Review: Soma Water Filter Pitcher (*Updated 2024)
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Feb 1, 2024
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In today’s article, we’re going to review the Soma water filter pitcher.
The pitcher is certainly one of the most stylish on the market, but does it also perform when it comes to contaminant reduction?
Let’s find out!
Contents
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Soma Water Filter Pitcher |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon, Charcoal, Ion Exchange Resin |
| Filter Life: | 40 Gallons |
| Storage Volume: | 10 Cups |
| Annual Cost: | ~$90 |
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Overall Rating: 2.0/5.0 ⓘ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.
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Soma Water Filter Pitcher – All Specs
- Model: Soma
- Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$90
- Filter Media/Process: Activated Carbon, Charcoal, Ion Exchange
- Filtering Capacity: 40 gal
- Storage Volume: 10 Cups
- NSF Certifications: Standard 42, 53
- Warranty: Lifetime
Soma Pitcher – Key Features
Most importantly, the Soma water pitcher uses a mix of activated coconut shell carbon, charcoal, and ion exchange resin to filter chlorine taste and odor, cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc from water (specific reduction rates are not provided, but Soma claims their pitcher is NSF-certified against standard 42 and 53 for the impurities listed).
Other than that, the jug can hold 10 cups of water which is pretty average.
You can choose between 2 colors: Black and white.
And, filters last 40 gallons or up to 2 months. At around $90 a year in replacement cost, the Soma is quite affordable in the long run. Speaking of, the initial price tag is okay.
Soma Water Pitcher Pros
- The Soma has a sleek design – it looks very nice.
- It’s easy to use.
- With the updated cartridges it filters water pretty fast, so no long waiting times.
- The pitcher itself is made from BPA-free plastic. The handle is sustainably-harvested bamboo.
- Replacement filter casings are made from 60% sugarcane starch. The starch is used to create plant-based plastic which can biodegrade for a lower environmental impact.
- Soma donates to community-based water projects in developing nations every time you buy one of their products. We really hope this isn’t just a marketing thing (not an allegation).
- There’s a lifetime warranty.
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
Soma lists the following water impurities and contaminants to be removed using their pitcher:
- Chlorine
- Mercury
- Zinc
- Cadmium
- Copper
- Unwanted tastes or odors
The Soma – learn more on Amazon.com
Assembly and Filter Priming
As most other water filter pitchers, the Soma, too, is easy to set up:
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
- First, remove the lid.
- Take out the filter bag and filter.
- For 15 minutes, soak the filter in water.
- Rinse under running water for 10 seconds.
- Insert it into the reservoir bottom and snap it.
- Put the lid back on.
- Fill.
- Discard the first 3-5 fills.
- Enjoy.
The Package (Parts)
- Soma water filter pitcher
- Soma filter cartridge
Maintenance
When it comes to maintaining the Soma 10-cup pitcher, the most important task is to replace filters on time. Here’s how:
- Soak the new filter cartridge for 15 minutes.
- Rinse under running water for 10 seconds.
- Install filter cartridge.
- Install lid.
- Fill.
- Discard the first 3-5 fills.
- Enjoy.
As mentioned before, one filter lasts for 40 gallons of water before it needs replacement. We estimate $90 in annual cost. Discount are available if you buy in bulk and subscribe.
Manual
Sorry, we couldn’t find an official manual online.
NSF and Other Certifications
Soma says their pitcher is certified against NSF 42 and 53, but we couldn’t find any links to these certifications online.
Earlier Product Versions
The company calls the Soma 10-cup pitcher “the new and improved version” so it stands to reason that there are earlier versions of this product.
Soma Filter Pitcher Cons
Our biggest complaint is that the Soma pitcher provides basic water filtration only with apparently no more than 5 contaminants removed.
Above that, not everyone seems happy with how the filtered water tastes. Some people can still taste and/or smell chlorine.
And regarding the lower carbon footprint, in 2018, Soma mentioned to have moved the manufacturing of its pitchers and carafes to China. They wanted to do the same with their water bottles. Only the filters should continue to be made in the US. This doesn’t sound like the most eco-friendly business decision.
Other issues are design-related:
- Reviewers said their Soma water filter pitcher drips each time they pour water from it.
- At least 1 person said the updated filter version doesn’t make a good seal around the edges so that dirty water bypasses it.
- A number of people have had problems with mold.
And as mentioned, while Soma claims that their filter is certified against NSF/ANSI standards 42 and 53, we couldn’t find any links to that effect online. There are no contaminant reduction rates provided either. The Soma is also supposedly tested for contaminants that are not a common issue. For instance, it’s tested for zinc removal which is very rare in drinking water sources (plus zinc is healthy in certain amounts).
Soma Pitcher Review: Our Verdict + Best for
In our opinion, the Soma water filter pitcher is for people who care more about modern design than thorough water filtration and broad contaminant removal. In other words, the stylish pitcher will certainly look great in your kitchen, but its filtration capabilities are rather weak.
So while we appreciate the company’s efforts to provide a product with a lower carbon footprint and the fact that Soma supports community-owned water projects in developing countries, we still don’t recommend you buy one of their filter pitchers – unless you want to show off to your friends.
Sure, using plant-based materials to some extent and donating to charity is very honorable, but the overall filtration performance of the Soma water filter pitcher is simply just not worth it. 2 stars!
Our Rating in Detail:
- Filtration Performance: 2.0/5.0
- Filter Capacity (Life): 3.5/5.0
- Purchase Price: 5.0/5.0
- Annual Cost: 4.5/5.0
- Overall: 2.0/5.0
Comparison to Other Water Filter Pitchers
We’ll now compare the Soma water pitcher to two competitors: the Clearly Filtered Pitcher and the Epic Pure/Nano Pitcher.
Clearly Filtered |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon + Composite Shell |
| Filter Capacity: | 100 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 17 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$150 |
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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.
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Epic Pure |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Filter Process: | Carbon Block, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 150 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 14.8 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$90 to $135 |
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Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
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Soma Pitcher |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Filter Process: | Activated Carbon, Charcoal, Ion Exchange |
| Filter Capacity: | 40 gal |
| Storage Volume: | 10 Cups |
| Annually: | ~$90 |
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Overall Rating: 2.0/5.0 ⓘ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.
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The Clearly Filtered Pitcher (check full review here) emerges as a top-tier choice. It has undergone the most extensive testing we’ve seen for a water filter pitcher (tested against NSF standards 42, 53, 401). The results? The Clearly Filtered removes over 360 contaminants from water including arsenic, fluoride, pharmaceuticals, chlorine, chloramine, chromium-6, lead, pesticides, DBPs, PFAS, VOCs, radiologicals, and semi-volatile compounds.
The Filtration process employs a mix of granular activated carbon and different proprietary media. The Clearly Filtered has a filter life much longer than Soma – it lasts for 100 gallons or around 4 months. It has a detachable lid that makes refilling stress-free.
The total storage is 17 cups, and the filtered volume is 10 cups. The pitcher is 100% BPA-free and all parts are built in the USA.
Clearly Filtered offers a limited lifetime warranty – Soma is better here, but Clearly Filtered also offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and Soma doesn’t.
The major con with the Clearly Filtered Pitcher is that it’s more expensive to buy and maintain.
Our next pitcher is the Epic Pure/Nano. Both are powerful and also happen to be a more affordable option than the Clearly Filtered.
Epic Pure is better suited to handle fluoridated tap water, while Epic Nano is designed for well water that may contain bacteria, cysts, and viruses. Epic Pure and Nano filter cartridges can both be used on the same pitcher – so you can buy types and swap that later on.
What’s more, Epic pitchers reduce contaminants mainly using a combination of activated carbon and ion exchange filter media. This combo targets more than 200 contaminants in water (NSF-tested against standards 42, 53, 401; Epic Nano has an additional testing against P231 for microorganisms).
Contaminants removed include lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PFOS, chlorine, disinfection byproducts, fluoride, chloramine, nitrate, sulfate, pharmaceuticals, arsenic, PFOA, and pesticides.
Filter life is 150 gallons – much longer than Soma and Clearly Filtered. There’s also a built-in filter life countdown to remind you about filter replacements. Total storage is 14.8 cups.
Epic runs a recycling program that lets you return four used filters in exchange for a free replacement filter. The company also provides special price cuts to seniors, teachers, students, medical staff, first responders, owners and employees of non-profit organizations, and military personnel.
Every Epic pitcher purchase is backed by a hassle-free return policy and a lifetime warranty. The only con we can pick here is that it’s more expensive than Soma.
In summary, the Clearly Filtered Pitcher is our first choice, followed by Epic. The Soma comes in last.
This completes our review of the Soma Water Filter Pitcher. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
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