Every Drop Water Filter

I was really excited about trying the Every Drop Water Filter as a part of House Party Chatterbox. I received a free kit that included the drop shaped portable water filter, a three month replaceable filter cartridge, a carry case and a water bottle with a rubber stopper that ingeniously holds the water filter in place while filling the bottle. I really LOVE the look of the filter and clear case - they are compact enough to be truly portable and the water droplet shape is really slick. There is definitely a cool factor to the filter and carrying case. I've seen nothing like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4psbKXjeHo

I have city water, and while I am sure it is clean and completely potable, it has an unmistakeably chemical taste which actually affects the quality of the coffee I make. When I am spending $12 a pound for fair trade organic half caff, I am not going to stand for it to be compromised by funny tasting water. My solution thus far has been to use a Brita pitcher, which admittedly does fine for the coffee application. The drawback to the Brita is waiting for the pitcher to filter the water once it has been poured in. It's a minor inconvenience, of course, who can't wait 5 minutes to finish filling up the coffee pot? It's just a little annoying is all. That being said, it becomes a larger annoyance when filling something that needs more water than the pitcher can hold. I have found that using the Every Drop Water Filter is ideal for filling pots of water for cooking - it provides a continuous stream directly from the tap to the pot, with the filter straining out the impurities for better tasting food.

Next stop: work. Seemed like a great idea to have a portable water filter that travels to the gym, to work, on vacation, almost anywhere. I usually lug in a gallon jug of water to keep at my desk, but this seems like a great alternative. The water at work is city water also, but it doesn't taste as chemically as it does when it gets to my house. There is a distinct chlorine taste, however. I filled my rubber topped water bottle (which is really cool for holding the drop shaped filter in place for filling) right from the tap. I was unable to fill at the drinking fountain since the filter and water bottle combo is too tall to make that work. The filter itself is uniquely shaped like a water drop, so it draws attention. Co-workers wanted to know what I was doing, so I explained the Every Drop Water Filter and tried the water. I noticed a marked improvement in taste, although there is still a faint, lingering chlorine flavor.

Overall, I find this filter easy to use and pretty effective. Plus, it's cute! On the downside, gauging the correct water flow into the filter took a little getting used to, since too much water going in (faster than it drains out) causes an overflow and unfiltered water to pour into whatever container you are filling. The optimal tap flow is a bit slower than what I was expecting, but I think once I am accustomed to the proper flow rate, I won't have to pay so much attention to that. I admit that am not overwhelmed with excitement over this product, and continued use of it most likely will depend on the cost of the replacement filters. It does work as advertised and cutting down on water bottles is a worthy endeavor, so I will also see if I can get into the habit of reaching for the Every Drop every time I need water.