SodaStream Genesis Black Sparkling Water & Soda Maker 3-pc.
by Soda Stream
List Price:
Our Price: $99.95
You Save: $30.04 (23%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $79.95 (click here)
Category: Kitchen
See more product details
Product Summary
Manufacturer: Soda StreamBrand: SodaStream
Model: G100
Color: Black
Product features:
- Dimensions: 15x8x12-in.
- Origin: Israel
- Material: Plastic
- Warranty: 2-Year
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of SodaStream Genesis Black Sparkling Water & Soda Maker 3-pc.
Customer Review: Great bubble maker - Terrible soda maker
Summary: 1 Stars
***Please note, this review concerns not only the Seltzer Maker, but also the flavors offered by SodaStream. It is not difficult to carbonate water. You don't need a fancy device to do so. Consumers should note - Sodastream wants you to try their flavors and come back for more. If the review seems heavy on my opinion of the flavors, that is by design. I happen to think that the flavors aren't worth it, and when you realize you can purchase a seltzer maker for 20% of the cost of this system, the value of this starter kit, in my opinion, is simply not worth the money.***
I really want to give this product a high rating, because the very idea of it makes very good sense. Make your own sodas at home, in a variety of flavors, and avoid the heavy packs of cans and bottle that can be recycled, but end up in landfills. And then there's the novelty of it all... you know, actually carbonating the water and then adding the flavor and voila, you have soda, and everbody oooos and ahhhhhhs in marvel of your little contraption that's just the cutest little thing. But, at the end of the day, isn't it about taste? And that's where you may find yourself going, "....hmmm, something's not quite right, here."
Ok, so the device itself is relatively compact. It doesn't take up much counter space, with its sleek design. It will fit on a countertop, pushed back under standard overhanging cabinets. No need for a plug, you're not heating or cooling anything here. Essentially, the device is a holder for a compressed air cannister that allows you to safely infuse bubbles into a smallish drink bottle (that comes with the kit) so that you get the "perfect" concoction once you add the flavor.
Essentially, in order to make a bottle of beverage, you fill the bottle to a specific line, carbonate the water as directed (the instructions are very clear) and then you add a measure of drink syrup. You gently swirl the mixture and presto, instant soda.
There is very little, if any mess. If you use the starter packets of flavor syrup, you will discard or recycle those. If you use the larger bottles of syrup, you can easly close the caps on those, and the syrup will keep.
The starter packets are, in fact, a nice addition to the kit. They afford you the opportunity to taste test the flavors before you commit to buying larger quantities. For the price, the larger bottles ($5- $6) may seem expensive, but you can make quite a number of bottles of soda with each one. The company states that you are essentially paying .25 per liter of soda. This is essentially correct.
One note about the "smallish" bottles. The idea appears to be a) a more manageble size that you can actually carbonate (to do so in a 2 liter bottle might require a larger design for the cannister holder) and b) you're far more likely to consume the contents before the carbonation is lost. This makes sense. Given that you can make a second batch of soda in less time than it takes you to locate your car keys to head out to the store for more soda, the small size of the bottles is really an advantage. Oh, and they take up far less room in the refrigerator. Another plus.
Regarding nutrition - soda is not really good for you, BUT, the fact remains that the soda you can make will have fewer calories (35 as opposed to 100 in a serving of your standard canned soda) and less caffeine (15 mg as opposed to 23 or 25 mg). 9g of carbs verses 27 in standard soda, and 1/3 of the amount of sugar (those are, in fact, the carbs). So, for those that are concerned about sugar intake, a moderate serving of this soda is less sugar than your standard soda, and that is likely a very good thing for many many people. The sodas do NOT use high fructose corn syrup. That's a good thing, nutrionally.
You can also make lightly flavored sparkling water. (Lemon line, orange, berry, and mint... ugh... mint....) These waters have essentially 0 calories.
And there's an energy drink that is similar to a popular energy drink that features a bull of some sort that may or may not be red in color.
There are diet versions of the sodas and the energy drink that may or may not attempt to approximate a redish bull.
Regarding taste - Houston, we have a problem. The company has a website with people tasting the soda and recoiling in bewilderment that the nectar of the gods has at last touched their lips and made them believe that they now have super powers. These people are either 1) terrible actors or 2) people devoid of adequate taste buds.
(In order to appreciate the next portion of this review, you will have to do a little research on your own...involving the companies' website)...Don't believe me? Click here: [...] Not ONE of these people can look the camera in the eye when they talk about taste. And check out the dude next to the lady in purple - the dude who never does anything but nod. I think there's a reason he isn't talking. If he opens his mouth, the SodaSteam aftertaste might catch on fire from the lies his wife is telling. I think he's been slipped a sedative so that she can blabber on about how taste matters and he will be unable to speak up in objection. Someone help that man, please. Watch this one.... [...] There he is again.... unable to move his lips.
Here's the problem. When you first make the soda, if you drink it, when it's very, very cold, you will smile and say, "hey, that's pretty good." You will drink some more. And then you will still smile and say, "really not bad at all." And then you will drink some more, slowly this time, and you will say, "I can see why the calorie content is less... it's not really as sweet.... but it's good... it's ok... it's good." And then you will walk away unsure. And then you will come back and try it again, and this time, you will say, "you know there's sort of an aftertaste to it... I can't really put my finger on it..." And finally, once you've sat down and really examined your feeling on the matter, you will conclude, "This stuff really isn't very good at all, is it."
But you will keep it around. And from time to time, you will try other flavors, because maybe they will be better, but they really aren't. And then you will try a diet flavor, and you will purse your lips and wrinkly your brow and wonder aloud how someone could have bottled the very essence of Satan and made it into a soda syrup that you actually concoct yourself such that not only is the beverage truly dreadful, you ultimately come to the realization that it's awful, AND you did it to yourself.
Yes. If you're being honest with yourself, it really is THAT BAD.
Now look, I like the idea. And I will actually go through phases where the grocery store brand of soda suffices. But I am convinced that Coke and Pepsi have ultimately done what very few other companies in the world have done. They have infused their flavor into our very genetic make up such that we compare all other sodas to them, and our cells have been reprogrammed to reject anything that is not as sweet and delicious as Coke or Pepsi. And as dreadful as Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi are (c'mon people, that's an aquired taste, and you know it, and it still sucks all get out, but you drink it because it's the best of the absolute worst) even Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi don't leave you with the kind of aftertaste that would peel paint if you breathe on a wall.
I will say that the water flavors are probably the best of the entire bunch with SodaStream. This is because it's awfully difficult to screw up water. There is an aftertaste, but I find that there's an aftertaste with ANY flavored water, because whatever you put into water that allows you to keep it at 0 calories but with a hint of allegedly refreshing taste to it, you're going to have an aftertaste... and usually one that is not pleasant. So, I guess I contradict myself. You can, in fact, screw up water.
And wouldn't you know it, SodaStream figured out how. Mint flavored water.
Somewhere in Hell, Lucifer himself decided he wanted the most disgusting beverage imaginable, and gave the order to create something akin to drinking orange juice after you've just brushed your teeth. And from Hell's Kitchen, I give you, Mint Sparkling Water. I haven't the mental strength to locate a word that will adequately describe the horror of this beverage.
You know, my dad used to say, "I'll give you an A for effort." I'd love to give this product the ol A for effort. But I can't. It's novelty. It's marketed as green. But it's just not very good.
So, if you want a carbonating device, this thing works wonders. It does very effectively carbonate water, right there on your countertop. But that is the only thing it does particularly well.
I do want to add - perhaps the flavors are an aquired taste. Perhaps we are so oversugared that we just reject these flavors out of habit. We are addicted to corn syrup. I get that. I am certain that there are people who may enjoy the flavors offered. In fact, I think I've read some reviews on here, where that's the case. To each his own. But for my money, this product just fails to do what it says it does - make great tasting soda.
Description of SodaStream Genesis Black Sparkling Water & Soda Maker 3-pc.
The Genesis Soda Maker from SodaStream delivers a designer look for less. Its trim line gives it desirable proportions for smaller kitchens and is decor friendly. With a SodaStream home soda maker and supplies, you can turn water into sparkling water and soda in seconds. No batteries, no electricity, no clean-up. Finally, you can enjoy your favorite soda with bottles or cans. Save lugging, save storage, save the environment and save money!Set Includes:Genesis Soda Maker1 BPA-free reusable carbonating bottle with fizz preserving closures1 Carbonator to make up to 60-liters of fresh, fizzy soda or seltzer.Handling Fees Apply. To see our Shipping FAQ page, click here.Kitchen & Housewares
Kitchen and Housewares
Most talked about in Soda Stream
SodaStream Sodamix Flavors 6-PackBrookstone; Brookstone; Kitchen
Best price: $6.99
SodaStream Pure Black Sparkling Water & Soda MakerSoda Stream; SodaStream; Kitchen
Best price: $129.98
Price in other shops:
Sodasteam 1/ 2 Liter, Orange/ Green Smiley Carbonating Bottles (twinpack)Soda Stream; Soda Stream; Kitchen
Best price: $17.95
Soda Stream 1020195011 Cola Zero Flavor Sodamix Syrup MakesSoda Stream; SodaStream; Soda Stream; Electronics; Grocery
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
SodaStream Crystal Black Sparkling Water and Soda Maker 4-pc.Soda Stream; SodaStream; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Soda Stream Diet Caffine Cola 1020164011 Flavor SodamixSoda Stream; CE
Best price: $7.45
SodaStream Jet Black Sparkling Water & Soda Maker 4-pc.Soda Stream; SodaStream; Kitchen
Best price: $83.16
Price in other shops:
Similar Kitchen and Housewares Products
Sodastream Diet Root Beer Sodamix SyrupSodaStream; SodaStream; Kitchen
Best price: $3.00
SodaStream SodaMix - ColaSodaStream; SodaStream; Health Care
Best price: $3.90
SodaStream SodaMix - Lemon Lime 16.9 fl ozSodaStream; SodaStream; Health Care
Best price: $3.80
SodaStream Carbonating Bottle, Metal FinishSodaStream; SodaStream; SodaStream; Single Detail Page Misc
Best price: $14.95
Price in other shops:
SodaStream 60-Litre Carbonators Spare CylindersSodaStream; SodaStream; Kitchen
Best price: $69.00
SodaStream SodaMix - Diet Cola (16.9 fl oz.)SodaStream; SodaStream; Health Care
Best price: $2.59
SodaStream 1 liter Carbonating Bottle 2 pack - GraySodaStream; SodaStream; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
SodaStream Mywater Flavor Essence Three PackSodaStream; SodaStream; SodaStream; Grocery
Best price: $7.45
SodaStream Sodamix Variety 12-PackSODASTREAM USA; SODASTREAM USA; Kitchen
Best price: $4.00
Price in other shops:
Sodastream 1l Carbonating Bottles- Black (Twin Pack)SodaStream; SodaStream; Kitchen
Best price: $19.00