PERSONAL CARAFE
€34.95
- Our new carafe is designed for personal use and comes complete with a tumbler that sits neatly on top until you need it. Ideal for use at your desk, or even placed on your bedside table. It also comes with a convenient natural cork coaster and includes one binchotan active charcoal filter (6 month lifespan), which will make your tap water taste great! Find out more about the charcoal filter in our FAQ tab above.
-
- EC003
- Hand-blown glass
- Natural cork coaster
- Includes 1 binchotan active charcoal filter (6 months life) - Makes tap water taste great!
- IMPORTANT: Please make sure your carafe is filled when placing your charcoal to avoid any breakages
- Suitable for fridge doors
- W 10cm H 25cm
- An 800ml carafe
- Weight: 650g
-
What is the story behind Binchotan charcoal?
Thanks to a man named Bichuya Chozaemon, Binchotan charcoal became popular in about the 17th century, however it’s history goes much further back than that. Sometimes referred to as ‘white charcoal’, this incredible natural material was thought to have been introduced to Japan by a Japanese monk, and a scholar, about 1,200 years ago.
How do you make it?
The process for creating Binchotan charcoal is very interesting. First, wood is placed in a low temperature kiln for a long time, and just before the end, the temperature is raised to 1000°C until the wood is glowing red-hot. It’s removed from the kiln and rapidly covered with a combination powder of sand, earth and ash. This will very quickly cool the wood and give it a whitish hue. The wood becomes very hard, with a shiny surface, which, if you tap, will sound clear and metallic.
How does it filter water?
Binchotan charcoal is also known as an ‘active carbon’ - meaning it attracts the ions of contaminants like chlorine to its surface, and holds them there. It's incredibly porous surface area is able to pull these contaminants away from the water you drink, and can even release minerals like calcium and iron to improve taste and health benefits.
How much water can I filter with a charcoal stick?
If you use your bottle every day for 3 months, one stick of charcoal will filter about 1.1L of water. If your bottle has a larger volume, simply increase the number of sticks to scale.
How long does charcoal last?
You can use it every day for 3 months if you fill it up once a day, using our ‘Personal Carafe’. Then, simply boil for 10 minutes and ideally dry in the sun. This will reactivate the charcoal and allow you to use it for another 3 months.
What do I do with my charcoal when it’s finished as a water filter?
There are many uses for Binchotan charcoal after you’ve finished with it as a water filter. If you add it to your wardrobe, it will absorb some of the moisture from the air. Similarly it can absorb bad odours due to its porous surface, making it perfect for shoes, cat litter trays and laundry baskets. It’s also very nutrient rich, so you can break it up and add it to the soil of your houseplants.
Does the charcoal need washing?
Please do NOT wash the charcoal, it’s fine to use as it comes in the packaging.
Can I flavour my water with the charcoal stick in?
No, you cannot add flavourings to your water (like fruit or tea) if you want to filter it with charcoal.
How do I wash the carafe with Binchotan charcoal in?
You should remove the charcoal before washing the bottle, if using soap.
How do I buy more charcoal?
Buy charcoal directly from us, you can view our Active Charcoal x 4 pack here.
What happens if I swallow a piece of charcoal?
Don’t worry, it’s not dangerous to swallow charcoal. In fact, active charcoal tablets are often used to soothe ailments like indigestion, diarrhea and flatulence.
Is the personal carafe dishwasher safe?
The glass carafe is dishwasher safe.
How do I prevent mould from forming on the coaster?
Make sure you do not leave water sitting on the coaster and allow it dry out. When water is left on the coaster for long periods of time, mould spores can form.
How do I clean mould from the coaster?
We recommend using lemon juice, followed by boiling water, to kill and wash away mould that has formed on the coaster.
Customer Reviews
Features
HAND BLOWN DRINKING GLASS/STOPPER
The elegant carafe is complimented by the glass stopper that then conveniently becomes your drinking glass. This design makes it convenient to move around, compact for storage and means your filtered water won’t be contaminated when not in use.
NATURAL CORK COASTER
The sustainably sourced cork coaster will catch any drips of water when you put the glass back on top (and save your work top from water marks) and also makes it a pleasure to interact with when placing the glass carafe down on a hard surface.
A WORD FROM THE DESIGNER
We wanted to create an iconic personal carafe design that celebrated the water it held. The hand blown glass has an organic feminine form that magnifies the beauty of the water, but also makes it a delight to hold and pour from. The simple curves, make it a timeless piece that will sit well in any environment, whether on a office desk or bedside table.
Introducing Binchotan charcoal
Why use Binchotan Charcoal?
It may seem counter intuitive to purify your drinking water with a stick of charcoal, but the Japanese have been doing it for centuries. Binchotan is an active carbon made from tree branches and is renowned for its ability to soften water, add good minerals and absorb unwanted tastes and odours, such as chlorine.
How does it work?
Your charcoal is ready to use. Simply fill your bottle/carafe with drinking (potable) tap water and wait for the charcoal to filter impurities from the water. Leaving it overnight is ideal, but you will taste the difference after just one hour. Then, enjoy great tasting water! You can use the charcoal in our EAU CARAFE, or any bottle for that matter. Wait for the charcoal to filter the water overnight is ideal, but you will taste the difference after just one hour. Then, enjoy great tasting water!
How long does it last?
With time, you will notice a decrease in the filter’s effectiveness on the water taste. You can then recharge it by simply boiling it for ten minutes. The boiling washes out the impurities and frees the charcoal up to absorb some more. Some people have more sensitive taste buds than others so if you notice the decline in taste before 3 months has passed, then it is absolutely fine to boil it at that stage too. Giving it a total life span of six months, as long as it delivers the desired effect, it means it is working!
Broken charcoal?
It still works just the same! Not sure? Well, if you want to know more about Binchotan such as where it comes from and what you can do with it at the end of its life, please see the FAQ tab at the top of this page.
