AquaTru Carafe in-depth review: Countertop reverse osmosis water purifier
- Josie Shillabeer
- 3 days ago
- 13 min read
In-depth review of the AquaTru Carafe, a compact countertop reverse osmosis water filter with a glass jug. How many people is it suitable for?
While tap water in the UK meets recommended safety standards, this doesn’t mean that it is free from unwanted toxins, such as heavy metals, pesticides and chlorine. As a nutritional therapist, I highly recommend filtering your tap water to remove toxins, as they can affect your long-term health. One of the best ways to filter your water is through reverse osmosis.
What is reverse osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that removes contaminants from water by using pressure to force it through a semipermeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through, while blocking larger particles like salts, bacteria, and other impurities.
AquaTru Carafe in-depth review by a nutritional therapist and reverse osmosis newbie
My journey with reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration began early last year when I had the chance to try out the AquaTru Carafe, a countertop reverse osmosis water filter. All the RO water filters I had previously come across required under-sink plumbing and a hole to be drilled in the countertop for a faucet; this was not an option for me as I am not the homeowner. I had also looked into water distillers, but their long run time put me off. For many years I used a Brita jug and accepted that while it was nowhere near as good as reverse osmosis or distillation, it was at least better than tap water and fit easily on the kitchen countertop.
I was excited to discover the AquaTru Carafe because it doesn’t require any plumbing, and its compact design meant that it would fit perfectly on my countertop. The AquaTru Carafe was the first alternative to the Brita filter that felt like it would work for me, while providing me with higher quality drinking water. Over the past six months, I have put the device to the test, filtering enough tap water for three adults in a hard water area (329mg/L CACO3). Keep reading to learn more about the AquaTru Carafe and find out what I thought after using it daily for six months.
Cost & size: Low upfront cost and compact
The AquaTru Carafe costs £449 (UK) / $399.95 (US). However, to help you get started with filtering your drinking water, we’ve partnered with AquaTru to offer £100 off. When compared to other reverse osmosis water filters on the market, its upfront cost is one of the cheapest options available.
One area in which this reverse osmosis water filter stands out from the crowd is its compact size. The AquaTru Carafe is smaller than similar devices on the market at just 30cm (height) x 35.5cm (depth) x 19cm (wide). With no plumbing required and a removable 2L water tank, the AquaTru Carafe is perfect for those looking for a simple, space-saving, and streamlined countertop reverse osmosis water filter. If you are renting, short on space, or looking to use the Carafe in a location that does not have a tap, this device is your reverse osmosis solution.
One downside to the AquaTru Carafe’s compact size is that I felt like I was frequently having to refill and empty the tap water tank. This was okay at first, but became a chore as the weeks went on. It is certainly no different from when I used a Brita filter, but something to consider based on the number of people in your house and the regularly of use.
AquaTru Carafe design & features
Assembly: Quick and easy
The AquaTru Carafe countertop reverse osmosis water filter was really easy to assemble. The device arrived in 100% recyclable packaging, with clear step-by-step instructions. I simply had to insert the three filters into the back of the machine, slide in the 1.9L glass carafe, fill the removable water tank with tap water, plug it into the power outlet, and I was away. After filtering and disposing of three carafes of water, the AquaTru Carafe was ready for me to drink.
Four-stage filtration – great taste and no limescale
Stage 1 and 2 filtration: Pre-carbon
The AquaTru Carafe has a four-stage water filtration process. The first two stages of filtration are through a pre-carbon filter (£35 / $24.95 replacement). Stage 1 removes larger particles, such as sediment and bacteria, while stage 2 removes chlorine and chloramines.
AquaTru states that the stage 1-2 filter will last 6 months, or around 1,100L (about 580 carafes). During testing, I found the filter lasted around 3 months; however; it did filter 1,100L. This was using the device in a hard water area, with a family of three adults, two of whom spend a lot of time at home. While I was surprised that the filter did not last as long as I had expected, it did at least turn out to be the correct number of litres. I would therefore highly recommend that you work out how many litres of filtered water you intend to use per day and divide this by 1,100L to predict long your stage 1-2 filter will last. This will enable you to then correctly budget for the annual replacement filter costs.
Stage 3 filtration: Reverse osmosis
The third stage of the AquaTru Carafe four-stage filtration process is reverse osmosis (£70 / $51.95 replacement). This is an ultra-fine filter that removes a wide range of nasties, including heavy metals, pesticides, viruses, and fluoride. It also removes minerals (electrolytes), such as calcium and magnesium. You can choose to add these back into your water in stage 4, or without them, you can enjoy a limescale-free kettle.
AquaTru suggests that the reverse osmosis filter will need replacing after 24 months or 2,270L (about 1195 carafes). During testing, I found that my reverse osmosis filter needed replacing after six months. This was inline with the number of litres advertised, but like the pre-carbon filter, it was significantly below my expectations as I assumed my water usage would have been normal for this size and type of machine.
One unfortunate thing that I noticed during testing was a reduction in filtration speed with every passing month. When I first used the water filter, a full carafe took around 15 minutes; by the time the reverse osmosis filter needed replacing, it was around 1 hour. This may be because I live in a very hard water area of the UK, and the filters will be under increased strain removing all the additional minerals. If you live in a soft water area, your filters may last a lot longer. There is also an additional reason my filters may not have lasted as long, and that was a newbie mistake I made. I will tell you more about that later in this article. Keep reading so you don’t do the same.
Stage 4 filtration: VOC carbon or VOC carbon pH+ mineral boost
You have two stage 4 filters to choose from: a VOC (volatile organic compounds) carbon filter (£50 / $34.95 replacement), and a VOC carbon filter with pH+ mineral boost (£65 / $54.95 replacement). Both stage 4 filters remove VOCs such as fuel, prescription drugs, and forever chemicals.
The pH+ mineral boost filter option costs a little more (£15 / $20 extra), but provides you with mineral-rich, alkaline water. This is another standout feature of the AquaTru Carafe because it is one of the few reverse osmosis water filters that adds health-supportive minerals (electrolytes) back into the water as part of the filtration process. Most reverse osmosis water filters require you to either go without or look for an electrolyte supplement to add them back into your water.
The great thing about the AquaTru Carafe is that you can switch between the two stage 4 filter options whenever you wish. There are pros and cons to both: pH-balanced, mineral-rich water has many health benefits, while mineral-free water can help to reduce limescale build-up in your kettle and other appliances.
AquaTru states that the stage 4 filter will last 12 months or around 1,100L (about 580 carafes). I found the filter lasted just 3 months, but did last 1,100L. For those looking to filter more water, consider the AquaTru Under Sink reverse osmosis water filter, as each filter purifies twice as much water before it needs replacing.
Inserting the filters
I was a little nervous the first time I inserted the filters, as I was worried I would break the connections. With a little practice, I have found the right amount of force to be applied, and they are much easier to put in. You know you are inserting the filters into the AquaTru Carafe correctly if the clip that holds them in place moves down as you push the filter in. Once in place, you push the clip down over the top of the filter, and it clicks into place.
Each time you insert new filters, there is a set amount of times that you need to filter and pour away the contents of both the carafe and the water tank. The VOC carbon filter needs to be run through three times, and the VOC carbon pH+ mineral boost filter four times.
Removing the filters: with removal tool
AquaTru provides a handy filter removal tool that you insert into the two holes at the top of each filter. The filter slides out with a gentle wiggle and pull motion. Initially, I struggled to attach the filter removal tool, finding that the gap between the clip and the filter was too small; but with the right technique, it works well. Plus, AquaTru really thinks of everything, as there is a little storage compartment just under the filters to keep your tool safe and ready for when you need it.
Besides this, AquaTru has printed the filter replacement guide onto the lift-up water tank panel, which is visible when you are replacing your filters.
Filtration time and maintenance: Don’t make my maintenance mistake
AquaTru suggests that it takes around 10-15 minutes to filter a full carafe (1.9L). However, I found that after three months of use and having inserted new stage 1-2 and 4 filters; it took 1 hour to filter a full carafe.
There are two key reasons I believe the filtration time increased so significantly:
First, I tested the AquaTru Carafe in a very hard water area—329mg/L CACO3. The manual recommends a maximum hardness of 171mg/L. This puts additional strain on both the filters and pump—reducing filter lifespan and increasing filtration time. However, impressively, despite the filtration time increasing over three months, the filters lasted the stated number of litres. Before you purchase your reverse osmosis water filter from AquaTru or an alternative brand, check to see if it is compatible with your location’s tap water hardness. It is important to note that if you use your device to filter water above the recommended hardness levels, like me, you may void the warranty.
The second reason that may have caused the filtration time to increase so significantly was that I had not properly understood the importance of descaling the water tank regularly. While I cleaned the water tank weekly with warm soapy water, over three months of daily use the water tank developed a build-up of limescale. I thought nothing of this as a new reverse osmosis user, as limescale is quite an unavoidable sight in our hard water area. However, what I had overlooked is that the scale can flake off the sides of the wastewater tank, entering the filters, reducing the lifespan of the filters and putting an extra strain on the pump. After realising my mistake, I ordered an AquaTru Carafe descaling kit from the AquaTru website. This did a great job of removing the limescale from the water tank.
How to maintain your AquaTru Carafe
Weekly: Clean glass carafe, water tank, and external device with warm, soapy water.
Biweekly/monthly: Descale the water tank of limescale.
1-6 months: It is important to run a full device descaling every month if you live in a hard water area, up to six months if you live in an area with moderate water hardness.
Holidays and long-term storage: If you’re planning not to use your AquaTru Carafe for more than a week, it’s important that you follow the steps found within the user manual.
It’s best practice to run a full-device descale, or change the stage 3 reverse osmosis filter, when filtration time exceeds 20-30 minutes. The longer you leave it, the longer the filtration time; the longer the filtration time, the longer the device takes to descale. As my device was taking over an hour to filter one carafe of water, because of my newbie mistakes, it took a very long time to run the full device descaling. This is something you can easily avoid now that you know what not to do.
Automatic refill
One unexpected yet convenient feature of the AquaTru Carafe is its ability to pause, pour, and resume mid-filtration. You can remove the glass carafe to pour a drink, return it to position, and the pump will promptly pick up where it left off, continuing to fill the carafe automatically. This is not possible with many other filtration devices, such as distillers, that require you to leave the collection container in place until it has finished. I really made use of this feature in the mornings, when I would activate the filter but was impatient to wait for the cycle to finish.
If at any point the water tank contains unfiltered water and you replace the glass carafe partially filled, the device will automatically refill the carafe until it is full or there is no tap water left in the tank. While this is convenient, you can save money on your electricity usage by filtering a whole carafe of water and then turning it off at the socket between cycles. This reduces the electricity required to power the AquaTru Carafe in standby mode.
AquaTru Carafe annual filter cost: Buyer’s guide
Below is a table showing a rough guide on what you can expect to pay to replace the AquaTru Carafe filters over one year, based on your usage requirements. While this may seem a little pricey compared to other reverse osmosis water filters, most other devices have just one to two filtration stages and may not be third-party tested for contaminants.
AquaTru Carafe filter | 2,200L annually (3.2 x 1.9L carafes per day) | 4,400L annually (6.6 x 1.9L carafes per day) |
Pre-carbon | 2 x £35 = £70 | 4 x £35 = £140 |
Reverse osmosis | 1 x £70 = £70 | 2 x £70 = £140 |
VOC carbon/Mineral boost | 2 x £50 = £100 | 4 x £50 = £200 |
VOC carbon pH+ mineral boost | 2 x £60 = £120 | 4 x £60 = £240 |
Total annual filter cost | £240 – £260 per year | £480 – £520 per year |
Wastewater: A ratio of 1:3
Having not used a reverse osmosis water filter before, I was a little taken aback because there was quite a lot of wastewater produced in the filtration process. The AquaTru Carafe wastes roughly a third of the tap water you put into its tank. This is because the device pulls tap water through its filters, removing impurities, pumping filtered water into the glass carafe and the impurities back into the tap water tank. Makers of reverse osmosis water filters must strike a delicate balance with wastewater. Producing too little can create excess pressure from the more concentrated waste, which can shorten the filter’s lifespan, while producing too much can be less environmentally friendly. The AquaTru Carafe 1:3 wastewater ratio offers a good balance when compared to similar models.
At the start, I wondered if I could reduce my wastewater by refilling the tap water tank, containing wastewater from the previous cycle, without emptying it first. I hoped I could use a jug to pour in tap water without having to continuously remove the tank and empty it. However, after rereading the manual, it was obvious that this was not the right thing to do. If I had run a second cycle, the wastewater in the tank would have contained twice the concentration of impurities, making it even more toxic and further reducing the lifespan of the filters. It is therefore very important to dispose of the wastewater at the end of each cycle and refill the tap water tank from empty.
If you need some ideas on what to do with the wastewater, check out the Adapt zero-waste guide about ‘The best ways to reuse your reverse osmosis wastewater’.
AquaTru Glass carafe
The AquaTru Carafe comes with a 1.9L glass carafe. Most reverse osmosis water filters come with a plastic jug or store the filtered water within a plastic tank. Storing water in plastic has been linked to a wide range of negative health symptoms, especially long-term. By storing your filtered water in glass, it is not only safer for your health, but looks great and is better at withstanding scratches and stains.
I really liked that I could put this beautiful glass carafe on the dinner table for guests and that, on warmer days, the carafe can be chilled in the fridge. I was initially concerned that the carafe might be too fragile, as the glass felt quite thin. However, after regular use, I’ve been pleased to find that AquaTru chose a glass thickness that is lightweight, while not compromising on durability.
Power and plug: Cheap to run
One of the key reasons many people opt for the AquaTru Carafe over other reverse osmosis water filters is its low power consumption. When idle, the device uses around 4W. In active use, the device uses 36W. This is significantly lower than similar devices on the market, thanks to AquaTru’s specialised pump system
AquaTru states that it uses about £2 per year to power. However, by running the sums myself, if you were to leave the device in standby mode (the lowest power usage) full time, it would cost around £9 per year. The running cost would therefore be slightly higher than this, based on how many times you are actively filtering water each day. Fortunately, this is still very low compared to similar devices on the market. You can also switch the device off at the wall after each cycle or overnight to save on power—which is not possible with all reverse osmosis water filters.
The AquaTrue Carafe I received had a European plug (Type F) with a UK adapter provided. Initially, I was concerned that the plug and adapter jutted out of the socked too much and might get knocked. While you could replace the adapter with a smaller alternative, I have had no problems.
Final thoughts: AquaTru Carafe six-month review
The AquaTru Carafe is one of the cheapest reverse osmosis water filters on the market. It stands out from the crowd because of its compact size, glass carafe, and low electricity costs. While you may void the warranty and increase the filtration time if you use the device to filter water that is harder than the maximum recommended level, the AquaTru Carafe can filter hard water.
There were three potential disadvantages I found while reviewing the AquaTru Carafe. First, the smaller tank size requires more refills, which can be a little cumbersome. However, it makes up for this by being very compact and taking up less space on the countertop. Second, the daily water usage in my home (three adults) was more than I expected, and as a result, the filters did not last as long as I had expected. AquaTru, however, was bang on with its filtration estimates and therefore, I recommend potential buyers estimate their daily usage to work out their annual filter replacement costs as part of their purchasing decision. Third, this device requires frequent descaling if you live in a hard-water area. Fortunately, the more you keep on top of it, the easier it is.
The AquaTru Carafe is one of the best alternatives to a Brita filter—providing purer water stored in a beautiful glass carafe. Overall, the advantages of the AquaTru Carafe far outweigh the disadvantages listed above, and it exceeds many water filters on the market both in terms of functionality and water purity.
Use our AquaTru discount code to get £100 off your AquaTru Carafe
To help you get started with filtering your drinking water, we’ve partnered with AquaTru to offer £100 off an AquaTru Classic, AquaTru Carafe, or AquaTru Under Sink water purifier. Click here to save up to 25% off your AquaTru device.
This article was originally published at AdaptNetwork.com and was republish with permission.
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