DIY Soda with SodaStream™ Fizz Home Soda Maker
SodaStream offers over 25 regular, diet and caffeine-free soda mix flavors to choose from and you won’t believe just how much healthier SodaStream drinks really are. Here is just a sampling based on an 8 oz. serving to give you an idea of the difference SodaStream can make:
You can click here for a full comparison chart for those interested.
Installation and Making the Soda is Easy as 1, 2, 3.
Putting together the SodaStream machine was simple, just remove the back of the machine and screw the CO2 canister in before replacing the back of the machine. From there you are ready to start making soda in your own home.
To make the soda you want to fill the reusable bottle that comes with the SodaStream with water and then chill. Next use the tilt lever on the machine to easily screw the bottle in. Carbonation is as easy as pressing down on the ledge of silver plastic you can see in the photo below. This injects CO2 into the water.
Next use the tilt lever again and unscrew the bottle. Tilt the bottle to pour in the flavour of your choice, put the cap on the bottle and slowly agitate. You now have Soda ready to enjoy!
Just a note… refrain from putting the syrup in the bottle and then carbonating. You will make the biggest mess of your life… including your first birthday. Seriously, I speak from experience.
What’s Different about the SodaStream Fizz?
SodaStream recommends 3 injections of CO2 as a “normal” amount of carbonation however I found that wasn’t enough for my tastes. Luckily though you can make it as carbonated as you want and the fizz chip makes it really easy to gauge just how carbonated a drink you are making.
The fizz chip is an LED display on the front of the SodaStream Fizz. It not only shows you the strength of fizz in the drink you are making but it also helps keep track of the level of gas in your CO2 canister. This should help avoid any embarrassing situations like running out of CO2 during a party!
SodaStream also offers a large variety of flavour mixes and syrups. Thanks to the Sample pack we were able to try out quite a few for the purpose of this review. We tried Cola, Sugar Free Cola, Ginger Ale and Pink Grapefruit. The Cola flavour was good, it reminded me of what Coca Cola tastes like in the Caribbean/Mexico. The Sugar Free Cola wasn’t my favourite at all, but I really don’t like the Sugar Free versions of anything. Splenda isn’t my thing. For those who prefer Sugar Free though, you should be happy with the flavour.
Ginger Ale and Pink Grapefruit were really great. I loved the fresh tasting flavour from these two.
Does the Fizz Last?
One thing I was really curious about was how well the level of carbonation lasted. I’ve read review after review of people complaining about the carbonation not lasting long in drinks they’ve made. Now I am not sure what they figure as being “long” and since even store bought bottled pop loses it’s fizz once opened I was thinking they must mean within a few hours.
So I tested this for myself.
I injected the CO2 5 times into my water as that is the level of carbonation I prefer. I had a drink right away and it was perfect. Later that day I had another small glass and didn’t notice any decrease in the level of fizz.
So three days later I opened that bottle again knowing that realistically a bottle wouldn’t last that long in any normal pop-drinking household. You know what I found? It was just as fizzy as day one. I declare the complaints about this as silliness. Stop throwing the bottle around or leaving it open on the counter and you won’t have a problem with it losing fizz.
And it’s Environmentally Friendly too!
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the SodaStream machine does not require electrical power or batteries. I don’t know why but I thought it would. Not only does this save money on electrical usage and battery purchases but that is wonderful news for the environment.
SodaStream doesn’t stop there either when it comes to being green. SodaStream claims that just one Reusable BPA-free bottle equals thousands of plastic bottles.
“One SodaStream carbonator makes 60 liters or 180 cans of beverage and is then re-filled to be reused. One SodaStream reusable bottle can make as many as 50,000 liters of carbonated drink.”
Do you have a SodaStream? Do you love it?
WE LOVE our soda stream! Best invention ever!
I am so happy to see this post for my girls have asked about this product several times. I am glad to know it actually works, and what fun!!!
I definitely thought you’d need to plug this in. Delighted to hear the company created something economical & green!
I have wanted to try this for awhile…. but really didnt trust any reviews about it, until now…. thanks!!!! I know what I’ll be asking Hubby for, for my Birthday!!! Thank you so much.
I’d love to hear what you think when you get yours Kim!
I haven’t tried sodastream yet. I have seen so many positive things about it in the blogosphere though, I would love to – hubby and I are pretty fond of soda as well!
Wow, I have heard of Soda Stream before but never read a review. My husband drinks sooo much soda, this would save a good deal of money. Good to hear the fizz lasts. I had a 2L bottle of Diet Coke go flat over night with the cap on!
I was really surprised by how well the fizz lasts, I have some going right now that I made about a week ago and it hasn’t gone flat at all!
Cool machine i like that it is eco friendly
Oh funny how I thought it would be a plug-in appliance too! Hmmm this open up prime kitchen real estate I thought I had to give up to bring this baby home! Great review. Thanks for sharing.
Hah! I knew I wasn’t the only one who thought that! lol
I don’t have one and I love Diet coke–I need to try it out-thanks for a great review-especially all the pictures-I wasn’t sure how it works and now I know!
I would love to make these for the boys over regular pop. I wish my kitchen was a little bigger for more gadgets lol
You know what, I leave mine in the box in a cupboard out of the way. I have a tiny kitchen too!
I love this idea, I should check it out as hubby drinks a lot of pop
Love our sodastream – can’t wait to try this new version. I have saved so much money and waste from using this product. A definite must have
I’m glad you love ours too! I can’t believe I didn’t try one until now.
I’ve heard so much about soda stream over the last couple of years and heard nothing but great things, definitely going to have to try this.
We love our SodaStream and we sent one to Germany with my cousin when they were stationed there last summer.
We have a soda stream and enjoy it. It’s easy to make specialty flavors with it that we wouldn’t normally buy.
I so want one of these. I have been wanting one for the longest.
I am so anxious to try this! It sounds fun and tasty too.
I’ve been wanting to try this! Sounds really good!
I would love this. Santa forgot it at christmas paradiseinmiami@aol.com Fran Major
I’ve used my sister’s Soda Stream before and LOVE it! Helpful tip – you can use Mio for your syrup! Another sugar free option 🙂
I’d really like to get one of these, to save on cost, waste, and to have so many flavors available. I don’t mind not supporting Coke or Pepsi, either!