Aqua Optima Lumi Chilled Filtered Water Dispenser – 8.2L Total Capacity & 1 x 30 Day Evolve+ Water Filter Catridge for Reduction Of Microplastics, Chlorine, Limescale & Other Impurities

I wanted a bench top water dispenser / cooler and after looking at several products, I decided to try this one. Here's some tips which may explain some of the other reviews and help get you going:1) The instructions say to soak the filter and wash the plastic container first - don't ignore this or you will get a plastic taste. I made this mistake and only washed the top container, not realising the big BOTTOM container comes off too. Wash both considerably under HOT water for a while, then wash again with cold water, dry the outside only of the containers and put back together.2) If you are still getting a plastic taste, you can put a sterilising tablet (what you use to clean baby bottles, home brew etc) in the bottom tray. Leave for a while then run it through the internal pipes - keep the machine unplugged when you do this. Once done, I'd clean the tray again and run fresh water through the internal pipes about 5 times or so to remove any risidual.3) The machine will work without power - just press the button, water comes out at ambient temperature. The power is needed to chill the water only.4) The machine will make a little bit of noise when it is chilling the water - this last about an hour for me. The noise isn't loud at all, no more loud than a normal fridge in the kitchen so doesn't bother me at all. Once the water is cold, the blue light comes on the front and the chiller turns off anyway.5) It seems to store plenty of water ice cold. I was worried it may only give a glass then the rest of the water would have to be cooled but there seems to be loads.6) As some other reviewers mention, you have to hold the button in for the water to come out - if you have slower flow of water, you need to fill it up - it's gravity fed so there's no pump (thus working without electric) so if you don't have a lot of water in the upper tank, the flow will be a bit slower but with the tank over half full, the flow is acceptable.7) The device is not plumbed in at all - you fill the top of the machine using a jug or similar. There is no waste, it has a drip tray.8) Water capacity is good - can store a lot of water so you won't be refilling all the time.9) Filter needs changing every month but these seem pretty cheap and it's easy to change them - they fit on the bottom of the top plastic tray. You push it in slightly off the oval alignment then turn clockwise to lock in. To remove, turn anti clockwise and pull down.I hope the above is useful for people - I'm impressed with my machine but takes a bit of setting up with running the water through so be patient. Once it's done though, it's a doddle and filter changing is really easy so don't have to go through the setup again.I had looked at other brands of water filters which are plumbed in such as Virgin Pure but the price of the machine is ridiculous and then it's either £200 a year to replace the filter (2 each year, every 6 months) and UV thing (once a year) or you can sign upto their plan thing which is £13 a month - no thanks! This machine does a similar job for a fraction of the cost.For the manufacturer, things could work on for future models:1) Option to automatically fill a glass so don't have to keep button held down2) Higher clearance between output nozzle and drip tray so it fits a larger pint glass under it3) Option to adjust temperature - it's ice cold but some may want it colder or slightly milder perhaps

I read the other reviews before purchasing, I soaked my water cartridge for over half an hour, it does take a time for the first time you fill the tank up but I found it’s well worth the wait! I have not got a plastic taste, the water is really cool and it’s so easy to use. I’m very happy with my purchase!

Working fine, though it took about 4 hours to complete cooling the water! Not the 90 mins as stated! I thought it was broken for a while!Plus it wouldn't dispense water at first, I had to jiggle the little plug thing then it worked. Nothing about that in the manual nor any trouble shooting tips which would have helped.

This is my second water cooler and it does the job superbly

I had the previous model which stopped working after 2+ years. Bought this one since I do love the brand.Gave it a 5/5 due the the large storage capacity, quiet operation and chilled water. Love it.The only thing I could wish for is a more convenient water dispensing method. The button works. However, one does have to stand around a bit waiting for it to fill the glass. The earlier model had the convenience of selecting the volume, one click and off you go.

This is great easy to use. Not to big, easy to set up an fill. Cools water really fast. Best one I've had. Definitely recommend

I read all the reviews before buying this product and a few customers who bought this did mention about the strange metallic taste but one review said that if you follow the instructions properly then you shouldn't get that taste. So I decided to buy this based on that review. I followed the instructions to the dot. Using this machine I filtered a whole tank of water and dispensed it out. I repeated this about 5 times (took me ages) and unfortunately there was STILL a strange strong metallic taste. I even put filtered water into the top part (which i filtered using my own water filter jug) and that was filtered again by this machine and still the same problem with taste.The taste was so metallic worse than tap water.It seems the taste changes happens somewhere between AFTER the water is filtered by the Aqua Optima filter and the dispenser point. Somewhere inside the machine along there changes the water taste, because if you use the Aqua Optima filter cartridge without the machine (which I also did to test!) the taste was absolutely fine, lovely tasting water so the problem isnt the cartridge. It is a shame, Aqua Optima need to look into this problem and look at the mechanics of the machine as to why this taste is occurring, as the whole point of the product is to have clean better testing water! My water filter jug does better job!I didnt encounter problems with the cooling aspect of machine.Price was reasonable, but since the taste was horrible , I can't use it, defeats whole purpose and so I returned it and I am sticking to filter jug and cartridge now.

I got two, one for my self, one as a present to my sone. My one is filtering good and lovely fresh water but my son’s isn’t good at all. It’s got taste like some chemicals, metal and the water its worser from this machine then from tap water. My one I am keeping but my sons have to return it.