REASONS TO BUY
Access to water while filtering
Easy to use
Great taste
Change filter indicator
REASONS TO AVOID
Horrible copper and iron removal
Brita Tahoe 10-Cup Pitcher with Elite Filter Review
A convenient and affordable water filter pitcher that produces good-tasting water, but it does not remove as many contaminants as other water filter
Credit: Brita
RELATED: Best Water Filters of 2024
Our Verdict
The Brita Tahoe 10 Cup Pitcher is a user-friendly option for those seeking great-tasting, crisp water. Its dual-compartment design allows immediate access to filtered water while the top compartment continues filtering. While it excels in taste and convenience, its contaminant removal capabilities are moderately effective, removing chlorine and lead but struggling with other contaminants like fluoride and copper. With average use, the annual cost of the Tahoe is one of the most affordable pitchers on the market. If your primary goal is to enhance the taste or decrease the odor of your tap water, the Brita Tahoe is a solid choice, but we wouldn't call it our best water filter.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Brita Tahoe 10-Cup Pitcher with Elite Filter | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Under Sink Filter | Best Pitcher Water Filter |  Best Value Pitcher Filter | Best Value Under-Sink Filter | |
| Price | $42 List $39.99 at Amazon | $220 List $197.99 at Amazon | $35 List $34.99 at Amazon | $30 List $24.99 at Amazon | $145 List $127.49 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | An easy-to-use water pitcher that produces good-tasting water, but struggles to remove certain contaminants | If you have space and are willing to install a one-time system, this is the best way to purify your water | Top-notch filtration and convenience at an affordable price point | A low-cost pitcher that easily produces high-quality water | Reduced installation hassle, comparable filtering power, and lowest yearly cost |
| Rating Categories | Brita Tahoe 10-Cup... | iSpring RCC7 | ZeroWater 10-Cup 5-... | PUR Classic 11 Cup... | APEC WFS-1000 |
| Contaminant Removal (60%) | |||||
| Taste (30%) | |||||
| Setup and Use (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Brita Tahoe 10-Cup... | iSpring RCC7 | ZeroWater 10-Cup 5-... | PUR Classic 11 Cup... | APEC WFS-1000 |
| Type | Pitcher | Reverse Osmosis | Pitcher | Pitcher | 3 Stage under sink |
| Measured Annual Cost | $30.49 | $50.00 | $57.50 | $36.00 | $40.00 |
| Replacement Schedule | After 120 gallons (about every 6 months) | Stage 1 - 3, every 6 months RO, every 2-3 years Post carbon, every 12 months |
After 18,000 mg of dissolved solids; 1-40 gallons | 40 gallons or 2 months | Every 12 months |
| Replacement Cost | $18.40 per filter, $30.49 for two | 2 year supply for $100 | 2 for $30 4 for $40 8 for $90 12 for $115 16 for $150 |
$24 for a 4 pack | Stages 1-3 for $40 |
| NSF/ANSI certified | N/A | Certified to NSF/ANSI 58 | N/A | NSF certified to reduce chlorine, mercury, copper, zinc and other chemical & physical substances | NSF Certified filters and tubing |
| Measured Chlorine Removal | 75% | 100% | 100% | 95% | 100% |
| Measured Fluoride Removal | 37% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Measured Sulfate Removal | 43% | 100% | 100% | 35% | 39% |
| Measured Copper Removal | 17% | 100% | 100% | 88% | 100% |
| Measured Iron Removal | 35% | 100% | 99% | 85% | 46% |
| Measured Lead Removal | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Model | 10 Cup | RCC7 | 10 Cup | 11 Cup | WFS-1000 |
| Pure Water to Waste Water Ratio | N/A | 2:1 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Other certifications | IAPMO R&T certified against NSF/ANSI Standard 53 WQA certified against NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401 |
In strict accordance with American quality standards | IAPMO certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS, lead, chromium and mercury | N/A | FDA Certified JG Food grade tubing |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Brita Tahoe 10 Cup Pitcher shines for its ease of use and tasty water. It is perfect for those tired of waiting for their old pitcher to finish filtering water before they can access the purified crisp water. It is designed to pour water while the upper section is still filtering. If you want easy access to refreshing and crisp water, this model is worth considering.
Performance Comparison
An effortless pop top that remains open while you refill the pitcher.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Contaminant Removal
Consumers choose water filters for health and taste reasons. Excess fluoride, chlorine, or lead in water can cause health problems down the line. We tested each product's ability to remove a variety of contaminants by creating a water-based concoction of the most common and concerning elements. We sent the control and filtered samples to Western Environmental Testing Laboratories for testing.
The Brita Tahoe underperformed other water filters, struggling to remove significant percentages of contaminants. It removed 75% of chlorine, 37% of fluoride, 43.5% of sulfate, 17.3% of copper, 34.9% of iron, and 100% of lead. Only the lead and chlorine removal percentages were below the standard limits of acceptable water quality.
The Tahoe's moderate filtration power makes it best for those who want a convenient way to enhance the taste of their tap water and remove a chlorine taste or smell of water. It is best for water sources that don't have lots of fluoride, sulfate, copper, or iron.
Water utilities companies can provide water quality statements to highlight the consideration of certain contaminants. Because of its moderate filtration capabilities, we recommend obtaining one of these reports before committing to this filter.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Taste
Does your tap have an undesirable chlorine or iron taste? Another reason to purchase a water filter can be to modify the taste of your water. Taste is inherently subjective; everyone has different preferences; some prefer mineral, while others prefer a neutral taste. In this section, we rank and describe the taste of the Brita Tahoe. We enlisted a panel of GearLab testers to assess and describe the taste of the Brita's filtered water. Our test team said it produced some of the best-tasting water. It is rated as above average and one of the best in our blind taste tests.
The Tahoe produces crisp, delicious, neutral-flavored water that our test team ranked among the best. The filter was able to get rid of chlorine tastes and smells to improve tap water for drinking or cooking.
Our test team loved the neutral and crisp flavor of this model.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Setup and Use
Every pitcher will provide a different user experience out of the box and for its subsequent lifespan. Filters vary in installation procedures, daily use, long-term maintenance, and overall cost. It is critically important to consider each one of these factors to ensure the product is a good long-term fit for your goals. Our test team installs or prepares each filter, quantifies the setup process, and then gauges the overall use experience. Within the use experience, we look at the daily use, annual cost, and maintenance requirements. The Brita Tahoe is one of the easiest filters to use and set up; it also has one of the lowest annual costs amongst pitcher-based filters in the review.
The threaded filter is quick and easy to install.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Brita Tahoe is easy to set out of the box; wash, install the filter, reset the light, and then filter and repurpose three rounds of water to flush the filter. Daily use of the filter was simple and intuitive. This model is unique as you can access filtered water while the top compartment still filters. Gone are the days of waiting until all the water is filtered before you can access it.
Long-term maintenance of this product is as simple as changing the filter. The manufacturer recommends replacing the filter every 120 gallons or six months. The pitcher uses a Smartlight Filter to indicate when a filter needs changing. The overall cost of a filter is rather affordable but slightly more expensive than its pitcher counterparts. The annual cost of this filter is associated with how often you need to change it. Annually, the Tahoe is one of the most affordable models at $30 per year.
The Smartlight will help remind you to change your filter.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Brita Tahoe 10 Cup?
The Tahoe will fit your needs well if you want an easy and fast way to produce neutral and crisp drinking water from already decent sources. However, we would recommend other filters for the best drinking water.
What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?
The Brita Tahoe produces great-tasting water but struggled to remove contaminants to the same degree as its competitors. Check out the ZeroWater 10-Cup 5-Stage Pitcher if you want better contaminant performance, which filtered out over 99% of each contaminant. If you're looking for a great reverse-osmosis option, see the iSpring RCC7.
—
Graham Faulknor and Isaac Laredo
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