Mavea Elemaris XL Water Filtration Pitcher Save 21% Off

We replaced the Brita pitcher that we have used for several years with this one. One thing that bothers me about the Brita filters is how the carbon particles keep escaping into the top compartment of the pitcher. It doesn''t hurt anything, but it looks bad to me. Mavea''s filters haven''t had that problem so far. However, their claim that you don''t have to soak the filter is not quite true: you have to run two pitchers of water through a new filter to activate it. This is even more trouble than soaking.

The self-opening and closing lid works well. You never have to remove the lid or flip it up. The only catch is that you have to stop pouring water in when it first starts to close. If you keep filling until it closes completely, water leaks out the top of the lid down the handle and interior sides of the pitcher.

We wanted a larger capacity pitcher than the 40 ounce Brita slim pitcher we were replacing. The 3.5 liter Elemaris XL size fits the bill. Be forewarned that the fully filled pitcher is quite heavy at 9 pounds. The contoured, rubberized grip makes it easier to deal with.

One thing that I really like about the ZeroWater product is the measurement device provided which shows how many parts per million (PPM) of metals, minerals and such the water you''re measuring contains. So it gives the buyer a means to determine the quality of the water measured.

I''ve now used both ZeroWater vs. Mavea and here are my thoughts about the two filtration pitchers and how they compare to one another.

Water Quality: The ZeroWater wins hands down. There''s no comparison in my mind. Here in San Diego, our tap water is quite hard and metallic. Using ZeroWater''s measuring device, our tap water measures somewhere around 440 PPM of solids.

I thoroughly cleaned both filtration pitchers per the respective manufacturer''s instructions, ran and disgarded several cycles of water and then measured the results. ZeroWater claims that I should be able to produce water that measures 000 PPM of solids. I couldn''t quite get that reading, but I did get 006. ZeroWater actually recommends that you change the filter at 006, but even at that level, the water tastes great, pretty much just like fresh rainwater.

Conversely, Mavea''s filtered water produced a reading of 349 PPM of solids. While that''s about 100 points lower than my tap water, it''s not really a major improvement, in my view. It''s not even in the ballpark of what ZeroWater can do. I can definitely taste a big difference too. To me, Mavea tastes just a bit better than unfiltered tap water where ZeroWater tastes extremely fresh and clean.

Ergonomics: Mavea is made in Germany and has a nice, European design to it. It''s definitely more pleasing to my eyes. It''s also quite a bit smaller and probably a lot easier to handle. It doesn''t have the push spout like ZeroWater does, but it''s easier to handle than ZeroWater.

Cost: The cost of these units are similar. Frankly, it appears to me that it''s cheaper to order bottled water versus using these units and purchasing replacement filters. I measured the PPM of the purified bottled water that I get from Pure Flo water of San Diego and not only was the quality the best at 001 PPM, but it was also the cheapest when the cost of the filters was factored in. I will say that Mavea''s filters are much cheaper than ZeroWater''s, but they aren''t nearly as good in my view.

Bear in mind that you can probably use these filters effectively well after the manufacturer suggests that you change them, so that potentially improves the cost factor. This is especially the case with ZeroWater. Even though I couldn''t obtain the advertised 000 PPM reading, the water''s still great at 006 and a huge improvement over my city water. I would probably not replace the filter until well after the manufacturer''s suggested interval.

Recommendations: My first recommendation is to look into the cost of bottled water delivered to your home. It''s more convenient and if the cost is cheaper, I''d go that route. However, if you have a need for a water purification pitcher, there is no question that ZeroWater provides cleaner and fresher water. Do be aware that the filtration process is relatively slow, but the ZeroWater filter is pretty massive, so it''s probably to be expected.

I like the look of Mavea and the better ergonomics, but ZeroWater is the knockout winner here. I doubt you''ll find a way to produce more pure water on your own. Mavea has its merits, but it doesn''t come close in terms of performance.

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Like the other commenters I think this filter is great. It feels sturdy, the plastic is hard, but the handle gives it a good grip. It was pretty easy to put together and take apart so cleaning is a sinch. I also love the fact that you don''t need to open anything to fill it, just start pouring in the water. Our other brita pitcher''s split cap approach was so dumb compared to this. I am relieved to have received the product as advertised and all seems to be functioning without a problem.

P.S> wife said that the water tastes way better than our previous Brita and that there are no more black carbon pieces floating around everywhere.

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I bought it because it is BPA free. Replaced an old, cracking Brita pitcher. It looks great, is easy to use, water tastes great (no taste at all). The pitcher is dishwasher safe which adds convenience to an already useful item. Very happy with the purchase, recommending to other family members.

Pros: BPA free, self-closing water intake, filter-replacement indicator, rubber feet preventing slips, nice modern styling

Cons: non really, except not sure how the filter sensor gets its measurements

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We have had this pitcher for 18 months and use it several times per day. It holds the only water we drink or cook with in the house and we drink and cook with a LOT of water (average refill: 7 times per day, every day {unless away}). It is very durable and good looking. We have the black one and it goes very nicely with black appliances. It is easy to fill (just aim for the self-opening and closing flap) and easy to pour from. The little rubberized feet keep it steady on the countertop. The handle is perfectly balanced. We like that it is made from BPA-free plastic (glass would be even better, though).

Keep in mind that if you have hard or especially mineralized water, a "ring" of deposits will form on the top where the refill flap is. It is minor and can be prevented/cleaned (or might not be an issue, depending on minerals in your water source), but it can look icky, especially on glossy black. This is not the fault of the pitcher, though.

FILTER INFO (included because of the inherent "partnership" between the two products):

The filters are great in that I have read they are NSF-certified (yay!), remove more than a Brita or PUR, have silver-infusion to help prevent bacterial growth (we keep ours on the countertop, so this is more needed than if we kept it in the fridge), do NOT release little black carbon particles (ick!), and we''re happy they are recyclable. For further eco-savings, buy the three-pack (reduces carbon footprint of transportation in shipping); and, when they''re used up, keep a stock of spent filters, to reduce the carbon footprint of sending just one back at a time. Or, better yet, find a store in your area (walking distance is best, of course) that will take yours and send them to be recycled along with others'' filters.

Refilling the pitcher:

The top capacity is less than the bottom capacity, so if you refill until the flap "closes", the bottom will only fill to be about 2/3 full. You would need to wait until it filters that water, before adding more to the top. So most of the time, you don''t have a "full" pitcher from each refill. Unless you refill, wait, and then "top off". If you sit the pitcher in the sink and let the tap flow slowly, you can stretch the per-refill filtered amount a bit, since it begins filtering immediately. With our use, refilling pitchers to about 2/3 full, about 7 times per day, almost every day, we average about a filter per month, having bought and used 18 in the last 18 months. I do wish they came in a 6-pack, or more.

Our drinking water tasted pretty bad before this filter. It''s quite delicious now that we use this filter. No scientific tests yet (ordering a test kit soon), just a very picky palette and infamously sensitive nose. We''re not quite sure how the "meter" measures hardness, volume, and length in use, but it lasts a reasonable amount of time for us (about a month), and we can taste the difference a few days after it gets to the 25% "line", so replacing the filter seems to come at an appropriate time. Since the meter uses three factors to determine filter "usedness", your mileage may vary.

With how great this pitcher/filter combination performs for us, it''s difficult to drink tap water without it. So, I also wish they made a travel-sized version. :)

I rely on reviews here at Amazon to help me make informed buying choices. I hope this review has helped you in the same manner. If you voted this as helpful, I Thank You! :)

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