Hi guys, looking to get one of these machines and wondered what people thought of them. I have wanted one for ages and finally I am giving into temptation and getting one. I'm most likely going to use it for sparkling water not the flavoured syrups as I don't do sugary drinks . Is this a good a buy, any advice appreciated

In its day it was a great idea, but those were the days before bottled water became so pervasive. If you're just going to fizz up tap water (and there's nothing wrong with tap water!) it's a hideously expensive solution. An exchange gas cylinder is around £12, which will make you 60 litres of sparkling water. That's 20p per litre. Any of the big supermarkets will sell you a 2 litre bottle of "value sparkling water" -- i.e. fizzed-up tap water -- for 18p or less, which is under half the price per litre.

Have you come here from the 1970s?

I've always had a Sodastream, had to get a new one when the small gas cylinders for the old type stopped being available.

I only use it now and again but it is good to have soda water 'on tap'. It may cost slightly more to buy and supply CO2 for it but I don't have to lug bottles of water from the supermarket, doesn't need any recycling of bottles so doesn't fill my bottle bin.

the problem with using Soda stream for fizing water is that you can sometimes taste the gas.

I consider it for a second but it seems such a faff for some fizzy pop; trying to cut down on the sugary drinks anyway.