SodaStream Aqua Fizz Sparkling Water Maker
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Energy-efficient
Cons
- Ongoing cost for upkeep
- A little expensive up front
Elevate your water to a bubbly, fizzy drink without the sugar of most soft drinks.
I find myself getting bored sometimes with the same old drinks. I don’t want to constantly be drinking soda or other sugary drinks and as much as I like water, sometimes I just want ‘more’ than water. This is why I really like Aqua Fizz by SodaStream. It takes water and elevates it.
DETAILS
Aqua Fizz is a premium sparkling water maker offered by SodaStream. It has a slim, sleek design that can be stored nearly anywhere. With it, you can make and serve your own sparkling water to your family or guests. It comes with a stylish, glass carafe that fits well in any table setting and there is no electricity or batteries needed. Operation of the Aqua Fizz is simple with the 1-button carbonation mechanism. The Aqua Fizz machine is made primarily out of plastic and can be wiped clean. It measures 10.5” L x 6.25” W x 17.2” H and fits easily into most spaces.
Features
- Energy-efficient
- Powered by CO2 cylinder
- 2-year warranty
- No batteries needed
- Starter kit includes: machine, CO2 cylinder, 2 glass carafes
USER EXPERIENCE
I was blown away by how easy it was to get started with the Aqua Fizz. I thought for sure there would be a complicated wiring system that had to be worked out before I was able to use it. As it turns out, set-up was completed in less than 5 minutes (which I love) and I was enjoying my first fizzy water drink in no time. To get started you take the Aqua Fizz and its carbonation cylinders out of the box and open one of them. Then you slide that cylinder into the back compartment of the Aqua Fizz and twist it into place (hand-tighten only). The front compartment is where you place the glass bottle with your flat water. It’s important to use the bottles that came with the Aqua Fizz rather than your own container.
Finally, close the front compartment and lock it into place. Then, press the carbonation button (located on the top of the compartment where the cylinder is located) with short, firm presses. You’ll hear a buzz and that’s how you know to release the button. Three buzzes are recommended for a standard fizz, but you can always add up to two more. SodaStream recommends that you stop at 5 presses because more carbonation can cause the bottle to overflow. According to SodaStream’s FAQs, the sparkling water should last up to two weeks as long as you use the bottles that came with the Aqua Fizz. I actually haven’t noticed when our water has lost its fizz because we drink it within a couple of days of making it but the water has always seemed to have enough fizz to it.
There are two package options for the Aqua Fizz — Hydration or Starter pack. The Hydration pack comes with 2 carbonation cylinders and 3 glass carafes while the Starter pack only comes with one carbonation cylinder and 2 glass carafes. Normally, the Hydration pack retails for $229, but at the time of publishing this review, it’s currently being sold for the same price as the Starter Pack on SodaStream’s website.
One of the concerns I had about using the Aqua Fizz was the use of the carbonation cylinders and how to replace them when they were depleted. Even though the idea is that you would spend less money on soda and unhealthy sugary drinks, there is still a cost for upkeep of the Aqua Fizz. And, SodaStream has a delivery service for exchanging the Carbonators. Unfortunately, the area I am located in does not offer this service. SodaStream’s website does have a retail locator on their website to help users find local places to purchase SodaStream accessories. Target offers the Carbonator for $30. On average, a Carbonator may need to be replaced every 3-4 weeks (30-liter cartridge) or 6-8 weeks (60-liter cartridge). This is figured by SodaStream for a household of 4 soda drinkers. That equates to about $1 per day to pay for the Carbonator, which ends up being far less than the cost of most sodas — depending on how much soda your family drinks.
CONCLUSION
While there is an ongoing cost for maintaining the fizzy drink system, a somewhat hefty price up front ($180-$230), Aqua Fizz is worth the investment if it helps to make your family healthier. Is it a complete replacement for soda? Maybe not. Even with adding flavoring to the water, it still doesn’t offer the exact same experience as soda does. I do think that having the Aqua Fizz to provide an alternative to soda can greatly reduce the amount of soda a person drinks.
For more information, visit sodastream.com
Find SodaStream on Facebook and Twitter.
SodaStream is an Israeli company that is known to claim ‘Made in Israel’ although it has its plants located in the occupied West Bank.
Not exactly a product you would like to promote. There is blood of Palestinian children sticking on their company.