I have been seeing SodaStream sparkling water makers everywhere these days. SodaStream promotes itself as a company that makes water exciting – encouraging you to drink more water by making water fun while being sustainable.
When I first saw these machines I thought it was a way for people to make their own homemade pop but after actually trying it, it really merits itself as a sparkling water maker. The water it makes is just as good as the sparkling water you would buy and you can make whatever drinks and cocktails you want with it.
Models such as the SodaStream Play and SodaStream Source start at $99.99 and $129.99 respectively but there are some models that cost as much as $249.99. They are super easy to operate and don’t require any electricity or batteries. SodaStream also provides a plethora of accessories that you can buy for it including extra carbon dioxide canisters, carbonating bottles a large number of flavoured syrups.
The folks at SodaStream Canada sent me a SodaStream Play sparkling water maker as well as a flavour sampler pack that I could use. The machine was super easy to operate. I tried several of the SodaStream flavours as well as a few of my own. I tried the SodaStream orange flavour (tasted just as good as orange Fanta), lemon-lime (I still prefer the taste of 7UP) and diet pink grapefruit.
I also tried a few flavours from the new SodaStream FREE line which are free of artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners and preservatives making the SodaStream sparkling water maker a way that you can make ‘healthier’ carbonated beverages (especially if you are trying to wean yourself off of regular pop). I even made my own cocktails by adding mint, simple syrup and lime or cranberry juice to make mojitos or cranberry spritzers.
Although I am impressed by the number of flavours that are available on the market, they aren’t as good as the flavour of pop you would buy in stores. It’s hard to replicate the flavour of Coke and 7UP (I’m sure the actual formula is some sort of trade secret). The citrus/fruit flavours aren’t bad however.
However, the SodaStream machine does produce sparkling water that is just as good as the sparkling water you would buy in stores such as San Pellegrino (and with the SodaStream sparkling water maker you can make your water as fizzy as you like). Plus you don’t have to worry about lugging cases of water to your home.
Although a canister of CO2 comes with the SodaStream sparkling water maker when you buy it, additional CO2 and flavoured syrups need to be purchase once you run out. The CO2 canister can carbonate 60 L of water and additional canisters cost $35.99 (you can also bring them to places that will refill it for $15-20). Flavoured syrups cost $6.99-$9.99 per bottle and can flavour up to 6 L of sparkling water.
I would definitely recommend the SodaStream sparkling water maker to people who already buy sparkling water on a regular basis and are looking for an economical (and sustainable) alternative in the long run. However, I would not recommend the SodaStream sparkling water maker to individuals who want a cheaper alternative to their favourite sodas because the flavours just aren’t the same (despite the amount of choice that is available).
The SodaStream sparkling water maker is great for people who:
- already drink sparkling water on a regular basis
- constantly entertain or create drinks/cocktails that require carbonated water
- would like to drink more sparkling water but have concerns about the environmental impact from buying bottled water
The SodaStream sparkling water maker is not a good option for people who:
- are looking for a cheaper alternative to pop (the flavours just aren’t the same)
- don’t drink sparkling water frequently enough to make it worth the investment
Having said all that, I would love to see SodaStream sparkling water makers available in workplaces next to the coffee machine (especially the ones that use those coffee pods that need to constantly be replaced – how sustainable is that?)
The SodaStream sparkling water maker is a great option for people who prefer choose to drink sparkling water at work instead of coffee or tea. It would be great to have for corporate wellness and would definitely be a big step up from the traditional water cooler.
Do you have a SodaStream sparkling water maker? Does it encourage you to drink more water? Let us know in the comments below.
Disclosure: Products featured in this post were provided courtesy of SodaStream Canada. All opinions are my own and 100% genuine.