Review: SodaStream Spirit Classic Model – Starter Pack*

What we thought 
This machine is really easy to use and as a family who often buys sparkling water, we were so pleased to see how straight forward it was to make it in our own home. I loved the fact that you can also make your fizzy water and drink it plain but also you can add your own cordial to it too. See below in the Accessories and Enhancement review where we talk about the types of cordials you can use and the ones that SodaStream have available on their website.

One other plus point that was also the fact that (in theory) you are saving on plastic waste. As a family we are conscious of not wanting to use too much single-use plastic (although we do recycle), so we were keen to have a product where you didn’t have to keep replacing the bottle. This is where it gets interesting and slightly confusing. The bottle that comes with the SodaStream is plastic, however, it is made from PETE 1 plastic which is generally used in single-use bottles. In the product information and instructions, it is stated that the bottle is NOT dishwasher safe and should only be washed in warm water – extreme cold or hot water could damage the plastic, which then means it could leach unsafe chemicals/toxins into your water. It also has a use expiry date on it – my particular bottle runs out of use if continued to be used as directed, in April 2023. Once its expired I would expect that you are able to pop it in your recycling.

So our big tip here is to make sure you use the bottle as directed and that way you can enjoy your fizzy water safely and still save on plastic. Another way you could ensure the safe use of your bottle is to buy another of their bottles, which is dishwasher safe, they also have an expiry but at least you can wash them a little more thoroughly, although only having water in them means that they do stay clean. If using cordial or anything that adds flavour just remember to do this in your glass rather than in the bottle.

Accessories and other Enhancements

Once we’d figured out how to use the Sodastream, we were keen to see what other things there were available. One thing we particularly were keen on was using other bottles. My children wanted their own drink bottle that they could take to school with their lunch, which I thought was a great idea. So we did some research and found a really big selection of alternative bottles from the 1L one provided. They have several different coloured 0.5L Bottles that also have a handy strap that you can use to carry them around. Equally, they have a set of two 05L bottles in red and blue that also have little smiley faces on – this was a particular favourite of my two sons. My daughter however, was taken with the mint coloured bottle with the strap which you can find here.

On the site, you can also find flavoured cordials/syrups. When doing the trial we used our own lemon syrup cordial, but Sodastream makes a really lovely selection of Organic Syrups. I thought the fact they were organic flavours really made them special and justified buying them as a treat. The one that particularly caught our eye was the Blonde Cola, to have the taste of cola but it is a light drink really fascinated me! It is filled with Rosemary, lavender, cola nuts, of course, ginger and cinnamon. The reason its blonde is because they didn’t add any funny stuff.

We also loved the look of the fruit drops. They give your drink a hint of fruit flavour and do not contain any sugar, therefore zero calories. For people who love to infuse their water with fruit, this is a great way to do that. You simply pop a few drops in your drink and there you have it – your drink is infused with fruit for a healthier alternative to the cordial.

How much is SodaStream

The cost of the SodaStream varies. At the moment (you may have seen the ads on TV) they have a really great offer for on the Spirit Model Hydration Pack for £89.99 (Normally priced at £132.99) – it includes, the Sparking water maker, two 1L bottle, two 0.5L bottle, one Soda Press Lemonade, one Soda Press Raspberry & Mint – Free shipping and Two years warranty. It also comes in seven fab colours, I really love the pink one! – you can get this offer here.

So here is the easy read breakdown of prices;

• Spirit Model Starter Pack that we received – £99.99
• Spirit Model Hydration Pack – £89.99 (described in the paragraph above)
• Spirit One touch Hydration Pack – £129.99
• Crystal Glass – £139.99 (this is the glass bottle range – a little more like the one that made them famous in the 1980’s)
• Soda Press (cordials) – £7.99
• Fruit drops – £2.99
• The additional bottles vary in cost from £9.99 – £19.99 depending on size and quality.
• The gas cylinder refills are £12.99 each however, you can set up a years supply plan on their website – for more information click here.

Here’s a quick video on how to use your SodaStream

About SodaStream

SodaStream was originally invented and founded in England way back in 1903 by Guy Hugh Gilbey, who worked at W.A Gilbey, a London based gin distillers from the turn of the century. The product was sold to upper-class households included the Royal Household! Early on in the companies growth they already encouraged the addition of flavoured syrups to their drinks including a Cherry based flavour and the classic Sarsaparilla. Over the years the company grew, and changed ownership many times but continued to make carbonating machines and most importantly, ones that were available to all classes. By the 80’s a SodaStream could be found in many a home that enjoyed fizzy drinks. As the years passed the company merged with Soda-Club who influenced the company to move towards promoting§ healthier drinks. Finally, the company was acquired by PepsiCo, who also wanted to move towards being part of a healthier drinks movement.

Review by : Lex Ward

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