| Product: |
Soda Stream Drink Maker |
| Date: |
08/02/08 (1399 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: GREAT SPARKLING WATER, STYLISH AND ECO FRIENDLY
Disadvantages: HAVE TO SEND OFF EMPTY CYLINDERS
I have been drinking sparkling water for quite a long time now as I find a lot of the juices or sparkling drinks too sugary and water a bit too bland. I am the person that you see in the supermarket filling her trolley up with umpteenth 2 litres bottles of sparkling water and then struggling to push it.
Well I was. One day, I was loading up as usual when a lady told me that she used to do this but she now had a sodastream and made her own sparkling water at home. I smiled and agreed that it would be a good idea whilst still filling my trolley up. I put this comment at the back of my mind but it kept on resurfacing every time I went shopping so I came home one day and after filling my bottom cupboard with another load of bottles went on Ebay to look for a sodastream machine.
Now my only knowledge of a sodastream machine is a vague memory of one bulky cream and brown sparkler at the end of my Auntie and uncle's house bar. Surprisingly, there was not a lot of choice and many were second hand. This doesn't bother me but I found that it could be hard to find refills.
I decided to go on their website(www.sodastream.co.uk) and there it was.... The sodastream Penguin. I know that this heading is for another sodastream machine but I had to talk about this. The home page shows you this machine which looks like a penguin with 2 carafes and a glass of sparkling water next to it. It also shows a link to see the video of it in action. So I clicked. The video is a guide of how to use the machine and how simple it is too use as well as glorified shots of the machine itself.
I went to look for the prices on google and the only ones available were amazon at £99.00 and sodastream at the same price. However, the sodastream website currently has the price down to £59.98 for the said pack. I decided to buy it and ordered there and then.
I received the pack 3 days later and opened it hastily. The machine itself is black and silver(slightly glossy) and it comes with 2 glass carafes(1 litre each), 2 stoppers, a alco 2 jet gas cylinder(60 litres capacity). All of this is surprisingly easy to assemble. You have to open the back of the penguin(just press on it's eyes) and screw in the cylinder jet by tilting it and gently screwing it in(can only go one way and there was no nasty bang or other noises as I expected so doing it at arm's length). Once this is screwed in, you replace the back you can concentrate on the front. It arrives in shut position. You have a slide lock which can be in a locked or unlocked position(the positions are shown by a raised and visible padlock sign in locked and unlocked position). Once the lock is in unlocked position, the top slide open and the bottom half tilts towards you ready to accommodate the glass carafe(still makes me jump although I expect it).
To make the water, follow the step above to open the penguin, fill the carafe to the recommended line and put it in the bottom half. Then, you gently push the bottom half back up, gently slide the top back on and slide it back in the locked position. Now, you have to press down on the penguin's beak and wait for the swooshing sound. I personally push it twice for about 3 seconds each time but you can adjust this to your own personal taste (the longer you press for 3 seconds only, the fizziest-warning: it can get very fizzy). Once you have done this, you have to press the slide down button on the top half and let the air out. This sounds like the hydraulics on a bus coming to a stop(but very recognisable: my son always goes "mum is making fizzy pop when he hears the noise). Then (and only then as you wil not be able to use the lock/unlock feature until you have done this) open the penguin with the slide button and there you have it: Chilled, Sparkling and Refreshing water from your tap in under 30 seconds.
As they provide you with 2 carafes, I usually tend to keep them in the fridge and replace and alternate as I go along. The water tastes great and many things can be added to it (like any other sparkling waters) but with the benefit and satisfaction of having done it yourself. I guess that the taste will depend on where you live and what your water tastes like in the first place but it can be done with bottled spring water if you need that extra fizz without the price tag. The water is kept fresh with the slide and screw stoppers provided which are quite sturdy(have been dropped on a few occasions and still surviving).
The only downside to this is the cylinders. They have a 60 litres capacity but are only on loan to you. This means that you can buy new ones but have to pay £8.00 extra until you send yours back (eco friendly: I guess) and the £8.00 is then refunded to you. I have only just ordered my new cylinders(twin pack with 1 extra free as a promotion when you register your machine direct from the sodastream website) and it costs me £27.76 including delivery and £8.00 back when they receive the empty canister. They have mentioned that they will need you to send the empty cylinder back in the box that the new one came in within a specified time and that they have a printed tag to put on the box. The canister provided lasted about 2 months and I like my water quite sparkly.
I have got to admit, that I am smitten by this machine. It looks great in my kitchen( a talking point for sure), provides me with fresh sparkling water everyday and is currently half price. It gives me a sense of satisfaction every time and I no longer have to log about a trolley full of bottles or even take the empties to the recycling bin.
A great way to get your 2 litres a day as you can flavour, add a slice of lemon or enjoy on its own, helping the planet and looking smart in any modern kitchen. A hat trick for sodastream!!!!!!!!! Hip Hip
Summary: I LOVE IT AND WOULD RECOMMEND
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