Anyone every try out the Everpure ESO Cartridge that claim:
* Buffering
* Chlorine Reduction
* Cyst Reduction
* Ion Exchange
* Iron Reduction
* Particulate Reduction
* Scale Control
* Taste & Odor
* TDS Reduction
* Water Softening/Conditioning
Capacity: 470 gallons @ 150 ppm
Maximum Flow: 0.5 gpm (1.9 Lpm)

Of particular interest is the claim for Espresso use, relatively small size in the cabinet and ease of use. The price is a bit high, but other Internet deals are at least significantly less than list price.

Profesional Model Head

This has been prompted by Tom's (DSC) new under the sink Everpure filter.
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Mark

http://greatinfusions.com/laspaziale.html Has a different cartridge. I was thinking of trying this one. Looks like there are a few different ESO options.
http://www.freshwatersystems.com/s-241-espresso-filtration.aspx

shadowfax wrote:They sound like really nice filters; it's hard to say if it's a cost-effective solution.

Hmmm, compared to the cost of coffee bean, grinders and espresso machines, it's not out of line. I'm not unhappy with my current softener and more standard large filters, but a slim in the back of the sink system is kinda of appealing. I wonder how this water would be for my fridge and steam assisted oven?

Mark

The Everpure bypass design is a clever mixing solution. But I have no idea whether it is more effective for home use than the $50 Bunn EQ-17, designed for light commercial coffee use: http://www.jumpingforjava.com/servlet/the-107/Bunn-EQ-dsh-17-dsh-TL-Easy-Clear/Detail.

This is the system I have. It works beautifully, the only problem was for the installation, the total height of the head and the ESO cartridge was such that I coud not fit it under the kitchen counter (not wanting to cut the counter shelves...), so it had to go in the basement, and a rather long length of tubing was necessary.

At least in the basement, I have direct access to it.

Marshall wrote:The Everpure bypass design is a clever mixing solution. But I have no idea whether it is more effective for home us than the $50 Bunn EQ-17, designed for light commercial coffee use: http://www.jumpingforjava.com/servlet/the-107/Bunn-EQ-dsh-17-dsh-TL-Easy-Clear/Detail.

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Marshal: Significantly less expensive, I wish the Bunn web site explained a little more what it does.

Mark

jk0592 wrote:This is the system I have. It works beautifully, the only problem was for the installation, the total height of the head and the ESO cartridge was such that I could not fit it under the kitchen counter (not wanting to cut the counter shelves...), so it had to go in the basement, and a rather long length of tubing was necessary.

At least in the basement, I have direct access to it.

Living on a slab would make this kinda tough. I do enough weird stuff already for my espresso, digging a hole in the floor wouldn't go over well. I see that they can also mount horizontally, I've a 36" cabinet, so it could be an option.

Mark

It looks like the whole thing would be less-than 25"" high, so should fit under most sinks.

mhoy wrote:Marshal: Significantly less expensive, I wish the Bunn web site explained a little more what it does.

Things I care about:
1. What comes out of the exit end of the filter.
2. Cost of ownership (including filter replacements).
3. Ease of replacing filters.
4. Longevity.

Things I don't care about:
1. What goes on inside the filter, provided it doesn't adversely affect what comes out of the filter (see#1 above).

More, specifically, I would like to know how much hardness is reduced by each filter and their relative performance on things that affect taste and smell. I haven't any useful information about this on either filter, beyond that they both reduce chlorine smell, hardness and some other unpleasant things.

Bunn (the Bunnomatic Corp.) are major players (with big R&D operations) in the coffee world. So, given the price difference, I would lean toward Bunn.

The Bunn description doesn't seem to mention softening.

sweaner wrote:The Bunn description doesn't seem to mention softening.

Bunn's specs say: "Special scale inhibitor provides six months of scale reduction and guards against corrosion."

I assumed a "scale inhibitor" was a "water softener." I just asked my wife, the water treatment chemist, about this, which I should have done before. She says "scale inhibitors" could include softening, but more often mean chemicals that prevent calcium carbonate from crystallizing and forming scale. She said the right chemical inhibitors usually produce better tasting water than what she called the "funky flavor" from ion exchange softeners, but she couldn't be sure without knowing what the internal scale inhibition process was and the characteristics of the water being treated.

I told her we were dealing with a black box here, and I couldn't tell her what chemicals or process the Bunn used. So, she said she couldn't recommend either one over the other.

Joan's work was mainly with massive industrial uses, where flavor was not an issue. Given that Bunn is strictly in the coffee and tea business (and the other factors above), I think I would go with Bunn.

Of course I would really like to test them side by side!

sweaner wrote:It looks like the whole thing would be less-than 25"" high, so should fit under most sinks.

Add to this the pressure reducing valve and you get more in the 28" to 29" length...

I have the Brita Aquaquell Purity at home. It works in the same way - there is a hex nut in the top which you use to set the amount of softener bypass, from 0% to 50%. There are three sizes - I have the smallest of the three.

It has a little display on the front that works out how much capacity the cartridge has based on the mains water hardness you configure it with and the amount of softener bypass you set - the higher the hardness, the lower the capacity, the higher the bypass the higher the capacity. It has a flowmeter, showing you how much you have used and tells you to change itself, either when the capacity is exhausted or after one year after cartridge installation, whichever comes first.

At my current settings, one cartridge lasts for 2500 litres, which is around a years worth. A replacement cartridge cost me around GBP60.

It's a little large, but I love it. I use it to supply the espresso machine and a filtered water tap attached to the kitchen sink, for drinking, tea and cooking water.

Highly recommended.

darrensandford wrote:I have the Brita Aquaquell Purity at home. It works in the same way - there is a hex nut in the top which you use to set the amount of softener bypass, from 0% to 50%. There are three sizes - I have the smallest of the three.

That looks like a very nice device. Unfortunately for us, Brita's U.S. range seems to be limited to faucet filters, pitchers and refrigerator filters. http://www.brita.com/us/products/

Is there any issues using these Britta Filters in the US. I did look and only found them in the UK. They look pretty good since they have the bypass function. Maybe I just need to pay international shipping to get one.

Hi folks

Reading this thread has made me think if I am missing something important. I just tasted my filtered water but I don't find anything awful about it. It is not pepsi but not it is not bad either. It has been softened from 120 till the 10s. I tried the unfiltered water but I like more the filtered one.

My current softener filter is this one: http://www.filterwater.com/p-101-water- ... ge-10.aspx

But reading this post made me consider putting this one behind (currently I have a 10 microm sediment filter just in case) http://www.filterwater.com/pc-225-5-alk ... ridge.aspx

I am curious if people would find worth to remineralize the water at the expense of adding extra calcium and magnesium (known enemies of the espresso machine). the reminarilzer cartridge would be a $47 gamble

What ya think?

Marshall wrote:That looks like a very nice device. Unfortunately for us, Brita's U.S. range seems to be limited to faucet filters, pitchers and refrigerator filters. http://www.brita.com/us/products/

That's a bit poor. The filter I linked is in the "professional" section of the UK site - the US site doesn't even have a professional section.

Sorry all!

gj91 wrote:Is there any issues using these Britta Filters in the US.

Cost of replacement filters from the U.K.
If it requires electrical power from the wall (for the display, etc.), you will have 220 v 110 issues.