Preparing for the Dinner Party Season: why Water should be more than an afterthought | My Soho Times

It can be quite a task to contemplate the upcoming holiday season and the hosting responsibilities that often come with it, especially when September still delivers a wave of lingering summer heat we’re experiencing. Nonetheless, hydrate up! Water is the unsung hero we all need in our lives, no matter the time of year!

Doran Binder, one of the UK’s preeminent water sommeliers, highlights the eco-friendly advantages of SodaStream over conventional single-use plastic bottles. With a focus on sustainability, switching to SodaStream can contribute to reducing plastic waste while adding a touch of sparkle to your everyday hydration routine. Embrace the party season with a refreshing twist by incorporating sparkling water into your celebrations – cheers!

Water is the most vital drink on the planet to human beings and is something we all depend on. So it’s important that we know that water is not ‘just’ water. 

There are huge variations between natural and tap water, in fact so much so that it could be classed as the equivalent of comparing organic and processed food. Tap water is generally different sources of water, bore hole, surface, reservoir, river water, etc. These waters get treated at the waste treatment plants by way of filtration, then chemicals like fluoride and chlorine are added to ensure it’s safe for public consumption.

In the UK, natural, mineral, and spring waters are controlled by trading standards and the local Environmental Health Department. These waters are all organic and are bottled at the source and include minerality analysis on the label, as well as the address. All three are different due to the mineral composition, which has been picked up by the water from the geology that filters through it on its way to the source of the spring.

Because of this, water can, through variations in minerality or by experimenting with carbonation,  change its taste and mouthfeel unlike any other drink.

How can SodaStream elevate your water?

When I make sparkling water with my SodaStream Art machine, I can make it bespoke each time to suit my preferences. As a water sommelier, this means that I can experiment and make water that I cannot buy, which is simply incredible. And for everyone else, it means that you can make sparkling water to suit your mood and taste at any given moment. For example you might like a lightly carbonated glass of water to help you wake up in the morning, and then a more boldly carbonated drink in the evening. 

Having a SodaStream gives you the ability to make drinking water more interesting too, which as the day goes on is hugely beneficial, as keeping up with your water intake can become more of a chore the further into the day you go. So by mixing up different carbonation levels you can keep water different and make it more exciting, helping you to keep hydrated throughout the day. 

Not to mention, using a SodaStream is better for the environment too as it eliminates the need to buy single-use plastic bottles. So you can enjoy your sparkling water safe in the knowledge that it benefits the planet too. 

Why should water be considered for dinner parties?

As a non-drinker and health fanatic, this is very easy for me to answer – serving water at dinner parties is a huge conversation maker. It gives you the ability to demonstrate that water has a taste and distinct mouthfeel, the same way others may consider wine or beer, which allows you to elevate the dinner party conversation. Once people discover water has these properties, there is no going back. And with more and more people choosing low and no alcohol lifestyles, serving water at the dinner table needs to become far more commonplace. 

Serving sparkling water, and serving it in the sparkling water glass I have created with SodaStream, is a great way to make its appearance at the dinner table feel more grown up too. You can actually demonstrate the effects of carbonation on mouthfeel. The difference between the same water at different carbonation levels is mind blowing, and with a SodaStream, you have the power to sparkle water to your preferred level. From using my SodaStream Art machine, I’d recommend the following carbonation levels depending on your taste preferences. 

Effervescent (1-2 pushes of the handle)

Light (2-3 pushes of the handle)

Classic (3-4 pushes of the handle)

Bold (5+ pushes of the handle)

SodaStream creates the world’s ultimate sparkling water glass

Why Is the Art of Glass the ultimate Glass

To drink from a glass that has been specifically designed for sparkling water is a treat. This did not exist before the collaboration with SodaStream. As a water sommelier, having a special glass elevates sparkling water to a new high, and there are multiple features that make this glass so perfect for it.

The stem shows water respect, giving it a stage on which to show itself off. Not having to touch the glass bowl ensures the water looks its best, as there are no fingerprints and you can clearly see the bubbles. Having a stem means that you can also separate the temperature of your hand from the temperature of the water, as you don’t have to wrap your hand around the glass. 

The glass also features a fully nucleated base at the bottom, which ensures that the carbon dioxide in your sparkling water has a surface to react with, exaggerating the carbonation visually and ensuring a constant stream of bubbles. 

The shape of the bowl and rim have been designed to ensure you get the full effect of the carbonation as it’s shaped like a funnel, and the thin glass maintains a delicate feel, providing minimal glass between mouth and liquid, so that it’s not too heavy and off balance.

Collaboration with the design.

For me the key feature of the design has been the stem, which I felt was integral to the basic shape of the glass. This was critical. The nucleation of the bottom of the glass was also very important to me, giving the glass a magical visual display of vertical bubbles travelling up the glass.

I also felt it was important to give water a stage in which to perform and show off, which is why the bowl shape is wide, like it is with a bubble base. I am extremely proud of the glass.

Written by Doran Binder | @beardedwatersommelier

This article was published in the Autumn issue of My Soho Times. CLICK HERE to view it online!

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