SodaStream Source Range

Not working as it should – I've tried different bottles but it just doesn't carbonate as it did The best I've got is minuscule bubbles and very few of them Show details

No. Don’t waste your money – I spent $129 on a Element and hydration pack. Co2 bottles don’t last long if you want a decent amount of fizz in your soda water. Then to really add insult, at the purchase of the third co2 the machine failed completely. Sodastream said sent us a video of the issue and the crickets are chirping. No response. Don’t throw your money away on this. Show details

Gread design and investment – Finally a product that works just as the listings claim. If you follow the instructions, you will find it simple to use and will get the desired fizziness in your bottled water due to the three stages of pressure you apply. Because it’s long and narrow, it takes little space on my benchtop and looks quite sleek in the black colour. I don’t like… Read more ·  1

plastic products, however I understand that’s how manufacturers make it affordable for most people which is good as long as the product has a reasonable long life.

This product comes with a two year warranty and I have been using it every day for the past seven months, drinking between 2 to 3 bottles and consumed two gas cylinders so far. Only costs $19 when I exchange it at my local Big W store. The recycling is a big bonus for the environment along with less plastic bottles ending up in our dumps or landfill.

I am baffled by some of the reviews claiming how difficult it is to attach the bottle to the gas dispenser or flooding their bench-top. Just don’t press so hard and better still, read the instructions first, or see some YouTube directions, all very helpful. I am very happy with this product so far and highly recommending it.

Competition registration entry page has NO entry possible – We purchased a new sodastream gas bottle and the hangtag that came with the bottle encouraged us to enter a competition. No problem, scanned QR code and the page says "Cylinder competition registration" and nothing else. Just links to purchase products yet the competition rules say NO PURCHASE is necessary. Why can't major companies check what… Read more

they produce and keep their web pages (cheap communication method) up to date! Maybe its a browser problem, maybe their web site, just wont work with the Windows 10 Microsoft EDGE default browser is all. Tried manual enter addess "sodastream.com.au/21" and also searching for it. Still nothing making sense.

Not as good as I hoped it would be – After having considered purchasing one of these for some years, my wife and I decided to do so when a SodaStream Source Element became available at a good price during an end of financial year sale. Our needs where simple as we generally only used Soda Water but thought it might be nice sometime to produce something with a different flavour. … Read more

Unfortunately, the first device arrived non-working out of the box. The sliding head which is used to infuse the gas into the water was seized solid and would not be coaxed into moving. Looking up inside, I could see one of the linkages was out of place. I tried poking it back into the right area but I think it may have had other issues as it refused to return to its correct location. Not a good start so back it went for a replacement.

The replacement unit, however, was fine so we put it into immediate service.

Appearance SodaStreams mostly look alike and its really just differences in how they dispense the gas. This one came in white plastic (appearing to be of reasonable quality though it does creak a bit when moving it) with some chrome accenting. Attractive enough for the typical kitchen bench without much of a footprint to take up space. The head of the unit has a number of “raindrop symbols” on the front to indicate the level of fizziness you are dispensing. Each of these lights up with a bright white light as you increase the gassing. Approximately two one second pushes down gives you the first level...another two one second presses the second level and so on….. The SodaStream unit is supplied with one bottle to store your drink and one gas cylinder.

Functionalit The device requires gas cylinders to be replaced on a semi regular basis. I have not been able to ascertain how many bottles of soda water we get from one gas cylinder as (amongst other things) this varies with the level of gassing you choose. We generally gas a bottle every day or two and have just changed the cylinder after a month of use. You must use SodaStreams proprietary storage bottles as well as their gas cylinders. You can purchase extra storage bottles (they each hold one litre) but they are a bit expensive at around $10+ each. Additionally, they can only be washed in cold water (NO dishwasher) and SodaStream says they should be replaced every three years. The replacement gas cylinders cost around $20 (after you have returned your empty cylinder on exchange) and can be sourced at major supermarkets and service stations as well as similar locations.

Attaching the gas cylinder is relatively easy as it is inserted up through a hole in the base and screwed into place. The cylinder is completely hidden inside the unit. To gas, all you do is insert your water filled bottle into the head unit (at an angle of approx. 60degrees and push it into a vertical position. This locks the bottle into place. You then push the sliding head unit down the requisite number of times to add the level of fizziness you want. I would recommend you follow SodaStream’s advice to not hold it down longer than one second as (I can confirm) the liquid will start to bubble out of the top. To remove the bottle, raise it back to that inclined position and it will release from the head allowing you to remove it.

There is no indication to tell you what level of gas remains in the cylinder so you will just have to watch as the level of fizziness declines slowly. Generally, you really only notice how bad it has become when you put in the new cylinder

What could be better? As well as having a ready stream of carbonated drinks available on demand, we bought this to alleviate the problem of constantly throwing away finished bottles of commercial product save the planet) and hopefully having a cheaper product. However, this reason has been somewhat mitigated by the new “cash for bottles” recycling scheme introduced here recently.

Overall, I’m somewhat disappointed with the total product for these reasons; 1) Not discarding the bottles should be a big plus but the replacements are expensive (you will need to have a few on hand) and need replacement every three years. 2) Not sure about the storage of carbonated bottles. Use leads me to believe that you are probably best off making these on demand. Stored drinks seem to lose their fizz quickly and are somewhat flat after a week. I have tightened the caps as much as I can but the gas somehow still seems to escape? 3) The one litre bottles don’t go far before needing to be refilled. 4) We tried a “Low calorie Lemonade” flavour from SodaStream, however, it wasn’t very nice and after that one use it remains untouched in the cupboard Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this if you are looking to save money (maybe if you have a large family of carbonated drinkers?). By the time you factor in the purchase price, additional bottles (plus their three year replacement cycle ) and the cost of replacement gas cylinders, it will be a very long time (if ever) before it becomes cheaper than buying supermarket brand drinks. After the disappointment of the sampled flavouring, we have been reluctant to purchase other SodaStream flavours. Have tried a couple of other commercial brand cordials and while these were fine, I think the flavour sometimes is absorbed into the bottle and thus problematic if you want to change the flavour. Probably part of the reason SodaStream want you to purchase new ones periodically.

TIPS * You need to buy a second “spare” gas cylinder if you want to keep the ability to make drinks without interruption. Like the bottles, these are particularly expensive if you are just buying them outright (without exchanging). * Make sure the water is chilled before carbonating as you will get a better fizz. * Use only on a waterproof surface as it does (occasionally) shed water during the process of gassing. * Only make them as you need them.

Poor quality landfill fodder – From day one this overpriced, hissing cat scarer failed to grab onto the bottles which would cause it to spray half carbonated water everywhere. I YouTubed techniques but I can’t seem to get it to work and I’d like to consider myself at least an average for adult intelligence. Of the 6 bottles I purchased I’m down to three. On one of them the… Read more

plastic bottom came off, the bottle itself has a pointy bottom end so it can’t stand up without the white base. Another two have warped screw tops and wont fit in the machine or seal the lids. I bought this for the sole purpose of reducing my plastic consumption but I’ve thrown out so much non-recyclable soda stream plastic it’s defeated the purpose.

Has lasted me well but now can't be repaired – I've owned my Sodastream for several years and it has performed well. Now the black rubber washer which seals the top of the bottle when recharging has failed. You'd think this would be a simple replacement job but no - they can only be repaired in ISRAEL, shipping at my cost. There are a number of online guides on how to repair at home, which is… Read more

quite involved but not beyond the skills of the keen DIYer. But where to purchase the special washer? Sodastream won't sell one to you (they'd rather sell you a complete new machine), and no one else makes it. Not only do you have to buy a new machine, the only option is to buy a Starter Kit which comes with a new gas cylinder and bottles - all of which l have in quantity. I think this is called consumerism. As in "bulb gone in your car sir? No problem! You'll just have to buy a new car to get a replacement..."

No spare parts in Australia = more pollution & landfill – A small bottle gasket has worn out. Instead of supplying a spare part for an otherwise perfect machine, they want all that toxic plastic to go to the landfill. It's not a question of cost - a new sodastream is easily affordable. Its the waste. Just more planet trashing. Haven't these people heard of climate change? Show details

Soda water on the cheap. Great results – First few goes were disastrous. Water everywhere. The more you use it the better you get at holding the bottle in place while pressing the button down. I can now do it without it spilling out the top. Only 3 x stars as you should not have to hold the bottle in place while pressing the button down. Makes really great soda water. The Source model… Read more

with the 3 x led lights really give a great indication of the amount of fizz. Wondered why i did not buy this years ago.

Warranty complaint – Worst customer service ever for a warranty claim. Machine WAS awesome... But....Our sodastream source power is leaking gas from the nozzil irrespective of the cannister used. I've sent two emails from two accounts and written the email differently each time stressing that the machine, which is under warranty, is at fault ( have tried multiple… Read more

different cannisters), and both times a generic response from sales has come back with "it sounds like your gas cylinder is at fault"... I've replied clarifying my details and then nothing.. Sodastream.... Listen to your customers My customer number/request number is 3168272 and 3158476 as proof.