KitchenAid SodaStream
KitchenAid’s first SodaStream powered sparkling water appliance, in ’empire red’.

KitchenAid has popped the cap, lifted the lid and poured in the syrup on its debut sparkling water appliance designed in partnership with SodaStream.

Launched overnight at the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, the first KitchenAid Sparkling Beverage Maker has an iconic, 1950s style and will be available in a range of amusingly named colours: aqua sky, cobalt blue, contour silver, empire red, green apple, onyx black, tangerine and white.

The unveiling of KitchenAid’s first SodaStream unit has been much anticipated: The pair first announced a joint venture in June 2013. KitchenAid is the second of SodaStream machine partners to unveil an end product, after Samsung’s highly praised Sparkling Refrigerator, which was launched in Australia in mid 2013. A third partner, Breville, is yet to launch its first foray in SodaStream appliances.

KitchenAid’s model offers four carbonation settings, a 1-litre BPA-free plastic bottle and a 60-litre CO2 tank. It is set to retail in the United States in June 2014 for $250 (AU $275). At this price, the KitchenAid drinks maker would be the most expensive SodaStream on the Australian market (not including Samsung’s fridge); the next most expensive are the Revolution and the Crystal for RRP $199.

KitchenAid’s senior manager of brand experience, Beth Robinson, confirmed that this model has an all-metal design for that extra element of robustness.

“As with all KitchenAid products, we never enter a new category unless there’s something differentiating we can offer,” she said. “The all-metal design and eye-catching aesthetics of this model make it uniquely KitchenAid.”

“Also, given how adventurous our consumers are in the kitchen, we envision them using it somewhat differently. Beyond the many wonderful pre-made soda syrups available for this system, KitchenAid consumers are likely to experiment in making their own syrups using fresh ingredients.”

SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum said the launch of KitchenAid’s first machine is about broadening SodaStream’s customer base, rather than cannibalising it.

“Our unique platform will enable KitchenAid to provide its large and loyal consumer base with the many benefits of home carbonation. We look forward to leveraging the combined strengths of our two brands to advance the category and reach an even broader global audience.”

KitchenAid is distributed in Australia by Peter McInnes. We have contacted both Peter McInnes and KitchenAid’s US head office to enquire as to a local release. When Appliance Retailer last checked in with Peter McInnes in October 2013, we received the following response:

As the exclusive distributor of KitchenAid in Australia and New Zealand, we continually review the products made available to us by the USA for distribution. However, at this stage, we do not know when or if the products resulting from this collaboration will be available to us and so cannot comment.

This author is on Twitter: @Patrickavenell