{"id":6921,"date":"2026-10-31T06:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T05:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/?p=6921"},"modified":"2026-10-31T06:03:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T05:03:43","slug":"review-sodastream-fresh-plus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-sodastream-fresh-plus\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: SodaStream Fresh Plus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Quiz:<\/strong> how long would you say SodaStream has been on the Swedish market? If your answer is around 20 years (or since the 2000s), that is perfectly reasonable; the concept grew significantly shortly after the turn of the millennium, peaking in 2011 when one million Swedish households had a machine in their kitchen. This likely coincided with a paradigm shift regarding whether carbonated water is good or bad for us (current scientific consensus is “predominantly good<\/a>“). But for those of you who were around in the 70s and 80s and have some sort of dream-like memory of owning such a machine even then, it\u2019s not a dream \u2013 it\u2019s very possible, as the brand was sold in stores back then but essentially disappeared due to declining sales (the brand was founded in London as early as 1903). Today, SodaStream Nordics AB is owned by the American beverage giant PepsiCo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are few everyday chores that feel as dated as lugging water home in a country where we have such high-quality water directly from the tap. Especially a six-pack of 1.5-liter PET bottles from the grocery store, only to stand at a sticky reverse vending machine a few days later that refuses to read the barcode on every third bottle (though if you ask the kids, the best incentive is getting to return the bottles and then buying candy with the money \u2013 ka-ching<\/span><\/em>!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SodaStream<\/a>
SodaStream Fresh Plus looks stylish on the kitchen counter. Photo: senses.se<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In autumn 2026, SodaStream will retire its faithful workhorses Terra<\/em> and Art<\/em> to instead roll out a completely new, cohesive trio: the entry-level model Classic<\/strong> (approx. 900 kr), the mid-range Fresh<\/strong> (around 1,100 kr), and the top-tier model of the family, Fresh Plus<\/strong> (1,350 kr). We have placed the latter on the kitchen counter at the senses office to see if the extra features justify the price tag \u2013 and also calculated (with the help of AI) how quickly a sparkling water maker actually pays for itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slim profile and a bottle that can finally be properly washed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that strikes me when unboxing the SodaStream Fresh Plus (in my case, the matte black model) is how sleek and “tidy” it looks from the front. With a width of only 11.6 cm, it is almost two centimeters narrower than its budget sibling Classic<\/strong>, allowing it to blend in extremely well next to the coffee machine or air fryer. However, one should keep in mind that the tilting head makes the chassis 23.2 cm deep (24 cm including protruding parts), so if you have a very shallow kitchen counter, it takes up a bit more depth than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The machine body itself is primarily built of plastic, but SodaStream has clad the right places \u2013 such as the drip tray, the top, and the details around the controls \u2013 in brushed stainless steel. It feels solid and significantly elevates the impression compared to the plastic models. It\u2019s not quite as high-end luxury as the ENSO<\/a><\/strong> model, but it\u2019s not far off, and you save a thousand kronor on the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SodaStream<\/a>
The brushed aluminum details are truly both stylish and practical. Note the light next to the handle. Photo: senses.se<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It comes with a 1-liter bottle of the new model, which is dishwasher safe, making life significantly easier. For the health-conscious, one of the most exciting updates is the 1-liter bottle Fizz & Refresh Metall<\/strong> (which holds 840 ml up to the fill line). Besides the stainless steel cap and bottom cup making it stylish enough to put straight on the dinner table, we also avoid ingesting plastic from the bottle. Furthermore, the fact that the design has a removable bottom<\/strong> is a detail one might not have thought much about, but it makes a difference: Anyone who has ever run a standard, narrow-necked PET bottle (that is dishwasher safe) through the dishwasher knows that the spray arms rarely reach all the way to the bottom. Here, you simply detach the bottom part, run everything in the machine (up to 70 \u00b0C), and get a bottle that actually becomes clinically clean. A simple but brilliant detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SodaStream<\/a>
The included 1L bottle is both dishwasher safe and the bottom can be unscrewed for deep cleaning. Photo: senses.se<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The “arm” and the “light” \u2013 not necessities, but they elevate the experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The unsentimental truth about SodaStream’s new series is that Classic<\/strong>, Fresh<\/strong>, and Fresh Plus<\/strong> have exactly<\/em> the same carbonation performance. You don’t get a more high-pressure nozzle or finer bubbles by spending 450 kronor more to go from the entry-level model to the Fresh Plus. What you are paying for is ergonomics, material choices, and two specific features: the carbonation arm<\/em> and the gas indicator<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in all honesty: even if neither is an absolute “must-have” for getting carbon dioxide into tap water, these are precisely the details that make the machine so pleasant to live with every day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The tilting mount and the “arm”:<\/strong> Just like on the standard Fresh, you tilt the carbonating head towards you, snap the bottle in place with a one-handed click (Easy Click \/ Snap-lock<\/em>), and push it back in. No screwing required. But instead of pressing a plastic button on top of the machine itself, the Fresh Plus uses a side-mounted handle. Pulling the arm down gives a distinct, mechanical feel \u2013 a bit like pulling a beer tap at a bar. Additionally, you don’t have to reach for the top of the machine, which is worth its weight in gold if the machine is tucked away under low kitchen cabinets where access is limited.
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  2. “The Light” (Low gas level indicator):<\/strong> We’ve all been there. It’s Friday night, dinner is on the table, you push the lever, and you’re met with a tired little hiss. The gas is out and the store is closed. Fresh Plus has a dedicated button with an LED light that glows white<\/strong> when the gas level is good, and turns orange<\/strong> when it’s time to get a new Quick Connect cylinder (or better yet, refill your spare cylinder).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    One thing to keep in mind regarding the light:<\/em> There is no digital scale inside the otherwise completely cordless and battery-free machine. The indicator works as a counter. This means you must remember to hold the indicator button for 3 seconds<\/strong> to reset the counter every time you click a new gas cylinder into the back of the machine. If you forget \u2013 or if someone curious in the family holds the button down mid-period \u2013 the light may glow a happy white even though the cylinder is on its last legs. If you manage the reset during cylinder changes, however, it works excellently as a warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Economy: Watch out for the “sold without cylinder” trap and how much you save over time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before you order a SodaStream Fresh Plus, there is an important detail in the price lists you need to be aware of. The official starter kit costs 1,350 kr<\/strong> (for example, directly from SodaStream), and that includes a full pink Quick Connect cylinder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"SodaStream<\/a>
    Photo: senses.se<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    At most major chains \u2013 such as POWER and NetOnNet (1,090 kr) as well as Elgiganten, Clas Ohlson, and Kjell & Company (1,099 kr) \u2013 the machine is sold cheaper, but without a carbonating cylinder (W\/O cylinder)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n