Abstract: A water filtering carafe comprising a raw water reservoir, a filtered water reservoir, and a gravity-flow cyst reduction water filter cartridge for filtering raw water passing from the raw into the filtered water reservoir, the carafe including a mounting receptacle for the filter cartridge which forms a cyst-blocking water seal as the filter is mounted therein, such that the combination of the water seal and water filter cartridge provides at least a 99.95% reduction in particles of 3-4 microns diameter in a charge of raw water passing from the raw water reservoir into the filtered water reservoir.