“What is the best water filter jug?” may not be a question that’s occurred to you before. But once you look into the details of water filtration, as I have in the process of writing this piece, it’s a question that needs answering. Water is “very similar to wine” says Milin Patel, the UK’s leading water sommelier. (Yes, that is a real occupation.) “Once you get the right mineral level, or the right carbonation level, the water pops. You discover flavours. I actually work with a number of chefs creating water pairing menus.”
A water filter jug enables you to drink pure water without single-use plastic bottles, which the British public throws away at a rate of 7.7 billion per year. Some also think it’s better for your health, although Milin is a big fan of our tap water and says there’s no evidence it’s not good for you. What’s certain is that filtering can change the taste of tap water.
“Whether the water is acidic or alkaline will have a slight effect on the taste. I enjoy slightly acidic waters, maybe 6.5pH or 5.5pH. London water is alkaline, in the region of 7.5pH. But it’s more about the mouthfeel and TDS – total dissolved solids. That’s where the magic happens.”
I’ve tried dozens of water filter jugs at a range of prices, using various filtratious systems and you can read my reviews below, followed by some advice from Milin on how to use them. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:
What are the best water filter jugs for 2024? At a glance
TDS, which stands for total dissolved solids, is measured in parts per million (ppm) and is highly relevant to the taste of water. “You can taste any minerals that are dissolved in the water,” Milin says. “That’ll be calcium, magnesium, potassium, bicarbonate, silica, iron, zinc. This is what gives water its character: the creaminess, the saltiness, the oiliness, the bite. If you drink an 8,000 year-old, mineral-rich glacier water with a TDS of 7,500ppm, that’s a meal in itself.”
Many water filters remove these solids from the water, lowering the TDS. But is that a good thing? Magnus Jern, from filter-makers Tapp Water, believes not. “High TDS is definitely not a measure of poor water quality,’’ he says. “TDS primarily consist of healthy minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate.”
These minerals, however, can clog up your kettle, so you might want to remove them for that reason. Ultimately, it’s up to you.
