If you enjoy carbonated water, you’ve seen how pricey it’s become in the last 5-7 years. A 25 oz bottle of Perrier used to cost a dollar at my local grocery shop; now, it costs $1.79. So if you drink a lot of bubbly drinks, it can soon build up to a large sum of money. The good news is that you can create your carbonated water for pennies a gallon.
I’m using the terms carbonated water, seltzer water, and just seltzer interchangeably because they all signify the same thing: forcing carbonated water with CO2 cylinders. In addition, some individuals have asked me if it is possible to produce club soda at home. Yes and no, respectively.
Club soda and seltzer water are quite similar. However, there is a significant difference between the two. The flavour of club soda is increased by adding mineral-like substances such as potassium bicarbonate and potassium sulphate. Yes, you can brew your club soda at home if you have a way to add those minerals to your water (for example, by utilizing a re-mineralizing water filter that adds those exact minerals). Otherwise, it’ll just be normal seltzer water. While I feel that club soda and seltzer can be easily swapped, some contend that the taste difference is discernible.
SODASTREAM
SodaStream Fountain Jet Home Soda Maker Starter Kit was the logical first choice to investigate, and I was impressed by what I saw – a small package, ease of use, and outstanding ratings. It promised to be a very good seltzer water producer and exactly what I needed. I loved what I saw, so I bought it and successfully utilized it till I updated to the next level water carbonation setup.
SodaStream accomplishes its job, and it does it well, in my opinion. It’s a small sparkling water maker with appropriate carbonation. So if you want a small and portable DIY carbonated water maker, SodaStream is the way to go.
When utilizing SodaStream’s $15 refills, the cost per litre ranges from $0.25 to $0.4-$0.5, depending on the level of carbonation desired. In addition, the cost of using an adapter and a paintball C02 tank will range from $0.05 to $0.1 per litre, depending on the quantity of carbonation and the number of loud buzzes you experience during carbonation.
PROS OF SODASTREAM:
- Adults will find it relatively simple to operate.
- Very transportable
- Very small
- Reasonably well-constructed
- Excellent carbonation
- A relatively inexpensive initial cost of approximately $80 (for the base level SodaStream), plus $20-60 for the adaptor and $20-25 for the paintball CO2 tank.
CONS OF SODASTREAM:
- Children may find it challenging to use, but you can assist them, and it is enjoyable to do it together.
- Three strong buzzes per the instructions are insufficient to generate decent carbonation similar to store-bought carbonated water. So I’d go with 5-6.
- Changing the level of carbonation requires guessing and experimentation.
- CO2 refills are relatively pricey at $15 per unit, although there are some savings in the end. With the modification mentioned above, there is a great chance to reduce the cost of carbonation.
- Pre-chilling water is required for faster and more effective carbonation.
- Remember to keep the carbonated water in the fridge to keep it cool.