Many people think of a water cooler as an office item, used not only to hydrate thirsty employees, but also as a gathering place for on-break conversation and office gossip.
A water cooler, however, can also be a terrific option for your home, delivering refreshing, cold water during the summer (or whenever you need it) and piping hot water during the winter (or whenever you need it).
Finding the right water dispenser for your needs may be challenging due to the huge variety available in the market. We hope the following info about 11 top water coolers for 2019 helps.
Types of Water Dispensers
Before you purchase a water cooler, it's important to know the different types. If you are looking for the popular five-gallon dispenser, read our detailed guide.
- Top Loading water coolers
- Bottom loading water coolers
- Countertop dispensers
- Bottle-less dispensers
- Hot-water dispensers
Factors To Consider Before Buying a Water Dispenser
There are several factors we recommend you consider before buying a water cooler:
- Safety: safety locks to guarantee protection against hot water spillage
- Material: The taste that could result from plastic containers
- Cleaning: Self-cleaning capability for easy maintenance
- Filtration: Water filtration methods
- Temperature: Water temperature variations
- Water flow: The rate of the water flow. (Busy environments like an office need one with a high-flow rate for convenience.)
- Noise levels (some can be especially noisy)
- Energy efficiency
- Size and capacity of the unit
With the above factors in mind, let's dive into our review of 11 of the best water dispensers.
Top Loading Water Coolers
The top-load water dispenser requires you to put the water bottle from the top in an upside-down position and allows you to keep a close watch on how much water is left because you don't hide the bottle in the bottom compartment. It's normally budget-friendly and easy to operate.
Coastway Two-In-One Water Dispenser
Coastway 2-in-1 is a multifunctional top-load dispenser because you can use it as a normal water cooler dispenser or an ice-maker. It's convenient to use with an easy-to-understand control panel and also features a handy LED indicator.
The ice-making function is quite impressive because you can get nine bullet ice cubes in approximately 7 minutes. It’s aesthetically pleasing, so you don't have to hide it away in some dark corner. Some of the components, like the trip receptacle, are anti-rust and very easy to clean. It has a child lock, which makes it safe for homes with little children.
It can be a bit noisy, and the ground level height also requires some bending, which may not work for some people.
Avalon Top-Loading Dispenser
The Avalon top-loading dispenser has a child safety lock, making it suitable for any home. It looks great in any setting, is energy-efficient, and can handle three- or five-gallon water jugs. The hot water heats up to 167° F, meaning you can enjoy a hot cup of tea with a simple push of a button
The main disadvantage of this water dispenser is the top-loading aspect. It can be difficult to lift a large water bottle onto the dispenser.
Giantex Electric Primo
The Giantex Electric Primo is the best water cooler for the budget-conscious. It has an unobtrusive design, making it great for home or office is. You get a cupboard for the disposable plastic cups, and it's a very quiet machine.
It has a child safety feature on the hot water tap and a clear LED display. Two drawbacks are the possibility that the tubes may leak and the fact that the water doesn't get very cold. Fitting a glass under the spouts may also be a bit difficult.
NutriChef Water Dispenser
The NutriChef counter-top water dispenser is compact and uses three- and five-gallon jugs. Don’t worry about the taste because there's no hint of plastic on the machine. The hot water tap has a child safety lock. Some users say the cold water doesn't get as cold as it should.
As the name suggests, these dispensers connect directly to your water supply, eliminating the need to continually buy water jugs.
Bottom Loading Water Coolers
Bottom-loading dispensers are excellent for anyone who has a back problem because you don't have to lift anything heavy. You also get to keep the bottle hidden in the bottom cabinet.
Primo White Two-Spout Water Dispenser
The Primo white bottom-load cooler gives you both hot and cold water with the simple push of a button. The hot water button has child safety features, so you don't have to worry about hot water spilling on your little ones.
It’s easy to load, and the bottle stays within a compartment. The stainless steel material of the water reservoirs makes it very sturdy, and the drip receptacle is dishwasher-safe. One potential negative is the exposed water jug.
Oasis Premium Water Dispenser
The Oasis premium water dispenser is a bottom-loading cooler that uses five-gallon water bottles, but they don't come as part of the unit. One particularly impressive feature is its ability to convert into a bottle-less dispenser that links directly to your water supply.
Don’t worry about maintenance because it’s self-cleaning, eliminating bacteria through the use of ozone each day. One drawback is that it gets a bit noisy, especially when you use it for hot water.
Clover B14A
The Clover B14A hot and cold bottled water dispenser is great for the workplace. It’s a sturdy, hygienic dispenser that delivers contaminant-free water with stainless-steel tanks and an adjustable thermostat that works for cold water between 35° to 53° F. The hot-water temperature reaches 185° F.
This dispenser is energy-efficient and adheres to GPA energy saving tips. You can also switch off the hot-water dispenser to save on energy bills. The child lock feature is also reassuring for anyone with young kids.
Its main detriment is the top-loading aspect and the exposed water jug.
Glacial Maximum Water Dispenser
The Glacial Maximum has many attractive features, including its self-cleaning function and ability to give 1.6 gallons of chilled water every hour. Your water will come out contaminant-free due to the use of unstable oxygen that kills bacteria and viruses.
This dispenser has a nice look that's suitable for the home or office. Some of its components are stainless steel, the front and sides are nickel-plated, and the exterior is chrome.
It has glacial geo-technology that keeps water just above the freezing mark. It also has hot boost technology that ensures you get up to 1.4 gallons of scalding hot water.
Some people say that it can get a bit loud, which may be the one disadvantage we can attribute to this dispenser.
Primo Stainless Steel One-Spout Dispenser
The Primo stainless steel is a bottom-load dispenser that offers hot and cold water at the push of a button. It has a stylish design that looks great anywhere. The receptacle is removable and dishwasher-safe, and there's also a child safety feature on the hot water pot.
It has an energy star rating, making it very energy-efficient. It’s a top contender for one of the best water dispensers available.
Counter-top Dispensers
Counter-top dispensers work well when you don't have too much space. They’re compact and can fit on any counter-top.
InSinkErator H-Waves-Ss Involve Wave
The InSinkErator hot water dispenser has a 2/3 container for hot water and an adjustable thermostat that allows you to set the water between 160°F to 210°F. It has a sturdy design and is very durable. The automatic shut-off is an additional safety function that many find appealing.
Hot Water dispensers
Bottle-less dispensers
If you are looking for hot water, we recommend Tiger or Zojirushi. Read the extensive guide on electric water boilers and kettles.
Best Overall
3. Zojirushi 586361-CV-DCC40XT America Corporation Ve Hybrid Water Boiler And Warmer, 4-Liter, Stainless Dark Brown
The Zojirushi 586361-CV-DCC40XT Hybrid Water Boiler And Warmer is the gold standard water boiler.
This Japanese hot water dispenser in either the 4 or 5-liter model, has a lot of capacity for those who need a lot of hot water on demand and has many state-of-the-art features, most notably its variable temperature settings and its ability to keep water hot with minimal energy use due to its insulation technology.
We've reviewed and compared several water boilers and the Japanese-made Zojirushi is widely viewed as the best big electric water boiler and kettle you can buy.
The Zojirushi DCC40 comes with multiple temperature settings and a one-touch dispensing system. It's is an ideal machine for your veggies, breakfast, noodles, oatmeals, soups, and any other instant foods. Whatever the purpose is, the Zojirushi water boiler is up to the task.
Design
The Zojirushi CV-DCC40 has an elegant dark brown stainless steel design and a non-stick coated interior.
Features
Temperature Settings
The Zojirushi features micro computerized temperature control. It has a total of four different temperature settings: 160⁰F, 175⁰F, 195⁰F, and 205⁰F. It also keeps the water warm efficiently with its vacuum-sealed insulation technology.
Capacity
It has a large capacity of 4 liters, so you won’t have to worry about water shortage with this model.
LED Display
The Zojirushi water boiler features a one-touch operation and an easy-to-read LED display. The display also shows the real-time temperature of the water.
Audible Timer
For more convenience, the device is equipped with an audible timer notification so users can easily configure the device to start at a later time, which ranges from 6-10 hours to spare power and save energy.
The device is also equipped with cafe-drip and Bistro trickle administering mode that reduces the quantity of water up to 60% at a normal setting. That makes it an ideal device for preparing Bistro Espresso.
One of the unique features of the Zojirushi CV DCC40 Water Boiler and Warmer is that it can boil water directly to your desired temperature without having to first boil it to 208F and letting it cool down.
This significantly reduces heating time. It's also still equipped with dechlorination and descaling mode to ensure your water is clean at all times.
Safety
There's an auto shut-off feature with an audible notification for when water levels reach too low. It also shuts off if it senses the lid is open and has a magnetic cord.
Customer Support
We've never had any issues with the product but apparently, their customer support is top-notch according to many of the reviewers online. It also comes with a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Good Luck Finding Your Water Cooler!
We hope you find this article helpful in selecting the right water cooler for your home or office.
Also, we encourage you to browse the other articles on our site for more information on safe drinking water for you and your loved ones.
