said, for larger families, the refills can be a pain to keep up with.

Should You Buy the Brita Large 10-Cup Pitcher?

The Brita 10-Cup Pitcher is for users who already have fairly clean water and just need something quick and cheap to take the edge off. It's good for improving taste and can help reduce lead and PFAS, but we think there are better options if your primary concern is removing impurities that can impact your health.

What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?