Make Your Own Soda with Sodastream

A while back our family received a Sodastream soda maker to try out. I really wanted to make a video so you could really see how cool it is, but obviously that didn't happen. I'll do my best to tell you in writing why I love this little gadget!

Our family does not drink a whole lot of soda, which usually means that when we do get a little craving for some, we don't have any on hand. Having the Sodastream has been so nice! We're able to make our own soda whenever we want some, and since the soda is made in one liter bottles, we don't end up feeling like we have to drink a whole ton of soda.
The process of using the Sodastream is extremely simple too. The thing you see on the left of the picture above is the carbonator (CO2 cartridge.) It should be inserted into the cylinder on the back of the machine. Once that is in place, it will only take a minute or two before you can serve freshly made soda! Fill one of the special bottles with cold water and screw it into the Sodastream. Then pull the handle on top of the machine rapidly over and over until there is a loud buzz.

(Don't be afraid to keep pulling. The first time we used the machine we kept pulling and pulling and pulling, asking each other every once in a while, "Do you think that was a buzz?" We were so sure that the thing was going to blow up! In fact, we decided we'd better stop. So we very cautiously unscrewed the bottle, and...nothing happened. We tasted the water, and it tasted like flat seltzer water. Lesson learned: don't be afraid to keep pulling. When it buzzes you will know.)

After you hear the first buzz, pull the lever again until you hear a 2nd and a 3rd buzz. The water should now be fully carbonated. All you need to do now is add a cap of flavoring and turn the bottle upside down very gently to mix it in. (Don't EVER try to find out what happens if you add the flavoring first and then carbonate it! Come over and look at my ceiling some time, and you'll realize that is not a good idea.)

In a nutshell, here are my overall thoughts on the Sodastream:

Things I like:

• The regular flavors contain no high fructose corn syrup, and the diet flavors contain no aspartame.
• I liked the taste of all the flavors that I tried. For whatever reason, my favorite was the Diet Pink Grapefruit.
• It's very quick and easy to use. It is also much more convenient than purchasing store-bought drinks.
• There is no trash to discard afterward.

Things I dislike:

• Eventually the CO2 cartridge will run out, and I will need to exchange it for a full one. One cartridge will carbonate about 60 liters. To the best of my calculation that will be quite a bit cheaper than store bought soda, even when counting the cost of the flavoring. It's just harder for me to spend that much in one lump sum on soda that we don't drink all that often. For someone who drinks a whole lot of soda, I do think it would be worth it price-wise.
• I'm a dishwasher kind of girl, and the bottles aren't dishwasher safe.

You can purchase Sodastream machines and accessories at their online store or use the store locator to find a Sodastream retailer in your area.

Disclosure: I was provided with a free Sodastream machine, carbonator, and flavorings for the purpose of this review. All opinions are 100% my own.