There are no two ways about it; this is an expensive water filter. I waited for a sale and paid £96 from Lakeland* but it’s usually £120 (in 2024).
We previously used a Brita Marella filter for over a decade. No complaints but I’ve been hankering over a plastic-free jug that doesn’t take single use filters.
Instagram, as always, offered up the sleekly marketed Phox. The jugs are plastic or glass but all have plastic internals. This led me to Aarke. A quick thing; I’m not obsessed with ridding my home of plastic; I’m just making small tweaks where I can.
Minimal plastic
The reservoir and filter are made from stainless steel and the jug is glass. The handle is made from recycled, certified Ocean Bound Plastic and the inside of the lid is BPA-free thermoplastic.
Replaceable jug
Not having a replaceable jug would be a deal-breaker for me. I’m not especially clumsy but this is an item that lives in the kitchen. I occasionally knock my kettle and cringe every time, yet somehow it remains unscathed (well done, Dualit).
As of October 2024, the large replacement jug is now available and happily it’s priced at £24 — the same price as the small jug.
Taste
The filtered water tastes great. I’m no water connoisseur** but the water has a clean, sharp taste after being filtered through new granules. Ditto for Brita although the water tastes noticeably different (I have no preference). After a few days or so the clean taste fades.
Speed of filtration
Water travels quickly through the filter; much faster than through a Brita cartridge. I thought I hadn’t put the filter in correctly. This is useful because if you fill the reservoir to the brim, you have to wait for the water level to lower a bit before you can put the lid on. It’s a 10-15 second wait at most.
Spout
The Aarke spout pours without dribbling, as long as it’s not rushed. If you tilt the jug too far, water comes out of the sides. (I can’t talk about spouts without giving a nod to the trademarked Dualit kettle spouts — Pure Pour™ and Sure Pour™ — the names make me smile and I can vouch for Pure Pour™.)
Water does remain on the spout after pouring. Not a big deal for most but we have the hardest water ever so I wipe it with a tea towel, or, if I’m being honest, my hands (they’re nearly always clean — just look at my fingerprint-free phone).
Reminder dial
The lid contains a small rotary dial to mark when the filter granules need to be changed. This has more longevity than the annoying Brita digital lifetime indicator, which broke after a few months.
It’s so beautiful
It should be a given considering the price but the water purifier is beautiful. The handle is sturdy and the rubberised bottom is grippy. I have no negative issues to report but merely a few, personal, neutral points:
The capacity
I bought the large jug, which has a filtered water capacity of 1.66 litres (confusingly the box states 2.8 litres but this is the total capacity of the carafe). It needs filling way more frequently than the Brita Marella (3.5 litres, filtered water capacity: 2 litres). Because we (by we, I mean our household of two) drink water by the pint and use filtered water in our coffee machine, we refill the jug almost every time we use it. I wish the jug came in a jumbo size but I appreciate that it would be really heavy when full.
It’s glass so inherently more fragile
You need a certain degree of mindfulness when using the jug. You can’t just pop the top and fling it under a tap (plus one to Brita). This is the price to be paid for choosing a non-plastic material.
The lid is very secure
The lid takes a bit of effort to remove as the rubber gasket does its job well. Sometimes the reservoir wants to come out with it. I hold the reservoir down with my thumb and pull the lid directly upwards. I do wonder how my mum would cope, though, as she has mild arthritis in her hands.
A workout for your wrists
The jug is heavy especially when at full capacity. It’s glass and metal so understandable but if I were to recommend this purifier to my mum I’d warn her about the weight.
Ongoing cost
In terms of replacement granules, Aarke comes out more expensive, but not shockingly so. We used to buy Brita filters in bulk (I wish we had the same option with Aarke) but Aarke Pure granules are sold in threes for £17 (£5.67 per bag).
Sadly the pricier magnesium-enriched granules (£25) aren’t an option for us as they don’t remove limescale. I briefly contemplated buying the smaller purifier just for the magnesium granules (filling it with water from the large filter) but then I came to my senses.
Would I replace it if it broke tomorrow?
Without hesitation, and thankfully at £24, rather than full price.
*Lakeland provides a three year guarantee for the Aarke Purifier. Sending much love to my local Lakeland store in Norwich. The staff are wonderful and I always leave with a huge smile on my face.
** Have you seen the water episode of Down to Earth with Zac Efron? Water sommeliers exist. And the water system in Paris is incredible.
