My son gifted me with a 10-cup Lake pitcher and a year's worth of standard filters.  I used Brita filters years and years ago and I remember how messy the filters were, and how you had to soak them for 15 minutes.  Not now--just simply run the filter under water for 15 seconds now!  Also, you used to take 4 or 5 pitchers to get a clear fill (meaning a pitcher of water that wasn't clouded with charcoal).  Now, it appears clear after 2, but the still recommend you use the first 3 pitchers to water your plants.