Full disclosure: I’m not a fizzy water fan. I don’t understand why it’s an option at restaurants. I don’t know why people buy flats of the stuff. And until very recently, I wasn’t sure what all the hubbub about SodaStream was; after all, one device just for fizzy water?
Here’s the thing, though: it’s not just water. SodaStream does a huge range of carbonated beverages—all your standard pops, juices, tonics, and more. We tested out the SodaStream Power ($180), and here’s what we thought.
What We Like
It’s easy to use. One button operation, three fizz levels. Is “fizz levels” a technical phrase? Don’t care, that’s what we’re calling it.
It looks sleek. You won’t be embarrassed to have this on your counter.
You can make cocktails with it. We’ve shared a few in the past.
The economics make sense (most of the time). Buying pop gets pricy, and lugging it around is certainly no fun. One SodaStream CO2 cylinder is good for sixty litres of liquid, and refills cost about twenty bucks. Mix costs about seven bucks and it’s good for twelve litres.
There’s a great range of flavours. Cola, lemonade, fruit juice, ginger ale, tonic . . . the list goes on. Want that diet, sugar free, or caffeine free? They’ve got that covered too.
There’s a snap-lock mechanism. The device operates only when the bottle is locked in place. You won’t have any CO2 and water-related mishaps.
What We Don’t
We don’t like the root beer. Is that a petty gripe? Yes. But if there’s a particular type of pop you like and the flavour of the SodaStream version just isn’t the same, you’ll probably stick with your preferred flavour. So we keep a couple of four-packs of Dad’s Old Fashioned and use the SodaStream for fruit juice and cocktails.
It’s pretty tall. Too tall to fit under most wall units. Keep that in mind if you’re in a condo.
The Bottom Line
If you’re a pop addict, like to keep an eclectic pantry, or you love entertaining, this is the machine for you. However, if your household doesn’t consume much in the way of fizzy drinks but you still like the idea of spending less on them, maybe check out the other sparkling water makers.
