sodastream

Fizz With Flair, SodaStream's Penguin

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

The recent crop of home soda makers appeal on several levels: environmentally (no plastic bottles to discard), economically (no plastic bottles to buy) and practically (fizzy water for everyone, anytime). But one shortcoming has been aesthetics, since most models look like a Nalgene bottle jacked into a piece of lab equipment. Thankfully SodaStream has corrected this oversight with their Penguin.

Available through SodaStream's website and at Williams-Sonoma, this avian-themed carbonation factory is something you'll actually want to display at home. Operating without batteries or an electrical connection, the Penguin carbonates beverages with a few quick pumps of the beak (I prefer to add my own penguin sound effects when doing this). Simply rotate the stainless steel flask and insert one of the two glass carafes provided, which are attractive enough to pass for vases or decanters. Close and lock, depress the beak to activate (2-4 times, depending on how much fizz you're after), and push the pressure release valve before opening again. Once carbonated, you can seal the carafes with the provided hermetic stopper for freshness. The CO2 canisters that power the Penguin are easy to install and SodaStream estimates you'll get about 45 carafes-worth of fizz out of each.

SodaStream also offers various soda mixes and recently released a line of all-natural flavor syrups, from apple mango to pink grapefruit, but I've found that a few well-placed lime wedges work just as well. I haven't yet experimented with the Penguin and alcoholic beverages, but something tells me a Collins night is in order soon.

Tags: carbonation, kitchen gadgets, penguin, soda, sodastream, water, williams-sonoma

Karim Rashid's SodaStream

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Karim Rashid and bubbles seem a natural match. The color-loving designer has already done designs for Veuve Clicquot and now he's partnered with another maker of something bubbly--SodaStream. The new Karim Rashid Genesis Limited Edition soda maker will be available exclusively at Bloomingdale's and only 250 units will be available in the United States. SodaStream home soda makers turn water into sparkling water and soda in seconds with no batteries or electricity.

"By using this machine, the average family can save over two thousand bottles and cans each year, which is fantastic! I am honored, really, to work with SodaStream to create a machine that can have this kind of impact in the world," said Karim Rashid in a press release.

The Karim Rashid Limited Edition series includes a specially designed soda maker with a design of boldly swirling colors, two BPA-free reusable carbonating bottles and a reusable carbonator filled with CO2 to make approximately 60 liters of sparkling water or soda. It sells for $129.99.

Tags: karim rashid, sodastream