For example, if you used your SodaStream to make 4 litres of sparkling water a week for that three-year lifecycle, you'd recycle two bottles instead of approximately 312 that you'd buy from the supermarket. Number of BPA-free bottles included: Most will offer a one-litre bottle in the box with a maximum fill capacity of 850ml. But some brands like Aarke and Mysoda offer two, making life easier if you’re pre-chilling or want some on the go or for families. The third generation of Aarke’s soda maker is even more efficient than its predecessors. The precisely tuned carbonation system ensures the perfect bubble size while keeping CO2 use to a minimum, so each gas cylinder lasts longer, and models are now fitted with even higher quality sustainable parts to withstand the test of time. The pressure release valve has been updated for a quieter, more refined sound and the interior tech has been modified for a more controlled release of pressure, too. All of this combines to give you an effortless experience every time you use your Aarke carbonator. Sleek style CR’s take: The highly-rated SodaStream Terra is among the easiest soda makers to use: Insert your bottle top in a clamp, push the clamp into place, and press the button on top. The Terra offers other bubbly benefits; for one, it needs no electricity to work. Performance-wise, it doesn’t ice up when operating; its cap stays on under pressure; and because it has no preset carbonation levels, you can vary the amount of fizz by the number of times you press the button. We made dozens of bottles of seltzer to evaluate the six soda makers in our tests. We rate each model on how easy it is to use, including when attaching and detaching bottles and using the controls. We use standard 14-ounce CO₂ cylinders, which work in any soda maker.

Designed for efficiency as well as good looks, the sleek polished steel tower of the Aarke Carbonator 3 will not only look fabulous on any kitchen counter, it’ll allow you to make your favourite sparkling drinks at home, too. Just add a CO2 cylinder – there isn’t one included, but they’re compatible with the 60 Litre SodaStream gas cylinders we sell online, and the Recycled 60 Litre ones we sell in store – and you’re ready to go. Ease of setup We analyse how easy it is to set up the sparkling water maker, including inserting the CO2 cylinder and water bottle. Although it doesn’t come with a gas cylinder included, your Aarke Carbonator is compatible with the SodaStream 60 Litre Gas Cylinders we sell online and in store, as well as CO2 cylinders from AGA, Linde and many other manufacturers. And if you live near a Lakeland store, you can also use our cheaper SodaStream Recycled 60 Litre Gas Cylinders too – in which case you’re only paying for the gas refill – and helping to recycle the canister. Expertly designed from the inside outwards, the slim-line good looks and high-quality stainless steel construction of the Aarke Carbonator have already earned it a cult following around the world and this, the third generation, has been created to be even more efficient than its predecessors.CO2 canister included: If purchasing from a brand abroad, current import regulations may mean a canister cannot be delivered alongside the sparkling water maker. It’s worth being aware of this. Please note: Recycled SodaStream Cylinders are only available when you return a used SodaStream cylinder. Used cylinders can be returned to any of our stores. Build quality We give a final rating for how sturdy it feels and how good it looks on a kitchen countertop. The bottles are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which can be recycled along with the other recyclable plastics in your household. Fizzability We rate each machine for how easy it is to get to a good level of fizziness compared with bottled sparkling water.

A Swedish design company founded in 2013 by two experienced industrial designers (and friends), Jonas Groth and Carl Ljungh, the brand is on a mission to re(de)fine the home appliances industry – and their carbonators are rapidly gaining a cult following around the world. Having strong environmentalist principles, Aarke aims to produce made-to-last quality, using premium materials and a unique design approach. Ease of use We make sparkling water in each machine, rating it for how simple it is to fizz the water. Users are urged to only add carbon dioxide to water with certain soda watermakers. Adding carbon dioxide to sugary drinks can often cause an excess of bubbles, damaging the machine. Other models encourage you to experiment with other liquids to find your favorite combination. Able to make 780ml of fizzy water at a time, the Aarke Carbonation Bottle is made from long-lasting PET plastic with a stainless steel lid and base for durability. It’s suitable for refrigeration, so you can make your soda water or fizzy flavours in advance and chill them to perfection until you’re ready to serve. Use-by date on the bottles: Carbonating water requires gas regulator valves to be set around 55PSI, which in turn needs bottles that can withstand the pressure. The majority will have a two-year lifespan before needing to be replaced.Will you be able to store the machine easily or will it need to stay put? When choosing a countertop kitchen appliance, especially if you have children, it’s important to consider weight. Soda water makers have broad ranges of weights, typically between 3 and 20 pounds. If you plan to use your machine regularly and have ample countertop space, a bulkier machine may be for you. Other features of the Soda Sensei, however, make it a so-so selection. Icing is a bigger problem for this unit than for the others. The Soda Sensei’s injection nozzle sits deep in the water, making more of it vulnerable to freezing, so it doesn’t carbonate as consistently. This model also requires a bit more work than the others here to make seltzer. You need to put a large, specially designed cap on the Soda Sensei bottle before you add gas. Once you’re done carbonating, you have to release some gas by pushing a tab on the cap, wait for the hissing of the escaping gas to stop, and then replace the large cap with a small cap. Notably, we found that once we put the small cap on after adding a lot of gas, it was hard to slowly release some of the resulting high pressure. So sometimes the cap popped off, spewing seltzer everywhere.

Swedish company Aarke’s carbonators combine expert craftsmanship with elegant design. Sleek and stylish, Aarke soda makers are as practical as they are pretty, delivering perfect sparkling water in less than ten seconds while adding a touch of class to any home. A glamorous addition to a home bar or kitchen countertop, Aarke carbonators do away with the need to lug heavy bottles of sparkling water home from the shops. And with a range of flavours available, you can create delicious sparkling drinks in the comfort of your own home. Let the bubbles begin Aarke soda makers are designed to be easy to use. Just insert a CO2 cylinder into the tower, add tap water up to the fill line of your carbonation bottle and screw it into the machine. Push the stainless steel lever down until you hear a buzz, then release the lever, unscrew the bottle and seal it. Canisters of CO2 are available separately and Aarke carbonators are compatible with the 60-litre SodaStream gas cylinders we sell online, and the recycled canisters we sell in store. Built to lastWhile they range in size, soda makers are typically manufactured to fit on your household countertop. Some models are bulkier and take up valuable room, so they may require an alternate storage option when not in use. Others are small and compact, comparable to an average-sized coffee maker. If you're concerned about how many plastic bottles you get through when buying sparkling water from the supermarket, you'll see a huge reduction in plastic waste through using products such as SodaStream.

SodaStream and other sparkling water gas cylinders all claim to make 60 litres of sparkling water, but this will vary depending on how fizzy you like your beverages. Soda-making machines are relatively easy to clean and should be treated like any other kitchen appliance. Regularly clean soda water machines by spraying a cloth with water and gently wiping it down. If your model uses electricity, you may want to remove its batteries before cleaning. You’ll also want to avoid using too much water or harsh soap that could damage the equipment. Whether you are using designated sparkling water bottles or your own receptacle, it’s important to keep those clean between uses, too. Machined from a single piece of stainless steel, the precision nozzle works with the highly tuned carbonation system to ensure your fizzy water has the perfect bubble size while also minimising the amount of CO2 used to create each bottlefull, so every gas cylinder lasts longer.Ideal for garden parties, mobile home owners and off-grid holidays, because the carbonation is created solely by the gas cylinder, you don’t need to plug your Aarke Carbonator in to create fizzy drinks, so you can make them anywhere you’re happy to take the carbonator.