| Product: |
Soda Stream Drink Maker |
| Date: |
03/08/01 (2325 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Easy, Cheap
Disadvantages: None
A machine that is useful for just about everybody, whether you like fizzy pop or want mixers to go with your alcohol.
We have had a Soda Stream since 1984 and it is still working.
B.C. These were the years before children when we used to make dry ginger ale, tonic, lemonade and cola to mix with spirits.
W.C. These are the current years with children where we make all kinds of fizzy drinks to guzzle. Of course W.C. also stands for where you will end up if you drink too much lemonade.
Simple to use..
You have a selection of different sized plastic bottles which you fill to the marked waterline with tap water. You then locate the top of the bottle into the machine, close it, and press on the top two or three times, this carbonates your drink. You then remove the bottle and add a measure of one of the flavour concentrates, and then screw the top on.
Availability..
The machines are available from Argos, and most major supermarkets.
Replacement gas bottles from supermarkets .
Concentrates from most supermarkets.
Cost.
The standard Fizz On Line machine costs £34.99 , and comes with a gas cylinder and two 1 litre plastic bottles.
When you have run out of gas a refill costs £3.49. You just take the old cylinder to the supermarket and exchange it for a full one.
It is useful to have a spare cylinder should it run out before you have time to get a refill, these cost £11.39. They will make 25 to 30 litres of fizz before they run out.
The concentrates cost £1.99 for a 500ml bottle which makes 12 litres of drink. Some flavours come as single 1 litre sachets these cost 99pence for a pack of three.
The flavours..
Cola/Diet Cola, Orange, Cherry, Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer, Lemonade/Diet Lemonade, Tonic/Diet Tonic, Bitter Lemon, Dandelion&Burdock, and Cream Soda. These are all in 500ml bottles.
Available as 500ml or singles are Apple&Peach, Cranberry&Blackcurrant,Orange&Mango, and Pineapple&Grapefru
it. My hubby is particularly pleased about the last one, as he suggested it in a survey he completed.
The advantages..
The concentrates don't take up much cupboard space , so you can have a greater variety in the house than with ready made. You can make it in 250ml, 500ml or 1 litre bottles , so you can just make the amount you need. It's very quick and simple.
Tips..
During very hot weather, rather than chill the drink after you have made it, chill the water for a couple of hours first, then it won't lose any fizz while chilling.
Never put the concentrate in before you carbonate the drink, if you do, you will decorate your kitchen with cherryade or whatever else you are making.
All the range is available direct from Sodastream by mail order, but I find most of the supermarkets stock the gas and concentrates.
Customer Service..
I find their customer service is really helpful. As I said we have quite an old machine, and when we needed some new plastic bottles I wasn't sure if the ones in the supermarket were compatible. So I rang up and checked , I bought them direct and they waived the P&P for me, and delivered them within three days, which I felt was very good service, it would have been only too easy for them to attempt to sell me a replacement for my obselete machine.
Soda Stream started making professional machines in 1903 and by the 1970's they were launched to the general public, my own home Fizz Factory has been going since 1984 and is still going strong.
Summary:
|
|
