Best Glass Water Filter Pitchers of 2022

The Long Version

It makes up well over half of your body – jumping to 75% in the brain – and you can’t go over 3 days without it. “Water is the elixir of life,” as the adage goes, but yet millions of people aren’t taking the basic steps to filter out contaminants and ensure their bodies are getting the good stuff.

While having sediments and contaminants in tap water doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a serious health risk, many nasty chemicals and organisms will cause harm.

Research shows that although 71% of Americans regularly drink from the tap, 55% of them are worried about contaminants, or unsure of what exactly is lurking in their water, and 42% have absolutely no filter system.

There are literally hundreds of separate contaminants that a water filter can remove, including heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria and carcinogens. The better water filters aim to combat a large range of things, yet no two are the same.

We’ve been doing some filtering of our own, weeding out the average for the few truly exceptional water filters out there. As glass is non-reactive, it is far more sanitary than plastic alternatives, as well as being more environmentally friendly.

We’ve found a range of price tags, specs and styles, so browse the full list to see exactly what’s on offer with the best glass water filter pitchers!

Best Overall: Soma Filter Glass Carafe

CAPACITY: 6 cups / 48 oz / 1420 ml

FILTER MATERIALS: Activated Carbon (coconut shell), Charcoal

FILTER LIFESPAN: (approx. 2 months)

CERTIFICATIONS: NSF 42, NSF 53

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Looks stylish, Filter made of 60% plant-based and renewable materials, B-Corp certified

CONS: Complicated filtration components may require some getting used to

For simple elegance, the Soma Filter Glass Carafe is a clear winner. After all, water filters have a serious job to do. While cheaper models may hide inadequate filtration methods behind flashy deigns, the Soma Glass Carafe proves outright that less can be more.

Its minimalist design is testament to how cleaning water should be: effortless and practical. Two fills of the upper reservoir will fill up the 48oz glass carafe perfectly, as the harmoniously balanced shape indicates. The shatter-resistant glassware and lid are both dishwasher safe. The whole thing weighs in at around 2.2 lbs (1kg).

The new, improved technology of the Soma Filter 2.0 means that users can rest assured heavy metals like mercury, zinc and copper never make it to the table. At the same time, Soma showcases their eco-friendly commitments by creating filters from 60% renewable plant material, harnessing the natural power of activated coconut shell, carbon and charcoal.

NSF42 rated, this glass filter pitcher comfortably eliminates bad smells and odors, while a NSF53 rating is proof of great contaminant-busting abilities. The filter is rated to 40 gallons, so Soma predicts the average household will be looking to replace it every 60 days or so.

All in all, the Soma Filter Glass Carafe is a wonderfully functional bit of kit. It looks beautiful nestled in the fridge or as a centerpiece. At a reasonable price, we feel customers get plenty of value from this healthy investment.

Best for Purity: Lifestraw Home Glass Pitcher

CAPACITY: 7 cups / 56 oz / 1656 ml

DIMENSIONS (H x W x D): 11.2 x 6.4 x 6.4 in

FILTER MATERIALS: Activated Carbon, Hollow Fiber Membrane Microfilters

FILTER LIFESPAN:
    Carbon Filter: 40 gallons / 150 liters (approx. 2 months)
    Membrane Microfilter: 264 gallons / 1000 liters (approx. 1 year)

CERTIFICATIONS: None

PRICE: $$

PROS: Membrane microfilter has a long lifespan, while superior filtration technology helps remove up to 30 individual contaminants (full list of contaminants here)

CONS: Does not remove iron (the mineral that makes water hard) or fluoride

You can really tell that the LifeStraw Home Glass Pitcher is a result on laborious testing and refining. It holds a whole host of safety ratings (NSF42, 53, 401 and P473), eliminating 99.9% of bacteria, parasites and microplastics. As well as that, it still filters out common culprits like heavy metals, pesticides and pollutants.

For a filter product, of course water purity is in mind, but LifeStraw demonstrates that they’ve got pure intentions, too. For every pitcher sold, they guarantee one year of clean drinking water for one child, part of their Give Back Program. They don’t just donate filters, but also training and education of underprivileged schoolchildren.

Going back to the product itself, it is sold in 7-cup or 10-cup capacities, so you can better match your needs.  They do offer a BPA-free plastic alternative, but we’d always recommend glass for best performance.

The pitcher is dishwasher safe, but the filter housing only needs a quick rinse with mild detergent. If you do find yourself dismantling it, there’s only 6 components, meaning that setting up the pitcher and replacing filters is pleasantly simple.

The activated charcoal and ion exchange filter is rated 40 gallons, approximately 60 days of typical use, though the membrane microfilter is good for 264 gallons of water, estimated to last an astounding 12 months!

With the ability to remove up to 30 individual contaminants, you see why it’s landed the Best for Purity award! And, if you’re particularly interested in safe water for all, LifeStraw is a solid choice for purchases that make a real impact.

Best for Capacity: Kor Water Fall

CAPACITY: 33.8 oz / 1000 ml (per carafe)

DIMENSIONS (H x W x D): 16.5 x 7.0 x 6.5 in

FILTER MATERIALS: Catalytic Carbon (coconut shell)

FILTER LIFESPAN: 80 gallons / 300 liters (approx. 4 months)

CERTIFICATIONS: NSF 42

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Filter is separate from carafe, Comes with two carafes, Limited lifetime warranty

CONS: Expensive, Tall height might not be suitable for some benchtops

If you’re looking to take something as essential as water and make a statement, you’d not go wrong by choosing the Kor Water Fall. A bold, intricate design, where the carafe sits entirely separate from the filter components, will really make a splash on a tabletop, especially with the fruit infusions that Kor recommends you try.

While this filter does indeed carry a NSF42 rating for removing bad odors and tastes (as well as chlorine), it lacks more comprehensive health ratings. It’s not really designed to tackle serious contaminants, so the best application is to improving the quality of already-drinkable tap water.

The price tag here is a tad higher, though this is balanced by the fact that a starter set includes two carafes. Such versatility is always welcome, especially if, say, you want a full pitcher at the dinner table while the second steadily fills. When compared to the industry standard single carafe offer, the Kor Water Fall doubles down with a 1000ml capacity.

For their plastic components, they use BPA & Toxin-free material, while the carafes themselves are pure glass. Look to their filter technology and you’ll discover 100% coconut shell (converted to catalytic carbon), able to clean up to 80 gallons of water, which roughly works out as 1,280 glasses.

The shape of the glassware is pleasingly curvaceous, reminiscent of one big raindrop just chilling out in your fridge or sideboard. They each have their own ergonomic lids, so you can safely store them anywhere. If you do have both full and tucked away, a stop-start valve on the filter allows you to completely control water flow.

For those who need pure water to come with sleek design and a large capacity, the Kor Water Fall delivers on all three.

Best for Alkalinizing: Dafi Crystal Glass

CAPACITY: 6 cups / 48oz / 1420 ml

DIMENSIONS (H x W x D): 10 x 8 x 8 in

FILTER MATERIALS: Activated Carbon (coconut shell), Ceramic

FILTER LIFESPAN: 40 gallons / 150 liters (approx. 2 months)

CERTIFICATIONS: None

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Manufactured in Europe

CONS: Expensive, Not certified, Requires one CR2 battery for the LED refill indicator to work

If you’re a chemistry fan, there’s plenty to love with the Dafi Crystal Glass Pitcher. Comprised of superior borosilicate glass, which you’d usually find used in a laboratory rather than the kitchen, the Dafi Crystal Pitcher has far greater resistance to scratches and thermal shock, as well as being shatter-proof.

Whereas other filters act to remove contaminants from potentially dangerous water, this product is used to alkalize filtered water, raising the pH level – cast your mind back to science class! As opposed to harmful acidic water, there are various health benefits associated with alkaline water, namely lower blood pressure, higher energy, and cancer resistance.

It may sound like sci-fi, but it’s rather remarkable, involving the use of a ceramic bed and magnesium ions. The filter technology will still remove chlorine taste and bad smells from the water, though the product currently lacks the official health ratings one may be looking out for.

As far as practicalities go, the Dafi Crystal Pitcher has a total capacity of 8 cups (4 cups of filtered water). You can fill the pitcher without removing the lid, maneuvering easily with an ergonomic handle. The activated carbon filter is rated for an expected 40 gallons of water, though the three-color LED sensor (CR2 battery required) will let you know filter status.

All in all, the Dafi Crystal Glass Pitcher is a prime choice for those interested in the powers of alkalized water. Form follows function with this product, meaning that though it suffers from a somewhat unglamorous design, the superior materials and scientific know-how perfectly compensate.

Best for Versatility: Kishu Charcoal

CAPACITY: N/A

DIMENSIONS (H x W x D): N/A

FILTER MATERIALS: Activated Carbon (carbonized oak)

FILTER LIFESPAN: approx. 4 months

CERTIFICATIONS: None

PRICE: $

PROS: Can be used in any pitcher, Inexpensive, Compostable after use

CONS: Only improves taste but doesn’t remove particulate, Slow to work (6 hours for 2 liters), Requires boiling to maintain effectiveness

Kishu Charcoal is essentially a bar of carbonized oak branches, which can be placed into any water receptacle. It quickly gets to work bonding to toxins, where they are unable to leech back into the water. For this same reason, they recommend using the product with glass or metal containers, as the 97% pure carbon can bring out toxins from plastic itself.

Standard water filters still contain plastic components, even if they may be BPA and toxin-free. So, for the avidly anti-plastic, Kishu Charcoal is the best choice. The product is completely biodegradable and even the packaging is made from FSC certified paper and compostable wood pulp.

You can take it anywhere. It comes in several sizes, from a 2-quart carafe to a 5-gallon jug. This versatility is simply unmatched by alternative products. It’s the perfect companion for travelers, or anyone unable to commit to a complicated filtration system.

A 4-month lifespan only adds to the flexibility of this product. Kishu do recommend users periodically boil the charcoal, to reopen pores for maximum effectiveness, but other than that you just drop it and forget it.

Kishu Charcoal is effective at reducing some contaminants, principally metals, including lead, mercury and copper. The product is yet to carry official safety ratings, though laboratory testing showed visible reduction of metal content in water after an hour. But ideally, you’d use this product with water that has already undergone cleansing.

If you’re in a pinch and want a convenient way of enhancing your H2O, there’s nothing quite like Kishu Charcoal for adaptability and ease of use.