A BIBO Water Bar instantly becomes the centrepiece in any modern kitchen, a slick countertop filtered water dispenser that saves busy families time and money.
But it’s also a must-have office accessory, delivering unlimited chilled or boiling water for the entire working day.
Here are five essential reasons why your office kitchen, refreshment station and boardroom area really need one, and why your staff and visitors will appreciate it…
It’s possible to become dehydrated even if you’ve been slumped at your desk for eight hours, willing the clock to hit 5.30pm. Most Australians don’t drink enough water, so having chilled, filtered water on tap is a great way to encourage all the workforce to top up on fluids throughout the day and perform at their best for longer.
Most BIBO customers report that they’ve been gulping down significantly more water since buying their unit as it's ultra convenient and tastes so good!
And having clean, fresh water at the touch of a button means you’re less likely to reach for a cola from the vending machine.
If all your team spend endless minutes hanging around for the kettle to boil, chances are some will be missing vital calls that could cost the business dearly. When a few coffee runs coincide, the kettle has to be completely full so will take even longer while half the office is squashed in a very un-socially distanced space. And remember that kettles can have other, hidden dangers.
Plus, no one will have to disrupt their day by disappearing to the local café for bottled water or coffee. On average, you’ll wait NINE minutes for a coffee there, and your mug will be one of over a billion thrown away by Aussies every year.
If you have visitors, you can pour them a glass of chilled, filtered water, a cup of tea or herbal infusion and get cracking with the meeting without any awkward delays.
A BIBO Water Bar is less than a third of the price of bulky, under-sink filtration systems and has the added advantage of being portable so it can come with you if you move offices.
It also costs a lot less to run than a kettle and cold water dispenser so will be especially popular with the accounts department!
If your company spends a fortune on stocking the fridge with bottled water or ordering giant containers for the water cooler, the cost reduction will be immense.
If you want to see how a BIBO water bar would transform your office but don’t want to commit just yet, then why not rent one? It costs less than $2 a day, comes with a full warranty and you can decide which of our 10 vibrant colours will best suit your decor. We’ll even throw in free shipping and replacement filters!
To find out how to rent one for your workspace, click here.
We’ve already established that a BIBO Water Bar is environmentally friendly as it uses a lot less electricity than a kettle, but there’s another way it can help fight climate change – and leave you with more cash at the end of each week.
Paying $5 a day for a barista-made caffeine hit in a non-recyclable mug that’ll still exist when your grandchildren have grandchildren means you could save over $1000 in a year simply by switching to instant.
If you’re exclaiming in horror at the very thought then you clearly haven’t tried the delicious new generation of instant coffees that are now more popular than freshly ground varieties in Australia. All for around 27c a cup!
And we all know the environmental cost of the millions of plastic water bottles that end up in landfill and water systems every year.
Having a BIBO is a sustainable way to keep our planet free of plastic.
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READ MORE: 7 reasons every home needs a BIBO water bar
READ MORE: Why a BIBO is the ultimate water bar
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Why instant coffee is no longer a mug’s game
]]>These days, most 'healthy' offices make an effort to tick at least a few of the boxes when it comes to the trend for wellbeing. Fresh fruit, free yoga and maybe even reflexology sessions, are all just some of the ways in which employers are trying to improve the lot of their workforce.
After all, looking after the health of employees makes sound financial sense. A recent study showed that Aussies take 90 million sick days every year, costing the economy $34.1 billion annually.
Research from Harvard University found that improving air quality boosted mental cognition and helped workers to be more productive. Not only that, of course, but a healthy office means a happier worker – and one who is less likely to take sick leave.
That’s why architects, who have for years focused on creating buildings that are kind to the planet, are now also intent on planning work places that are kind to the people in them. In the United States, they have gone so far as to introduce a certification program called the Well Building Standard. Based on medical research, it shows how buildings can affect our health – and how to improve our surroundings.
Of course, you don’t have to be an architect to make a healthy office. There are simple, cost-effective ways to ensure a healthy workplace:
1. Provide Access to Clean Water: Install a BIBO Water Bar in your office so all employees can access fresh pure great tasting water always. By having instant, hot and cold, filtered and purified water in seconds, it will keep your office staff happier, healthier and more productive. It has a unique filtration and purification system which removes most contaminants and kills bugs, leaving the purest drinking water.
2. Encourage Physical Activity: Encourage regular breaks for stretching or short walks, and consider offering incentives for participating in physical activities like lunchtime walks or office yoga sessions.
3. Promote Healthy Eating Habits: Offer healthy snacks and beverages in the office kitchen, and encourage nutritious eating habits by providing information on healthy meal options and portion sizes.
4. Create Ergonomic Workstations: Invest in ergonomic furniture and equipment to promote good posture and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal issues among your team members.
5. Support Mental Health: Provide access to mental health resources and support services, and encourage open conversations about mental well-being in the workplace.
6. Offer Flexible Work Arrangements: Allow flexible work hours or remote work options to accommodate the diverse needs of your team members and promote work-life balance.
7. Promote Stress Management Techniques: Provide resources and workshops on stress management techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation exercises.
8. Encourage Regular Breaks: Encourage employees to take regular breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge, and discourage working through lunch or staying late unnecessarily.
9. Foster a Positive Work Environment: Create a supportive and inclusive work culture where team members feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best work.
10. Lead by Example: Demonstrate your commitment to health and wellness by prioritizing your own well-being and modeling healthy behaviours for your team.
]]>As the temperature rises, summer will be here and we’ll be able to start throwing parties and entertaining friends.
Nothing makes a party sizzle more than whipping up an impressive-looking cocktail with plenty of umbrellas, paper straws and vegetation sticking out the top. If it tastes delicious too, then even better!
Here's 10 hottest cocktails to choose from..
The Espresso Martini is a combination of coffee, vodka and coffee liqueur shaken vigorously with ice until it is chilled and frothy. The martini is then strained into a chilled martini glass, and garnished with coffee beans or a chocolate stick.
The Aperol Spritz is a classic Italian cocktail made with just 3 ingredients; Prosecco, Aperol and a splash of soda water. To save money, use a Soda Stream to get some bubbles into some filtered water from your BIBO water bar, but make sure it’s completely chilled.
The Negroni is a classic cocktail that has made the list. Made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, this cocktail has a bitter yet refreshing taste.
This classic drink is made with tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau or triple sec and is usually served in a margarita glass with a salted rim and a lime wedge. Yum!
Mojitos can be served on the rocks, blended, or shaken. Lime juice is added to a glass filled with ice, followed by rum, sugar syrup, and mint leaves. All ingredients should be stirred together and then topped with soda water. Best to make your soda water with some filtered water from your BIBO water bar, but make sure it’s completely chilled.
The unique flavour of the Pina Colada comes from the combination of pineapple juice and coconut cream which gives this drink its creamy texture. The white rum adds a touch of warmth and depth of flavour.
This good 'old fashioned' cocktail is traditionally made with whiskey, bitters, sugar, and a twist of citrus. This drink has a long and interesting history, and it continues to be a favourite of many cocktail enthusiasts.
The classic drink is a combination of vodka, tequila, white rum, triple sec, and gin, topped off with a splash of cola. If you want to spice it up a bit, add cranberry juice, pineapple juice, or lime juice.
It’s a simple mix of whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar, and it’s been a favourite among whiskey lovers for centuries.
When it comes to creating a Classic Martini, Gin is the classic spirit used in a Martini, but vodka is also an excellent choice. The vermouth can be dry, sweet, or even flavoured, and there are a multitude of garnishes you can use, including olives, lemons, limes, and even onions.
A jug of pure summer with red wine, brandy, soda water or lemonade and cinnamon. Make sure there’s plenty of ice so the jug keeps the mixture cool while you’re on your first glass. Add some oranges, lemons and an apple for some crunch!
READ MORE: Why the BIBO is the ultimate water bar
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READ MORE: The best 6 apps to keep your family hydrated
READ MORE: What’s actually in a glass of water
READ MORE: 7 fiendishly clever ways to refresh your kitchen
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On hot, sultry days we all crave for hydration and refreshment...and great tasting drinks. If it's too early in the day for an actual cocktail or you fancy a break from alcohol, then we have some treats for you!
We've done our due diligence and found the 6 most exquisite summer mocktails - and they're all super easy to make.
But, before we get to the recipes, time to equip you with some essential mixology...
1. Use your best glasses - just because it's not alcoholic doesn't mean we have to compromise!
If you don’t like your cocktails too sweet, then you’ll love the burst of tart cranberry infused with fresh mint, pomegranate seeds and fresh pineapple in this little belter. Try replacing the ginger beer with ice cold, filtered water from your BIBO and a drop of elderflower cordial.
A very secret ingredient makes this taste every bit as good as its boozy cousin: pickle juice! Yes, really! In fact, if you pour a little in most mocktails, it makes them taste a little alcoholic. So if Great Aunt Daisy has had one to many sweet sherries, then hand her one of these and she’ll never know it’s a mocktail!
A medley of disparate tastes combine majestically in this surprisingly healthy glass of pure joy. Lemon juice and blackberries take the edge off the serene sweetness of the honey. Add the half glass of purified water at the end, and make sure it’s chilled. For a sneaky adult version, add two shots of vodka.
Another sizzling flavour combo with the fragrant ingredients jostling to tease your taste buds. Perfect topped off with Prosecco or fizzed-up chilled water. Make the fruity syrup up to a week in advance so no lounging time is wasted!
Perfect for when the thermometer's threatening to explode and you need some serious refreshment, this recipe uses grapefruit and orange to give a pleasing edge to the classic iced tea. If you have a BIBO² to hand, then you can be sure the filtered water used for the tea is boiling so all the flavour floods out…and no need to wait around in the heat for the kettle to boil!
This is a real showstopper with pretty cucumber ribbons wrapped around the inside of the glass and passionfruit pulp spooned on top. For those wanting something a little stronger, a dash of Hendrix gin does the job!
READ MORE: This year’s HOTTEST summer cocktails
READ MORE: Why the BIBO is the ultimate water bar
READ MORE: Water expert, or H2 D’oh! Take our fun water quiz
READ MORE: Rent a BIBO water bar for less than $2 per day!
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]]>It’s vital to remove the potential nasties from your tap water to protect your little ones.
But if you’re sick and tired of waiting for tap water to boil – here’s the perfect water solution – it’s called a BIBO Water Bar.
With a BIBO filtered and purified water dispenser there is no more waiting for water to boil or cool down when preparing your baby’s bottle.
It’s a lifesaver when baby wakes for those late night and early morning feeds. You simply press a button to fill baby’s bottle at the ideal pre-set temperature and perfect measure.
Featuring the latest technology to filter and purify your tap water to the highest standards, BIBO is the safest choice in home water filter system for babies.
It removes all the harmful bacteria from tap-water, including micro-organisms and impurities, which are potentially harmful to babies and toddlers.
The built-in UV lamp technology for purification, along with the continuous boiling cycle ensures water is well-sterilised and kills those nasties.
BIBO boasts user-friendly touch screen technology and comes with built-in child locks for added safety.
With a BIBO water purifier you can say Bye Bye to your kettle and Bye Bye to the filter jug and Bye Bye to wasting precious time when preparing baby bottles in the wee small hours.
Water from the BIBO Water Bar is crystal clear, refreshing, healthy, and tastes great.
And just think of the extra sleep you’ll get!
]]>The first thing to learn about herbal tea is that it’s not tea! Tea is called ‘tea’ because it comes from the cured leaves of the tea plant, but herbal varieties don’t. Some say they should instead be called ‘tisanes’, meaning an infusion made from plant matter, but we’ll stick with ‘herbal tea’ because it’s easier.
The medicinal properties of herbal teas were well known in ancient Egypt and China. In fact dried peppermint leaves were found in pyramids built over 3,000 years ago! Since then, scientists have discovered many more health benefits.
Here are just a few:
Chamomile – reduces back pain, calms an upset stomach, improves liver function, relieves rheumatism and relaxes muscle spasm.
Ginger – treats nausea, improves digestion, reduces inflammation, relieves colds and flu and controls chronic pain.
Peppermint – Eases stomach upsets, relieves tension headaches and migraines, unclogs sinuses, improves energy levels and helps with menstrual cramps.
Rosemary – improves circulation, stimulates the liver, boots memory and relieves joint pain.
READ MORE: Why we all need a friendly cuppa
There’s more to achieving infusion heaven than drowning a bag in a mug and bashing it around a bit until the colour changes. If that sounds like you, then it’s time to turn over a new leaf.
READ MORE: How to enjoy more ‘me time’
The great thing about herbal tea is that there are literally hundreds of different varieties to choose from. And you can even concoct your own by combining loose ingredients from a specialist tea shop.
Inventing your own unique herbal tea is fun and (hopefully) delicious. You can use natural herbs or flowers from your garden or buy dried ingredients.
Here are four elements to include.
There are dozens of gadgets and gizmos out there, all promising to make food prep easier, quicker or more healthy. But which ones are worth splashing the cash for in the next 12 months? Here are our seven picks - from water filters to an epic sandwich toaster - to accessorise your kitchen to perfection and make life better...
You can splash out anything from $150 to $20,000 on a coffee machine (yes, really!), but if all you need is a delicious, fresh brew in the morning, then you don’t need to go crazy.
Pod or capsule machines are among the cheapest – although the coffee itself is pricey, and they’re not particularly environmentally friendly, even if they do recycle the pods.
Also, if you have friends who are coffee connoisseurs, they might turn their noses up at the very idea of not using freshly ground beans!
The Sunbeam Barista Max Coffee Machine was voted the best for under $500 by Coffeewise in 2021 and makes a damn fine caffeine hit.
A good tip is to fill it with filtered and purified water from the BIBO Water Bar for flavour perfection.
Talking of filtered and purified water, you’ll get an unlimited supply of instant boiling, chilled and ambient water at the touch of a button with a beautiful looking BIBO Water Bar.
Available in 10 vibrant colours, it instantly becomes the focal point in any kitchen and means no untidy kettle cords on your work surface, no filter jugs cluttering the fridge and no need to waste money on bottled water.
The unique filtration system includes a multi-stage carbon water filter and UV lamp to kill any bugs and remove the unpleasant taste of chlorine, while the touch screen display lets you dispense fresh, clean water at whatever temperature you need. And the water tastes great too!
These simple gadgets are very on-trend and have multiple uses including making toast, baking bread and steaming veg. They're compact, so heat up much more quickly than a conventional oven and are highly energy efficient… as long as you don’t want to cook a 4kg shoulder of ham!
Casseroles and pies cooked in toaster ovens taste far better than microwave meals as you get that lovely crispiness as well as an equal distribution of heat.
There are plenty to choose from, though the Cuisinart Combo Steam & Convention Oven has been rated highly by a few sites, ahead of some of its pricier rivals.
You’ll have seen these advertised all over the TV, and with good reason. We all need to consume more fruit and veg, and juicing is a great way to achieve that. Best of all you can whiz up nutritious raw vegetables like carrots, cucumber and celery to mix with fruit smoothies or fresh juice.
Juicers cost around $500, but the Breville Juice Fountain Max is half the price and has a bunch of 5-star reviews and strong write-ups by comparison sites.
A joint of lamb or beef gently cooks over eight or more hours so that it’s so succulent and tender it literally falls off the bone, every mouthful imbued with rich, satisfying flavours.
Best of all, the mouth-watering smells gradually permeate the house giving off a satisfying warmth as the hours tick by.
And it’s not just for meat. Believe it or not you can use your slow cooker for mulled wine, hot cross buns, Christmas pud, jam, bread and even pavlova! If you look hard enough, you can find a 'recipe' for making soap in one!
How did we all survive before Philips introduced the first ever Airfryer at a Berlin electronics fair in 2011?
Cook food faster than in an oven and get that crisp, cooked-in-oil taste with very little if any actual oil. Instead, hot air circulates at very high speed until your chips, banana muffins, fish or steak are nicely browned. You can even cook pizza and cakes in it.
For a seriously top of the range, deluxe model that cooks a whole chicken you can pay $600, but Taste.com.au says the Tefal Easy Fry Classic Air Fryer is excellent for less than $200.
All sandwich toasters are the same, right? You plop your BLT onto the hot surface, close it down and voila – your breaded snack is seared to perfection.
Well, actually, no. It turns out things have moved on. Enter the Breville Smart Grill Pro, a 10kg brushed stainless steel mega-toaster with an integrated probe & rest indicator, removable ribbed plates with embedded elements for rapid heat recovery and something called ‘element IQ’ for consistent heat.
Why the new BIBO is the ultimate water bar
7 fiendishly clever ways to refresh your kitchen
7 reasons why your home needs a BIBO Water Bar
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Why filtered water from your BIBO Water bar is the ultimate superfood
]]>That's the question we all ask ourselves at this time of year. With the sun shining and temperature rising, it's easy to forget to drink enough. But just how much water is 'enough'?
The common recommendation is to drink eight cups of water every day but, according to eatforhealth.gov.au, the amount of water we need to drink actually depends on a variety of factors.
These include your age, gender, weight, how healthy you are, how much you exercise and how hot and dry the climate is.
What's more, you don't have to drink water to make sure you stay hydrated. Teas, fruit juices, soups and juicy fresh fruit such as watermelon, all count towards your ideal daily fluid intake to keep you healthy.
Kids need plenty of fluids as they can get dehydrated more easily than adults. And older people may need more fluids because of health conditions, including urinary tract infections.
The average person gets about 20 per cent of their water for the day from food. An apple is 84 per cent water, lettuce (95 per cent) watermelon (92 per cent), carrot (87 per cent), bananas (74 per cent) and broccoli (91 per cent).
Even foods that you might not think of as moist, including some breads and minced beef, contain more than 50 per cent water. It's important not to rely on food as a source of fluid though and concentrate instead of sipping little and often throughout the day. That way, you'll avoid headaches, feeling lethargic and constipation – not to mention the fact that the more water you drink, the better your skin will look!
When it comes to the crunch you can’t beat a glass of chilled, refreshing water to quench your thirst … and stay hydrated.
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This has an eerie, solid yellow colour, so use either a black marker or a tube of black icing to draw a scary face on the side of a plastic glass.
Blend 50g of pumpkin pieces, one ripe pear, 250ml of orange juice and 250ml of chilled, filtered water. If you want a final flourish, snap a ginger biscuit in half, draw on some mad, staring eyes and prop it up in the glass.
This takes a bit more preparation, but it’ll appeal to big and small kids.
Pour two litres of cherry juice into a saucepan and add the peel from three oranges, a whole red chilli, three cinnamon sticks, 10 cloves, six slices of ginger, half a litre of lemonade and half a litre of boiling, filtered water.
Simmer for five minutes and then chill for at least four hours. Serve from a jug into glasses decorated with lollies in the shape of fangs. For the adults, add a sneaky dash of gin or vodka.
A BIBO Water Bar has a multi-stage carbon filter that removes most contaminants bacteria, and chemicals.
With all the nasties gone, the only scary thing about Halloween will be the ghosts and ghoulies!
All you're left with is the purest, healthiest and best tasting water in the world!
This reassuringly gross-looking Halloween drink will delight even the most squeamish kids. The first step is to make some lime jelly and allow it to set. Next, mix 700ml of apple juice with 300ml of lemonade and leave it to chill.
To make the grisly eyeballs, poke a cocktail stick into a cocktail cherry and then push it into a lychee from a can. The simply lightly whisk the jelly, spoon it into glasses and add the lemonade and apple juice. Pop in the eyeball immediately before serving.
A good tip is to use purified and filtered water from a BIBO Water Bar so the jelly is nice and clear.
READ MORE: 7 reasons why your home needs a BIBO Water Bar
OK, so technically it’s a glass of plain of ginger ale (with or without lychee eyeball) but the gloriously gory twist to this mocktail is a jelly shot syringe filled with grenadine that’s left in the glass so the drinker can inject the blood-like liquid into their glass. Chuck in a couple of cocktail cherries too.
Of course, the best way to rehydrate your little trick or treaters is purified, filtered water that’s been chilled to perfection. With a BIBO Water Bar, all they need to do is press a button and seconds later their glass is full with the healthiest possible Halloween drink.
If you’re the Halloween party host who can boast the most gross, then stack some plastic glasses next to it and tell them to help themselves. After a few gulps they’ll be much Dra-cooler!
READ MORE: Is filtered water better than tap water?
This crowd pleaser has a cool coral colour during the day before glowing eerily at night! All you do is mix a generous serving of gin, a tablespoon of lemon juice, teaspoon of grenadine, splash of chilled, filtered water and a handful of ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a tall glass, top up with tonic and garnish with a glow stick.
READ MORE: Style experts reveal the hottest colours of 2023
This spooky wonder is dark and sinister and packs a punch. Essentially, make a margarita with tequila, triple sec and lime juice, but then add a few drops of red, blue and green food colouring until it’s darkens to black. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and add a fiendish twist by rimming the glass with black pepper instead of salt.
Whether it’s in tea, coffee, cordial or on its own, filtered, purified water really is the most environmentally friendly, healthiest, safest and yummiest choice you can make for your family.
7 reasons why your home needs a BIBO Water Bar
What’s actually in a glass of water?
Why BIBO filtered water is the ultimate superfood
The best apps to keep you hydrated
7 fiendishly clever ways to refresh your kitchen
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Zip has been around since the 1960s and they are the most well known, while BIBO launched in Australia in 2016.
The BIBO Water Bar offers a good affordable alternative to the Zip HydroTap, with some cool and unique features. In this article, we compare the Zip HydroTap G5 Classic Plus to the BIBO water bar.
Both are ideal as home water filtration systems or office water dispensers, and this quick overview can help you work out which is the best filtered, chilled & boiling water system for you.
Both of these units have an industry leading multi-stage carbon block filter, with a capacity of 6000 litres. It removes dirt, sediment, chemicals like chlorine, heavy metals such as lead, and cysts, but retains beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium.
The BIBO Water Bar has the added advantage of having a UV purification system which kills bacteria and bugs.
The latest Zip HydroTap G5 Classic Plus, is a separate water tap installed at the sink, with their 'command centre' unit fitted under the counter. It offers filtered, chilled and boiling water and the retail price starts at $5,795 (source: www.appliancesonline, 2023). It requires installation by an approved technician which Zip can organise for you at an additional cost.
The BIBO Water Bar is an all-in-one compact counter top appliance that offers both filtered & purified, chilled, boiling and ambient water and retails for $1,298 including free shipping and 2 year warranty (source: bibowater.com.au, 2023).
Zip is a two-part fixed system, with an above-counter tap and an under-counter 'command centre' unit. This unit usually goes under a sink because it requires plumbing into the mains and a wastewater outlet, and housing in a cupboard with air vents to allow heat to escape. The command centre for the Zip HydroTap G5 Classic Plus is 28w x 47d x 33h cm. Plus the unit requires ventilation above and on both sides. So the space required under the sink is 38w x 47d x 53h cm.
The BIBO is an all-in-one counter-top unit that requires connection only to the mains via flexible ¼” piping. It can be placed anywhere that’s suitable for a bench-top appliance and has a footprint of 30w x 35d x 33h cm. Instead of needing a waste water outlet it has a detachable spill tray similar to a coffee machine. You don’t need to locate it right next to a sink and if you move house you can take it with you. This unit can dispense up to 90 cups of boiling water and 50 cups of chilled water every hour.
Both units require a filter change every six months. Replacement filters for the Zip HydroTap G5 cost approximately $300-400 a year and most people organise a technician to change the filter at an additional callout cost. The annual cost of replacement filters for the BIBO is $198 or subscribe annually for a filter pack and save 15%. Filters are very simple to change yourself. see video.
The Zip HydroTap G5 dispenses chilled water in a range of 3-6°C and boiling water at 98°C.
The BIBO water bar features a useful menu option which allows temperatures to be set to suit individual preference. It dispenses chilled water between 4-16°C, hot/boiling water between 70-98°C, and warm water between 30-60°C. This feature is useful if you want safe, heated, but not boiling, drinking water at a specific temperature, such as for herbal teas, to make baby bottles with baby formula, or make warm drinks for younger kids.
The only visible part of the Zip is the tap which comes standard in chrome. The tap is also available in a variety of optional design styles in black, brushed chrome, brushed gold, brushed rose gold, brushed nickel, gunmetal.
The BIBO water bar comes in a range of 10 popular colours that work with your renovated kitchen colour scheme, including Silver Chic, Black Classic, Rich Ruby, Red Hot, Active Orange, Yellow Shine, Serene Green, Cool Blue, Cultured Cream and Perfectly White.
The BIBO Water Bar has a unique UV lamp to purify the water which prevents the buildup of bacteria, removes all bugs and keeps the water clean.
Other features in both units include an energy saving mode, time/date display, and automatic reminder notices when it’s time to change the filter.
The BIBO Water Bar has a touchscreen panel that is easy to use and offers more menu options for those who like their technology. These include pre-set temperatures, programming a set cup size, and activation of a double child-lock to prevent misuse.
Other useful articles:
Read the BIBO review from the Water People
Read the BIBO review from Appliances Online.
Read BIBO water bar reviews on Google
Read User Reviews:
]]>It’s that time of the year again – cold and flu season is here.
But with good hydration and nutrition you can help prevent winter colds and flu.
When the temperature dives you should be drinking plenty of water, herbal teas and nourishing soups. Doctors say staying hydrated can help to stave off infections....
]]>It’s that time of the year again – cold and flu season is here.
But with good hydration and nutrition you can help prevent winter colds and flu.
When the temperature dives you should be drinking plenty of water, herbal teas and nourishing soups. Doctors say staying hydrated can help to stave off infections.
Water constantly flushes harmful toxins out through the lymph system.
And drinking hot black or green tea with lemon and honey is also a great way to keep germs at bay.
When you breathe in steam from hot drinks it stimulates the cilia – the hair follicles in the nose – to move out germs more efficiently. Lemon thins mucus, and honey is antibacterial – a perfect combination.
If you catch the sniffles in China, you are likely to be served ginger tea. Chinese herbalists have been prescribing this remedy for centuries. They claim ginger tea can miraculously cure colds, relieve headaches, combat nausea, improve circulation and fight certain viruses.
Not a tea drinker? Then any warm liquid – including chicken soup – can help relieve cold and flu symptoms. Heated drinks help loosen congestion and stimulate the flow of mucus, as well as keep you hydrated.
And researchers have recently discovered what grandmothers have suspected all along – that the ingredients in chicken soup (including the chicken stock, carrot, onion, and celery) might actually have a medicinal effect on the body’s immune system. Chicken soup was found to ease the inflammation caused by cold viruses.
But whatever you choose – tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soup or noodles – it tastes so much better with filtered, purified boiling water on tap.
A BIBO Water Bar delivers instant purified chilled and boiling water at the touch of a button.
There’s no waiting for that noisy kettle to boil. With BIBO you can make piping hot drinks and soups at any time – night or day.
So why not beat the winter blues this season with a BIBO.
]]>When you’re rushed off your feet from dusk ‘til dawn, me time is a luxury you can rarely afford. But taking a breather really shouldn’t be a luxury.
And it doesn’t have to involve making elaborate arrangements for a weekend away or full-day spa session (though both are still nice!). Just 20 minutes can be enough to unwind and feel refreshed.
And if you think you can’t spare the time, think again – taking a break makes you more productive, improves memory and boosts creativity, according to UK researcher Javier S Bautista.
BIBO has found five clever ways to step off the treadmill and wallow in some much-deserved leisure.
The most important thing to remember is that me time doesn’t just happen – you have to schedule it. Be proactive and give yourself some slots where you can switch off your phone and concentrate on you. No one need know and, really, nothing catastrophic is going to happen if you’re offline for a few precious moments!
If something provokes gnashing of teeth and prolonged hand ringing, then an impromptu bout of yoga can be just the thing to centre and find some inner calm. There are loads of sessions as short as five minutes for all standards on YouTube.
A warm mug of your favourite herbal infusion can lift the day’s weight off your shoulders. Make sure you don’t waste valuable time waiting for the kettle to boil! Having instant boiling water that’s filtered and purified by the BIBO Water Bar is so, so nice when you want to take a few minutes to yourself.
And if you are feeling a little under the weather with the flu, cold or a virus, you may want some other hot drinks to make you feel better.
A few precious minutes stretched out in a bath with essential oils, relaxing music and a scented candle can feel truly decadent. Take a book, set Spotify to ‘relaxing tunes' and leave the phone in the kitchen. A dreamy herbal tea is the cherry on the cake (actual cake works too!).
Getting out and enjoying a leisurely walk, taking slow deep breaths will nourish your soul and will make you feel alive. It’s not your usual Monday to Friday brisk to get your heart rate up! While you’re out walking, stop to notice the trees, the flowers and landscape around you – it will reduce your feelings of stress and ground you in the moment.
Get the kids to agree that Mummy/Daddy Time means one hour where they are not allowed to disturb you unless they are on fire! Not only that, but each of them must do one job that will save you some time – walk the dog, peel some veg, tidy their room, unpack the dishwasher or something else. Don’t get them to vacuum, though, as part of your 60 minute break might involved a sneaky nanna nap.
Now that you’ve had some wonderful relaxation time for yourself, it’s time to get out and have fun with your girlfriends!
READ MORE: How to beat workplace stress
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Controlling classrooms full of kids is a tough gig! Most teachers are on their feet for hours at a time, so dehydration is a common problem.
Few have time between lessons and playground duty to wait around while a kettle boils, so a BIBO Water Bar can be a lifesaver. It delivers unlimited instant boiling or chilled water that's been filtered and purified to perfection.
There's no purer, cleaner or more delicious tasting water.
Maintaining good hydration is critical in all walks of life, but it's very easy to become dehydrated quickly, especially in hot weather or during physical activity. Symptoms include fatigue, lack of concentration, poor performance, irritability, headaches, and dizziness – none of which are great for teaching!
Forward thinking school principals have realised the importance of keeping their teaching staff refreshed while at school. By renting a BIBO Water Bar for your school, it's a quick and convenient way for teachers to grab a hot mug of coffee or ice cold glass of filtered water.
The BIBO Water bar is a stylish, compact water dispenser that's perfect for busy teachers on the go, and can be rented for less than $2 a day with free shipping. There's even a free 30-day trial!
All it needs is a power supply and mains water supply and it's away!
School staff can use it to make a great tasting cup of coffee, tea, soup or instant noodles in just seconds, leaving them with more time to take a well earned break or get on with their day.
During summer months in particular having instant filtered, purified and chilled water available on tap is a bonus. Teachers can quickly fill their own water bottles to have on their desk or carry with them outside.
Filtered water from a BIBO Water Bar always tastes amazing, encouraging staff to drink more and stay healthy. And they're helping eliminate plastic water bottles from clogging up our environment.
Dozens of Australian schools already have a BIBO Water Bar installed. Here are just a few of them:
Brisbane Secondary College, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, International Grammar School, Andale School, Loreto College, Shore School, SCEGS Redlands, Monte Cecelia College, PLC College, Riverview College, Lourdes Hill College, St Phillips Christian College, St Peters Primary School, Radfield College, Moriah College, Kincoppal School and Tintern School.
READ MORE: Why filtered and purified water tastes better
READ MORE: What water filtration system should you buy?
(Conditions apply).
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]]>If it’s tap water you're drinking, you will most likely detect an unpleasant chemical odour and flavour caused by the chlorine that kills off organisms and bacteria.
Believe it or not, up to 50 different chemicals are added to Australian tap water! But before you spit out the mouthful you’ve just taken, there’s no need to panic as most there are completely safe.
You may even get the same whiff of disinfectant from bottled water as many brands are also treated with chlorine.
Filtered water is more popular than ever, not just because of its crisp, clean flavour, but because a whole range of contaminants have been removed to make it safe for the whole family.
Multi-stage carbon filters like the one in the BIBO Water Bar remove heavy metals, pesticides, sediments and dozens more impurities, while retaining the good minerals and fluoride.
Not only that, its purification system kills bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms using a unique ultra violet lamp that doesn’t affect the great natural taste of the water but ensures it’s 100% safe and bug-free.
That’s why in taste tests filtered water regularly tastes better than tap water.
Consumer group Choice say that tap water often has “the lingering taste and smell of disinfectant” if it hasn't been filtered. Although tap water is safe to drink, Choice reports that it can contain small amounts of pesticides, nitrates, viruses, bacteria, animal faeces and aluminium, which can affect the taste. All of them are safely removed by a BIBO Water Bar.
Bottled water companies spend millions trying to convince us that their water is the most delicious by using words like ‘mineral water’, ‘spring water’, ‘artisan’ and even ‘raw water’.
In fact, most bottled water is just repackaged tap water. In blind tastings, no one can tell the difference.
The ABC’s War on Waste show asked scientists to examine Australian bottled water and found it tended to be more acidic than tap water and contained fewer beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium. The study revealed that two leading bottled water brands would fail stringent tap water tests!
Another ABC report found bottled water can go off quickly and start “rotting” once it passes its sell-by date.
“Yes, bottled water can expire,” it warned. “It can go bad because it’s subject to the same aging effects as water that’s not bottled. The expiration date on bottled water is the point at which the additives will stop working and the water will become susceptible to the growth of microbes.”
You may think it would be impossible to taste the difference between various types of water once it’s been added to food, but most chefs disagree!
Fine dining restaurants routinely use filtered water for cooking to optimise delicate flavours in sauces and soups. When you boil up pasta, it naturally takes in the flavour of the water, and that can include any chemicals present.
Filtered water also used in breadmaking as the chlorine in tap water can kill the essential microorganisms in yeast meaning loaves don’t rise or become as fluffy. The contaminants in unfiltered water also increase the alkalinity and make the bread denser and less soft.
The best tasting Australian tap water is from Richmond Valley in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, a blind tasting organised by the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia in 2021 found.
The highest-rated water from each state went through to the national final in Hobart where the judges sloshed, sipped and sniffed them all to choose a winner.
One judge, Australian cricket selector George Bailey, said: “There was one with a touch of chlorine, I thought. One was a little bit saltier. One was quite earthy.”
So, even the very best tap water isn’t perfect!
Luckily, the BIBO Water Bar removes chlorine, salt and sediment to leave water tasting just right.
READ MORE: What is the best water filtration system for my home?
READ MORE: 7 reasons why your home needs a BIBO Water Bar
READ MORE: What is actually in a glass of water?
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Our bodies use water to flush out our digestive systems and remove waste, so it's vital to drink enough. But the type of water you choose can make a big difference. For the ultimate detox, purified and filtered water is essential, and the best way to ensure an unlimited supply is your BIBO Water Bar, Australia's leading instant hot and cold, filtered and purified water on tap!
You won’t need to install an expensive under sink filtration system or clog up the fridge with special filter jugs as it dispenses delicious, chilled water at the touch of a button.
Filtered water has so, so many benefits including removing chlorine, limescale, heavy metals and organic contaminants as well as eliminating the odour associated with tap water. It’ll also be the most delicious water you ever taste – many people are amazed when they first drink it and vow never to go back to the old stuff!
A lack of water can be the root cause of many chronic illnesses including asthma, hypertension, obesity, back pain, degenerative diseases, migraines and even depression, according to the best-selling book Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by Dr F. Batmanghelidj.
His pioneering research found that Unintentional Chronic Dehydration (UCD) is a major factor in the development of serious conditions and long-term pain. Simply increasing your intake can work wonders.
We all know tap water is more healthy than bottled water, but what’s even healthier is purified water. And if you have a BIBO Water Bar, you’ll be drinking the purest on the planet! Imagine a gushing mountain stream or a dusting of virgin snow on a meadow – well, believe it or not, it’s even purer than both!
There are strict standards for tap water in Australia, but they allow a certain amount of pollutants to remain such as chemicals, pesticides, lead, arsenic, viruses and bacteria.
Sometimes, the quality can dip alarmingly. Five years ago, an official report into the biggest water reservoir in the country, the Warragamba Dam found that pollution wasn’t being regulated properly and the salt content was unacceptably high.
In WA, high nitrate levels have been found, while in the NT, toxins from firefighting chemicals were discovered. An in-depth investigation by the ABC revealed toxic water in some communities and called for stronger regulation.
So purifying your family’s drinking water is important. Doing so also helps digestion and promotes clearer skin.
Whether you’re a gym junkie, devoted bushwalker, sea swimmer or Olympic runner, nothing is more important than staying hydrated.
And sports physios recommend drinking plenty of filtered water before, during and after exercise to regulate your temperature, lubricate joints, ensure nutrients and minerals reach all parts of your body and keep muscles supple. If you don’t drink enough, you risk cramp, dizziness and overheating.
Purified water actually helps athletes hydrate more efficiently as the body doesn’t have to process any contaminants.
It’s easy to see why health experts recommend several glasses of water a day when you consider how much of us is water. When you were born, you were 80% water and now you’re around 70%. As for your body parts, just look at how much of them is made up of H²O…
Muscles 75%
Blood 82%
Lungs 90%
Brain 76%
Even your bones are 25% water!
And pure, filtered water really is the best liquid to keep your body topped up. Sports and energy drinks have become very popular, but they're high in sugar and sodium so nutritionists don’t recommend them. It’s the same with high protein flavoured milk drinks that are packed with sugar, sodium and fat!
Unless you’re in the middle of a six-hour ultra ironman (or woman) challenge and need electrolytes, water is always best.
Your skin is the biggest organ in your body and needs plenty of water to protect you from the sun, keep you cool and prevent fluid loss. And, if you’re clever about how much you drink, it’ll keep you looking young and healthy in so many ways:
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READ MORE: 7 reasons why you need a BIBO Water Bar in your home
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Australian tap water contains around 50 different contaminants including traces of pesticide, bacteria, lead as well as chemicals like chlorine and ammonia.
All of which can give it an artificial, unpleasant taste, and, in rare cases, cause health problems.
That’s why so many people buy a water filtration system like the BIBO Water Bar, which has a multi-stage activated carbon filter that absorbs organic compounds to any nasties are removed, leaving the purest, most delicious water you’ll ever taste.
But not all water filters are created equal…
There are several options for filtering water at home, so it’s vital to understand the differences between them before buying one.
Some cost several thousand dollars, have to be installed by professionals and can’t be taken with you when you move house. Others do the same job, but are cheaper and more portable.
Bulky, under-sink units need to be plumbed into the mains and have a wastewater outlet. Most also need air vents to allow heat to escape. They have a tap that delivers either boiling or chilled water, but can’t easily be removed once they’re in. They have to be installed by an approved professional, who will also need to replace the filter at least once a year.
The stylish BIBO Water Bar is Australia’s No 1 all-in-one counter unit and just needs to be connected to the mains via a flexible ¼” pipe so it doesn’t have to be next to the sink. It has a compact 30 x 35cm footprint and doesn’t require a wastewater outlet. Changing the filter is easy - there's a step-by-step video here.
And when you move house, it can come with you.
It’s also the perfect water solution for anyone who has difficulty pouring hot water from a kettle or reaching for the kitchen tap as it’s operated by the touch of a button! Some customers have
The most common under-sink brands start at around $3,000, but can cost over $7,000 and have to be plumbed in by an approved professional for an additional fee. Replacement filters will set you back a further $270, and also require a plumber.
The BIBO Water Bar is $1298, with free shipping and a free installation kit. If you’d prefer to use a BIBO technician to connect it up, the standard charge is $325. An annual filter replacement pack is $198 (including postage) and you’ll save 15% if you take out a subscription. It’s also cheaper to run than under-sink units or relying on the kettle.
Filtering water gives it a clean, fresh taste and removes contaminants, but it’s also important that it’s disinfected as well.
The BIBO Water Bar’s unique ultraviolet filters kill harmful bacteria and viruses to leave it pristine and bug-free! Unfortunately, most under-sink units don’t purify the water.
A BIBO Water Bar allows you to dispense the exact temperature you need from chilled up to boiling in increments of 1°C. The delicate flavour of some herbal teas and coffees can be ruined if the water temperature is too hot, so you can make sure it’s just right every time.
The most popular under-sink units dispense either boiling or chilled water so there’s no option to adjust the temperature to choose warm water for kids’ hot drinks or very hot water that’s not quite boiling.
SHOP NOW: Explore BIBO’s range of colourful water bars
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If you’re eligible for assistance through the government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) then you may be able to make a claim for your BIBO Water Bar.
For those with mobility difficulties, filling a heavy kettle and then pouring boiling water into cups can be stressful and dangerous. Often, preparing a morning coffee or afternoon tea is only possible if a carer is on hand to help.
The beautifully designed BIBO Water Bar provides great tasting, instant hot or chilled water that's been filtered and purified at the touch of button.
You can now say goodbye to the kettle, water cooler, filter system, and bottled water and have unlimited filtered and purified water whenever you want and you will feel healthy and hydrated always.
The NDIS helps over half a million Australians live more independent lives by providing services including:
Several BIBO customers have successfully claimed back the cost of their water bar as a ‘consumable’.
Consumables are everyday household items that help a disabled person live independently in their own home. ‘Assistive technology’ includes equipment and devices that enable them to perform tasks that their disability prevents them from doing.
You can ask about claiming for a BIBO Water Bar in your regular NDIS planning meetings, or use funding in your existing plan. A water bar is categorised as ‘low cost assistive technology’ as its less than $1500 and doesn’t need to be bought from an approved provider.
The NDIS will look into whether what you’re planning to purchase represents good value before they grant approval.
To claim, you’ll need to demonstrate that your disability means you cannot safely use a regular kettle
You’ll find more information on NDIS claims here.
At the heart of the NDIS is a desire to improve the quality of life for those living with a disability – helping them to live happily in their homes, gain employment opportunities and have a rich social life.
If you think a BIBO Water Bar would help you or someone you know live their life to the full, call the NDIS helpline on 1800 800110 or email enquiries@ndis.gov.au.
READ MORE: Why people drink filtered water
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]]>The BIBO Water Bar is Australia's No 1 counter top water dispenser, providing great tasting instant hot and cold filtered and purified water.
Let's look at how it compares to the under-the-sink water systems, the Billi B4000 and Zip HydroTap.
All three units have advanced multi-stage carbon bock filters to remove dirt, sediment, chlorine, heavy metals such as lead, cysts and other chemicals. They retain beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium.
The BIBO Water Bar also has a unique UV lamp which purifies the water and therefore prevents the build-up of harmful bacteria.
A BIBO Water Bar costs $1298, with free shipping and a free installation kit. If you’d prefer to engage an approved BIBO technician to connect it up, the cost is $325 (standard installation). An annual filter replacement pack is $198, with free delivery, but you’ll save 15% if you take out a filter pack subscription. Changing the filter is a simple procedure. There's a step-by-step video here.
The Billi B4000 costs between $2783 and $2896 while the B5000 starts at $4118. It requires under sink installation, which costs between $385 and $434. Replacement filters are from $166 to $270, and most customers pay for a professional plumber to swap them over.
The range of Zip HydroTaps retail between $2995 and $7795 and must be installed by an approved technician at an additional cost. Replacement filters are around $280 and usually require a plumber to do the work.
The ongoing maintenance costs for both Billi products and ZipHydro Taps are more expensive than the BIBO.
The BIBO is the only one with a 30-day money back guarantee.
The BIBO Water Bar is an all-in-one counter unit that just needs to be connected to the mains via a flexible ¼” pipe. It has a compact 30 x 35cm footprint and doesn’t require a wastewater outlet.
It doesn’t need to be placed near a sink and, if you move house, it can move with you.
Billi is a two-part, fixed system with an above-counter tap and large, under-counter filtration unit (18 x 50 x 34cm) that requires plumbing into the mains and a wastewater outlet. Once installed, it can’t easily be removed.
Zip also takes up space under the sink (28 x 46 x 33cm) and requires plumbing into the mains and a wastewater outlet. It also needs air vents to allow heat to escape. It too isn’t portable.
The BIBO Water Bar is a perfect water solution for those individuals who have difficulty pouring hot water from a kettle or reaching for the kitchen tap. BIBO Water Bar is used by the touch of a button!
A BIBO Water Bar allows you to dispense the exact temperature you need from chilled up to boiling in increments of 5°C. The delicate flavour of some teas and coffees can be ruined if the water temperature is too hot, so you can make sure it’s just right every time.
The Billi and HydroTaps dispense either boiling or chilled water so there’s no option to adjust the temperature to choose warm water for kids’ hot drinks or very hot water that’s not quite boiling.
The counter top BIBO Water Bar is available in ten vibrant colours to suit any kitchen or workplace from dynamic blue, green and yellow to silver, pure white, red and black.
The only visible component of the Zip is the tap which comes in standard chrome. Other finishes including gold and gunmetal come at an additional cost.
The Billi B4000 comes in a range of different metallic finishes, including black, chrome and white, some for additional charges of around $500.
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All prices correct as of Jan 1 2023
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A BIBO Water Bar delivers instant boiling and chilled water that’s been filtered and purified to taste sensational. In fact, the only hard thing about buying one is deciding which of the 10 vibrant colours to choose!
So whether you’re planning to redecorate the family room, buy new furniture or install a brand new kitchen, don’t touch the paintbrush or credit card until you know which colours are set to become the must-haves in Australia’s most stylish homes. Here’s what we found out…
Internationally renowned artist and designer Yinka Llori is very excited about the colour he says will be in chic kitchens and day rooms for all of next year: orange. “I'm obsessed with it right now,” he gushes. “I use it so much in my work and home. It's important to live with hues that speak to you.”
BIBO choice: Active Orange
In the US, the whole interiors industry is on tenterhooks each year until Valspar releases its Colours of the Year. For 2023, it’s all about recovery, according to spokeswoman Sue Kim.
"We are not looking to escape, but consciously doing what is needed to future-proof and build our place of safety, comfort, and joy,” she predicts. "These thoughtful colours are focused on nature, heritage, and mindfulness."
Among those singled out are two pretty light blues. Blue Arrow promotes balance in the home, merging cool blue with a warm undertone, while Rising Tide is a much lighter shade that accessorises nicely with turquoise or a bright, light blue.
BIBO choice: Cool Blue
When it comes to knowing all about colour, there are few more qualified than Dulux, Australia’s biggest-selling paint brand and a local favourite since 1904.
The Dulux Colour Forecast is the most widely-read trend analysis and informs the thinking of stylists, interior designers and furniture manufacturers across the world. Senior forecaster Bree Leech say this year’s choices reflect the ongoing disruption caused by the pandemic as well as a growing desire for sustainability, authenticity and simple living.
“We’ve all reacted to the upheavals in different ways – some people crave lightness and whimsy, whilst others seek order and reassurance,” she explains.
Her team has compiled three palettes that mix subtle pastels and neutrals with playful, vibrant hues to brighten up kitchens, family rooms and work places:
The worldwide authority on consumer trend forecasting is WGSN. It gauges public opinion across 128 countries and lends its expertise to more than 6500 companies.
For next year, its team of lifestyle, fashion, interior design and beauty exerts has selected the on-trend colours and conducted research into how the are perceived. Among the hot tips are Luscious Red and Tranquil Blue, both reflecting a new found optimism about the year ahead after so much uncertainty.
BIBO choices: Rich Ruby and Cool Blue
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We all want to protect our families and keep them as fit and healthy as possible. And a great first step is to make sure all of them are gulping down enough H2O to stay hydrated, and that the water they consume is the cleanest and purest you can get.
Here are four reasons why we should all drink filtered water…
Various studies have shown that Australian tap water is healthier than bottled water, but there’s one thing that’s healthier still – filtered Aussie tap water!
There are strict regulations around water quality, but small amounts of pollutants such as pesticides, lead, copper, bacteria, cysts, and even pharmaceuticals can still be present in tap water. Then of course there's powerful chemicals added to tap water such as chlorine, ammonia, and fluoride.
Half of tap water in NSW contains lead, researchers at Macquarie University found in 2021, mainly due to old taps and pipes. One in 12 samples they took had levels above the maximum permitted, which could be harmful to young children. An in-depth investigation by the ABC in 2017 revealed toxic water in some communities across the country.
If your kitchen has a BIBO Water Bar, you’ll be drinking the purest water on the planet! The unique filtration system features a multi-stage carbon filter that removes tastes, odours, chlorine, lead, heavy metals and other contaminants.
Filtering water is an important first step, but there’s more you can do to a glass of water to make it even more sensational.
Ultraviolet purification destroys bacteria and viruses in water. Luckily, your BIBO Water Bar’s UV lamp keeps your water pristine and bug free at all times. Most customers are amazed at how much better their drinking water tastes.
Imagine a gushing mountain spring or a dusting of virgin snow on a meadow – well, believe it or not, it’s even purer than both!
Did you know there is 12 times as much bacteria on a kettle handle than on a toilet seat? Or that harmful bugs like E-coli have been found on electric kettles?
A series of studies have revealed that most people have no idea that the average kitchen is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and could cause serious health issues if precautions aren’t taken.
The day you buy a BIBO Water Bar is the day you wave goodbye (and good riddance) to the kettle forever. No more waiting around forever for it to boil, no more tangled cables cluttering up the work surface and no more herbal tea made from unfiltered water with that horrid chemical aftertaste.
There are still plenty of people who splash out a fortune on bottled water thinking they’re getting some sort of health drink.
Calling it ‘mineral water’ or ‘spring water’ makes it sound like it must be good for you - after all, we all need minerals. But numerous scientific reports have concluded that it has no additional health benefits, and can even have less magnesium, potassium and calcium than tap water.
Some contain higher levels of potentially harmful substances such as nitrates and chemicals released from plastic such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.
And remember when exfoliators used those tiny plastic balls to gently remove dead skin cells? Well many of them are now lodged in the guts of marine animals, slowly killing them. And these days, we’re the ones eating plastic – albeit microscopic pieces – if we’re drinking water from plastic bottles.
Up to 93 per cent of it contains microplastics, so nutritionists are now saying you need to filter any bottled water you buy!
Or, better still, don’t buy it.
Oh, and in case you’ve forgotten, plastic bottles are an environmental catastrophe. The energy used to manufacture one plastic bottle is the equivalent of filling it a quarter full with oil.
That one you grabbed on the way back from the gym will still be around in 450 years’ time. And, as half a trillion are bought every year and only a quarter recycled, that means there will be around 200 trillion of the things clogging up landfill, rivers and oceans before a single one has decomposed.
Whether it’s in tea, coffee, cordial or on its own, filtered, purified water really is the most environmentally friendly, healthiest, safest and yummiest choice you can make for your family.
READ MORE: The best hot drinks to fight off colds and viruses
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7 reasons why your home needs a BIBO Water Bar
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Why BIBO filtered water is the ultimate superfood
The best apps to keep you hydrated
7 fiendishly clever ways to refresh your kitchen
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The Mayans started drinking hot chocolate over 2500 years ago, but back then it had a bitter taste as they boiled up the cocoa with chilli and cornmeal. It was only when it arrived in Spain in the 1500s that a bright spark had the idea to stir in some milk and sweeten it with honey or sugar cane.
These days, one in eight Australians sups a hot chocolate at least once a week.
We at BIBO certainly can’t live without it, and decided to find some clever ideas that taste just as delicious using instant hot choc powder and steaming, filtered water from a BIBO Water Bar.
So grab your woolly jumper, light the fire and try one of these hot chocolates with a twist…
Three tablespoons each of spiced rum and butterscotch schnapps canoodle together in a tall glass with a dash of orange bitters for a real showstopper. Best of all, you make the actual hot choc bit instantly using store-bought powder and boiling water from your BIBO Water Bar so your lucky guests don’t have to stand around while you heat up the milk.
We’ve all tried cinnamon with apple, but it also works really well with orange or mandarin for a creamy cup with a bit of a kick.
Just take the zest of one orange, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a pinch of salt, and stir it into a pan of simmering instant hot chocolate. Add a dash of cream for an even more luscious texture.
READ MORE: The ultimate, most indulgent hot choc recipe ever!
Are you a fan of red velvety chocolate cake? Of course you are, and now you can drink it too! A sneaky dollop of cream cheese thickens up this outrageously decadent creation, while an even more sneaky shot of vodka will get your central heating system into gear before you reach the bottom of the mug.
Simply make enough instant hot chocolate for two people and heat it very gently in a pan. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract, four tablespoons of cream cheese, a cup of cream, splash of vodka and four drops of red food colouring. Top the mugs off with a swirl of whipped cream and grated white chocolate.
READ MORE: 7 reasons why your home needs a BIBO Water Bar
Salted caramel is everywhere these days, but this little beauty takes the flavour a step further with a satisfying nutty edge. It works with unsweetened cocoa powder or instant hot choc – just adjust the amount of sugar you add to taste. All you do is add four tablespoons of creamy peanut butter, two teaspoons of sugar and half a cup of chocolate chips to a bowl of hot chocolate that’s been left to cool for five minutes and then whisk or blend it – being very careful not to splash it on your hand in case it’s still hot.
Then add a pinch of salt, heat the liquid up in the microwave for one minute and serve with toasted marshmallows. Heaven!
The Mexicans were enjoying hot chocolate for centuries before we cottoned on, so they know a thing or two about getting it right. This recipe uses Mezcal, their national drink, but if you haven’t got a bottle lurking in the pantry, rum or tequila work just as well.
For enough to serve four, make up the instant choc drink in a saucepan then add two cinnamon sticks, a medium chilli pod, a quarter of a cup of Mezcal, a tablespoon of granulated sugar and 100g of dark chocolate chips. Heat until the chocolate has melted, strain and garnish with a cinnamon stick, chilli powder and chocolate shavings.
Dispense a mug of filtered water at 95 degrees from your BIBO Water Bar and add a level teaspoon of dried lavender. Leave it to gently steep for five minutes before straining out the lavender and stirring in the chocolate powder. Cocoa never tasted so fragrant!
READ MORE: Buy a stylish BIBO glass travel mug
You’ll wonder how you’ve survived this long without a mug of this rich, winter pick me up! For enough for three, make up enough instant chocolate in a bowl and add 540g of red wine and 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Stir it together and then serve instantly. Sprinkle some cocoa powder on top. If there are only two of you, still make enough for three!
The best hot drinks to fight colds and flu
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]]>In fact, a steaming mug of herbal tea or freshly-ground coffee made with filtered water can actually help fight colds, viruses and flu and reduce those aches and pains.
Granted, they may not be able to prevent COVID-19, but they'll make the days in isolation much more bearable. And, you're more susceptible to catching an infection if you're dehydrated.
The ancient Egyptians and Chinese learned the benefits of herbal infusions thousands of years ago. And, in recent years, dozens of studies have concluded that hot drinks really can help to fight colds, viruses and flu.
There’s even evidence that drinking plenty of liquid can prevent you from catching a winter bug in the first place. Breathing in the steam stimulates the cilia – the tiny hairs in the nose – to displace germs more efficiently, while a hot drink raises your body’s internal temperature, activating the endocrine system to flush harmful toxins out through your lymph nodes and sweat glands.
Hot fruit drinks ease sore throats as well as reducing shivering and tiredness, according to one major study. And hot chocolate is packed full of enough antioxidants and essential minerals to boost your immune system, neutralise free radicals and aid circulation to help you on the way to a full recovery.
Click here for the ultimate hot choc recipe that you can make in an instant with delicious, filtered water from your BIBO Water Bar
However, perhaps the best known therapeutic drink is herbal tea. In China, if your nose is bunged up, you’ll be handed a cup of ginger tea which is thought to relieve headaches, fight viruses and ease congestion. But there are dozens of tea flavours that have medicinal benefits.
1. Clear passages – Elderflower tea can help with a blocked nose, heavy coughs and reduce the symptoms of asthma.
2. Cure a cough – warm fluids loosen the mucus that cause irritating coughs and sooth the sore throat that often comes with spluttering. A spoonful of honey in any infusion does wonders, but brews such as marshmallow root, green tea and thyme have also been shown to reduce symptoms.
3. Fight a fever – elderflower, yarrow and lemon balm are all great for hydration and to strengthen your immune system as sufferers often lose their appetites. For children, a more gentle choice is catnip.
4. Improve digestion – infusions such as chamomile, cinnamon and peppermint break down fats and speed up the emptying of the stomach of any excess mucus.
5. Boost immunity – try echinacea, elderberry or liquorice to protect against oxidative stress and build up immunity to viruses. Remember the BIBO Water Bar uses UV light to purify and filter water, killing any micro-organisms.
6. Reduce inflammation – ginger is one of the best teas to treat soreness, joint pain and swelling due to its main component, gingerol. Rosehip, meanwhile is packed with vitamin C, which can be depleted by a cold.
7. Slow cell ageing – when we’re unwell, our whole body can suffer, but the antioxidants in many infusions such as sage or lemon balm prevent free radical damage and can even help make your hair and body look and feel younger.
8. Relieve anxiety – chamomile has a calming effect, and can act as a mild anti-depressant for those feeling stressed. It also helps those afflicted with insomnia, which is more prevalent when you are sick.
9. Lower blood pressure – the natural chemicals in hibiscus can reduce pressure on the heart and kidneys with no negative side effects.
10. Improve skin health – when you’re stuck in a dark bedroom with little sunlight and a lack of airflow, your skin can become sallow and prone to acne. Teas like Rooibos, spearmint and chamomile have antibacterial properties so can help either through drinking them normally, or applying them as a compress to the skin.
Remember, that all herbal infusions taste better with pure, filtered water from a BIBO Water Bar. You'll get instant boiling or chilled water on tap at the press of a button.
But it’s not just teas that help fight colds – coffee is rich in antioxidants so boosts your immune system. According to a study by researchers at Bristol University, coffee can also make you feel less groggy when you are struck down with a cold.
READ MORE: Why filtered water from your BIBO Water Bar is the ultimate superfood
Fancy a traditional hot toddy to help ward off or fight colds? Well, ingredients such as hot water (set your BIBO Water Bar to around 90 degrees), lemon juice and honey can all ease symptoms, and while there’s no proof that a wee dram of whisky has a tangible health benefit, it might make the long hours in bed a bit more bearable! Try adding a cinnamon stick or infusing the mixture with a little fresh grated ginger for extra flavour. For a non-alcoholic alternative, use green or black tea instead of the whisky.
Keeping your kids safe at school
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How about demonstrating your love in a meaningful way by finally finishing that household project that’s been hanging around forever?
It could be a broken window frame, dripping tap, filthy shower screen or unpainted spare room ceiling. Maybe it’s been months since anyone bothered to properly clear the oven.
Whatever it is, get in the tools you’ll need in good time, start nice and early and surprise her. She'll be even more thrilled than that time you got her an oversize 'World's Best Mum' mug.
Yes, she’ll smile and thank you for a beautiful bouquet of flowers or box of yummy Belgian chocs, but sadly both will be a distant memory within just a few days. What if, instead, you bought her something that will go on making her life better for literally years.
A the touch of a button, a stylish BIBO Water Bar delivers unlimited boiling and chilled water that’s been filtered and purified to taste absolutely delicious.
Your mum will love not having a kettle cable cluttering up her worksurface or plastic bottles of water taking up valuable space in the fridge - it's the affordable and portable Zip alternative with no messy installation needed. She’ll be able to make an instant peppermint or chamomile tea, or dispense a cooling glass of cordial
Yes, you could attempt to conjure up her favourite coronation chicken or eggplant curry, but, let’s face it, the odds of success aren’t great. Instead, arrange for her dinner of choice to be delivered from a local restaurant using one of the many delivery apps available.
With only a few plates to wash up afterwards, there’s more time for a family board game or for her to finally watch Season 2 of Emily In Paris without a chorus of unsubtle tutting and mumbled comments about missing the footy.
READ MORE: 7 reasons why every home needs a BIBO Water Bar
These are springing up all over the country and are a fun and relaxing way to bond as a family. You all sit around an object like a vase of roses and a professional artist gives tips and advice on bringing it to life through paint. A couple of glasses of Pinot Gris will help release your creative juices... or help cushion the blow when your still life receives less than positive feedback from particularly cruel family members.
To find one near you, Google things like Champainting, Pinot & Picasso, Sips & Strokes and Cork & Canvas.
We can thank the pandemic for the hundreds of new interactive online classes. From the privacy of your own lounge, you can enjoy flower arranging, pottery, needlecraft, cooking, cocktail making and painting. Whatever it is that Mum loves doing, you can bet it’ll be available somewhere!
If you have family members living all over the country, or even all over the world, they can all take part in the same class and have a (polite) giggle at each other’s efforts!
READ MORE: 6 biggest myths about water
For centuries, picture frames have had an irritating design flaw – they can only fit one picture. And, even if you have an original Monet hanging over the fireplace, at some point you’re going to get a bit, well, bored of it.
Enter the electronic photo frame! Stick a bunch of your family snaps on a USB drive, and your mum will have a slideshow of dozens of smiling photos. Not only that, every time you visit, you can replace them with exciting new ones to surprise and delight her. Just don’t be too crushed when you pop over and find it unplugged with a photo of your brother’s kids shoved in front of the frame.
Hopefully between you, your siblings and your dad, you have some idea of her taste in music, so why not put together a playlist on whatever streaming service you have for her to listen to in the house or car. It’s a touching idea that she’ll appreciate, and it won’t cost a cent.
It’ll also be nice background music for a relaxing coffee.
Just don’t be too offended when she replaces the slushy Barry Manilow tracks you were convinced she loves with Billie Eilish and Ed Sheeran.
This year’s 7 must-have kitchen appliances
5 reasons why every office needs a BIBO Water Bar
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A BIBO water bar means no more endless minutes waiting around for the kettle to boil. No matter how many mugs of tea and coffee you need to make, there will always be enough freshly boiled water at the touch of a button. Not only that, you won’t have to worry about the kettle making your work surface look untidy.
Oh, and when we say you can ‘kiss’ it goodbye, we don’t mean literally as kettles can be a breeding ground for germs! Did you know that 12 times more bacteria live on a kettle handle than on a toilet seat?
You can find out more easy ways to keep your kitchen germ free here.
We’ve already established that you’ll no longer need a kettle cluttering up the kitchen, which is great news because a BIBO water bar is more economical to run with its dual power saving settings. Plus, you won’t have to waste any more money on bottled water.
It’s also around a third of the price of common under-sink boiler/chiller systems.
Talking of bottled water, we all need to urgently stop drinking the stuff. Half a trillion plastic bottles are bought every year around the world and only a quarter are recycled. Most will still be around in 450 years’ time! In Australia alone, an incredible 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste finds its way into our rivers every year.
And then there are the health concerns. Around 93 per cent of water bottles contain microplastics and many experts now recommend filtering it before giving it to kids.
So switch to a stylish BIBO reusable glass bottle made from toughened borosilicate glass. It keeps cool drinks cool and fits easilly into your bag or car drink holder.
BIBO’s unique filtration system features a multi-stage carbon filter that removes chlorine, lead, heavy metals and other contaminants. And filtered water can also help with digestion as it makes it easier to distribute natural minerals around the body and process soluble fibre.
Your BIBO water bar not only filters water, its UV lamp makes it the safest, purest water you’ll ever drink. It removes the unpleasant taste of unfiltered tap water and vastly improves the flavour. Most customers are amazed at how much better their drinking water tastes.
READ MORE: Why water from your BIBO water bar is the ultimate superfood
There’s more to achieving infusion heaven than drowning a bag in a mug and bashing it around a bit until the colour changes. If that sounds like you, then it’s time to turn over a new leaf.
Firstly, the chemicals in tap water will ruin the delicate aromas and sensations in some fruit or herbal teas so make sure the filtered water you use is crystal clear and pure.
Next you have to get the temperature right. The subtle essence of chamomile and lemon balm only need water that’s between 76 and 80 degrees as boiling water destroys the intensity of the infusion. Oolong, meanwhile, 82 degrees is just right, while black varieties need it to be boiling to maximise the flavour.
With its sleek lines and choice of 10 vibrant colours, a BIBO instantly becomes a centrepiece of any kitchen. It replaces the kettle, water cooler and bulky filtration unit so is the ultimate de-clutterer.
FIND OUT MORE: how to buy a BIBO water bar today!
Up to 80 per cent of Aussies regularly suffer from dehydration, with most not even realising they have it, according to a recent study. It can cause headaches, lethargy, muscle cramps, constipation, lack of concentration and mood swings. Unsurprisingly, three-quarters of parents admit they are worried their kids don’t drink enough water.
But with instant chilled water on tap 24/7, all of the family is more likely to keep their bodies topped up. Over 85 per cent of customers report that they’ve been drinking more water since they bought one.
The BIBO water bar is the ultimate one-stop, refreshment station. Doesn’t your family deserve one?
The best apps to keep you hydrated
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Parents and teachers are enduring one of the most disruptive and stressful years they've ever had to face, with COVID outbreaks forcing many kids to isolate.
Vaccine shortages have meant not all 5-11-year-olds are fully vaccinated, while many older kids will still be waiting for their booster.
Rules on who needs to take a RAT, quarantining periods and what defines a close contact vary between states and the advice seems to change daily so it’s no wonder parents are worried.
BIBO has researched some tangible things you can do to help keep your kids safe in the classroom.
Younger children are bound to be anxious when they hear about a disease spreading and people getting ill. A good strategy is to ask them what they already know and if they have any questions. That way you’ll know if they’ve been exposed to any false information.
Be truthful and follow their lead – some will be very curious and bombard you with questions while others might not be that interested.
You can let them know that kids are less likely to get infected than adults and that, even when they do, they don’t feel as unwell. For most, it will be like a mild cold that will be over in a few days.
There’s no need to tell them this next bit, but out of the 270,000 children who were infected with COVID in Australia before January 19 this year, five have died, including at least one who may have had underlying conditions. The risk is very small, particularly as Omicron is a milder variant than its predecessors.
READ MORE: 10 tips to keep kids safe in summer
The most important thing you can do to keep your kids safe is get them into good habits. Wearing a mask can be very annoying for a little boy or girl, so get them used to wearing them at home by setting a good example yourself. You could even buy some funny or colourful masks so they enjoy showing them off to their friends.
And we all know that you’re supposed to sing ‘Happy birthday’ twice in your head as you wash your hands, so why not use their favourite song instead? Find one that works, and they’ll be much more likely to comply. Make sure they hear you belting out your song of choice when you wash your hands!
We’ve always taught our children that sharing is the right thing to do, but we need to update the messaging a little. Explain that the virus can be spread if they share their food and drink with their friends, so they need to be extra careful. Always make sure they have a reusable bottle filled with filtered water that has their name on it in their bag and that no one else must use it. You can admit that it sounds a bit mean, but it’s really important to protect them and their classmates.
One thing is certain – when they’re at school, they're going to hear a lot of information and tall stories about the virus from friends, social media, teachers, older kids and TV. Ask them every day after school what they’ve heard, and talk about what the real facts are. It doesn’t help that there are so many adults, politicians and celebrities spreading lies and conspiracy theories!
READ MORE: What’s actually in a glass of water?
Despite all the rules about social distancing, you’re not realistically going to stop them running around the playground and playing games. Nor should you. Physical exercise builds a strong immune system and will help them fight a virus. Check their water bottle after school and, if they haven’t drunk enough, give them a glass of chilled and purified water from your BIBO water bar and another one with their tea.
Kids will often tell you they’re OK, when, deep down, they’re really worried. The pandemic has disrupted their routine and they’ve almost certainly picked up on your anxiety. Look out for tell-tale signs that they’re struggling such as:
This is a very stressful time to be a parent! If you’re struggling to cope, don’t suffer in silence. There are plenty of organisations who can help with support and advice.
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Family Relationship Advice Line: 1800 050321
Lifeline: 131114
This summer’s hottest new mocktails
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Every year, 5000 kids are rescued from unattended cars in Australia. On a 30 degree day, the temperature inside a car can reach 60 degrees, with three quarters of the rise occurring in first five minutes alone.
And leaving the windows open a crack makes precious little difference – only about five degrees or less. Kids' temperatures rise three to five times faster than adults, so they can become very ill very quickly.
It’s also illegal, with fines of up to $22,000.
Make sure your child has a reusable bottle of filtered water by their bed in case they’re thirsty. And if it’s really hot and you don’t have air conditioning, let them sleep on a mattress in the coolest room in the house.
READ MORE: Why the new BIBO² is the ultimate water bar
By the time a child is thirsty, they’re already at least three per cent dehydrated so, if they’re running around on a hot day, schedule water breaks every 20 minutes and insist they gulp down a few mouthfuls before they continue. Teens often mistake thirst for hunger so will snack instead of hydrating.
If you have a BIBO water bar, there’s unlimited instant, chilled and purified water on tap all day long.
It’s not just about hydration – water also cools a body down, transports nutrients, aids digestion and improves cognitive function.
If you’re having a BBQ, make sure any leftover food is put in the fridge as soon as possible. Kids are always on the lookout for tasty treats like sausages and burgers, but they could become very ill if they eat meat that’s been left out on a hot day for more than four hours.
READ MORE: The surprising hidden dangers lurking in your kettle!
Even the best eskies can’t cool down hot food enough to prevent bacteria growing. Cook quiches, pies and meat the day before, refrigerate overnight and take plenty of ice packs and frozen bottles of water.
Even if they've had a drink, children can still become dehydrated very quickly. If they’re breathing faster than normal, feeling dizzy, complaining of a headache or seem lethargic, then you need to act.
Other signs to look out more include a heartbeat of more than 110 beats per minute and dark urine. If you’re in any doubt, get them to hospital immediately.
READ MORE: The 6 best apps to keep you hydrated
Back in the day, we all loved showing off the deep, brown tan we’d cultivated on our hols or under a sunbed. Kids got sunburnt every summer and we got through enough aftersun to soothe a family of African elephants.
The result? Well, we all know a fair few shriveled seniors, pebble-dashed with sunspots and melanoma scars and canyon-like wrinkles, and we have the worst skin cancer rates on the planet.
Even today, more than half of those treated in hospital for sunburn are kids. “Sun exposure in the first 20 years of life determines to a substantial degree a person’s lifetime potential for skin cancer,” SunSmart head Heather Walker says. “A bad sunburn for a child can be dangerous.”
Keep factor 30 in the car and by the front door and use it all year round.
Kids should wear wraparound sunglasses from the earliest possible age. Even babies can be taught to get used to having them on when they’re out. Make sure they’re labelled AS1067 as that guarantees strong UV protection.
READ MORE: This summer’s hottest, on-trend cocktails
Just because your little boy is under a tree in the shade, doesn’t necessarily mean he's safe. UV rays can still get to his skin. Thousands of children get sunburnt on cloudy days each year.
If all a child consumes is sugary soft drinks, there’s a risk they’ll overheat. There really is no substitute for fresh, filtered and purified water. The occasional glass of homemade lemonade is another good option, but make it with chilled water from your BIBO² instead of soda.
READ MORE: FREE BIBO water bar trial for schools
This summer’s hottest new mocktails
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The BIBO² really is the ultimate Christmas present. For a fraction of the price of other instant water systems, you get chilled and boiling water at the touch of a button that’s been purified and filtered to perfection.
But don’t wait to unwrap it on Christmas morning. If its installed before the big day, it really can be your best festive friend.
Here’s why
Greet your guests with a truly Christmassy smell by putting a stick of cinnamon, three star anise, a few cloves and some lemon and orange rind into a bowl and dispensing instantly boiling water into it. It can be drained and refilled multiple times.
READ MORE: Why the BIBO2 is the best ever water bar
If you’re dusting off the silver cutlery and find that months in the bottom drawer have left it tarnished, there’s no need to panic. All you require is some aluminium foil, baking soda, salt and vinegar. Instead of waiting for the kettle to boil, use the BIBO² and your knives and forks will be good as new in two minutes. Here’s how to do it.
READ MORE: The hidden dangers in your kettle
All that present opening, chocolate scoffing and backyard cricket can be exhausting, and you don’t want the children guzzling litres of Coke and lemonade all day, so having instant chilled water on tap means they can keep hydrated without astronomical sugar intakes.
Bread sauce, custard and gravy can all be made early and put into a thermos to keep them piping hot. But you need to make sure you’ve pre-heated the thermos first, and the best way to do that is fill it with very hot water for a few minutes first. Don’t pour in boiling water in case it shatters any glass. You can set your BIBO² to the exact temperature you need, in this case around 90°C.
READ MORE: How to enjoy more 'me time'
While the adult are sipping champagne, give the kids a healthy summer mocktail with plenty of fruity goodness. There are seven sizzlingly delicious (an easy!) recipes here that use instantly chilled water.
Your hardworking fridge certainly takes the strain on Christmas Day. With all that food, wine and beer, there’s no space for bottles of water. Instead, fill a jug straight from the BIBO² with a slice of lime and plenty of ice.
A Christmas pudding needs to be steamed for hours so you have to keep an eye on the water level. Instead of boiling the kettle every time, just dispense some boiling water from your BIBO²
If there’s a danger you’ll run out of something vital mid meal, simply have packets of dried gravy and stuffing mix standing by. All you need is boiling water and your guests will never know there was an issue. Same for custard on the Christmas pud.
READ MORE: Design gurus reveal the colours of 2022
Christmas isn’t just your favourite time of year, bacteria love it too! All that raw turkey, prawns and joints of ham mean you have to be super careful about your cutting boards. A simple wipe with a damp flannel isn’t going to cut it. If in doubt, pour over boiling water and wipe it thoroughly with washing up liquid.
And if the sink gets clogged up at the most critical time, a litre of boiling water often does the trick.
At the end of an orgy of overindulgence when the last of the pav has been decimated and all that’s left in the bowl of Celebrations is a half-eaten mini Snickers bar, you may think your work is done.
But as you sink into sofa and try to ignore the chocolate hand prints, suddenly the cry goes up ‘I’d love a nice coffee’. Within seconds, the order has become five mugs of Bushells blue label, two peppermints teas, four coffees and two decaffs.
Boiling enough water for that lot would give the kettle a hernia, but it’s a breeze for the BIBO². And don’t waste vital charades time grappling with the coffee machine – these days instant coffee is just as good and, more crucially, much easier.
This year’s 10 hottest summer cocktails
What’s actually in a glass of water?
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There’s a lot more to water than just water. It may be clear, colourless and tasteless, but that doesn’t mean it’s nothing but hydrogen and oxygen molecules intertwining happily.
Here, BIBO takes a deep dive into what you’ve been pouring down your throat all these years, and finds some easy ways to make sure your refreshing tipple is the purest there is.
At least 50 different contaminates are added to Australian tap water! But before you spit out the mouthful you’ve just taken, there’s no need to panic as most are designed to make it safe to drink.
Chlorine, for example, reduces the number of bacteria, fluoride protects our teeth from decay and aluminium helps remove unwanted substances. All are completely harmless.
The only problem with chlorine is that it can give the water an unpleasant taste. The best way to filter it out is with a BIBO² water bar – and there’s no need to worry about the bacteria it's supposed to kill as they're removed as well!
You'll be amazed at how much better your water tastes too!
We breathe in more bugs from tap water than we do from our toilets, according to a study by the University of California. Their researchers found that only 0.4 per cent of airborne bacteria originate from the toilet bowl while nine per cent are from tap water.
The vast majority won't cause us any issues, but, if you do want to make sure the drinking water in your house doesn’t contain any unsavoury critters, it’s super easy to have it purified and filtered.
Remember when exfoliating shower gels used tiny plastic balls to gently remove dead skin cells that then flowed harmlessly down the plughole in the shower? Well, millions of marine animals might question just how harmless they were as the pesky things lodged in their guts and slowly killed them.
These days, we’re the ones eating plastic – albeit microscopic pieces.
A study in the UK this month estimated that we could all be ingesting 7000 pieces a day!
Meanwhile Australian researchers revealed in 2020 that we each consume the equivalent of a credit card in plastic every week! It comes from carpets, bed linen, toys, food packages…and plastic bottles.
As 93 per cent of water bottles contain microplastics that have seeped from the bottle into the liquid, experts now recommend filtering it before drinking it.
Or, better still, don’t buy it!
Australians splash out over $2 billion a year on bottled water, many wrongly thinking it’s better for them.
If you’re particularly gullible, you can purchase BLVD natural spring water, sourced from 20 metres below Tasmania, for a mere US$180 for nine bottles! At least the bottles are glass, but we recommend tap water (which costs less than one cent per litre) and buying a nice reusable glass bottle to carry it around.
When bottled water is called ‘mineral water’ it makes it sound like it must be healthy. After all, we all need minerals. But numerous scientific reports have concluded that it has no health benefits, and can even have less magnesium, potassium and calcium than tap water.
And some contain higher levels of potentially harmful substances such as chlorine, nitrate and bisphenol A, a chemical released from plastic.
Oh, and in case you’ve forgotten, plastic bottles are an environmental catastrophe. The energy used to manufacture one plastic bottle is the equivalent of filling it a quarter full with oil.
READ MORE: How to make your work space a happy space
READ MORE: Design gurus reveal the colours of 2022
Half of tap water in NSW contains lead, researchers at Macquarie University found, mainly due to old taps and pipes. One in 12 samples they took had levels above the maximum permitted, which could be very dangerous for young children.
The filtration system on a BIBO² includes a multistage carbon filter that removes any lead that may be lurking in the water.
The best apps to keep you hydrated
Mental health: let’s be there for each other
7 fiendishly clever ways to refresh your kitchen
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Does all water taste the same? How much do you really need to drink? What does filtering actually do? Are you dehydrated? Do you get water on the brain from a tap on the head!? We have the answers to (nearly) all these as we explore the biggest water myths.
This old chestnut has been around for years and is completely false. Tap water is much more strictly regulated than bottled and tested to ensure it meets very stringent quality criteria.
The World Health Organisation has highlighted potential dangers from microplastics that leech into bottled water. In one study, 93 per cent of samples were contaminated with different types of plastic.
As for minerals, tap water contains just as many, if not more, and costs 2000 times less!
READ MORE: Why BIBO is the ultimate water bar
Tap water may be super safe, but it doesn’t always taste so great. Additives like chlorine can give it an artificial, chemical flavour while organic matter, metallic minerals and sediment can make it stale and unpalatable.
The first thing most BIBO customers say when they buy a BIBO² water bar is that they can’t believe how great it makes their water taste! Many had bought it to get instant chilled or boiling water without realising how the unique purification and filtering processes transform the taste.
A flashy TV ad featuring a top sports star pushing the latest fluoro-blue, electrolyte-infused energy drink is enough to wow most teenagers into believing they’ll only win their next match if they gulp several of them down as they play.
But do they really give you superpowers?
Er, no. For a start, sports drinks are almost entirely water, with a few carbs and a sprinkling of potassium and sodium. You’d be better off eating a banana!
When it comes to hydration, unless you’re competing in an iron man challenge or marathon, water is just as effective, and better for you as it doesn’t contain sugar, which often leads to weight gain.
This is the water myth that refuses to die! Every man, woman and child must consume eight glasses a day, and if you feel thirsty you’re already dehydrated and should really know better.
No one really knows where this idea came from, but it’s definitely not true.
“When we need water, we feel thirsty,” Stuart Galloway, associate professor in nutrition at the University of Stirling says, “so drinking when you’re thirsty maintains your body’s water level within about one or two per cent of its ideal state. Even for athletes, a loss of around one per cent has a negligible impact upon performance.”
Of course, when you do feel a bit parched, it helps if you have chilled, filtered water on tap!
Now, we’re not going to claim that we’ve uncovered a magic panacea to deflate your ‘lockdown belly’, but there are plenty of scientific studies that say it can be a big help.
Over 40 per cent of us piled on the COVID calories, gaining an average of 3kg, so we’d be grateful of anything to get us back on track.
A US study found that having fresh, chilled water at hand means you’re less likely to reach for the biscuit barrel. It’s an appetite suppressant, helps burn calories, removes waste from the body and is necessary to expel fat cells.
Simply replacing the 140 calories in a can of Coke with the zero calories in water every day could mean you lose a kilo every couple of weeks.
This seems like it should be true, but sadly it’s not. Our kidneys filter toxins from our bloodstream into our urine, and water doesn’t make them function any more effectively.
In fact, drinking a lot of water can make things worse as the kidneys have to concentrate on processing that instead.
Our advice is to focus on the quality of the water, not the quantity.
6 best apps to keep you hydrated
mental health: lets me there for each other
7 fiendishly clever ways to refresh your kitchen
how to make your workspace a happy space
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Are you dehydrated right now?
No? Well, how can you be so sure? It’s estimated that 80 per cent of Australians suffer from dehydration, but nearly all of them have no idea!
They assume that the only symptom is thirst, but actually there are loads - feeling lethargic, having trouble concentrating, dizziness, bad moods, cravings for sweet things, trouble sleeping and headaches.
One problem is that many assume they're actually hungry instead of thirsty so snack instead of drinking and end up putting on weight. Others go for alcohol or highly caffeinated drinks, which can make the dehydration even worse.
The best solution by far is to drink fresh, filtered water that’s been purified to remove any nasties. Water really is a superfood to flush out toxins, boost energy and lower stress. The average person needs around two litres a day, and more if they’ve been exercising or it’s particularly hot.
But help is at hand!
We’ve found six free apps that'll keep tabs on your intake and let you know when your body needs a refill.
READ MORE: 7 clever ways to keep kids hydrated
As the name suggests, this sends alerts to let you know the exact amount you’ve drunk that day so you know how much you have left to go. It’s simple, easy and works with Google Fit.
If you need a little motivation to get sipping then this might be perfect. It’s also simple to personalise with your age, weight, sex and lifestyle.
Should you wish to share your hydration successes with friends, then look no further! You can also track consumption over two weeks, enter any type of beverage, custom your cup sizes and lots more thrilling things. It’s free for Android users, but $7.99 on iPhones.
Complete with attractive animations and a range of sound effects, this really is the one with all the bells and whistles... and an impressive 5.0 rating on the App Store. It’s also keen to point out how scientific it is in calculating just how much H2O you need to ‘make the world a better place’. Bless!
READ MORE: Why the BIBO² is the ultimate water bar
OK, so, as you might be able to guess, this one is less concerned with your perspiration and fluid intake and more worried about whether you’ve watered the peace lily. Well, actually, make that a virtual peace lily, as you have to keep the digi-plants healthy by drinking yourself.
If you’ve gone easy on the aqua, your poor plants wither, shaming you into gulping down some more. Choose from a selection of super-cute species with human eyes that get very sad if you haven’t been knocking back enough glasses.
And talking of houseplants, did you know, that they thrive more if they're given filtered water? If you have a BIBO² then you’re sorted as it dispenses pure water that’s been purified and filtered to perfection.
Always use room temperature water (around 20°C) for plants - you can set the BIBO² control to any temperature, so it’s easy as.
If your plants could talk, they’d thank you!
Not the snappiest name, but this one does get very excited when you reach your liquidity quota for the day and throws a full on celebration in your honour!
Of course, the best way to remind yourself to quaff some delicious, chilled water is to have a stylish BIBO² as the centrepiece of your kitchen. The only issue will be deciding which of the 10 vibrant colours to choose!
Mental Health Month – let’s be there for each other
7 fiendishly clever ways to refresh your kitchen
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