The 10 Best Tabletop Water Dispensers
Special Honors
Honeywell Bottleless With the Honeywell Bottleless, you'll have hot, cold, and room temperature water right at your fingertips. It's pricier than most, and requires a plumbing installation, but its ample range of features makes it worthwhile, offering everything from voice navigation for the sight impaired to an energy-saving mode to save you some cash. honeywellwatercoolers.com
Cal-Mil Stainless Steel Cutout The Cal-Mil Stainless Steel Cutout does not feature tons of ornate design flourishes, but it is nevertheless an understated, elegant choice for everything from casual get-togethers to lavish events. You can choose to use an ice chamber with it, for cold drinks, or an infusion chamber, if you'd like to get a little fancier. calmil.com
Star Home Table Accents Rooster The Star Home Table Accents Rooster is sure to draw a few appreciative looks, thanks to a fun design that makes the most of mouth-blown glass and handcrafted aluminum. It's simple to use, too; the gasketed lid offers quick removal, while the body holds nearly 2 gallons for quenching everyone's thirst. starhomedesigns.com
Editor's Notes
April 29, 2020:
Tabletop water dispensers run the gamut from pricey electric models to simple, inexpensive spouts for multi-gallon jugs, and we've kept a range here to accommodate a variety of needs. We've removed the Home Essentials Del Sol and the Big Berkey due to availability issues, while the Panasonic Thermopot was removed due to ongoing problems with rust. And because the filters for the Little Luxury Vitality have become tough to find, we removed it, as well.
As for top options, the Avalon Premium remains a good value for those who want both hot and cold water on demand, while the Brita UltraMax is a fine choice for those who need an uncomplicated dispenser that also acts as a water filter. Unfortunately, however, the latter is a bit hard to clean. If this is a deal-breaker, there's also the Pur Ultimate, although it, too, is not without issues — it filters very slowly, which can be frustrating. Or, if you don't mind spending more, The Pure Company Decanter is one to consider. It is incredibly sleek and stylish, and its stainless steel body was designed to last over the long haul.
For those who are looking for a way to conveniently use a 3 or 5 gallon jug, we've added the Lavo Home Blue Base and kept the FineDine Jug Stand. These allow you to pour water easily from your jug, and they're relatively inexpensive, to boot. If these choices are too plain, there's also the Primo Top Loading, which has a handsome ceramic body and wooden stand. Note, though, that it feels just a touch wobbly, so it may not be the best choice for homes with curious toddlers who want to fill their own cups.