Scoring basis
- Filtration (40%): Solid carbon block targets fluoride, chlorine, lead, PFAS, and more — broad coverage for a pitcher.
- Taste & Odor (20%): Produces clean, neutral-tasting water with noticeable chlorine reduction.
- Value (15%): 150-gallon lifespan means only ~3 swaps per year
- cost averages ~$0.35/gal.
- Build Quality (15%): BPA-free Tritan plastic feels durable
- LED timer adds convenience.
- Ease of Use (10%): Standard 10-cup size fits most fridges
- straightforward refill and pour design.
Epic Pure Pitcher — solid carbon block design that does more than fix the taste. In our Tap Score test, lead, chlorine, and THMs were gone — all to non-detect. It’s easier to use than Clearly Filtered, but ZeroWater still pours faster.
What We Like
- Took lead, chlorine, and THMs to non-detect in Tap Score
- Cleaner taste than Brita or ZeroWater — not flat, just balanced
- Filter lasts ~150 gallons, longer than most pitchers we’ve tested
- Build feels sturdy; Tritan plastic doesn’t scuff like cheaper ones
- Flip-top lid makes refilling quick without taking the whole lid off
What We Don’t
- Fill speed is slow (~11 min per full pitcher)
- Lid flap can pop open when pouring the last bit unless you steady it
- Higher upfront filter cost vs. budget pitchers
Best for: Households that want stronger protection than Brita or PUR without losing everyday usability or clean taste.
🔬 Tap Score Lab Results — Epic Pure Pitcher
| Parameter | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total THMs iEPA MCL: 80 ppb | 31.83 ppb | NDRemoved | −100% |
| Chloroform (THM) | 21.57 ppb | NDRemoved | −100% |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.93 ppb | NDRemoved | −100% |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.33 ppb | NDRemoved | −100% |
| Lead iEPA Action Level: 15 ppb | 0.50 ppb | NDRemoved | −100% |
| Fluoride | 0.70 ppm | NDRemoved | −100% |
| Barium iEPA MCL: 2 ppm | 0.010 ppm | 0.033 ppm | +230% |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | 187 ppm | 289 ppm | +55% |
Context & Methods
“ND” = Not Detected above the lab reporting limit. THMs compared to EPA MCL (80 ppb). Lead compared to EPA action level (15 ppb). Barium compared to EPA MCL (2 ppm). Sampling protocol: Epic Pure pitcher tested with Tap Score Advanced City Water panel.
Baseline (Advanced City Test):
View baseline report (PDF)
Post-test (after filtration with Epic Pure Pitcher):
View post-test report (PDF)
💡 Lab-Tested Takeaway
In Tap Score testing, the Epic Pure Pitcher reduced lead, chlorine, and THMs to non-detect. It matched Clearly Filtered on safety while pouring slightly faster, and while it raised TDS (like all mineral-retaining filters), the taste was cleaner and less flat than ZeroWater.
⏱️ Timelapse demo — actual fill time: 10 minutes 48 seconds.
⏱️ Flow Speed (Our Test): Epic filled a full pitcher in ~11 minutes — faster than Clearly Filtered (~12 min), but slower than ZeroWater (~7 min). Right in the middle of the pack for gravity pitchers. See all of our pitcher tests here.
⏱️ After Months of Use
Nearly a year in, the Epic Pure has been exactly what our lab results pointed to: a reliable everyday pitcher. Water tastes clean and balanced — not stripped flat — and the only recurring quirk is the lid flap popping up if you tip it too quickly – just keep your thumb press along the lid to avoid that.
The filter timer has been spot-on, with cartridges lasting close to the full ~150-gallon claim before flow slows. Build quality has held up too: the Tritan body hasn’t clouded or scuffed like cheaper plastics, and the handle still feels sturdy.
Compared to peers, it’s a sweet spot: more protective than Brita, less wait time than Clearly Filtered. Not the fastest, not the flashiest — just steady, safe, and easy to live with day after day.
⚖️ Epic vs. Brita vs. PUR
If you’re comparing Epic to household names like Brita and PUR, the trade-offs are clear: Brita and PUR are faster and cheaper upfront, but Epic wins on depth of protection and overall build quality. Here’s how they stack up side by side in real-world use:
| Feature | Epic Pure | Brita Elite | PUR Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verification | ✅ Tap Score tested (lead, chlorine, THMs → non-detect) | ✅ NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401, WQA/IAPMO | ✅ NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 |
| Contaminants Claimed | 200+ (lead, fluoride, PFAS, THMs, pesticides) | ~30 (lead, mercury, chlorine, cadmium, copper, zinc) | 70+ (lead, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, mercury) |
| Real-World Speed | ~11 min (our timed test) | ~5–6 min (avg user tests) | ~6–7 min (avg user tests) |
| Filter Life | 150 gal (~3–4 mo) | 120 gal (~6 mo) | 40 gal (~2 mo) |
| Annual Cost | ~$144 (Epic $36 ×4) | ~$80 (Brita $40 ×2) | ~$180 (PUR $30 ×6) |
| Taste Feedback | Crisp, balanced (slightly mineral-retaining) | Neutral, clean, lighter chlorine cut | Fresh, but can taste “flat” over time |
💡 Pro Tip: If speed and low filter costs are your top priority, Brita or PUR make sense — just remember they’re mainly targeting chlorine and taste. If you want broad contaminant protection (PFAS, lead, fluoride, THMs), Epic is the safer long-term bet.
🧰 Everyday Use & Build Quality
Filtering isn’t just about the lab data — living with the pitcher day after day is what really matters. Here’s how the Epic Pure holds up when it comes to: design, setup, upkeep, and long-term support.
🛠️ Build & Design
Epic recently updated the Pure with a sturdier full D-handle, but the earlier version I own still has the slimmer C-handle. It works fine, though it doesn’t feel as stable when the pitcher’s full. Compared to Brita, the Epic body uses thicker Tritan plastic that holds up better over months of daily use — mine still looks clear instead of hazing over.
- ✅ BPA-free Tritan body resists clouding better than Brita or PUR
- ✅ Latest version includes a reinforced D-handle (older models had a flimsier C-handle)
- ✅ Lid flips open for easy refills, though the flap can pop loose if you pour aggressively
📝 Keep in Mind: The D-handle upgrade is worth seeking out if you’re buying new — it’s a small change, but it fixes the stability issue I’ve noticed in the older design.
⏳ Filter Life & Maintenance
Epic rates the Pure at 150 gallons, which in practice meant about 3 months of steady use for me before flow slowed. That’s longer than Brita (40 gallons) or PUR (60 gallons), and about even with Clearly Filtered (100 gallons) when you consider Epic’s lower replacement cost.
- ✅ ~150 gallons per filter (3–4 months for a family of 3–4)
- ✅ LED timer built into the lid to track replacement — no guesswork
- ✅ Subscriptions (Clean Water Club) drop cost to ~$30 per filter
- ⚖️ Real-world use: I consistently got 3 months before noticing slower flow
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t ignore the LED timer — Epic filters hang on to taste and flow right until the end, making it easy to push past the safe window without realizing it.
🧪 Contaminant Removal & Performance
Where most pitchers stop at chlorine and taste, the Epic Pure pushes deeper. In Tap Score testing, it reduced lead, chlorine, and THMs to non-detect — results you simply won’t get from Brita or PUR.
- ✅ Lead: 0.50 ppb → ND (100% removed)
- ✅ THMs (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, etc.): ~32 ppb → ND (100% removed)
- ✅ Fluoride: 0.70 ppm → ND (rare for pitchers at this price)
- ⚖️ Trade-off: raised TDS (+55%) because Epic retains natural minerals, unlike ZeroWater, which strips everything
Compared head-to-head, Epic matched Clearly Filtered on lead and chlorine reduction but poured slightly faster in our timed test (~11 minutes vs Clearly Filtered’s ~12).
🧠 Good to Know: Epic isn’t NSF-certified like Clearly or Brita — but it’s been independently tested to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401 & P473, and publishes full lab reports for transparency.
👅 Taste & Daily Use
Epic hits a middle ground that’s often missing in pitchers: it removes harsh chlorine bite and chemical aftertaste while keeping water crisp and balanced.
- Cleaner, fresher taste than Brita or PUR (which mostly cut chlorine only)
- Less “flat” than ZeroWater, since Epic keeps natural minerals in play
- Slightly smoother than Clearly Filtered in side-by-side tasting
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re chasing bottled-water taste, chill the pitcher — Epic water tastes even better cold, and chilling also helps mask any mineral shift from retained TDS.
⏱️ Flow Speed & Daily Use
If there’s one trade-off with Epic, it’s waiting on gravity. In our timed run, it filled a full 10-cup pitcher in just under 11 minutes. That’s slower than Brita (~5 minutes) or ZeroWater (~7 minutes), but a touch faster than Clearly Filtered (~12 minutes). In day-to-day use, it’s “average slow” — not a dealbreaker, just something to know if you’re constantly topping off for a family.
- Epic Pure: ~10m 48s (balanced, not the fastest but steady)
- Brita Elite: ~5m (quickest, but weaker contaminant reduction)
- ZeroWater: ~7m (good speed + strong chlorine/metals removal)
- Clearly Filtered: ~12m (most thorough, but patience required)
💡 Good to Know: If speed is a priority, Brita and ZeroWater win. But if contaminant coverage is the priority, Epic lands comfortably in the middle — slower than Brita, faster than Clearly Filtered, and without the flat taste some users notice in ZeroWater.
💰 Cost & Value Breakdown
The Epic Pure isn’t the cheapest pitcher up front, but the math works out better than most think. Replacement filters run about $36 and last 150 gallons, which comes out to roughly $0.24 per gallon. That’s higher than Brita or PUR, but less than Clearly Filtered, and you’re getting a much broader range of contaminant reduction for the money.
Good to Know: If you subscribe to Epic’s Clean Water Club, the filter price drops closer to $30, shaving the cost per gallon even further.
🛡️ Warranty & Support
Epic backs the Pure with a lifetime warranty, which is rare in the pitcher category. Brita gives you about a year, PUR about two. Clearly Filtered also has a strong warranty — but Epic stands out by covering the product for life.
That long-term promise pairs with decent customer support and easy filter availability online — so you’re not stuck waiting on backorders the way some smaller brands leave customers hanging.
Pro Tip: Register your pitcher when it arrives. It makes warranty claims or filter subscription management smoother down the road.
🏁 Final Take
The Epic Pure isn’t perfect — it’s slower than Brita and costs more than PUR — but if your goal is actual protection, it’s a clear step up from the big-box names. Our Tap Score results confirmed it takes out the contaminants that matter (lead, chlorine, THMs, fluoride), and it manages to keep water tasting crisp rather than flat.
It’s not the fastest pitcher we’ve tested, and the lid quirk can be annoying, but for the combination of contaminant reduction, durability, and warranty, Epic lands in a sweet spot: more serious than Brita, less demanding than Clearly Filtered, and easy enough for daily family use.
❓FAQ’s
No — the body should be hand-washed. The Tritan plastic holds up well, but the filter and lid should only be rinsed with mild soap and water.
Both pitchers reduced lead and chlorine to non-detect in our Tap Score tests. Epic pours a little faster (~11 minutes vs. ~12), while Clearly Filtered feels slightly sturdier and carries NSF certification.
Yes. Independent lab testing shows the Epic Pure reduces PFAS compounds like PFOA and PFOS to non-detect, something Brita and PUR pitchers can’t claim.
The Epic Pure is designed for treated municipal water. It may improve taste and reduce some contaminants in tested wells, but it won’t make untreated well water biologically safe.
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