Brita Bella Pitcher and Ultramax Dispenser
Up for review are two great products that give you clean water while keeping that filtered water handy for dispensing from the fridge, at the table or on the countertop.
Ease of Use/Performance: 22/25
Convenience/Storage 25/25
Appearance/Design 23/25
How much I enjoy 25/25
Total: 95/100
Not all water filter systems are alike and the same can be said for just about anything when it comes to product comparisons but many do come out on top when it comes to ease of use. I received several water purifying and filtering products all about the same time and the two offerings from Brita are the Bella pitcher and Ultramax dispenser.
Brita, like a couple of other leading brands, use a standard activated carbon filter in their products that is inexpensive but found to be a natural way to clean out impurities in our drinking water. The other main component of a Brita filter is the ion-exchange resin that removes mercury, copper, cadmium and zinc.
With the activated carbon removing chlorine and the resin removing other chemicals the filter also helps to remove larger particles with its fiber filter to clean out your water. The cartridge filters are a one piece plastic case with the top having a plastic filter and the bottom the fiber filter that sits inside the water reservoir area of your pitcher or dispenser.
The Bella and Ultramax dispenser both use the same cartridge as do all the Brita pitchers for a simple way to purchase your cartridges. The cartridges cost about $8 a piece and in larger quantities are less expensive per cartridge.
The Bella Pitcher comes with a cartridge as does the Ultramax dispenser which is good for 40 gallons of water filtration or about two months. I really don't know why the company puts dates for the filter replacement but that's about the best you have to go on.
The top of the Brita Bella has a date dial to show when you put the cartridge in so you know about when to replace it if you use it often. If you don't use the water filter pitcher that much you can let it go a bit longer depending on how much you use it.
The Ultramax I received does not have a date dial but the newer versions have a digital dial to show filter replacement. Replacing or getting the filters ready for first use is simple, just pull the filter out of their foil package and drop into a glass of cold water for 15 minutes.
Once the filter has soaked up water you can run a little through it to get rid of the carbon dust that will flow through and place it in your pitcher. The filter and pitcher work as a unit and when you pour water into the top of the pitcher or dispenser it will flow through the filter into the bottom.
The Bella pitcher has a decent size for about six full 8 ounce glasses and the dispenser holds about 18 8 ounce glasses. The Bella pitcher is perfect for the table serving or the fridge if you don't want to take up the space of the dispenser.
I have been using mine first in the fridge and then to fill my coffee machines, the pitcher works great cold from the fridge or as a water filler for beverage machines. I have been using the Brita Bella pitcher and Ultramax dispenser for over a month and have been very happy with them in every way.
The Bella pitcher has the nice easy to use handle and front flip up lid for pouring and the larger flip up lid for filling the pitcher is easy to use with your thumb while holding the handle. The entire top lid is easy to remove using the hole at the handle right under the lever for opening the filling lid.
The filter cartridge on the Bella pitcher fits in place with a plastic holder that fills with water and channels it through the filters top area. This part is also easy to take out for cleaning by pulling up on it from the sides or from the front open area where water pours out.
The Ultramax dispenser has the same type of lid and top section but a bit different with a small rectangular lid for filling and the top lid that fits on the whole dispenser. The top comes off and you fit the filter cartridge in the hole available that sits toward the back of the middle section.
The Ultimax is easy to use with its flip spout for easy dispensing while the unit stays in the fridge for an easy to use filter system. The dispenser sits nicely on the fridge shelf and to fill you simply pull it out a little and use a pitcher or pull the whole unit out.
Both the Bella and Ultimax both have the same basic design of a middle section that holds the water while filtering and the bottom base of the pitcher holds the water till you use it. They both have the same filter cartridge that does take out bad tastes and cleans out the water well for a great set of water filter dispensers.
I highly recommend the Bella pitcher and Ultimax dispenser as two great ways to get fresh clean filtered water for drinking right into your glass or for your beverage machines. I also received a couple of Brita/Nalgene water bottles that make a great way to take the clean water from a Brita product on the go.
Checkout the Brita, Nalgene or Filter For Good websites for more on the Nalgene bottles available with the Filter For Good logo. I just love the bottles I received to keep my water handy throughout the day and the top carry loop makes a great way to quickly get a gulp of water from the flip top lid.
The Nalgene "On The Go" Tritan 24 ounce bottle makes a great daily trail or home water bottle that has the FilterForGood.com label. Nalgene makes a wide variety of nearly indestructible, bpa free bottles and are another great product that I recommend.