Given the current fashion for all things 80ʼs, including the newly elected Tories wheeling out olʼ Maggie as some sort of glory-days poster girl, itʼs no surprise that the more useful things from the era are making a comeback in a similarly revamped style. Fortunately for SodaStream the angle their ʽpopʼ machine (as it was known in my neck of the woods) promises as a family oriented, green-friendly affair wonʼt mean the economical devastation and social downfall of the UK.

I was rather excited at the box and wrapping as it brings back my love of creating fizzy drinks in this way; for the stricter parent who only doles out carrot sticks to their children I doubt this is for you. But if youʼre thinking about damage control, letting your child create such wonders in your own home could well prevent them bowing to huge corporate six-spoonful-per-can soft drinks - you know who Iʼm talking about. SodaStreamʼs syrups are more extensive in their flavour selection, (the Tizer one being a particular former favourite is sadly missing) and have very clear instructions on the water/syrup ratio. They will almost certainly make less of a dent in your wallet and conscience. The lack of Tizer has cleared the way for Lemon and Lime and what you almost always run out of at drinks parties, Tonic Water.

As for the rest of the machine, I remember so vividly putting my own together as a child I barely have to read the clearly stated instructions. This is not a flat pack assembly job, thank goodness and the only thing my memory needs refreshing on is how to insert the gas canister. This baby is electricity and battery free so your bills will remain intact although how green CO2 cartridges are, Iʼm not so sure. However, I put it in without hazard, assembly dunce that I am, no one is hurt and the cat escapes injury free.

I would expect the machine itself to be made of something a little sturdier than silver and black plastic, like stainless steel maybe, as Iʼm at that age of appreciating shiny things for the kitchen but not quite the age of having my own children. Yet I can recognise the value of it not being too heavy or ergonomically styled for the safety benefits and ease of those that do. The reusable bottles are made of plastic and the website boasts a whole host of other containers should you feel the need to go mad and collect a multipurpose set. Theyʼre easily stored in the fridge, secure enough to carry in your bag (wonʼt leak all over your gym kit) and cleaned. This also feeds into the green element of the sales pitch; a controlled set of storage containers means no excess recycling.

As for the taste? Itʼs actually better than I remember. My considerably large household has exhausted quite a few of the other flavours on the sly, so Iʼm quite pleased I like the ones that remain. It goes to show that thereʼs almost enough to please everybody. The flavours that appeal to me are mainly on the citrus-ey side of the equation they do a damn good job of not tasting cheap and are infinitely better than any supermarkets own brand. So this could be a welcome cocktail  addition as well as child tooth-fairy-assistant.

Iʼd probably say this would be value for money for those who like packed lunches and watch their daily spends but you obviously have to have an interest in carbonated drinks and for the rejuvenated nation of water drinkers that we are, Iʼm not so sure the interest would hold.

My mother, now a grandma, has only just learnt to text from her phone bless her and Iʼm not comparing making fizzy drinks to the usage of modern communications systems but I doubt her curiosity in such a thing would be high unless the little monsters were over. For the technologically challenged itʼs not a difficult feat to assemble or use; carbonated water and flavouring? Childs play! But thatʼs almost certainly where it should be aimed at. Not a bad bit of fun at all, thankfully without a horrendous retro haircut.

RRP: £69.99 - See www.sodastream.co.uk for more information or to buy.

Also available at Amazon, Argos and other good high street and online stores.