THE BIT THEY DIDN'T PUT ON THE BOX.
Is your coffee machine drinking designer water?
High-end espresso machine brands sell proprietary water filters to prevent limescale. These retail for £25–£40 each. Underneath the bespoke plastic clip layout, the active filtration media and internal volume are identical to mass-market Brita-style cartridges costing £4–£6.
SO WHAT'S THE CATCH?
The active media may be similar; the cartridge housing and filtration performance may differ.
“The interesting bit isn't the badge. It's what happens when you search for the part behind it.”
THE INTERNET DETECTIVE'S CHECKLIST
Look for complete part numbers and revisions, make sure you're comparing the same quantity, and check the exact model/application. That's especially important with electrical, braking, steering, battery and other safety-related components.