I’ve recently been testing out the Waterdrop Filter A2, and honestly, it’s already earned a permanent spot on my kitchen counter.
The Waterdrop A2 is an all-in-one hot and cold ‘reverse osmosis dispenser’, which basically means instant hot or cold filtered water at temperatures ranging from boiling to chilled.
Setup: easy but a little more time than expected
I’ll be upfront, the setup did take me longer than I expected. After unboxing, you need to insert the filter and this clicks easily into place, but then you need to run a full system flush to clean it before first use.
That process takes about 20-30 minutes, and you’ll need to refill the water tank from the tap a couple of times. A large 2L jug is essential for catching and pouring away the flushing water.
I made a mistake with the ‘Quick Setup’ instructions, which mention turning off the cold water dispensing (it’s on by default). I didn’t realise this needed to be done before the flush.
I switched it off afterwards, which triggered another flush cycle – so that meant another 25 minutes of waiting and refilling!
Overall, it took me just over an hour to get it fully up and running. But, once it was set up, it’s been really easy to use – it’s quick and intuitive with a touch screen to choose your settings.
Versatility: hot, cold, or ‘just right’
The Waterdrop A2 dispenses water at exactly the temperature you need, instantly. The touch screen is simple to use, and I liked being able to save my preferred settings so one button gives me just the right temperature and volume for my favourite drinks.
Whether it’s ice-cold water after a workout (around 10°C / 50℉) or boiling water for tea (I drink a lot of tea!), it’s ready within seconds. Having chilled water ‘on tap’ also meant I didn’t need to keep a bottle cooling in the fridge which is a handy space-saver.
The taste test
I live in a hard-water area, which usually means a monthly descale of the kettle and my coffee machine (which is a bit of a pain to be honest). So I loved that the Waterdrop A2’s filtration removes limescale, so there’s no more build-up or chalky floating bits in my drinks.
The difference was really noticeable when making black tea and my daily cup of green tea – both tasted fresher and cleaner, and there were none of the usual tannin stains left behind in the cup. Even plain water tastes crisp and pure.
Convenient and quiet
The Waterdrop A2 could honestly make your kettle redundant! I can now pour boiling water instantly for tea, coffee and cooking, with no waiting around. So, while you need to make space on your worktop for the machine, you could ditch the kettle to make one less appliance cluttering the counter.
The other unexpected bonus for me is that this machine is so quiet – much quieter than a boiling kettle – which I really liked as my downstairs is open plan.
Handy for family and guests
In my household, it’s me and my two teenage kids, and we all use the machine differently. The kids go for chilled water, while I mostly use the hot setting for tea.
When we had friends over recently, our guests’ younger kids were thrilled with instant hot chocolate, while the adults wanted tea or chilled water. Normally, I’d be juggling the kettle and the fridge, but this one machine covered everyone’s needs.
Eco-friendly credentials
Another big plus for me is how eco-friendly it feels. The system has a 3:1 pure-to-drain water ratio, which means that it wastes less water than traditional reverse osmosis systems.
And with fresh, great-tasting water on tap, there’s no need for bottled water, which cuts down on plastic waste and saves money in the long run.
Dimensions
The Waterdrop A2 is compact enough to sit comfortably on a kitchen counter, about the size of a premium coffee machine.
- Height: 40.4 cm (15.9 in)
- Width: 20.8 cm (8.2 in)
- Depth: 39.9 cm (15.7 in)
- Weight: around 10 kg (22 lb)
For me, it slotted neatly into a corner of the counter without dominating the space, and its sleek, black design makes it look quite smart.
Would I recommend the Waterdrop A2?
Yes, the initial setup took longer than expected, but once that was done, the Waterdrop Filter A2 has been effortless. It delivers pure, fresh-tasting water at the perfect temperature, instantly. It’s saved me from descaling chores, replaced my kettle, and given my kids a simple way to stay hydrated.
For anyone who wants an all-in-one, eco-friendly hydration station, I can happily recommend it.
You can find the Waterdrop A2 on Waterdrop's website www.waterdropfilter.co.uk or on Amazon.
