Should I get a Sodastream?

[Anonymous]

I like it and it's great if you mostly want to make your own soda water. I agree with prior posters that the syrups, while they don't taste bad, taste different, like switching from come to RC cola or from Skippy to JIFF. So if you're going to be annoyed you're no longer tasting the real thing, it might bother you. I have noticed the syrups tend to be slightly lower calorie than their coke equivalents, but I would not exactly call them healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other companies that make soda making machines?

There are others but SodaStream is the dominant player now and given that you need to replace the CO2 cartridges periodically, it's smart to stick with SS due to ease of CO2 return/replacement (think propane tanks style). BUT, Green Mountain Coffee, which makes the Kuerig machines, just signed a deal with Coca Cola to collaborate on a competitor carbonation machine that will allow actual Coke syrups to be mixed at home. So, depending on how much you like actual Coke, this new machine might be worth waiting for ... although at $70, it's a very affordable appliance while the new machine is developed.

[Anonymous]

I think there are some kickstarters too for individual soda makers

[Anonymous]

I have had one for three years and never use it. After hearing the positive testimonials, I think I am going to pull it out. As a pp said, it will not replace actual Coke or diet Coke. It is just not the same.

[Anonymous]

How much are the CO2 cartridges and how often does it generally need to be replaced. In the long run, is it cheaper than seltzer?

[Anonymous]

The cola flavored are terrible, gave me stomach trouble. Otherwise works fine, but we stopped using it after a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much are the CO2 cartridges and how often does it generally need to be replaced. In the long run, is it cheaper than seltzer?

Yes! We exchange the cartridges at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and use a 20% coupon and it brings it down to $10 (maybe $15?). We use ours everyday, sometimes twice, and I think it takes us about 3 months or so to go through a cartridge. We have a spare cartridge so we wait until both are empty to exchange them. We only make plain seltzer though, not the "sodas" which require more CO2 pumps. So much easier (and lighter!) than carrying home seltzer from the store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much are the CO2 cartridges and how often does it generally need to be replaced. In the long run, is it cheaper than seltzer?

Yes! We exchange the cartridges at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and use a 20% coupon and it brings it down to $10 (maybe $15?). We use ours everyday, sometimes twice, and I think it takes us about 3 months or so to go through a cartridge. We have a spare cartridge so we wait until both are empty to exchange them. We only make plain seltzer though, not the "sodas" which require more CO2 pumps. So much easier (and lighter!) than carrying home seltzer from the store.

Thanks for the info! Where do you purchase the bottles from? Does BBB carry them too?

[Anonymous]

Definitely cheaper than seltzer if you drink a lot of it.

[Anonymous]

Is the sparkling water comparable to Perrier or Pellegrino?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the sparkling water comparable to Perrier or Pellegrino?

perrier&san pellegrino are mineral waters, so they do have a subtle taste difference from plain seltzer (what sodastream makes)..I like Perrier, but the taste difference isn't really enough to make me pay the higher price for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the sparkling water comparable to Perrier or Pellegrino?

No, it is more carbonated and it tastes like whatever water you put in the bottle. I suppose you could put still mineral water in the bottle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't - Sodastream is an Israeli company made by Palestinians in the illegally occupied West Bank. I wouldn't touch Sodastream with a ten foot pole because of this.

Which makes it taste even better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much are the CO2 cartridges and how often does it generally need to be replaced. In the long run, is it cheaper than seltzer?

Yes! We exchange the cartridges at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and use a 20% coupon and it brings it down to $10 (maybe $15?). We use ours everyday, sometimes twice, and I think it takes us about 3 months or so to go through a cartridge. We have a spare cartridge so we wait until both are empty to exchange them. We only make plain seltzer though, not the "sodas" which require more CO2 pumps. So much easier (and lighter!) than carrying home seltzer from the store.

Thanks for the info! Where do you purchase the bottles from? Does BBB carry them too?

yes

[Anonymous]

If you are in MoCo Strosniders has them too.