SodaStream G-100 Genesis drinks maker product reviews

I have used this SodaStream machine for about 2 years now. It is very easy to use, very simple - Makes lovely drinks. It came with a bottle and lid and a full gas canister which I thought was good as a lot of the time these sort of things come empty. I had never used a SodaStream before buying this one, so was pleased with how easy it was to put together and learn to use.

The SodaStream G-100 Genesis is very lightweight and easy to move around, Mine usually sits on the bench but can easily be moved around if I need more space, I know some appliances are bulky and heavy to move around but although this is quite a tall machine and does not fit in my cupboard but it doesn't really bother me to move it around.

Since owning this Machine I have recently been gifted a newer version of SodaStream - The SodaStream Source, which is a luxury version of the SodaStream G-100 Genesis. The Source has a much higher price tag, but when I compare them there is no difference. Apart from style they both do exactly the same thing with ease.

Would recommend this to everyone, it is also great for the environment as we are buying so many less plastic bottles of store brand fizzy!

My parents had one of these when I was a kid so I just had to get one and show my kids how to make your own fizzy drinks. Being young boys they think the sound effects are great "Mum the machine is farting again" and for the most part love the taste. As a family we don't drink a lot of fizzy but I find we would easily drink a 1L bottle with our meal but we are a family of five so that is easy to do.

I like that there are so many flavours available and that they are so widely available. I did find that some stores don't do the gas bottles and some would only supply empty ones but have found a few options on stores that do stock them and are happy to help.

I did find it very easy to use but then I remember the old glass bottles and making up the drinks and so glad to find that it hasn't changed much.

Would recommend to others as it tastes so much better than shop bought fizzy and the choices are so much more, some even sound rather interesting and I will be trying them just to see what they taste like.

I am a big water drinker to the point where I feel like I might drown. Sometimes I want a drink that isn't water or alcoholic. I have spent years buying bottles of fizzy drinks that never get finished and just sit there taking up precious space in the fridge. I found the answer to this dilemma with the reappearance of the sodastream. We went looking and decided on the SodaStream G-100 Genesis drinks maker .

This isn't a fancy rocket looking machine but a nice clean white number without and flashy buttons. This works well in our fairly small kitchen and it lives down the side of the fridge. It is easy to lift and not a great hefty weight like the drink makers of my childhood. Also there is a choice in bottle size.The small bottles are enough for a glass for me and my daughter. The larger bottles keep fine overnight and I don't feel like a sinner tipping a bit away.

Also, since the first sodastreams the machine is so much easier to use, the bottle screws in easily to the roof and the button is easy to push to achieve the correct amount of fizzy. There is no one armed Jack handle to yank. There has also been a great improvement in flavours and the choice has increased.

The syrups do need tipping carefully tipping in and only in the amounts specified, on saying that, I have found that occasionally a bit less works well. The best bit is that I always have a nice fizzy drink on hand when I fancy one. This works well in my house. This is a nice, simple to use drink maker.

Well i remember as a child someone in the family had one of these, i was very young so I cant pin point who it was. But i do remember the machine and all the bubbles when the drink was being made.

Well with Christmas just been and gone I entered a competition to win one though KIWIreviews and I won, it made my day. When I got it, a bright red colour came out of the box i was over the moon and had to try it right away. I was confused with the instructions but it's easy to confuse me, so onto youtube to find out how many pumps I needed to do into my nice chilled water. It the book was 3 pumps, on youtube they went anywhere from 3 to 5 pumps.

I put the chilled water into the machine and pushed the button i didnt do it quick short bursts like i should of so the drink was VERY bubbly, the only thing i noticed that i didnt see bubbles through the bottle which i loved as a child. I have learnt to only do short bursts on the pump to make the drink taste good.

My kids love these drinks as a treat and are also great to make up and take to the beach or park, I have even tried to do iceblocks, the only problem i found with these is the flavour is great to start off with and then it goes to tasting like water, but again kids seem to like it so a great water iceblock with flavour and yummy bubbles.

This machine is so easy to use and i would recommend it to anyone. We dont buy fizzy drinks in the house so this is really a great treat for all. My 4 year old can even use this machine, just needs a little help to screw the bottle into the machine. It doesnt take up too much space and doesnt need to plug into the wall. Go on get one you know you want to

If there is one word to describe how I find the Sodastream, it would have to be "heaven"! I had first heard about the Sodastream while watching an episode of Heston's Feast, namely the 1980's feast, where Heston used a classic 80's designed Sodastream machine to turn wine into champagne, and it just blew my mind to know that you just put in a bottle of tap water, or in the case of the episode, wine, push the button and a jet of Carbon Dioxide gas comes out into the water and carbonates it!

Unfortunately, we got the wrong idea on how to use the machine at first, my Dad thought that you put the syrup into the water BEFORE carbonating it, but we found out that it was wrong when Dad pushed the button and as well as a jet of C2O coming out of the gas canister, a jet of drink came spurting out of the bottle, the syrup and gone up into the gas release valve and caused it to stick, and when dad let go of the button, the syrup kept the valve open and therefore most of the canister went into the bottle, took up the rest of the bottle's volume and came out of the top, along with a pile of foamy drink that sprayed all over me, my Dad, my little brother and a noticeable fraction of the kitchen, Dad had to take a shower and went in smelling of lemon and lime!

In the end we had to get a new machine, and a Sodastream mechanic had a look and told us that we had to carbonate the water, THEN pour in the syrup, so now we have a working, fully functional Sodastream standing on the kitchen bench, ready to use! I got to have my first go at using the machine while helping Dad do a demo video for the KIWIreviews Youtube channel, I used it to make a bottle of low-sugar, zero caffeine version of coke, and I found it very easy to make, just put in the bottle of cold water, then push the button in short bursts until I hear a buzzing noise that Dad called "the Sodastream fart"!

After making the water fizzy, I then poured in a capful of cola flavouring into the tilted bottle, closed the lid, and then shook gently to mix the syrup with the water and resulting in a refreshing home-made soft drink. The price is good for a product like this, considering that is a bit complex, and the gas canister, the gas, and everything else would all come together to create a cost like this. It is in my personal opinion that this machine is da BOMB! Get busy with the fizzy, and enjoy!

Back when I was but a nipper,my Grandad used to stun me with the magic that was SodaStream... this big brass rig that today would look right at home in a Steampunk setting, a bottle of water went in and after much noise and a blast of gas that sounded, frankly, a little rude and funny to a kid that age... and bingo, suddenly there was fizzy drink of any flavour I could want! Now, more years than I care to admit to later, and now I can share that same magic with my kids... although these days the rig doesn't look anywhere near as 'industrial' - but that doesn't seem to detract from the 'Oooohh!' factor my 4yr old has written all over his face when he sees me or his big brother making some fizzy. Doesn't seem to stop him nagging for some either!

The use of this machine is still, really, as simple as it used to be. The materials and deign of the unit have changed, but the principles haven't. Cold water - because it will retain the carbon dioxide better than warm water - is placed in the bottle, which is then screwed into the unit so that the charging nozzle is submerged. Pressing the top button on the unit opens the valve allowing the pressurised CO2 gas in the cylinder to purge through the water hard enough to blast bubbles all the way to the bottom of the bottle. This ensures the maximum amount of gas is dissolved into the liquid as possible, giving maximum fizz. Once you hear the unit give off the distinctive 'SodaStream fart' noise, it's time to let it sit for a second, then GENTLY unscrew the bottle.

Next, the tricky bit - adding the flavour. On the strict advise of the instructions on the box, you need to tip the bottle over to about 30-45 degrees and let the flavour syrup run down the side of the bottle. If you brazenly just dump the syrup into the upright bottle, you can expect a nice sticky mess to clean up afterwards, as it will trigger a process called nucleation, where the flavour droplets cause a sudden and explosive release of the dissolved CO2 gas. Messy. Trust me. I know this from our first test. -blush- Anyway, once you have the syrup in the bottle, screw the lid on securely then give it a GENTLE mix - this can be by slowly tipping the bottle end over end, or just and careful swirling action.

Then, time to pour... and out comes whatever flavoured drink you desire... ready for drinking, or use as an ingredient in something else. In our case we trialled it in one of the cheesecake recipes we use - results were just as good, if not lighter and fluffier, than store-bought fizzy - and as one ingredient in a fruit punch - which was amazing due to the fact that we took the water temperature down to almost freezing before we carbonated it, and thus were able to hyper-saturate the solution giving a really stunning fizz to the overall drink, which remained in place far longer than store-bought fizzy.

Overall, the only issue we encountered with this unit was one of those 1-in-10,000 situations: a DOA gas bottle. Because these bottles are reconditioned and recycled upon swap-over at the store - You have to hand over the old bottle when you get a new bottle - sometimes they pass the quality inspections at the factory, but can fail during storage or transit. Also, sometimes the valves can jam up inside and refuse to discharge gas. We got one of the latter. A quick call to SodaStream Customer Service, and we had the local sales rep visit us and swap over the bottles at no cost. He also explained that though this is a very rare situation, it is one they are aware of and it should be easily resolved by simply returning it to the store of purchase - with your receipt - and they should swap it over for a fresh one without issue. Such a small thing, and not at all distracting from the fun and convenience of making your own drinks as and when you want, in whatever flavour you feel in the mood for at the time.