ORDERING sparkling water at a restaurant always makes you feel a little fancy. Why not bring that feeling to your home with your very own carbonator?

The Aarke carbonator definitely looks the part with its elegant design, made specifically to turn still water sparkling. But as they're on the pricey side, we tried it out to save you wasting your money. Thank us later.

• Aarke Carbonator 3 in Steel, £179 from Aarke – buy here

Pros

• Looks sleek in your kitchen
• Posh lever creates controlled release of pressure
• Precision nozzle produces smooth spray
• Made with durable stainless steel
• Can buy tasty Aarke essence drops for it

Cons

• Only compatible with water
• More expensive than other carbonators
• Have to buy CO2 cylinder separately

Is Aarke worth it?

When our Aarke carbonator arrived, we were immediately obsessed with the smart packaging that read "Welcome to your sparkling new lifestyle" in golden lettering, tied together with a black ribbon – talk about swanky presentation.

Before even trying it out, the stylish stainless steel appearance of Aarke's carbonator is enough to have you instantly display it in your kitchen, especially as it comes with a bottle with a cap and end that matches it. 10/10 for looks.

Unfortunately when it first arrived, we hadn't ordered a CO2 cylinder to use it with, so we had to wait a few days for that to come in order to actually use it.

Once we had our CO2, we followed the trusty User Guide with straightforward instructions on how to insert the cylinder and simply attach the water bottle once filled. Then our favourite part commenced: pulling the lever.

Compared to other carbonators, Aarke gives you a really smooth carbonating experience and it's so clear when it's time to release the lever, plus when you remove the bottle, there's no mess or explosions.

You can even decide how fizzy you want your water, with help from the booklet, you simply conserve gas and release the lever half way multiple times rather than all in one go.

We also tried out Aarke's different sugar-free essence drops of Elderflower and Lime, Wild Strawberry and Citrus which just require one drop in your water after carbonating, all of which tasted refreshing but not sweet, more of a healthy fizzy-drink alternative.

If you find yourself going through loads of plastic bottles due to a fizzy water obsession then it's definitely time to invest in an Aarke carbonator to be more sustainable. Well, even if you only go sparkling on occasion, this will definitely add some pizzazz to your kitchen.

How do you use Aarke?

Aarke provides a User Guide with your product which has everything you need to know about getting started or replacing any elements of your carbonator.

To get started, you unscrew the plastic seal from your cylinder and insert it into the hole at the bottom of the carbonator and twist, once its tightly in place then you can get ready to carbonate.

Fill your bottle up to the max line (or below) then simply screw the bottle into the socket and get ready for the best bit: pulling the lever to make your water fizzy.

After you hear the deflating-type noise, you're ready to remove your water and enjoy it without any splash explosions. Et voilà.

There's even a lid for your bottle so you can keep it fresh in the fridge for later.

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Is Aarke better than Sodastream?

When you think of a carbonator, Sodastream might be first on your mind as it stirs nostalgia from its heyday in the 70s and 80s, and since relaunching in 2009 it has gained popularity again as an old-school favourite.

However, Aarke adds smart elegance to the carbonating world like no other. They both have the same functions, yet Aarke just looks a bit nicer on display and offers a really smooth experience.

We can't actually state whether Sodastream is better than Aarke as we are yet to try it, although they can both only carbonate water so take with that what you will.

What CO2 cannisters are compatible with Aarke?

Aarke is compatible with standard 60mm CO2 canisters from all major brands, from Drinkmate to Sodastream.

Unfortunately they don't currently stock their own cannisters, which means you have to order externally once you have ordered the carbonator.

Here's where you can order them:

1. SodaStream 60 Litre Spare Gas Cylinder for Sparkling Water Maker, £22.99 from Amazon – buy here
2. Drinkmate Co2 Carbonated Refill Cylinder 60, £25 from Selfridges – buy here
3. SodaStream Spare CO2 Gas Cylinder, 60L, £22.99 from John Lewis – buy here
4. Levivo SET200200000251A water carbonator cartridge CO2 cylinder, £39.99 from Amazon – buy here

Where can I buy Aarke?

You can purchase every style of Aarke's Carbonator 3 from the official site, available in Black Chrome, White, Gold, Copper, Matte Black and Steel.

Selfridges, Amazon, eBay and Lakeland also stock them but the price is pretty consistent across all retailers.

Here's where we found them:

1. Aarke Carbonator II Stainless Steel Sparkling Water Maker, £179 from Selfridges – buy here
2. Aarke Carbonators from £179, from Aarke – buy here
3. Aarke Carbonator II Water Carbonator, £218.64 from Amazon – buy here

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Whilst you're here, check out our Drinkmate carbonator review to compare.

We've also found the best pressure cookers to shop now.

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