Gotham Gadgets: SODASTREAM PENGUIN – MAKING SODA COOL Revolutionary small appliance adds sparkle and elegance to Manhattan's finest homes, and around the world too! Highly Recommended By Whom You Know's Gotham Gadgets Panel: It is the Best Sparkling Water in Manhattan
As refreshing and cool as the Antarctic itself, SodaStream, the world leader of in-home carbonation, presents the Penguin sparkling water and soda maker. We LOVE it. Sparkling water and soda lovers can create their own carbonated beverages in just seconds using the Penguin, SodaStream’s home soda maker that whimsically blends form and function. At Whom You Know we have reviewed many gadgets; this is our 101th post in this column. The Penguin is one of our MOST FAVORITE GOTHAM GADGETS!
“The Penguin is an elegant small appliance designed to appeal to sparkling water fans and gourmet soda aficionados alike,” said Gerard Meyer, President of SodaStream USA. “The Penguin is the latest must-have home appliance for people who love to drink sparkling water and soda, and who want a tasteful, eco-friendly and fun way to serve the finest, freshest sparkling beverages in their home.”
The Penguin is about the size of a coffeemaker, and even faster to use. In less than 30 seconds, the Penguin transforms water into high-quality sparkling water or soda. Simply fill the glass carafe with bottled or tap water, place it into the stainless steel carbonating flask, and inject carbonation into the water with a few short presses of the carbonating lever. The amount of carbonation is completely adjustable to suit anyone’s taste, whether they like the light carbonation of imported sparkling waters, or the nose-tickling fizz of seltzer.
SodaStream offers a wide-variety of sodamix flavors, including cocktail mixers like Tonic and Ginger Ale; standard flavors including Cola, Root Beer and Cream Soda and gourmet fruit flavors such as Pink Grapefruit, Cranberry-Raspberry, and Orange-Mango. There’s even an energy drink flavor available for those who are always on the go. Sodamix contains no high-fructose corn syrup and has less sugar, calories and carbs than standard sodas.
The Penguin is powered by a convenient, reusable CO2carbonator, housed inside the sparkling water maker and ready to carbonate up to 45 carafes of fresh sparkling water. Full exchange carbonators are readily available for door-to-door delivery. Using no batteries or electricity, the Penguin can be easily transported from kitchen to dining room, or from house to yacht. Whom You Know put this to the test with our panel.
The Gotham Gadgets panel raved:
With the Sodastream Penguin Starter Kit, I am finally getting to live my childhood dream of owning my very own "soda factory!" As someone who's always loved fizzy carbonated beverages, whether it's the ubiquitous soda pop, or an occasional glass of seltzer, and then graduating to champagne and sparkling wine, I can attest that this is one of my most-prized and favorite gizmos in the kitchen. Having paid for and putting in the elbow grease carrying all these cans and bottles home for years upon years, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to finally put an end to all that. With the Penguin, it's so simple to just make your own seltzer and just turn it into soda by mixing in any of a huge assortment of Soda mix flavors that SodaStream manufactures as a concentrate. The seltzer is always fresh and you can actually taste that difference in freshness as compared to a store-bought variety that's been sitting in a warehouse and a store for who-knows-how-long. The myriad of flavors of Soda Mix encompasses the most common and popular such as cola, lemon and lime, ginger ale, orange, root beer, cream soda, and even their own renditions of Mountain Dew (Fountain Mist) and Dr. Pepper (Pete's Choice). There are diet versions of these sodas as well, not to mention an energy drink that's comparable to Red Bull (Energy), plus flavored but unsweetened fruit essence that's used to make flavored seltzer. There are a few other flavors that round out the whole repertoire, that's sure to give the soda section of your favorite grocery store a run for its money. Taste-wise, I think it more than measures up to the giant soda brands out there, an added plus is there are definitely fewer ingredients, and instead of using high-fructose corn syrup, sucralose (Splenda brand) is the main sweetener. Taste isn't sacrificed but the extra calories are! Moving on to the Penguin itself, this is one of the most clever, sleek and beautifully designed machines I've ever seen. Whoever thought this up deserves a design award. I found the machine very simple to use after a quick read-thru of the instructions, which is very brief, illustrated and easy to follow. The Penguin does not require electricity nor battery to run, the carbonating action is all dependent on a can of Carbonator filled with CO2, that is good for carbonating 60 liters of water. The Penguin Starter Kit comes with 2 Carbonators. When those are used up, you can order exchange Carbonators on the SodaStream website or exchange it (I believe, for a small nominal fee) at an authorized dealer, the most popular it seems is the chain of Williams-Sonoma stores which reside in most major shopping malls. The Penguin lends quite a striking look to my countertop, and for those with a wet bar at home, this would jazz it up so nicely, almost lending a futuristic and modern touch that I'm sure James Bond, or the Jetsons, would approve of! And let's
not forget the practical side of things, the savings will add up over time, not having to buy expensive major brand sodas out there, there's also less to lug back from the grocery store, fewer bottles and cans to recycle and redeem for your deposit, more counter and refrigerator space, and it's just more green for the environment. I just love that this machine makes life simpler for me and is gentler on the earth!
Okay, so who WOULDN’T want their own soda fountain in their house? Well, five days ago, I would have said I didn’t, but that was before I tried the Soda Stream from Soda Club USA . This little machine is now my can’t-live-without countertop appliance. The concept is just so basic, I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of it myself. And the darn thing is just so easy to use. We’re talking about a minute’s worth of “work” for a liter of carbonated beverage. And you can pretty much make any carbonated beverage you want. The options are endless! The “starter kit” includes the Soda Club Penguin machine, two glass carafes with sealing caps, and two CO2 carbonators. Just add a squeeze of lemon, lime, or a splash of another fruity fave, and you’re good to go. But that’s only the beginning of what you can concoct. This company also sells a whole line of flavor additions – everything from tonic flavor and ginger ale to colas and lemonade. Oh, and you know those unsweetened seltzers you can buy at the supermarket? Yeah, they have flavor drops for those, too. Now, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reached for a bottle of seltzer in my house only to find it three quarters full and flat. It just doesn’t matter how tightly you close that little cap. Those days are over! I can just whip up a fizzy bottle myself! If all this isn’t enough, how about the fact that this little machine is eco-friendly? There is no electricity necessary and I’m no longer contending with a seemingly perpetually full recycling bin. It comes with two glass reusable bottles, so five days of use means 10 less bottles to recycle. Being green has never been so fun! The Soda Stream from Soda Club USA is a great gift and a perfect item for a gift registry for anyone soon-to-be-married.
PENGUIN SodastreamSystem is such an innovative total product. Between their high quality informative, instructional booklet to their website with a video demonstration you just cannot miss with no-fail sodas and carbonated waters you will enjoy to make each and every time. The Soda-Club Penguin system comes with: the penguin soda machine, 2 glass carafes (for making your carbonating drinks) and an Alco2Jet Carbonator. The only other ingredient needed is cold water (tap or bottled). It only takes 3 easy steps to create this earth-friendly fresh, fizzy soda. All you have to do is fill the bottle with cold water and carbonate. Then pour the needed amount of sodamix slowly into the tilted bottle. Next you close the bottle and shake gently, allowing a few seconds for the drink to settle. Voila! Enjoy! Having high blood pressure I am always concerned about my sodium intake. However these soda mixes are 2%, 1% and some, less than 1% in sodium content, making them ALL a wise beverage choice. For an 8 ounce / single-serving size you will also be pleased with the 36, 35, or 0 calorie (diet flavors) content. It is good to know that there is NO high-fructose corn syrup in any flavor. Being health-conscience it’s good to know that the fat content in any and all of these flavors is 0. PENGUIN SodastreamSystem has many flavors to choose from. Or your choice might just be a simple carbonated water with a slice of fresh lemon or lime. Oh, so refreshing! By using this new, innovativePENGUIN Sodastream System you will help your Mother Earth because you will not need to buy any more plastic soda bottles. By using this system there will be no more heavy bottles or cans to lug home and back to the stores. You will also be saving on money spent on deposit bottles (sometimes we don’t recycle or redeem them like we should). THANKS PENGUIN SodastreamSystem for allowing me the opportunity to experience and quench my thirst with such delight!
The Penguin gets its name from its shape, the carbonating lever looks like the"beak"of the animal it is named after. The Penguin from www.sodaclub.com is an inexpensive way to enjoy my favorite soda or create a carbonated beverage myself. Just think of not having to dispose of those plastic or glass bottles, another way of staying "green". A few easy steps to follow in the booklet enclosed was all that was needed to assemble the Penguin. Nothing to plug in and no batteries required. Only minutes after opening the box I was enjoying a glass of carbonated water with a slice of lemon on the rim; very refreshing! The amount of carbonation depends on how many times you press the "beak" and hear a whistle. Two whistles for a slightly carbonated drink, or press again for more carbonation in your beverage. Two glass carafes come with this unit as well as two CO2 canisters to provide the fizz. Simple to operate, just fill a carafe to the water line, lock it into place,and pump the handle for the amount of carbonation you desire.Once this is done unlock the machine and add the flavor of your choice, voila` your done. Two carafe bottle caps are also provided to seal in your bubbly beverage.My friend was kind enough to send along some of the products available from Soda Club USA to make our own sodas. The "Zero Cola" mix, a naturally flavored cola with zero calories, tastes like the real thing. The ginger ale mix contains NO high-fructose, or corn syrup; compare that with what you would normally buy at the store. The lemonade mix was a hit with the kids and again NO high-fructose or corn syrup. The tonic mix came in handy at a recent party. Our neighbors came over for a taste-testing social and everyone thought our homemade sodas and bubbly creations were better tasting and definitely fresher. No more buying bottles and most of it going to waste. You make it fresh in seconds for pennies. If you want a break from soda, get "my water flavors essence". They come in a box of three flavors, orange, berry and lemon-lime. They are all natural and unsweetened. Add 1/2 tsp. to a carafe and you have a tasty, guilt-free bubbly beverage. The "Penguin" is easily transportable and looks great sitting on a counter or bar. It's black w/silver and fits in with any decor. Traveling and don't want to take the "Penguin" with you, order a box of Sodamix Taste Sampler. There are over 20 flavors, no high-fructose or corn syrup, low in sodium and no aspartame in diet flavors. Just add to water, shake gently, wait a few seconds and enjoy your fresh fizzy soda! The "Penguin" will be enjoyed by all and definitely is a people pleaser.
The Penguin is an awesome product! I have always wanted this product but was a bit hesitant as to whether I would actually use it or not. I can definitely say that I will be using this product all the time! It's extremely easy to make the seltzer water and soda. One of the best parts of having The Penguin is that it gives me reason to avoid consuming higher calorie drinks. I can hands down say that the sparkling water along with all the different options of flavors and even sodas makes this such a great product to have around the house. I love the refreshing feeling that the homemade sparkling water has on it's own or even when it's flavored. I absolutely LOVE sparkling water but had stopped buying it because an opened bottle always went flat before I could finish it and would end up in the trash. This would have me wasting money a little more often than I would have liked. Now I can make sparking water (with or without flavor) whenever I want it!! Also, it lasts for a very long time, which I love! I love the unique design of The Penguin, its sleek and has such a cute design of a penguin. One of the best parts of the design is the easy to use directions which are simple to follow. It literally only takes moments to make sparkling water, but even better SODA! The sampler package comes with soda flavors (which are so worth trying) and there ya go you can make your very own soda at home! The best part about the Soda Club's flavors are that they never use corn syrup, which really sold me. I like knowing exactly what I'm consuming, and corn syrup is something I try to avoid at all costs. Once you try the soda, you'll see that it has a much better taste. I know that The Penguin is a big high in cost, but trust me it's a great investment that will help you save in the long run! I hands down love this product - - I love the way it looks, the way it tastes, how easy it is and best of all how affordable it is in the long run!
The Sodastream sparkling water and soda maker is, for want of better word, amazing! It converts water, tap or filtered, into the freshest sparkling carbonated water you have ever tasted. And I do mean fresh. Nothing like from a store-bought bottle. The sparkles seem literally to tingle your tongue. It is very refreshing and fun. Almost like champagne. And if you pour some into wine or sake, it is sensational. But it doesn't end there. The kit comes with flavor essences, tiny drops of which can convert your sparkling water into orange, berry or lemon/lime all natural, unsweetend flavored sparkling water treats. And there is more. There is a Sodamix--which enables you, by adding a concetrate, to make your own soda, including coke, gingerale,cream soda, orange soda, root beer. There are also diet sodas counterparts of each including diet pink grapefruit. And an energy drink. And others. There is even zero calorie coke. And tonic. The list goes on. Best of all, the carbonator sits in a stunning container which would look great on your bar and comes with two glass carafes which fit inside and can be stored in the refrigerator. And you do not have to constantly buy water in plastic bottles and pollute the environment, not to mention hurt your back by carrying those water bottles home, along with soda bottles etc. This is an ingenious invention and really esay to set up and use. Thanks, Sodastream!!!! *** |
“With the Penguin,” says Meyer, “soda drinkers are able to make positive contributions to their communities simply by enjoying their favorite sparkling beverages. Considering a single carbonator will make up to 60 liters of soda and one bottle of sodamix is the equivalent of 33 individual cans of soda, consumers can literally help take millions of pounds of waste out of landfills just by making their own sodas.”
Elegant and reusable cut-glass carafes are appropriate for every day and special occasion tabletops, and are dishwasher-safe. The carafes may be sealed using fizz-preserving stoppers that will keep carbonated beverages fresh and fizzy. The reusable glass carafes further helps reduce the waste resulting from purchasing bottles of sparkling water and cans of soda.
Starting at the price of just $199.95 Penguin packages and sparkling beverage supplies are available for purchase online at www.sodastreamusa.com and at reputable retailers nationwide including Williams-Sonoma. Whom You Know highly recommends the Sodastream Penguin!
About SodaStream
Established in 1991, SodaStream is the largest manufacturer of home soda makers in the world serving over 10 million customers in more than 30 countries worldwide, who prepare and enjoy over 400 million liters of SodaStream carbonated beverages each year. SodaStream’s mission is to provide consumers with a high-quality range of products and services that enable them to conveniently prepare a wide variety of great-tasting, sparkling beverages at home.
SodaStream soda makers are fashionable, fun, sleek and easy to use. SodaStream offers a wide variety of soda maker styles, including the SodaStream Fountain Jet, SodaStream Pure, SodaStream Genesis and SodaStream Penguin.
