Making Cola At Home is Easy and Delicious!
Written: Aug 25 '08 (Updated Aug 25 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to Use, Doesn't take up much counter space, Tastes GREAT!
Cons: Pink Grapefruit stains
The Bottom Line: If you're a soda freak like me, and you like your soda fresh from the fountain, I believe you'll love this machine - we do!
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| briandalsmom's Full Review: Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker by Soda Club |
We ordered from Soda-Club USA and didn't have the best of customer service. In fact, our order was shipped in two different shipments, a week apart, without any notice. We received the machine and one container of carbonation, but that was it, leaving us feeling a little wary of the company and their ability to deliver. At the time I told the others in our office that the soda better be worth the wait because I wasn't happy so far with their customer service.
Well, the soda syrups and spare canister arrived on Friday and we've been enjoying home-brewed soda ever since. I hate to say it, but WE LOVE IT! We wanted to hate it because of our poor experience with the company, but we have very little bad to say about the product.
We purchased three flavors - Diet Cola, Caffeine-Free Diet Cola, and Diet Pink Grapefruit. Since we only drink sugar-free here it was an easy decision for us. I personally prefer soda with caffeine in it in the morning and then later in the day switch to caffeine-free because if I don't, I'm up until 4am with my mind racing.
HOW IT'S DONE
I tried the Diet Pink Grapefruit first because I was here alone and I was "coked-out" for the day. I'd watched Soda-Club's 4-step, 30-second video previous to buying the machine, so I didn't need instructions, but had I required them they were attached to the bottle. I used filtered tap water that I keep in the refrigerator in a large Britta pitcher. You don't need to use filtered water but using cold water certainly helps as it makes it ready to drink instantly.
I loaded the carbonation canister in the back of the machine by depressing the two buttons on the side of the machine and then pulling backwards. I pulled too hard and pulled the entire back off, nearly breaking the nubbin on the bottom that held it in. I probably should have read the directions and that wouldn't have happened.
I filled the plastic container with the filtered water but wasn't careful about the "fill line". Something I learned quickly is important. I loaded the jar onto the machine by pushing the top button in, which tilts the top of the machine away from you, and then screwed the bottle into place. I have a neurological disorder so this wasn't particularly easy for me, but a normal person shouldn't have too much trouble. I found that if I pushed the top back to the fullest position I could use both hands to screw the bottle on. I'm very grateful that the containers are only 1 liter. I couldn't have done it with a larger container.
Once the container is in place, you simply press the top button down until it makes a horribly loud noise. Once that happens you press it approximately 3 more times to obtain the correct carbonation. I found that the amount of carbonation depends on the flavor used through trial and error.
When you push the release button to pull out the container it gives off a refreshing pssssssssssst sound and your waters shows bubbles. Next you add one cap full of the syrup of your choice, cap the bottle, and GENTLY rock it back and forth to mix the soda and syrup. The entire process take 3 minutes and that includes the clean-up time because I spill almost every time.
SHORTFALLS
My one and only complaint about the process is the syrup cap. The design is poor and it makes me spill every time. I've resorted to using a separate measuring cup because of it. Well, I do have one other small complaint - the coloring in the pink grapefruit syrup. My 1970's white counter top keeps getting stained pink from my spills. Luckily my Caldera scouring powder takes care of it.
WHERE YOU CAN GO WRONG
* Don't fill the container with water above the fill line. The results are an overflowing container when you pull it off to add the syrup.
* Don't add the syrup too quickly - it causes it to fizz-up and overflow. This is especially prevalent in the Pink Grapefruit for some unknown reason.
* Don't try to make it when someone's on the phone or sleeping because it's LOUD!
* Be cautious "shaking" after you add the flavoring. Just enough movement to mix it, but not enough to cause it to explode upon opening.
OUR PERSONAL MIXES
* For the staff members that like Diet Coke, the 3-press carbonation and 1 cap full of syrup is just right. We've done blind taste tests and most everyone finds them to be comparable and couldn't tell which was which.
* For those that prefer Diet Pepsi, we found the perfect combination to be 5-press carbonation and 3/4 -cap syrup.
* For the Diet Pink Grapefruit the standard 3-press carbonation and 1 cap full works perfectly. It smells and tastes just like pink grapefruits and is so refreshing!
THE COMPANY CLAIM
"Starting at just $4.99 (as low as 42 cents per liter), each economy-sized bottle of sodamix makes 12 liters of fresh soda (equivalent to 1 1/2 cases!) Save on lugging, storage and recycling of store-bought cans and bottle". Ours probably cost a little bit more since we like them over-carbonated and a little syrupy.
DETAILS
* Dimensions: 5"w-17"h-8.5"d
* Reusable Carbonating Bottles: "Made by a special process that withstands carbonation, these clear plastic (PET) reusable bottles will last several years. With Soda-Club you'll be helping the environment by saving on waste or recycling aluminum cans and plastic bottles."
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Satisfaction guarantee. Soda-Club home soda makers come with a 3-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. No membership commitment or cancellation.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Overall we highly recommend this. Will we save money? Most assuredly. If we were just can drinkers maybe not, but we were soda fountain, Big Gulp and Mc Donald's drinkers, and at $2.00 for a McDonald's soda every day (sometimes 2 times a day) we're definitely going to save big. But more importantly, the amount of garbage we're going to produce will be greatly reduced. The amount of cups and cans in our garbage had grown to embarrassing proportions.
So, after the bad customer service I've forgiven them because the quality of the product is so fabulous. We purchased additional flavors and spare mixing/storage canisters.
Replacing the carbonation canister can be done at local dealers (almost all Boat Dealers) but you can also do it by mail (Ground UPS shipping since it's illegal to send them by air). I found several coupons available online that offered discounts and got free shipping for order over $50.
It's a great machine and one that's totally portable since it doesn't require electricity. Just water, carbonation, and syrup or other flavoring. I'm working on other flavors.
Recommended:
Yes
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briandalsmom
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Member: Mom
Location: USA
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