Wassermaxx
A stand-alone model from AGA. This unit comes in three different models which is actually the same machine in three different colours and finishes. The most expensive and most beautiful is stainless steel and then there is a red and white version.
AGA’s bottles for carbonic acid contain 425 grams, and they are accompanied by the usual ”to be refilled only by AGA” text designed to scare others from refilling the containers.
This is a good machine however the seal in the capsule sometimes comes loose which can be quite annoying. AGA claims that it is designed this way so it can be machine-washed, if the seal is not properly in place carbonated water will spray everywhere.
Even though this may be a very good machine, Sodastreams best machine (Sodastream Design) allows much more carbon dioxide to be added to drinks for people who have this preference. AGA claims that one bottle of acid gives 60 litres of sparkling water however in tests done both by The Swedish Consumer Agency and myself this has proved to be closer to 55 litres, or about 7.7 grams per litre. This is due to the release of superfluous pressure. In-line systems on the other hand manage with between five and seven grams.
As retailers do not bother to weigh the gas cylinders that are given to them to sell (weight is labeled on each bottle when they arrive), it is fair to say that the customer may be paying for varying amounts of gas when they purchase. To help customers with this problem, I will be purchasing bottles, weighing them and posting all my results on the website.
As a European I feel a certain pride in AGA however it is unfortunate that they have fallen in to the same track as Sodastream. It is obvious that manufacturers of soda machines also want to sell carbonic acid but why does this have to be so costly? Why not challenge Sodastream and refill their CO2-bottles? AGA doesn’t scare easily but it is obvious that they have chosen to maximize their profit instead of making an effort for the environment. AGA should move their refilling stations to their retailers or at least put refilling stations in the local areas thus becoming a role model of environmental consciousness. .
Through this policy of maximized prices, AGA only encourages the appearance of competitors as per the ketchup effect. A more sensible pricing on carbonic acid would give AGA a higher market share as well as increasing the size of the market as a whole.
The big score for AGA is not in selling soda machines, but in selling carbonic acid. They could have given away free machines and still made money. They could have charged for a punch card of ten or fifteen refills, and given away Wassermaxx’s worth 100 Euros. AGA’s carbonic acid is a by-product from the manufacture of Absolut Vodka, and so their carbonic acid costs next to nothing. What remains of cost to AGA is the filling and transportation however even these costs are very low as carbon dioxide bottles are made from aluminium.
For flavouring the carbonated water, https://allfreightfree.com/en/sparkling-water-flavor-34/ are great.
Luxury Models Of Home Water Carbonating Machines
There are many machines and units that can be built into your kitchen either with or without a cooling system. Those without a cooling system usually provide too low a mix of carbonated water for most people therefore it is advisable to always test any unit properly before purchasing one. Otherwise the risk of disappointment may be quite high.
Machines and units with cooling systems are by far the best and most professional units to look at. The unit is hooked to the cold water mains and released through a tap so that carbonated water is continually available. As carbonation occurs in-line, all the carbonic acid stays in the water and these machines use much less acid. You can even set the level of carbonation yourself, sometimes directly on the tap.
The best feature about these machines or units is that large canisters of carbonated dioxide can be used which produces a single litre of sparkling water for an amazingly low four cents. Depending on consumption and model, a machine like this will pay for itself in less than four years. The Aromhuset flavors supplied worldwide from allfreightfree.com can be used to flavor the carbonated water.
As many people want top units, it is quite common for them to be installed with a new kitchen as the price to do so is a very affordable 1,500 euros for the luxury model. A tap or a handle for cold carbonated water also increases the value of the kitchen and some people purchase the device just for the added luxury.
These are some links for different luxury models:
Sodastream (Soda Club) Fouled Up In Germany
In 2006, Sodastream (Soda Club) tried to disallow a third party company refilling bottles of carbonic acid by claiming that the bottles were actually still “their” property and not that of the customer who had purchased them.
This didn’t work in Germany, possibly setting precedent in many other countries. Like all markets, this one certainly needs competition both for the sake of the environment (bottles should be refilled in the store an operation that takes a mere 20 seconds) and to lower prices which could easily be reduced by half. This being stated, sparkling water made at home already costs but a fraction of store purchased carbonated water and or other carbonated drinks. Things certainly could be a lot better.
Here are the interesting facts:
https://www.bundeskartellamt.de
April 13, 2006