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BRITA Cube buying guide: temperature settings, tank capacity and filter costs
Check the original Cube’s ambient-to-95°C presets, 150–450ml portions, four-litre tank, MAXTRA PRO replacement costs and model-specific cleaning.
Check that you are buying the original 4L Cube
The original BRITA Cube is a hot-and-ambient countertop dispenser with a MAXTRA PRO cartridge. This guide covers that four-litre appliance, with the selected Amazon link pointing to its white version. Cube Cool and YOURCE products are separate appliances; a shared brand or similar shape does not establish identical temperatures, tank capacity or controls.
Start with what you want it to replace. The original Cube can provide selected portions for drinks and ambient water without lifting a kettle. It cannot actively chill a glass, and its highest selectable temperature is 95°C. If a task requires a rolling boil, do not assume that a 95°C setting is an equivalent instruction.
BRITA Cube 4L hot-and-ambient dispenser · white
The original four-litre Cube provides ambient water and four heated presets, using the MAXTRA PRO cartridge family.
- Capacity / pack
- 4L tank · no built-in chilling
- System / cartridge
- MAXTRA PRO; Limescale Expert recommended
Good forAmbient, 45°C, 65°C, 85°C and 95°C presets.
Watch for95°C is not a rolling boil; the original Cube has no chilled-water setting.
Choose it for portioned heated water when chilled dispensing is unnecessary. This white 4L listing is separate from Cube Cool and YOURCE appliances.
Compare the specified functions, portion options and maintenance with your routine. Include the space, refill schedule and intended drinks when deciding between Cube, a kettle and another dispenser.
Five temperature choices and four portion sizes
The current UK manual lists ambient water plus 45°C, 65°C, 85°C and 95°C. Ambient means water without active chilling; it does not mean a fixed cold temperature. The portion choices are 150ml, 250ml, 350ml and 450ml. Check your actual mug capacity and leave space for ingredients and safe handling rather than selecting the largest portion by default.
| Control | Available settings | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Ambient, 45°C, 65°C, 85°C, 95°C | Match the task; no active chilling |
| Portion | 150, 250, 350 or 450ml | Measure the receiving vessel |
| Lock | Manual describes unlock and automatic relocking | Keep the outlet clear of hands |
| Tank | 4L model designation | Not four litres heated and ready together |
Temperature selection describes the appliance control, not a guarantee that liquid in a cold cup will remain at that exact number. Heat transfer to the vessel and the surrounding air affects the drink. Do not choose a low setting on the assumption that the machine has automatically made a particular food-preparation task safe.
The manual describes a two-second unlock and automatic relocking after inactivity. Read the supplied instructions and keep children away from hot dispensing. A lock is a useful control, not a reason to put the appliance where the outlet can be reached or accidentally knocked during a cycle.
Plan refilling, filtering and tank removal
Water passes through the MAXTRA PRO cartridge in the funnel before reaching the lower tank and appliance. Allow time for that filtration when replenishing an empty unit. The four-litre headline does not mean the machine has four litres at every selected temperature simultaneously, or that an empty filtered section instantly recovers when the funnel is filled.
Measure the closed body and then test the sliding lid, vertical tank removal, handle access and cartridge change. Check the outlet height with your tallest everyday mug and with a suitable container for the cleaning cycle. A position that works for a small espresso cup may not work for maintenance without rearranging the counter.
Use the specified cold municipal tap-water supply. Do not add previously heated drinks, flavourings or descaling chemicals to the funnel as part of normal use. The cartridge is a drinking-water treatment component, not a strainer for other liquids. Keep the base dry and use the electrical arrangement required by the manual.
MAXTRA PRO compatibility and realistic annual costs
BRITA identifies the MAXTRA PRO family for Cube and recommends Limescale Expert for appliance ownership. Pure Performance is also identified as compatible in BRITA’s product guidance, but compatibility does not mean an identical emphasis on scale reduction. Choose by your water concern and check which cartridge the selected bundle actually includes.
BRITA MAXTRA PRO Limescale Expert · 6 pack
A MAXTRA PRO option for a hard-water kettle-scale priority, without changing a compatible jug or Flow dispenser.
- Pack
- 6 cartridges
- Family
- MAXTRA PRO
- Limit
- 150L / 4 weeks
Good forComparing a scale-focused refill for a compatible jug.
Watch forWater conditions can shorten the stated maximum life.
BRITA positions this type for hard to very hard water. It treats the water you filter through the jug; it does not soften the whole household supply.
BRITA MAXTRA PRO Pure Performance · 6 pack
The everyday-purpose MAXTRA PRO replacement for compatible BRITA jugs and Flow. Compare this six-pack with the cartridges already included in your chosen starter bundle.
- Pack
- 6 cartridges
- Family
- MAXTRA PRO
- Limit
- 150L / 4 weeks
Good forRestocking a compatible MAXTRA PRO system.
Watch forFour weeks can arrive long before 150 litres.
Check the MAXTRA PRO family against your jug instructions. It is not a replacement for BRITA Classic, MicroDisc or ON TAP cartridges.
The current UK Cube manual gives 150 litres nominal capacity for Limescale Expert and a 28-day replacement reminder. The symbol turns orange after 21 days and red at 28 days. Follow the applicable time or volume limit, whichever arrives first; heavier use can reach the nominal litres earlier than the calendar interval.
At a 28-day interval, annualised use is about 13.04 cartridges per 365 days. If you start with a fresh cartridge, that means fourteen cartridge periods touch the year, although some stock remains useful beyond its end. A six-pack alone should not be described as six months of four-week replacements. Use the running-cost calculator to compare actual pack prices and demand.
The reminder stops counting while the appliance is disconnected from power. Keep a separate calendar record, particularly if you switch it off regularly or go away. Resetting a paused indicator cannot extend the cartridge’s real calendar life.
Cleaning and electricity belong in the purchase decision
The model-specific dispenser care guide separates the original Cube’s hot-water cleaning programme from Aurora’s chemical descaling methods. Do not transfer another appliance’s recipe to Cube.
BRITA’s manual describes an internal hot-water cleaning programme using 750ml over roughly four to five minutes. It recommends thorough internal cleaning at first use, monthly and after longer non-use, alongside an automatic three-month reminder. The tank, funnel and lid are washed by hand with cold or lukewarm water; do not assume dishwasher approval from another BRITA product.
After 24 hours without use, the manual says to dispense the first cup at the highest temperature and discard it. Keep this hygiene step separate from cartridge preparation and from chemical descaling. The reviewed manual does not provide a universal acid recipe for Cube; consult BRITA about persistent scale rather than copying an Aurora or kettle method.
Finally, compare the dispenser and kettle energy calculation. Portion control may reduce surplus heating, but heating losses, idle electricity, filter purchases and care all affect ownership cost. A power rating alone cannot establish the cost of a cup or guarantee a saving.
Common questions
Does the original BRITA Cube dispense chilled water?
No. This guide covers the original four-litre hot-and-ambient Cube. Cube Cool and other BRITA appliance names are separate products.
Does Cube dispense boiling water at 100°C?
Its highest selectable setting is 95°C. Do not describe that as a rolling boil or assume it meets a task requiring freshly boiled water.
Can Cube use Pure Performance cartridges?
BRITA identifies MAXTRA PRO compatibility and recommends Limescale Expert for the appliance. Compare the exact included pack and your scale concern rather than assuming all bundles contain the same cartridge.
How often should the cartridge be changed?
The current manual uses a 28-day reminder and gives 150 litres nominal capacity for the UK Limescale Expert cartridge. Follow the applicable time or volume limit, whichever comes first.
Will the cartridge timer keep counting while unplugged?
The manual says it pauses when power is disconnected. Keep your own calendar record so a paused indicator does not extend the four-week replacement interval.