Brita Elite Advanced Faucet Review

The Brita Elite Advanced Faucet Filter offers a practical blend of convenience and performance for anyone who wants clean water flowing straight from the tap. It installs tool-free in just minutes and fits most standard faucets (pull-out hoses and sprayers are out of luck). The all-white plastic setup we tested isn't the most aesthetically pleasing, but if you prefer, Brita offers a chrome option that may suit your style better.

Lead & Metals

Thanks to its ability to remove 100% of lead, the Brita Elite Faucet scored above average in our metals test.

It reduced our test samples contaminated with a whopping 260 parts per billion (ppb) of lead down to non-detectable levels. That's serious cleaning power only the best of the best could achieve. If you have health concerns about lead leaking into your water from aging pipes, the Brita Elite is a trustworthy, Water Quality Association (WQA)-certified solution.

That said, it didn't pick up any of the other metals we tested for. Arsenic, uranium, and lithium may be naturally elevated in certain regions where they can cause adverse health effects. For broader metal protection, a higher-quality pitcher or a reverse osmosis system can get the job done.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

Although it's not certified to remove PFAS, the Brita Faucet killed it in our PFAS tests. It captured an impressive 100% of these health-concerning "forever chemicals," making it a system we'd trust for PFAS removal. Our tester said, “The Elite is an outstanding, renter-friendly option for absolute PFAS removal.”

We challenged the Brita with two common PFAS chemicals (PFNA and PFBA) that are captured by filters in very different ways. Because the Brita Faucet caught 100% of both, we believe it should offer broad protection against the wide range of PFAS commonly found near cities, industrial areas, airports, and landfills.

Microplastics

The Elite Faucet also performed exceptionally well in our microplastics removal test, achieving near-perfect results.

Out of the over 4,000 microplastic particles we added to our sample water, only 10 made it into our cup. And when we took a closer look at the most concerning size, those less than 5 microns, only 1 passed through. Very impressive. Our results, combined with its official microplastics and BPA removal certifications, make the Brita Faucet an excellent choice for microplastics and BPA concerns.

Fluoride & Nitrates

Breaking its winning streak, the Elite Faucet did little to remove fluoride, nitrates, and sulfates. But we're not mad at it. Faucet and pitcher filters are not designed to remove these tricky contaminants, so its low performance here is not surprising.

Fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate are concerns for users living near farmland, drinking from a private well, or who prefer to limit their fluoride intake. If these contaminants are a concern, a reverse osmosis system is what you'll need.

Taste & Chlorine

Taste is subjective, but nearly 90% of hundreds of Amazon reviewers think that the Brita Elite Faucet Filter improved the taste of standard tap water. Because it removes 100% of chlorine, it's especially helpful in making your drinking water taste and smell less like a chlorinated pool. That said, not everyone agrees: a handful of users report no change at all or an unpleasant aftertaste. Still, we think you'll notice an improvement in most cases.

Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

The Brita Faucet Filter scored slightly above average in daily use and upkeep costs.

One of the biggest benefits of a faucet-mounted system is that it provides filtered water on demand. No pitcher refills needed. As long as it fits your faucet, it's a quick, easy install that avoids the complicated setup of a full undersink system. The flow is slower than a normal tap, but you can easily switch back to unfiltered tap when you need a faster flow.

That said, a faucet-mounted system can get in the way and be an eyesore. While other faucet systems we tested could be easily removed to wash large dishes, the Brita required us to twist off the entire assembly. Because the connection points are made of plastic, they can wear out with repeated use, leading to leaks or worse, an unusable product.

Maintenance is pretty low for the Brita Elite Faucet. For most households with average water use, filters only need to be changed every couple of months. This is much better than the monthly changes on pitchers. We estimate that a family of two that uses clean water for cooking and drinking will spend about $80 per year on filter replacements. For larger households, replacements are more frequent and cost more.

Should You Buy the Brita Elite Advanced Faucet?

The Brita Elite Faucet Filter is a quick, affordable solution for anyone who needs cleaner water on-demand. It's highly effective at improving taste and removing lead, PFAS, and microplastics, but misses some other impurities. If you're a renter or don't have room for pitchers or a more permanent reverse osmosis system, we think the Brita is a noteworthy choice. Just keep in mind, it can get in the way when washing dishes, and if you remove it too often, you may break it.

What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?