Choose based on the frustration you are solving
A normal pitcher is inexpensive, portable, and easy to chill in the refrigerator. Its weak point is waiting: a busy household can empty the clean reservoir faster than gravity refills it. The Brita Hub is designed to solve that waiting problem with powered on-demand filtration and push-button dispensing.
If your existing pitcher already keeps up, the Hub may add cost and counter clutter without changing much. If people constantly find an empty pitcher or fill several bottles back to back, the faster workflow can be meaningful.
| Decision factor | Brita Hub 87340 | Typical gravity pitcher |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensing | Powered, on demand | Waits for water to pass through the filter |
| Location | Permanent counter position near an outlet | Counter or refrigerator |
| Water temperature | Room temperature | Can be chilled in the refrigerator |
| Filter | Model-specific CT01 | Model-specific pitcher cartridge |
| Plumbing | None | None |
| Electricity | Required | Not required |
Counter space is the real price of speed
Brita lists the Hub at 7.5 inches wide, 11.4 inches long, and 14.4 inches high. That is compact for a powered appliance, but it still needs room to remove and refill the reservoir and enough clearance for the glass or bottle below the spout.
A pitcher can move into the refrigerator or a cabinet. The Hub works best when it has a permanent location. Measure the counter, check the outlet, and confirm that the fill path does not cross the busiest cooking area.
The treatment method is different from RO
The Hub uses a carbon-block filter. Brita's model-specific performance sheet lists certification to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, and 401 for named reduction claims. It does not make the Hub a reverse-osmosis system and does not mean every possible contaminant is reduced.
Start with the water concern. If the published Hub claim covers it, the system may be enough. If testing identifies a dissolved-solids concern that calls for RO, compare the Waterdrop A1, AquaTru, or a suitable under-sink system instead of choosing solely on dispensing speed.
Plan around CT01, not pitcher filters
The Hub uses CT01, not Brita Standard or Elite pitcher filters. Brita lists CT01 for 120 gallons or about six months. A household that uses the full 12-cup reservoir several times a day may reach the gallon limit before the calendar limit.
Write the installation date on a household reminder and keep CT01 with the appliance record. The machine still needs routine reservoir and surface cleaning even when the filter-life indicator says the cartridge has time remaining.
The practical verdict
Choose the Hub when the whole household wants quick room-temperature filtered water, a pitcher regularly falls behind, and a dedicated counter location is available. Its value comes from reducing waiting and repeated small refills, not from delivering the same treatment as reverse osmosis.
Choose a normal pitcher when budget, portability, refrigerator storage, and zero electricity matter more than speed. The best system is the one the household will keep filled, clean, and fitted with the correct replacement cartridge.
Manufacturer and standards sources
Compatibility and instructions can change. Use these primary sources and your system manual for final confirmation.
Brita Hub official product information ↗Brita Hub model 87340 performance data ↗Brita Hub CT01 replacement filter ↗