Aarke
A cautionary example of steel-on-the-outside. The polished stainless shell reads as premium and plastic-free, but the water actually touches BPA-free plastic internals — the design language implies more than the materials deliver. Aarke isn't dishonest about it, but they lean on the look of steel to carry an impression they don't fully earn in the water path.
How clear are their specs?
You have to dig: the steel exterior is front-and-center, while the plastic water-contact parts surface mostly in spec sheets and support answers rather than the marketing. "BPA-free" stands in for a full material list.
Products we recommend
Carbonator 3
Aarke's mainstream carbonator ships with a PET bottle, but a dedicated stainless-steel "To-Go" bottle attaches and carbonates directly in its place - steel bottle, steel nozzle, silicone-only water path. The only machine here whose steel nozzle Aarke actually documents.
Carbonator Pro
Carbonates into glass and stores in glass - the real win - but the nozzle that sprays into the water is plastic. Aarke documents a steel nozzle only on the cheaper Carbonator 3.
Products to avoid
Documented so you know what to skip — each still has a full breakdown and sources.
Coffee Maker
A beautiful stainless-steel drip machine that looks plastic-free but isn't - the reservoir, filter basket lining, and brew path are BPA-free plastic.
Kettle (Temperature Control)
Premium Swedish design kettle that looks like solid unibody steel, but has a silicone sensor disc submerged in the water and a PP plastic inner lid over the steam.