Sodastream Fountain Jet Soda Maker Starter Kit
by SodaStream
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List Price: Our Price: $79.99 You Save: $19.96 (20%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Sodastream Fountain Jet Soda Maker Starter Kit
Customer Review: One of my favorite kitchen gadgets
Summary: 5 Stars
It's not for everyone, so I don't mention it to people most of the time. You really have to think about how much you drink sodas or carbonated drinks, how picky you are about flavors, and if you put a premium on the recycling/green aspect of the device.
I'm single and I go through a canister a month - that's a lot. I take a liter with me to work every day, and I generally finish a second liter at home. I mostly just drink carbonated water, although I do like the syrups as well (cran-rasberry, and pink grapefruit). I'm not picky about flavors, I'm just as happy drinking generic diet cola as I am drinking diet coke/pepsi. I've been happy with all the flavors I've tried, I also like using natural fruit juices or just drinking the carbonated water straight.
For me, the deciding factor didn't come down to money, but it was more of the recycling/green aspect. I'm lazy and don't really enjoy recycling. I also know I go through TONS of beverage bottles per week. Plus, I'm lazy and I was getting tired of hauling in case after case of seltzer or soda. The sodastream handled all that perfectly.
Plus, being someone who paid $1/day for a can of soda at the office, the sodastream has long ago paid itself off (I got it about 6 months ago). I recommend getting several empty bottles, and several cannisters (once you realize you're going to use it a lot). The Williams and Sonoma has always had tons of refills available every time I've gone (contrary to what one of the reviewers said).
Customer Review: No more guilt over plastic bottles!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this thing! I bought it originally in order to stop throwing away so many plastic bottles (we're seltzer maniacs here).
Features:
* You can control the water source and filter it.
* You can control the fizziness (we're getting up to a level that boils in our blood for at least an hour after drinking it, but you can have a light Euro-water-style fizz as well).
* It's entertaining to use.
* It's better for the environment.
* The sound makes the dog get all wiggy, which is fun to watch. It sounds like a big raspberry when you fizz up a bottle of water.
* You'll probably be the only one on your block with a seltzer maker - it definitely spanks a bread machine.
I still haven't had to return the CO2 bottle, so I don't know how easy that's going to be. Delivery was slow but entertaining: about 3 weeks after we ordered, an actual Soda-Club delivery woman showed up at our door toting our new Soda-Club.
One caveat: the syrups are pretty revolting...at least the ones we tried. Plus, they all contain artificial sweeteners, even the non-diet ones. But we just add some lemon or orange essence (available in the spice section at your store) to pep it up a bit.
Also, if you go through fizzy water pretty fast, be sure to order two extra bottles. You have to chill the water before you fizz it up, so it's good to have a few in rotation.
Customer Review: Saves Money and Lugging Water
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife and I have been wondering how we could make our own sparkling water for a long time because of the cost of buying it in the store and the inconvenience of having to carry heavy bottles of water when we go shopping.
I just bought one of these and after opening the package, I had a glass of sparkling water in about 5 minutes. I'm drinking it right now. It's great! What's more, the unit doesn't use electricity, so it's one less gadget to plug in.
My wife figured that we go through about one 1.5 liter bottle of sparkling water a day, which costs $1.29 a bottle. One canister of CO2 is included and makes about 60 liters of sparkling water. 60 liters of store-bought water would cost $51.60. I paid $90 for my unit, so after 40 days, I would be down $38.40.
A replacement cartridge costs about $13 on the company's web site. that works out to the equivalent of 32 cents per 1.5 oz bottle, a savings of 97 cents a bottle.
This means the unit would pay for itself after about 80 days. After that, I would save about $29 a month. I haven't included shipping in this calculation, so if you buy from the company's website, the savings would be slightly less. (Someone tell me if my math is wrong.)
I no longer have to lug 5 bottles of sparkling water from the grocery store. This alone would be worth the price of admission.
Customer Review: All it claims to be and more!
Summary: 5 Stars
This product is a rare one. It is all that it claims to be. It works. Each and every time. No odd behaviors, no exploding bottles, and no trouble getting supplies, or refills. Just clean crisp carbonated water in less than 30 seconds. It is so easy and so good that even a caveman could do it-I know because I am a caveman.
Also, do not be put off by the negative reviews of the assorted flavors. I tried the Root Beer, the Diet Cola, the Pete's Choice (like Dr. Pepper/Mr. Pib), the Ginger Ale, and the Orange. The only one I don't like is the Diet Cola, and that is because I don't like Diet Cola. Each of the Sodamix flavors are spot on, and very tasty. If you fear I speak the truth-try the sampler pack and see for yourself.
My favorite thing is to get Orange and Lemon "Blend" flavoring and make Italian Lemonade and Orangeade. It is every bit as good as San Pelligrino Limonata/Aranciata, but at a fraction of the price.
The refills for the CO2, and other assorted peripherals are widely available in stores like Bed Bath & Beyond-I live in a cave and there is one near me-they have all the goodies in stock. If you prefer-order online-no problem there either.
If you are pro-soda, pro-carbonated water, pro-earth, pro-economy...buy this thing! It is as close as anyone has ever come to a PERFECT PRODUCT. Thank me later!
Customer Review: Buying second unit for office
Summary: 5 Stars
My Dad had one of these that he used for camping in a remote location (>1 hour away from a two lane road) that we go to for >1 week at a time. Vehicle space is a premium. The unit and a few bottles of syrup take up about the space of a 12 pack of canned soda (including 2 bottles for the soda). I liked the idea and told him I needed to get one.
At Christmas (2006?) he gave us one. We initially used it only for camping and it was wonderful. Lately we have been using it more at home also. I also like the environmental aspect. When you buy soda the resources to move the liquid is significant. The single use bottles (we do recycle but it is still single use because after one use it needs to be recycled) take significant resources that are not incurred with the soda maker (the water is filtered at my home and the bottle is reused).
So I liked it so much I am ordering a second unit for work.
The one down side is that there used to be a boat store that we could buy the syrup at (and other brands besides Soda Club), but it is no longer there. So the only supply that I can easily get is on-line (at least that I am aware of where I live - San Diego). So it would be nice if Soda Stream obtained some more retailers.