The Best Water carafe: Shopping Guide and Recommendations (01/23)

Bormioli Rocco Ypsilon Wine Carafe – Elegant Clear Glass Carafe for Water, Juice, Milk, Coffee, Iced Tea – Wide Mouth Serving Decanter Dispenser for Restaurants & Home Use – Made in Italy 36.5 Ounce

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16.95 GBP

Authentic Recycled Glass Carafe 28oz / 800ml – 100% Recycled Vintage Green Glass Water Jug

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7.34 GBP

Buwico 1.5L Water Carafe Classical Jug Juice Bottle with Stainless Steel Lid Borosilicate Glass Iced Tea Pitcher for Infusing Water, Milk, Juice, Iced Tea, Lemonade & Sparkling Beverages (1.5L)

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21.69 GBP

Bormioli Rocco Officina 1825 Glass Water Carafe – 1.2 Litre Serving Jugs – Made in Italy – Pack of 6

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26.99 GBP

Argon Tableware 6x 700ml Glass Water Jug – ‘Brocca’ Range – Juice Carafe Decanter for Water, Wine, Iced Tea

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18.99 GBP

OTARTU Borosilicate Glass Carafe with Drip-Free Lid 1.5L, Stovetop Safe, 50 oz Glass Water Pitcher Fridge Carafe Ice Tea Maker, Juice Glassware. (50oz)

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22.99 GBP

Water Carafes: Buying and evaluation criteria

In the following, we show you which aspects you can consider when making your purchase decision. The criteria that help you compare water carafes include:

Carafe design
Material carafe / lid
Capacity
Functionality of the lid
Dimensions
Ease of cleaning
Fruit spit / insert

In the following paragraphs, we will explain the details of the various criteria.

Carafe design

Water carafes come in different designs and shapes, so you can find a water carafe to suit your taste. You can choose between tall and narrow, square or bulbous and round carafes. You can also choose carafes with or without a handle. You can find water carafes made of tinted glass or glass printed with patterns. Furthermore, some carafes have a pattern cut into the glass, which influences the feel and aesthetics of the vessel. Plastic water carafes are also available in various shapes and colours.

Material carafe / lid

The range for water carafes made of glass is far greater than that for plastic. This is due to the nobler feel of glass and the cooling property that glass has when it is stored in the refrigerator, for example. Another advantage of carafes made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass is that you can also fill them with hot drinks.

You should be aware that the material affects the weight, as glass water carafes are significantly heavier than plastic carafes. In addition, glass water carafes break more quickly.

Most water carafes have a lid made of stainless steel, but there are also lids made of cork. With stainless steel lids, it is important for you to check whether they are BPA-free.

Capacity

When you decide on a water carafe, an important criterion is the capacity of the vessel. Here, too, you have a wide choice, as there are water carafes in many sizes with a capacity of 0.5 to 2 litres.

Functionality of the lid

If you decide to buy a water carafe with a lid, it makes sense to take a closer look at its functions. Most lids made of stainless steel have an integrated pouring function that allows the drink to be poured out in a controlled and clean manner. If you plan to spice up the contents of your water carafe with fruit or ice cubes, then it makes sense to make sure that the lid has a strainer. This strainer ensures that pieces of fruit and ice cubes remain in the carafe when pouring.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the water carafe depend on the design you have chosen. Most water carafes have a height of 25 to 30 cm. When specifying the dimensions, the height of the carafe, the base diameter and lid diameter are of particular importance.

Water carafes with a base diameter of up to 11 cm and a height of up to 30 cm usually fit into the refrigerator door of a standard refrigerator.

The height and base diameter should allow you to estimate whether the carafe will fit in the compartment of your refrigerator door, for example. The lid diameter is important because the water carafe should be wide enough to fill easily. A diameter of 8 to 9 cm is a good guideline.

Ease of cleaning

Since water carafes are an everyday consumer product, ease of cleaning is a great advantage. Many water carafes are suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher. However, there are a few aids for cleaning by hand, so that this is not too difficult either. In addition to cleaning brushes, it is also possible to use cleaning beads.

These beads are usually made of stainless steel and are placed in the carafe together with some water. The contents are then shaken and swirled around so that the beads can loosen dirt through friction. Many lids can be disassembled into their individual parts to allow thorough cleaning. Often, the individual parts of the lid can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Fruit spit / insert

Some water carafes include a fruit spit or a fillable insert. This can be filled with chopped fruit, vegetables or ice cubes. The fruit skewer option offers a nice visual effect, as the pieces of fruit remain firmly arranged in the centre of the carafe and do not float around loosely. However, both options have the same result: the taste of the water is enhanced and you can get important nutrients from the fruit or vegetables.

Water carafes: Frequently asked questions and answers

In the next part, we will deal with the most important questions about water carafes. We have selected the most frequently asked questions for you and will answer them shortly. After reading the guide, you will be familiar with the most important points about water carafes.

Who is a water carafe suitable for?

Water carafes are basically suitable for everyone. It is no secret that it is important for your health to drink plenty of water. The beautiful look of water carafes can have a motivating effect here.

Wasserkaraffe — Delicious and healthy drinks can be prepared in water carafes by adding fruit. (Image source: NickyPe / pixabay)

Due to their noble appearance and the variety of designs, there is something for every interior style and table setting.

By using water carafes, you can make a set table look a little more professional and inviting.

Water carafes are also great for those who want to give their water a better taste. By adding lemon slices, mint leaves, ginger or other fruits to the water, you can prepare drinks according to your preferences and ensure a varied taste. In addition, you do not run the risk of pollutants being released into the water as they are in plastic packaging.

What types of water carafes are there?

Water carafes come in different varieties. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages. We would like to present these advantages and disadvantages to you in the following:

Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Water carafe made of plastic	Easier to transport the carafe due to lower weight and breakage resistance	Appearance not as noble and possible pollutants can be released into the contents
Water carafe made of glass	Noble look and feel, Can be used for hot and cold drinks	Requires more careful handling
Water carafe with stainless steel lid	Drink is protected by the lid, Easy pouring is guaranteed by the lid, The integrated strainer holds back pieces of fruit when pouring	The lid also needs to be cleaned regularly
Water carafe with cork lid	Drink is protected by the lid, Lid does not need to be cleaned	Lid needs to be removed for each pouring
Water carafe without lid	Easy to use	Contents are not protected
Water carafe with fruit spit or fruit insert	Nice and practical way to add fruit, vegetables or spices to the water	Fruit spit or insert needs to be cleaned regularly and thoroughly

When buying a water carafe, it depends very much on personal preferences regarding design and features. You should be clear about the occasions on which you want to use the water carafe and make a decision accordingly.

What does a water carafe cost?

The price range for common water carafes is not very large. The following table shows you the price range of water carafes with the respective features. Water carafes that can be used in a variety of ways are available for as little as 15 euros. Of course, carafes with a smaller capacity are somewhat cheaper than carafes with a capacity of around 2 litres.

Type	price range
Water carafe made of borosilicate glass with lid	approx. 15 to 15 euros
Water carafe with large capacity (1.5 to 2 litres)	approx. 20 to 30 euros
Water carafe with fruit spit / insert	approx. 20 to 40 euros
Designer products or mouth-blown carafes	approx. 40 to 100 euros

Basically, prices vary depending on the manufacturer and you can spend up to 100 euros on a water carafe for designer pieces.

What are the alternatives to a water carafe?

Even without a water carafe, you can store and refine larger quantities of water. Two alternatives to water carafes are briefly presented below with their advantages and disadvantages:

Alternative	Advantages	Disadvantages
Plastic vessel	More break-proof than glass vessels, Good transportability, Possibility to add fruit, vegetables and spices to the water	Not so noble design, Unsuitable for hot drinks, Harmful substances in the plastic can be released into the drink
Pitcher / jug	Handle improves grip and hold, Greater choice of material, Large capacity	Jugs without lids do not protect the drink, Jugs without lids are difficult to transport, Often cannot be stored in the fridge due to their dimensions

Can I fill a water carafe with hot and carbonated drinks?

Most glass water carafes are made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass. You can also fill such carafes with hot drinks. In any case, it is helpful to read the manufacturer’s product descriptions carefully.

Rapid temperature changes can lead to cracks in the glass.

If you have kept your water carafe in the fridge, warm it up a little before pouring hot water into it. You can safely warm the jar by pouring warm water from the tap into the carafe a few times. Plastic water carafes should not be filled with hot drinks, as this reduces the quality and durability of the material.

Basically, all water carafes can also be filled with carbonated drinks.

Which fruit / vegetables are suitable for filling a water carafe?

There are many ways to fill your water carafe. In the following, we have compiled a small overview of the most common recipes:

Lemon / Lime with Mint: The combination of the light acidity of citrus fruits and the taste of mint is very refreshing and is especially suitable as a thirst quencher in summer.
Cucumber: A popular drink for which you only need cucumber slices. Depending on your preference, mint and lemon slices can be added. Cucumbers contain many good nutrients and in combination with water make a healthy drink.
Berries: Red berries such as raspberries or blackberries are also suitable to spice up the taste of the water.
Tea and peach: A previously boiled and cooled tea can be made into a refreshing and healthy iced tea by adding fresh peach slices

There are really no limits to the combinations. Basically, the longer you let the ingredients steep in the water, the more intense the flavour becomes.

How do I descale a water carafe?

A water carafe should be cleaned regularly after use with warm water and washing-up liquid or in the dishwasher to prevent deposits and impurities. Cleaning beads are a suitable aid for cleaning. These can also dissolve deposits well, especially in combination with baking soda. For more stubborn deposits and calcification, denture cleaner is suitable. A tablet should be dissolved in water and left to work overnight to achieve a good result.