10-Cup Sustainable Water Filter Pitcher

Score: 6.5/10 | The Soma pitcher is genuinely beautiful - the kind of design object you want on your counter rather than hidden in the fridge. The sustainable mission is admirable, with plant-based filter casings and a focus on renewable materials. But let us be clear: this is a design product that also filters water, not a filtration product with nice design. For families prioritizing protection, better options exist.

This review uses R3's Water Filter Methodology v1.1.0.

Soma holds NSF 42 certification for chlorine taste and odor reduction. If your primary complaint is that tap water tastes like a swimming pool, Soma addresses that.

The NSF 53 certification confirms reduction of mercury and copper - but notably, Soma does not prominently claim lead removal rates. Their materials mention "heavy metals" generically without specifying 99% lead reduction like competitors.

Soma does not hold NSF P473 certification and does not claim PFAS removal. For families concerned about forever chemicals, this is a dealbreaker.

Soma's filtration focuses on improving taste and reducing a narrow set of contaminants. The company emphasizes sustainability over comprehensive protection. This is a philosophical choice, but families should understand what they are - and are not - getting.

The filter uses coconut shell activated carbon, which is effective for chlorine and some organics but less comprehensive than the multi-stage carbon blocks in premium filters.

At 40 gallons, Soma's filter life is short:

• Soma: 40 gallons
• ZeroWater: 15-40 gallons (variable)
• Brita Elite: 120 gallons
• Clearly Filtered: 100 gallons
• Epic Pure: 150 gallons

For a family of four using 3 gallons daily, that is just over 2 weeks. Filter changes become frequent.

Filtration speed is average - comparable to other pitcher filters at approximately 10-15 minutes for a full pitcher.

Soma publishes less detailed testing data than competitors. Where Clearly Filtered provides results for 365+ specific contaminants, Soma's claims are more general.

The 10-cup shatter-resistant glass carafe is genuinely attractive. The oak handle and minimalist aesthetic look good on a counter or in a refrigerator. The design is the product's strength.

Premium pricing for a pitcher with basic filtration. Brita Elite costs $35 with better filter capacity. Clearly Filtered costs $90 with vastly better filtration.

At roughly $10 per filter lasting 40 gallons, annual cost is approximately $65-80 for a family of four. That is:

• More than Brita Elite ($30-40/year) for less protection
• Half the cost of Clearly Filtered ($135/year) but a fraction of the protection

Among the highest cost-per-gallon of any pitcher filter, with less comprehensive filtration than cheaper alternatives.

You are paying for the sustainable materials: plant-based filter casing (65% renewable), recyclable components, and the B-Corp certification. If sustainability is a core value, this premium may be justified. If filtration is the priority, it is not.

Soma's genuine strength is environmental commitment:

The filter housing is made from 65% plant-based plastic - a meaningful improvement over petroleum-based plastics in typical filters.

Soma is a certified B Corporation, meeting rigorous social and environmental performance standards.

Soma offers filter recycling, though participation requires shipping filters to them (not as convenient as Brita's TerraCycle partnership).

The BPA-free glass carafe is more sustainable than plastic pitchers and more durable than traditional glass.

Where Soma genuinely excels:

The pitcher looks like it belongs in a design museum. Clean lines, oak handle, glass carafe. It is the Apple product of water pitchers.

Unlike plastic Brita pitchers that get hidden away, Soma is designed to be displayed. For kitchens where aesthetics matter, this counts.

The shatter-proof glass and sustainable materials feel premium. The pitcher will last years with proper care.

I want to like Soma more than I do. The mission is admirable, the design is beautiful, and the sustainability credentials are genuine. But when I look at what families actually need from a water filter:

1. PFAS removal: Soma cannot do it
2. Comprehensive contaminant protection: Limited to chlorine and basic metals
3. Cost efficiency: Poor value compared to alternatives
4. Filter longevity: Short 40-gallon capacity

Design and sustainability are worthy values. But when 110 million Americans have PFAS in their tap water, a beautiful pitcher that cannot address the problem is, ultimately, the wrong tool.

The Soma pitcher is the right choice for design-conscious households in areas with excellent municipal water who want a beautiful, sustainable way to improve taste. It is the wrong choice for families prioritizing contaminant removal, PFAS protection, or cost efficiency. At $50 with $80/year filter costs, you can do better on filtration for less money. At this price point, the Epic Pure ($60) delivers actual NSF P473 PFAS certification.

Score: 6.5/10 | The Soma pitcher is genuinely beautiful - the kind of design object you want on your counter rather than hidden in the fridge. The sustainable mission is admirable, with plant-based filter casings and a focus on renewable materials. But let us be clear: this is a design product that also filters water, not a filtration product with nice design. For families prioritizing protection, better options exist.

This review uses R3's Water Filter Methodology v1.1.0.

Soma holds NSF 42 certification for chlorine taste and odor reduction. If your primary complaint is that tap water tastes like a swimming pool, Soma addresses that.

The NSF 53 certification confirms reduction of mercury and copper - but notably, Soma does not prominently claim lead removal rates. Their materials mention "heavy metals" generically without specifying 99% lead reduction like competitors.

Soma does not hold NSF P473 certification and does not claim PFAS removal. For families concerned about forever chemicals, this is a dealbreaker.

Soma's filtration focuses on improving taste and reducing a narrow set of contaminants. The company emphasizes sustainability over comprehensive protection. This is a philosophical choice, but families should understand what they are - and are not - getting.

The filter uses coconut shell activated carbon, which is effective for chlorine and some organics but less comprehensive than the multi-stage carbon blocks in premium filters.

At 40 gallons, Soma's filter life is short:

• Soma: 40 gallons
• ZeroWater: 15-40 gallons (variable)
• Brita Elite: 120 gallons
• Clearly Filtered: 100 gallons
• Epic Pure: 150 gallons

For a family of four using 3 gallons daily, that is just over 2 weeks. Filter changes become frequent.

Filtration speed is average - comparable to other pitcher filters at approximately 10-15 minutes for a full pitcher.

Soma publishes less detailed testing data than competitors. Where Clearly Filtered provides results for 365+ specific contaminants, Soma's claims are more general.

The 10-cup shatter-resistant glass carafe is genuinely attractive. The oak handle and minimalist aesthetic look good on a counter or in a refrigerator. The design is the product's strength.

Premium pricing for a pitcher with basic filtration. Brita Elite costs $35 with better filter capacity. Clearly Filtered costs $90 with vastly better filtration.

At roughly $10 per filter lasting 40 gallons, annual cost is approximately $65-80 for a family of four. That is:

• More than Brita Elite ($30-40/year) for less protection
• Half the cost of Clearly Filtered ($135/year) but a fraction of the protection

Among the highest cost-per-gallon of any pitcher filter, with less comprehensive filtration than cheaper alternatives.

You are paying for the sustainable materials: plant-based filter casing (65% renewable), recyclable components, and the B-Corp certification. If sustainability is a core value, this premium may be justified. If filtration is the priority, it is not.

Soma's genuine strength is environmental commitment:

The filter housing is made from 65% plant-based plastic - a meaningful improvement over petroleum-based plastics in typical filters.

Soma is a certified B Corporation, meeting rigorous social and environmental performance standards.

Soma offers filter recycling, though participation requires shipping filters to them (not as convenient as Brita's TerraCycle partnership).

The BPA-free glass carafe is more sustainable than plastic pitchers and more durable than traditional glass.

Where Soma genuinely excels:

The pitcher looks like it belongs in a design museum. Clean lines, oak handle, glass carafe. It is the Apple product of water pitchers.

Unlike plastic Brita pitchers that get hidden away, Soma is designed to be displayed. For kitchens where aesthetics matter, this counts.

The shatter-proof glass and sustainable materials feel premium. The pitcher will last years with proper care.

I want to like Soma more than I do. The mission is admirable, the design is beautiful, and the sustainability credentials are genuine. But when I look at what families actually need from a water filter:

1. PFAS removal: Soma cannot do it
2. Comprehensive contaminant protection: Limited to chlorine and basic metals
3. Cost efficiency: Poor value compared to alternatives
4. Filter longevity: Short 40-gallon capacity

Design and sustainability are worthy values. But when 110 million Americans have PFAS in their tap water, a beautiful pitcher that cannot address the problem is, ultimately, the wrong tool.

The Soma pitcher is the right choice for design-conscious households in areas with excellent municipal water who want a beautiful, sustainable way to improve taste. It is the wrong choice for families prioritizing contaminant removal, PFAS protection, or cost efficiency. At $50 with $80/year filter costs, you can do better on filtration for less money. At this price point, the Epic Pure ($60) delivers actual NSF P473 PFAS certification.