I have a confession to make: if I didn't worry about what my friends and family would say to me, I'd probably drink soda all day, every day — I love it that much. So when I got my hands on SodaStream's Soda Maker, a SkyMall-like contraption that claims to "turn tap water into sparkling water in three seconds," I knew I'd be in for some fizzy fun.
According to Soda-Club, the company behind the machine, the SodaStream is more convenient (since you make soda instantly at home) than buying soda, less troublesome (no need to lug soda bottles), healthier (no high-fructose corn syrup), economically sensible, and better for the environment. Did the soda maker stand up to its claims? Find out when you read more.
I received a starter kit ($99.99) with a Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker, a 110-liter carbonator, two carbonating bottles, and an assortment of diet soda flavors and sparkling water essences. Following instructions, I assembled the machine, which requires no electricity, in under 10 minutes. To make soda, you fill a carbonating bottle with water, screw it into the machine, press a button four times to create fizz, and pour in some flavoring.
The soda machine is certainly easy to use, less troublesome to transport, and better for the environment. After the initial cost for the machine, a cup of soda will set you back less than $0.10. As far as taste, however, this is no match for store-bought soda.
The pop flavors (which included diet cola, diet grapefruit, diet cranberry-raspberry, and diet root beer) taste artificial with an odd aftertaste, and the bubbles aren't as fine or long-lasting as canned or bottled soda. "It's like Italian soda meets Crystal Light," a friend lamented. The flavored fruit essence drops taste even less natural. The soda bottles, despite being BPA-free, aren't dishwasher-safe.
If you're a heavy club soda drinker, or frequently make Italian sodas with traditional syrups, then this machine would actually be a good investment for you. But if you're a regular canned Coke drinker, the soda system's syrupy flavors won't likely be the replacement you're hoping for. Have you ever tried SodaStream? Did you come to the same conclusions about it?
Betsey Johnson
I had one of these when I was a kid in the 80s. it got boring fast.
1My ex-boyfriend had a soda maker and I loved that thing. It wasn't this brand but it worked really well.
2For turning water into sparkling? I don't think I ever tried. This was the 80s and sugar was GOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
3I did try to double bubble it once (tried fizzing some previously sparkling water that had gone flat) and it went everywhere. My dad then explained to me why it did that but I had passed out from lack of sugar.
But you have to be super careful when you pour in the flavouring to the fizzed water. It was the Diet Coke/Mentos trick of the 80s.
4Bummer. I was hoping you would say it's awesome! Because I love the bubbles.
5i turn water in seltzer ALL day long. so fun! it's almost ruined regular water for me. but my mom has warned me that all that carbonation might be bad for my bones.... truth?
6I have one of these and it is great for sparkling water. You can make it as fizzy as you want and it's a lot cheaper than Perrier. I agree that the soda flavors are gross but I only bought it to make sparkling water anyway.
7Hey Allie - tinterweb says false - http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/feb/02/water.food
8i can hardly see how MAKING soda is more convenient than lugging 2L pop home from the store! hello grocery carts and cars!
9Cool - I've been eying a soda maker at Williams Sonoma and wondering how that would work. I was thinking it would be easier and cheaper than cases of Pellegrino, which are a pain to lug in and store (I can go through a couple of bottles a day).
10Neat.
11If I had the counter space, this would be on my list of "to buy when the budget permits."
12that's awesome - i love things like this. it's like the 'make it at home beer' brewing thing.
13to ski gurl --- actually, this is really simple! you just push the button a couple times and voila! seltzer. and you have the added benefit of less pollution cause you're not going through all those bottles each week (i was up to 12... ugh! so much recycling to do).
and thanks for the link segat!!
14we got this exact one at the office.....sent it back within a couple of weeks :thumbsdown:
15I have one (another brand) and while I don't like the flavors I loooove making my own club soda. I mix it with pomegranate juice (and sometimes rum)- yum.
16I have one ad love it! But I don't drink soda. I use it for club soda which I consume in mass quantities. That and friends love to make their own when the come visit. I think it's totally worth it.
17My friend's parents have this and I didnt really like it. They used it all the time.
18i love mine as I don't need to lug the heavy bottles as much. I still prefer REAL diet coke but i have figured out if I buy the REAL diet coke syrup from like sam's or costco it is more delish. I do still buy 2 ltrs as well so I use it more as a backup then my primary source of soda.
19What's the deal with diet drinks. Go for real syrup. At least at home you can add as much or as little as you like. We had a Soda Stream Soda Maker when I was a kid in the 80's and it was great. The flavours were real and I loved making creaming sodas. my health is good and my teeth are all in tact so the sugar thing did not spoil me in any way. Mum just limited us to x quantities of bottles per day. We especially used it over the summer months. It can get pretty hot in Australia. I loved it.
20You ordered diet cola, diet grapefruit, diet cranberry-raspberry, and diet root beer and they tasted artificial?
Umm.. hello!
21I bought it a couple of weeks ago. We like it. My husband likes it very "bubbly" and it tastes like Perrier. I like it not so "strong", wait a little.
Why should I buy such stuff as diet something etc? pour a few drops of lemon juice," bubble" some tea, be creative!!!
Everything would be great if I hadn't heard the fabric is in cisjordania colonies...
Hope peace will come with the bublles...
22I purchased the sodastream last week and here's my review:
1. I'm not positive but I think the soda fountain the above posts are talking about was a single little cartridge about the size of ones thumb. This uses a much bigger cartridge (It comes in two sizes) so you get more than one bottle per cartridge.... much much more.
2. The flavors are like what you would get in a diner or restaurant. Probably because that's how it's made in a diner or restaurant.
Nobody is locking you in on THEIR syrups either. If you don't like the way their syrups taste, shop around on the internet. There's plenty of companies that sell syrup. Try buying vanilla syrup in the food market for starters.
As for diet soda, sure it's going to taste artificial because, uhhhhhhh, it's artificial flavoring????
Whoever wrote the article above obviously didn't read the directions properly because if he pushed that button 4 times as he said he did and didn't find the soda fizzy, then he probably had an empty cartridge or didn't hold it down long enough on each push.
The cola soda tastes great. Vanilla soda tastes great. Cream soda tastes great.
For those that were unhappy with the sodastream, all I can say is, it makes soda, good soda... what else were you looking for?
23Yes, this is definitely something worth gushing about.
We love this product- its a shame more American families are not aware of being able to make your own soda and seltzer at home.
I saved $10 using a coupon for one of these machines at http://makeyoursoda.com
24I would have to say that this product is definately worth the money. I myself am a fan of seltzer and soda. There is nothing better than fresh home made soda. With SodaStream Soda Makers you can put as much syrup as you like. Here is where i bought mine: Seltzer Maker
25SodaStream is definately worth buying. Who wouln't want to make your own soda. I've used this for a while now and I can't imagine living without it. I got mine at http://www.seltzer-maker.com
26I just got one for xmas, I love it. I love plain sparkling water so it's ideal for me, I can make a bottle of it in the morning to take to work or just drink it whenever, I'm not even bothering wtih the flavours. Bit worried about the cost of the replacement cylinders though, they seem pricey. But the water (I put as much fizz in as it can handle) is way nicer than any store bought soda water!
27I just got my Sodastream and it works great. The only problem is, all of the flavors taste like diet drinks because of the nasty Splenda aftertaste. They need to use high fructose corn syrup for the "regular" flavors and Splenda for the "diet" flavors for people concerned about their health. That seems like a pretty simple fix that would increase their sales dramatically.
28I found Dr. Pepper and RC syrup at a major wholesale distributor. I can't wait to try it.
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