What is the Best Built-in Sparkling Water Faucet?

The Grohe Blue Home is the best overall carbonated water dispenser for its balance of performance and value. For ultimate luxury, the Zip Water HydroTap is the top premium choice. If you are on a tighter budget, the SeltzaTap offers fantastic quality.

Did You Know? 💧 North America is the fastest-growing market for sparkling water, while Europe remains the largest consumer globally.

Key Takeaways

• Choose a sparkling water faucet based on your needs. The Grohe Blue Home is best overall. The Zip Water HydroTap is a luxury choice. The SeltzaTap is a good budget option.
• Consider carbonation, chilling, and costs. Cold water makes better sparkling water. Look at the price of the faucet and ongoing costs for CO2 and filters.
• Plan for installation space. These faucets need room under your sink for parts. They also need power and water connections.

How the Top 3 Faucets Compare at a Glance

Choosing the right faucet depends on your priorities. You might value award-winning design, all-in-one functionality, or a simple, budget-friendly solution. Let's see how our top three picks stack up.

Overall Winner: Grohe Blue Home

The Grohe Blue Home earns its top spot with a perfect blend of style and performance. This system provides chilled, filtered, and sparkling water alongside regular tap water from a single, sleek faucet. Its design excellence is undeniable.

Award-Winning Design 🏆 The Grohe Blue Home is one of the most celebrated faucets in the industry. It has won over 16 prestigious awards, including multiple Red Dot Design Awards and the "Best of Best" Iconic Award.

Best Premium Option: Zip Water HydroTap

If you want the ultimate in kitchen luxury, the Zip Water HydroTap is the clear choice. It goes beyond sparkling water, offering filtered boiling and chilled water from the same tap. You can customize it to fit your kitchen's aesthetic perfectly. It comes in various styles and seven designer finishes, including Matte Black and Brushed Gold. Its touchscreen "Command Center" gives you total control over its functions.

Best Budget Pick: SeltzaTap

For those who want sparkling water without the high-end price tag, the SeltzaTap is an excellent entry point. This carbonated water dispenser focuses on doing one thing well: delivering crisp, bubbly water on demand. It forgoes extra features like boiling water or app connectivity to provide fantastic value.

Here is a quick look at how their key features compare:

Key Factors for Choosing Your Faucet

Choosing the right system involves more than just looks. You need to consider performance, cost, and the practical needs of installation. Understanding these factors will help you find the perfect fit for your kitchen.

Carbonation Level and Consistency

The quality of your sparkling water depends on its fizziness. Many systems let you adjust the carbonation level. A good target is around 7 grams of CO2 per liter, which gives you a crisp, pleasant bubble. The key to consistent fizz is water temperature.

Science Tip 🔬 Cold water is essential for good carbonation. As water temperature drops, its ability to absorb CO2 gas increases. Water near 0°C (32°F) can dissolve almost twice as much CO2 as room-temperature water.

Chilling Performance

A powerful chilling unit is crucial for the best sparkling water. It ensures your water is cold enough for maximum carbonation. Modern chillers are also designed for energy efficiency. Top brands create units that use minimal power when idle, often consuming between 150 and 200 watts during active chilling. This makes them efficient to run daily.

Initial vs. Ongoing Costs

Your total investment includes more than the initial purchase price. You must also plan for ongoing costs. These mainly involve replacing CO2 canisters and water filters. Also, check the product warranty. Some brands offer a standard 1-year warranty with lifetime support, while others may provide a limited lifetime warranty on certain parts.

Installation and Space

A built-in carbonated water dispenser requires careful planning. You will need significant space under your sink for the chiller, carbonator, and CO2 tank.

• Electrical: The system typically needs its own standard 15A grounded power outlet.
• Plumbing: You must connect the unit to your cold water supply. Many systems use simple push-fit connectors to make this process easier for a plumber or a skilled DIYer.

In-Depth Reviews: Which Carbonated Water Dispenser Is for You?

Now you know the key factors. Let's dive deeper into each model. This will help you see which faucet truly matches your kitchen needs and lifestyle.

1. Best Overall: Grohe Blue Home

The Grohe Blue Home is our top pick because it delivers exceptional performance without unnecessary complexity. You get a system that perfectly balances advanced features with user-friendly design. It combines a standard kitchen faucet with a dispenser for chilled, filtered, and sparkling water.

Its most impressive feature is the advanced filtration technology. Grohe partnered with water-treatment experts BWT to create a powerful system. The filter removes unwanted particles but keeps essential minerals in your water.

The standard filter uses a five-step process to ensure purity and taste:

1. Pre-filtration: Catches large particles like sand and dirt.
2. Activated carbon pre-filter: Removes chlorine and some organic compounds.
3. Ion exchanger: Reduces limescale and heavy metals like lead and copper.
4. Activated carbon filtration: Purifies the water again while preserving minerals.
5. Fine filtration: Captures any tiny particles that remain.

You can also choose specialized filters. The GROHE BLUE ULTRASAFE FILTER removes microplastics and 99.999% of bacteria. The Magnesium+ filter enriches your water with healthy minerals.

This faucet is built to last and look great in your kitchen.

The durable metal body and brilliant Starlight Chrome finish resist scratches and tarnishing. You can also connect the system to the Grohe Watersystems App. This lets you track your water consumption and order new filters or CO2 canisters directly from your phone.

2. Best Premium: Zip Water HydroTap

If you want the absolute best in convenience and luxury, the Zip Water HydroTap is the ultimate choice. This system is more than just a sparkling water tap. It is a complete beverage station, delivering filtered boiling, chilled, and sparkling water instantly from a single faucet.

The HydroTap is designed for modern kitchens where style and function are equally important. You can choose from a wide range of models and seven designer finishes, including Matte Black, Brushed Gold, and Gunmetal. This allows you to perfectly match the tap to your kitchen's design.

Its performance is just as impressive as its looks. The system gives you precise control over water temperature and carbonation through its touchscreen "Command Center." Safety is also a top priority, especially with boiling water.

Safety First ⚠️ The Zip Water HydroTap includes a safety button for boiling water. You must press and hold the button to dispense hot water. This smart feature prevents accidental burns and ensures the tap never runs unattended.

This all-in-one solution replaces your kettle and eliminates the need for bottled water. It offers unmatched convenience for everything from making tea to preparing a refreshing glass of sparkling water.

3. Best for Budget: SeltzaTap

The SeltzaTap is the perfect carbonated water dispenser if your main goal is getting great sparkling water without a high price tag. It focuses on doing one job exceptionally well. This system skips the extra features like boiling water and app connectivity to offer you an affordable and reliable solution.

Its design is simple and effective. The SeltzaTap connects directly to your cold water line and uses a powerful chiller and carbonator to deliver crisp, bubbly water on demand. The system is also flexible when it comes to CO2.

• CO2 Tank Size: You can use CO2 tanks ranging from 1 lb to 20 lbs. This lets you choose a size that fits your space and usage needs.
• Production Rate: The system can produce 3 to 5 liters of sparkling water per hour, with a single pour capacity of 2.5 liters.

This makes the SeltzaTap ideal for households that love sparkling water but do not need an all-in-one system. You get the core function of a high-end dispenser at a fraction of the cost. It is a straightforward, high-value choice for adding a touch of luxury to your kitchen.

Answering Your Final Questions

You might still have a few questions before choosing your faucet. Let's look at some common concerns to help you make the final decision.

Which Faucet Has the Best Carbonation?

The Grohe Blue Home and Zip Water HydroTap both offer excellent, adjustable carbonation. They use powerful chillers to get water very cold. This allows the water to absorb more CO2, creating a crisp and consistent fizz. You can set the bubble intensity on both systems to match your preference. The SeltzaTap also delivers strong carbonation, making it a great contender.

Which Is the Cheapest to Own?

The SeltzaTap has the lowest long-term ownership cost. Its initial price is lower, and it focuses only on sparkling water. This simplicity reduces potential maintenance costs. You can also lower running costs for many systems by using third-party CO2 canisters. For example, some compatible cartridges work with multiple brands.

Money-Saving Tip 💰 You can find compatible CO2 cartridges that work with systems like the Zip HydroTap and others. This can reduce your costs compared to buying brand-name refills.

These third-party cylinders are often compatible with:

• Zip HydroTap™ or Zip Chilltap™
• Billi™ 996911 / 996912 Cylinders
• Bromic™ 1811526 Cylinders
• PURETEC™ SPARQ S4 & S5

Which Is Easiest to Install?

All three systems require under-sink space, a power outlet, and a connection to your cold water line. The SeltzaTap is often the most straightforward carbonated water dispenser to install. Its focused design means there are fewer components and connections compared to all-in-one systems. However, for any model, you may want to hire a professional plumber to ensure a perfect setup.

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Choosing the right faucet depends on your needs. You can find the perfect match for your kitchen.

• Grohe Blue Home: Choose this faucet for the best combination of performance, cost, and reliability.
• SeltzaTap: Select this model if your budget is the most important factor.
• Zip Water HydroTap: Invest in this system for luxury features like instant boiling water.

FAQ

How much space do I need under my sink?

You need significant under-sink space. The area must fit a chiller unit, a carbonator, and a CO2 tank. Always measure your cabinet before you purchase a system.

Can I use my existing kitchen faucet?

No, you cannot use your current faucet. These systems include a special multi-function tap. The new faucet is required to dispense the chilled, filtered, and sparkling water.

How often do I change the CO2 and filters?

Your usage determines the replacement schedule. Most households change filters every 6 to 12 months. A standard CO2 canister provides many liters of sparkling water before needing a refill.

Tip 💡 Many systems have an indicator light or app notification. These alerts tell you when to order new supplies.