soda stream drinks maker review

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Average Ratings
Ease of Use	8.5/10
Durability	7.8/10
Style	7.3/10
Service & Support	1.9/10
Value for Money	6.2/10
Reviewer Rating	5.5/10
Overall Rating	5.7/10

48% Recommended10 out of 21 Reviews

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- Sue.'s review
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Review of Soda Stream Drinks Maker

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Review 21 of 21

By Sue. on 10th Jul 2003

Sue.'s Ratings
Value for money	9/10
Overall value	9/10
Sue.'s recommendation

Good Points

Never with out fizz

Bad Points

Runs out of gas

General Comments

Soda Stream Drink Maker is a great machine to have, it makes great sparking water, mixers for achoholic drinks, many flavours to choose from like cola, ginger ale and tonic to name a few, gas cylinder refill costs £3.49

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50 Comments on Review by Sue. for Soda Stream Drinks Maker

Bertie on 5th Oct 2003

Hi there Sue....if you are the Sue who gave me the info on the Smoothies, perhaps you'd care to tell me where the flavours come from and how many bottles you can get from a gas cylinder. I assume this drink maker is safe to use??
Sue on 7th Oct 2003

Hello again Bertie

Yes I am the same Sue who gave you info on the Smoothie Maker.

You can get the flavoured soft drink concentrate and refill gas cylinder for the Soda Stream from most Super Markets. The soft drink concentrate makes 12 litres, I don’t know how many bottles of fizz the gas cylinder makes, but it lasts ages. As far as the safety of the Soda Stream, well it hasn’t blown up on me yet, but you never know.
Bertie on 8th Oct 2003

Many thanks for coming back with that Sue and I suspected you were the same Sue as you seem to be well up on these kitchen appliances.

It's my thirsty grandchildren I'd want the machine for and that was the reason I queried the safety aspect, but on reflection it'd surely seem unlikely that ANY manufacturer would put a potentially dangerous device on the market. Fizzy drinks and the like are not exactly CHEAP, are they and my favourite cut-price (sometimes slashed to the bone) shops don't always have 'em.

I'm off to the invariably helpful Tescos this afternon, so I'm sure to get all the help I'll need and I'll return here with the outcome and with the hope that people are not getting suspicious of us meeting like this!......Bless you.
Bertie on 9th Oct 2003

Well, Sue, no joy. Not in stock and a very nice young lady must have walked about half a mile to check for me. I WAS surprised as the store is of a size that could enable it to double for an aircraft hangar.
Argos have 'em though and as the cooler weather has considerably ameliorated my grandchildrens' dehydration, I'll get one next year and I've been informed that the machine is virtually foolproof.
I went to Comet - no joy there either but they had your Smoothie Maker on display for thirtyeight quid and a bit. What a smart machine in its black and chrome livery - fell in love with it straight away and there's ALWAYS room in my Christmas stocking!
Take care dear.
anassa on 28th Oct 2003

Sue, is there a sugar free tonic concentrate to be had? all they had in Asda was a sugar free(diet)cola.
Sue on 5th Nov 2003

Hi Annasa

I'm not sure, but I will try to find out for you
geoff2003 on 9th Dec 2003

I don't know whether this thread is still active, but I'd like to make some comments...

I've had a Sodastream machine for many years and have been very pleased with it. However, it now needs replacing and I'm a bit concerned about the long-term viability of the Sodastream company. Since Schweppes pulled out of the Sodastream concentrate market a few years ago, the number of stockists has dropped dramatically. At the moment I only know of Wilkinsons Hardware stores that sell the cylinder refills and concentrates. Argos currently sell a full kit of machine, 2 bottles and a gas cylinder for £34.99 but this isn't much help when I only want to replace the machine.

I also note on the Sodastream website, that they have been taken over by a firm called Soda-Club Worldwide Trading Company. I rather suspect that Sodastream is on its way out!
Sue on 10th Dec 2003

Hello Geoff
I do know that as well as Wilkinsons, Asda, Morrisons and the Co-op also sell replacement cylinders and concentrates for the Soda stream.
geoff2003 on 12th Dec 2003

Hi Sue

Thanks for your comments. I'll go and have a look around the stores you mention. I did see today that Wilko's are selling the Sodastream kit for £29.99. So maybe I'll risk getting one and hope Sodastream keep trading! My old machine is a Gemini and no-one can tell me whether the old-style bottles will fit the new machine. I expect they won't, so I'll have to replace my smaller sized ones.

Geoff
Bertie on 22nd Dec 2003

Happy Christmas Sue - I'm having one for a prezzy off one of my daughters.
And you guys keep away - Sue is MY girl!
Sue on 26th Dec 2003

All the very best to you Bertie in the New Year, and thanks for putting a smile on my face when I read the reviews you write, your a star, and I think a Soda Stream makes a brillant present.
john10001 on 25th Apr 2004

I believe that SodaStream were taken over by a similar type of company from Israel called Soda-Club. It seems to be a fairly successful company and is doing well in Europe and America.

I believe getting your drinks this way just needs a kick-start. I think it is the future though.

How many people can be bothered lugging big heavy 2 litre bottles around when they do their shopping? 500ml of SodaStream/Soda-Club concentrate makes 12 litres of pop.

The labels in the supermarkets that tell you how much value you get for your money are slightly inaccurate on these concentrates as they go on what's in the bottle not the amount of pop it makes.

At ASDA they sell them for £2.47 for 500ml concentrate which makes 12 litres of drinks. This works out at 2.05 pence per 100ml, 20.58 pence for litre, and 41.16 pence per 2 litres. Great value IMHO.

The only major thing that has so far prevented SodaStream from taking off in a big way in this country is the lack of support from the big drinks giants, and the lack of different flavours available, especially from the major drinks players. If they can address this, then these things will take-off, if not, then they will always only ever attract a small niche market.

As far as the environment goes, if everyone used SodaStream it would prevent a lot of waste and cut down on the number of plastic the giants have to make to package their 2L bottles.

John
Sue on 27th Apr 2004

Hi John

I agree with you. I am suprised that the Soda Stream drinks maker has not taken the world by storm esp as it is economical and enviromentaly friendly.
magsm3 on 25th Jul 2004

Can anyone tell me please where I might buy Soda Stream concentrate. My mother loves her Soda Stream but has been unable to get concentrate for a while. Tesco and Boots don't stock it anymore.
Thanks Margaret
geoff2003 on 26th Jul 2004

Morrisons and Wilkinsons Hardware stores used to sell Soda Stream Makers. I have not looked recently as my old Sodastream Drinksmaker gave up the ghost a while back, and I've not bothered to replace it.
magsm3 on 26th Jul 2004

Thanks Geoff. We don't have either of those shops near us but I have now found a website where you can order these products www.sodaclub.com. They supply 17 different flavours and it's buy 6 get 1 free at the moment. They also sell the machines, spare cylinders and bottles.
john10001 on 27th Jul 2004

You can buy Soda Stream cylinders, flavours and replacement bottles at ASDA, and they seem to be a lot cheaper there than anywhere else. I am currently looking into places you can buy online in the States that offer shipping to the UK as they have more flavours available over there that you cant get here. Might have to go surface mail though if I do find anywhere because of the shipping.

HTH

John
Sue on 27th Jul 2004

Soda Stream Drinks Maker - The soft drink concentrate can be found in the Asda,Co-op, Morrisons and Wilkinsons Stores.
petrina23 on 28th Jul 2004

I have just purchased a soda stream can anyone tell me how much the gas refils are and where I can get them done?
Thank you
Heather Edge on 11th Aug 2004

Does anyone know where I can get replacement cylinders in Dublin?
rosie8800 on 20th Aug 2004

Soda Club have now stopped supplying replacement cylinders for Gemini etc direct - bad move!
selbygreen on 1st Sep 2004

Tesco, Banbury, has stopped supplying cylinders. No luck at Morrisons, Somerfield, Boots, Sainsburys or Safeway. Help please, a supplier in Oxon.
Ruthie on 5th Sep 2004

I can't believe you all think this is a new idea - there has been a Sodastream in my family for 30 years and my husband's family for roughly the same time. As for flavours - what's wrong with lateral thinking? Elderflower cordial - with soda water is fabulous, the french syrops - passionfruit, lime, raspberry to name three (and there are shelves full) are all superb. So what if the "standard" flavours are not avaiable - my nieces and nephews are just as thrilled with fizzy raspberry as they would be Coke, moreso because they like the flavour not the additives & enumbers.
mandycan on 22nd Sep 2004

I have a soda stream and I think it is brilliant but I am disappointed to find that they is not many shops that stock cylinders, we have gone about a month without using it because we can't get a refill, I am fed up with driving around supermarkets trying to get one only to find they are sold out.
Sue on 23rd Sep 2004

Asda, Morrisons and Wilkinsons all sell Soda Stream cylinders.
mandycan on 30th Sep 2004

we havent got a morrisons in southend, we drove to basildon and got 2 from asda on sunday. Went in wilkinsons yesterday and they are still sold out.
graeme82 on 5th Oct 2004

Is £11 right for a refill from Morrisons? Review suggests £3.49. Sparkling water at Tesco is 19p for 2ltrs, wish I hadn't bought the thing if it is correct.
photofirst on 5th Oct 2004

I have heard that the reason for the dearth of cylinders is due to a directive, no doubt from Brussels, that every branch of every retail stockist has to have a licence for this potentially lethal gas. Are these overpaid, over-fed bureaucrats again trying to justify their existance by bringing out ridiculous decrees?
graeme82 on 7th Oct 2004

£3.09 from Tesco! They stock them again due to number of enquiries.
Sue on 7th Oct 2004

Comment by graeme82 on 5th Oct 2004

Hello graeme82
A cylinda is about £11, however if you take your empty cylinda to the store you will get a refill for about £3.49.
Sue
ColinDawber on 17th Nov 2004

What has happened to Soda Stream, their Telephone number has been discontinued, and I would like to find a repair shop as mine has developed a fault. There are still shops that stock Soda Stream items but as the firm appears to have changed hands one is left out on a limb. Colin
Baz77 on 16th Jan 2005

Graeme82 - sorry our Tesco refuses to stock the cylinders, but does have the concentrates.

We cannot get refills here at all - one shop said it was because Sodastream has had a Management Buyout, and now insist that the shops are to buy the cylindersand then claim back for the refills. They basically were asked to cough up with several thousand pounds for the right to stock refill cyliners - so they chose not to. In their shoes, I would do the same though.
nisbet on 24th Jan 2005

No wonder Sodastream went down the pan.
With a marketing philosopy that would have achieved the Gerald Ratner seal of aproval, with arrogance and complacency that would not be out of place in the board room at Marks and Spencer; they have failed miserably, and deservedly so. When a retailer is dictated to in terms of a minimum order of mixers he could order, no choice, irrespective of whether the previous stock had to be dumped as it had become out of date; when a retailer could not simply order the mixers that he knew would sell without having to stock mixers that would never in a month of Sundays shift; forget it. I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.
I had an old Sodastream. It performed well for several years, but when the conical washer in the head became tired, I tried to order a new one. No longer available customer services informed me. Foolishly, I obtained a new unit from Argos. Can I get refills? The website still shows a list of outlets in my area. One of the retailers no longer exists, another dumped them months ago....impossible to deal with. Sounds familiar?
Look at eBay £0.99 is the going rate. About right.
rosie8800 on 25th Jan 2005

I agree with Nisbet, Sodastream certainly seem to have a death wish. It is very difficult to understand because it is(was) a good product.
Laura2005 on 2nd Feb 2005

Laura from Northampton.
We bought a Sodastream about 18 months ago, as did my parents in Norfolk. For many months now neither of us has been able to get the gas cylinder refills. Where my mum lives, there is no ASDA, Morrisons or Wilkinsons. I am yet to try our new ASDA that has arrived in Northampton.I wait with baited breath ! We all feel very dissapointed that after quite a heavy outlay of 30 quid, you then can't get the cylinders to make the damn thing work. Its a disgrace !
Graham69 on 9th Feb 2005

I’ve read this thread with a sinking heart because I have had exactly the same experience. I live in Devon, not far from Plymouth, and I too have been unable to get gas refills for my Gemini drinks maker. One by one, our local supermarkets (Tesco, Safeway/Morrison, Asda, Co-op) have all stopped selling them. I was hoping to order this morning via the Internet, and found that avenue to have been closed off as well. My Gemini is now just a white elephant, with two empty gas bottles. After this experience, I certainly won’t buy another - from anybody!
mandycan on 3rd Mar 2005

Yes I also think the sodastream is brilliant, its' great to have fizzy drinks on tap and not to have to keep giving kids a pound for a can from the shop. But Sainsburys has stopped selling sodastream products and now so has Wilkinsons, I have to travel all the way to Shoeburyness to Asda for refills and syrups so now our sodastream never gets used.
donboy1020 on 9th Sep 2005

i think to many of you go on and on about the fact that you can not get gas refills for the sodastream .you are wrong why dont you all try the website which is www.sodastream.co.uk you can get all that you want there .morrissons do still sell the gas refills and the syrups.
John Brewer on 13th Sep 2005

I have just tried Asda and Morrisons. Unfortunately they have just both stopped stocking cylinders. Asda at Weymouth have no less than 60 empty cylinders in their ware house so it can't be lack of demand!!! I have already contacted the Soda stream help line on three occasions about this very subject. They confirmed Asda and Morrisons have stopped stocking cylinders. I have made the point that this is an excellent product being let down by the supermarkets. O.K. so how do we get around this problem? May I suggest anyone with a supply problem rings the Soda stream help line with any suggestions for making the cylinders more readily available. After all, we dont want to go back to paying 80p a litre for something we can make ourselves for a few pence.
John Brewer.
photofirst on 13th Sep 2005

Completely agree with this review. There is a problem in finding stockists, but the blame lies with such supermarkets who do not stock refills.
It would be worth having, if only for its soda making which is invaluable, not only for whisky, brandy etc., but to make up ones own flavourings.
One can place an order by 'phone at 0800 085 8373 or www.sodastream.co.uk
Sue on 13th Sep 2005

Aldi are now selling the Soda Stream drinks maker.
byeady on 14th Dec 2005

What an enjoyable experience to read comments and advice from 'ADULTS':- no mis-spellings, no insults and not a 'dude' amongst you!
Anyway, enough of the flattery, I have just bought an original sodastream off Ebay (where else!) but I'm not sure about using it. As no bottles were supplied I thought I could use any old pop bottle but am I right in thinking I need an 'official' sodastream bottle to fit under the injector- i.e the drink can only be carbonated under pressure. If so, I'll be back on Ebay tonight!!
Bertie on 15th Dec 2005

Hello byeady, and welcome to the Soda Stream chatroom.
I would be wary of using non-Soda Stream bottles as CO2 gas is at a pressure of around 800 pounds per square inch at normal room temperatures.
If you do want to try an ordinary pop bottle, carefully inspect it for any damage/cracks and wrap a towel around it to protect yourself should it explode. That's all I can suggest and wish you the best of luck in getting things going.

I must get this in:
Sue, congratulations on obtaining your commission and I will be delighted if we both could partake of a Christmas bowl in the officers' mess to celebrate your promotion.

Have a Happy Christmas dear girl....and the rest of you.
John Brewer on 15th Dec 2005

Since my review 13th Sept, I have been directing Weymouth people to Robert Dias in Dorchester. The word seems to be spreading as they have upped their order. They also stock syrups etc but we use it mainly for making soda water at a saving of 70p a litre!
Perhaps this is why the super markets don't want to know?????
Sue on 15th Dec 2005

Hello

Yes you do have to use the soda stream bottles, I saw them for sale in Asda only last week at a reduced price.
Sue
at94 on 20th Dec 2005

Difficulty getting Sodastream Bottles ?
Give your local Tesco's some gyp
They are on their stock list
They can order them, I have just persuaded my local store to restock them
Hope this helps, Mark
kitty30 on 15th May 2006

Hi, I was given a soda stream gemini but have no instructions for it. Has anyone got some they could email me or know where I could get some from. Thanks Amy
donboy1020 on 15th May 2006

hi there kitty you can find a helpful guide of how to use your soda stream on the soda stream web site at www.sodastream.co.uk just copy and paste that address you can also get all the bits you would need from them. hope you enjoy the fizz.
cyberpaddy66 on 11th Mar 2008

I went to the sodastream site and got a error page which makes me think they are not working any more.
Sue on 21st Mar 2008

This is the site for Sodastream http://www.sodastream.co.uk/gbretail/Home.asp

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