If science is to be believed, we should be drinking at least 8 pints of water per day. This might seem like a lot, on paper, but think about it more logically (a pint every couple of hours during the day) and it’s not that hard to swallow (literally).

But it’s going to be even easier to get your daily dose of H2O if you can simply walk into the kitchen and get a nice cold dose of clear, filtered water in seconds without waiting for it to cool or settle. That’s why water coolers and dispensers were invented and it’s why they remain popular in offices and waiting rooms across the world.

The water cooler moment

Not all water dispensers are ideal. There are those that are installed in your fridge (that rarely work properly) and those that don’t get cold enough and are almost impossible to clean without completely disassembling them.

For offices, this might be ok as there is janitorial staff around to maintain the machine but if you are looking for a home water dispenser, these are some of the models you might want to consider. Though whatever dispenser you choose, always remember it will work better and produce cleaner and softer water if you have a water filter and softener installed in your home.

Better yet, most water dispensers will be able to offer water hot enough to make instant tea and coffee right out of the tap. This could cut down the time it takes to put a brew on by a good 5 minutes every time and over the course of a year that could save you hours. And let’s be honest, time is money, particularly if you work from home.

With that in mind, these are the dispensers we recommend.

The Avalon Premium

This countertop solution could sit comfortably on top of your home office desk or your kitchen countertop next to your microwave. It needs to be top loaded as a result of its size, but it also dispenses hot water and includes a temperature dial that allows you to set the ideal temperature for both the hot and cold taps. The only drawback with this one is that it does draw quite a lot of energy, so might not be the best choice if you’re trying to cut back.

The Breville HotCup 2L

While it only sports a 2L tank (about 10 cups in a single refill), the Breville boils in less than a minute and is comfortably the most energy-efficient option on this list. It’s also very affordable and won’t look out of place next to your other kitchen appliances. Indeed, some might even mistake it for a coffee maker.

Morphy Richards Dispenser and Filter

The real selling point with this dispenser is that it not only provides instant ice cold and burning hot water, but it filters it too. It can boil water in just 45 seconds and includes Brita filter technology to get rid of metals, chlorine and limescale. It isn’t as thorough as using a proper water filter, of course, but it’s certainly better than doing nothing at all. It’s certainly a pricey model, of course, but you get what you pay for here!