Review: Brita Pacifica Water Filter Pitcher
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Nov 27, 2023
This page may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product or service through such a link we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
The Pacifica Water Filter Pitcher is one of the more recent Brita models that uses the familiar Brita filter cartridges.
So while there’s isn’t much new to expect in terms of overall filtration, what else does the system has to offer?
Find out in our review below!
Contents
show
Brita Pacifica Water Filter Pitcher |
|
| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Life: | 40 Gallons |
| Storage Volume: | 10 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$40-50 |
|
Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
|
|
Brita Pacifica Water Filter Pitcher – All Specs
- Model: OB41
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$40-50
- Filter Media/Process: Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange
- Filtering Capacity: 40 gal or 2 Months
- Storage Volume: 10 Cups
- WxHxD: 6.14”x10.28”x11.02”
- Weight: 1.8 lb.
- Water Temperature: 32-85 °F
- NSF Certifications: Standard 42, 53
- Warranty: 90 Days
Brita Pacifica – Key Features
The Brita Pacifica Water Filter Pitcher is affordable to buy and maintain and comes in different colors, including berry and black. It has a 10-cup capacity and operates with the Brita Standard filter cartridge (which isn’t as effective as the Brita Elite cartridge. Fortunately, you can switch to the Brita Elite later on if you want).
As for the Brita Standard cartridge, it contains 3 filter stages. Here’s what they do:
- Stage 1: This is a mesh screen that traps larger particles.
- Stage 2: This stage consists of coconut-based activated carbon granules that remove 96% mercury and 95% chlorine taste and odor among organic contaminants.
- Stage 3: The last stage is the ion exchange resin that removes copper (86-94%), cadmium (93-96%), zinc (64%), and possibly other heavy metals and salts.
The Brita Pacifica has a locking lid to prevent spills and a built-in electronic filter life indicator. Filter lifespan is 40 gallons or 2 months. We estimate $40 to $50 in annual replacement cost.
Finally, the pitcher is BPA-free.
Brita Pacifica Pitcher Pros
As mentioned before, the Brita Pacifica is affordable at purchase, and replacement filters don’t cost much either.
But even more important, we have 2 NSF standards (42 and 53) backing up the manufacturer’s claims regarding contaminant reduction. And these standards have not only been certified by the WQA but also the NSF.
What’s more, you can always change the Brita Standard cartridge to the somewhat more effective Brita Elite cartridge.
The built-in filter life indicator keeps you up-to-date with replacement dates,
We also like that only BPA-free material are being used. Plus, Brita offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on every pitcher for peace of mind.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
According to the performance data sheet, the Brita Pacifica removes:
- Chlorine taste and odor (95%)
- Mercury (96%)
- Copper (86-94%)
- Cadmium (93-96%)
- Zinc (64%)
The Brita Pacifica – learn more on Amazon.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
As with most water filter pitchers, the Brita Pacifica is easy to set up and use. Follow these steps:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- Hand wash and rinse the pitcher/dispenser, reservoir, and lid. Then, hold the filter element under cold tap water for 15 seconds. Note: Do NOT wash the pitcher in the dishwasher, and do not use abrasive cleaners.
- Insert the filter into the reservoir, making sure to line up the groove with the ridge. Press down firmly to create a tight seal.
- Activate the filter life status indicator by pressing and holding the STATUS button for 2 seconds until the green light blinks three times.
- Open the lid and pour cold tap water into the reservoir. Dispose of the first three pitchers of filtered water, or water your plants with it. It’s normal to see carbon dust in the first few fills.
To check the filter life status, press and release the STATUS button quickly. If the light blinks red, it’s time to replace your filter and reset the indicator. This is recommended every 2 months for an average household.
The Package (Parts)
- Brita Pacifica Water Filter Pitcher
- Brita Standard Filter Cartridge
Maintenance
The Brita Standard Filter cartridge needs to be changed every 40 gallons or 2 months. The filter life indicator helps you keep track of replacement dates so you won’t miss it. Again, yearly replacement costs are affordable.
Follow these steps to change the filter in your Brita Pacifica pitcher:
- Rinse your Brita filter under cold running water for 15 seconds.
- Remove the old filter and align the groove of the new filter with the ridge in the reservoir.
- Fill the pitcher with cold water and throw out the first 2-3 pitchers of filtered water.
- Your pitcher is now ready for use.
Manual
Here is a link to the official manual:
NSF and Other Certifications
The Brita Pacifica comes with the Brita Standard Cartridge, which is tested and certified by the WQA against NSF/ANSI Standard 42 (for zinc, aesthetic chlorine, taste, and odor) and Standard 53 for copper, cadmium, and mercury.
The same certifications have been awarded by the NSF.
Earlier Product Versions
There are many different Brita filter pitchers, most of which use the same filter cartridge (Brita Standard and Elite). There are multiple older pitcher models, too.
Cons
Despite 2 NSF certifications, we are provided with no more than 5 contaminant reduction rates as listed above. Another problem is these 5 contaminants are not the most important or harmful to remove. Plus, the reduction rates aren’t all that high (for example, 64% reduction rate for zinc). So while this pitcher can work to improve water taste and odor, there are other far more effective models out there.
Also, we don’t like the short 90-day warranty.
There were also a lot of complaints about the product arriving broken or damaged.
Brita Pacifica Review: Our Verdict + Best for
The Brita Pacifica is fairly priced and cheap to maintain. It has two NSF certifications but for only five not-so-important contaminants, plus the reduction rates are not very impressive. This pitcher might work for improving water taste and odor, but if you’re after serious contaminant removal, you’re better off with other pitchers.
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 3.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 3.5/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
- Overall: 3.5/5.0
Comparison to Other Water Filter Pitchers
Let’s compare the Brita Pacifica to the Clearly Filtered and the Epic Pure water filter pitcher.
Clearly Filtered |
|
| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon + Composite Shell |
| Filter Capacity: | 100 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 17 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$150 |
|
Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Get 10% Off! Use Code: |
|
Epic Pure |
|
| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon Block, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Total Storage Volume: | 14.8 Cups |
| Annually: | $90-135 |
|
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Get 20% Off! Use Code: |
|
|
Brita Pacifica |
|
| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 40 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 10 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$40-50 |
|
Overall Rating: 3.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
|
|
The Clearly Filtered (full review over here) is much more powerful than the Brita Pacifica. It’s been third-party tested against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401, with results showing that it removes more than 350 contaminants, like pesticides, lead, chromium-6, pharmaceuticals, DBPs, PFAS, arsenic, and chlorine.
Filters are good for 100 gallons (or 4 months), surpassing Brita’s 40 gallons. The Clearly Filtered has a total storage of 17 cups and a 10-cup filtered volume. Made in the USA with 100% BPA-free material, it comes with a removable lid that makes refilling a whole lot easier.
Clearly Filtered offers customers a lifetime warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. These features are all great, but sadly, the CF pitcher costs quite a lot to buy and maintain.
The Epic Pure is a slightly more budget-friendly option, but still costs more than the Brita Pacifica. It has shown to eliminate over 200 contaminants in water (it’s specially designed for fluoride-containing tap water). The Epic Pure has been tested against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401.
Contaminants removed include chlorine, sulfate, fluoride, hexavalent chromium, PFOS, chloramine, pesticides, VOCs, lead, pharmaceuticals, nitrate, mercury, disinfection byproducts, and more.
The Epic Pure boasts an impressive 150-gallon filter life, surpassing both Clearly Filtered and Brita. It comes equipped with a built-in filter life countdown timer, ensuring you never miss a replacement. The company promotes a convenient recycling program — collect four used filters and receive a free replacement. With a total storage capacity of 14.8 cups, the Epic Pure is BPA-free and proudly made in the USA. Every Epic purchase is backed by a lifetime warranty and a hassle-free return policy, providing customers with added peace of mind.
Epic even gives discounts to first responders, military personnel, seniors, teachers, students, medical staff, and owners and employees of non-profit organizations.
Bottom line: The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is our top choice. It’s the best in terms of filtration, but it’s pricey. Coming second is the Epic Pure Pitcher. It’s great if you’re on a tighter budget – it’s a bit more affordable and still very effective. We only recommend Brita if you don’t want to spend too much and simply want to improve your water’s taste and smell.
More Reviews:
More Brita Reviews:
This completes our review of the Brita Pacifica Water Filter Pitcher. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.