Soda Stream

[MelBay]

Found a Soda Stream thread from last year but wondered if anyone has anything to add.

I've been trying to give up diet pop, and am now sort of making my own, using club soda, Kola Extract, Tart Cherry syrup, and Stevia drops.

The issue is that the club soda, even in the 1 liter bottles, looses most of its pizzaz after it's opened the first time. I even bought one of those pumps to try to keep it fresh.

Just wondering if it's worth $79.99, plus cartridge refills, to have really fizzy pretend soda.

 

[ScoopKona]

Found a Soda Stream thread from last year but wondered if anyone has anything to add.

I've been trying to give up diet pop, and am now sort of making my own, using club soda, Kola Extract, Tart Cherry syrup, and Stevia drops.

The issue is that the club soda, even in the 1 liter bottles, looses most of its pizzaz after it's opened the first time. I even bought one of those pumps to try to keep it fresh.

Just wondering if it's worth $79.99, plus cartridge refills, to have really fizzy pretend soda.

No it's not worth it. Not at all.

Not when you can buy a CO2 bottle, a regulator, a cornelius keg, and make your own soda water. You can swap the CO2 bottle cheap at any hydroponics store. The Soda Stream's proprietary system will end up costing so much more than a corny keg and a CO2 bottle.

I've been making soda water my entire adult life this way.

 

[DaveNV]

Mel, my spouse is a Refund Cashier at Costco. I'm told they gets lots of those returned by dissatisfied customers. YMMV. Buyer beware.

Dave

 

[stmartinfan]

We're still satisfied owners after several years. We don't use ours to make soda, just carbonated water for drinking.

 

[wackymother]

We drink gallons of seltzer, but we couldn't justify the cost. Seltzer is rather inexpensive in our area, and the tap water isn't that great, plus we don't have enough counter space as it is....

We also don't like diet soda or the artificially sweetened syrups--we thought the flavored soda would be really good, but we tried it at a demonstration and it turns out that Sodastream uses half sugar and half Splenda (I think? Can't remember which sweetener) in their syrups, so the soda tastes pretty bad to us. The demonstrator said we could go to Whole Foods to buy all-sugar syrups, but those are a specialty item.

 

[wackymother]

Found a Soda Stream thread from last year but wondered if anyone has anything to add.

I've been trying to give up diet pop, and am now sort of making my own, using club soda, Kola Extract, Tart Cherry syrup, and Stevia drops.

The issue is that the club soda, even in the 1 liter bottles, looses most of its pizzaz after it's opened the first time. I even bought one of those pumps to try to keep it fresh.

Just wondering if it's worth $79.99, plus cartridge refills, to have really fizzy pretend soda.

Could you buy your seltzer in cans? They sell six-packs at our grocery store.

 

[learnalot]

Found a Soda Stream thread from last year but wondered if anyone has anything to add.

I've been trying to give up diet pop, and am now sort of making my own, using club soda, Kola Extract, Tart Cherry syrup, and Stevia drops.

The issue is that the club soda, even in the 1 liter bottles, looses most of its pizzaz after it's opened the first time. I even bought one of those pumps to try to keep it fresh.

Just wondering if it's worth $79.99, plus cartridge refills, to have really fizzy pretend soda.

I can't speak about the soda stream but I can sympathize about your dilemma. A few suggestions...if you want soda, there is a brand made with Stevia called Zevia that is decent. I think the Ginger Root Beer is the best of the flavors. The cola is ok. Didn't really like their version of Dr. Pepper even though I wanted it to be good. Beyond soda, I have been buying packets to put in my water bottle. Hansens makes some sweetened with Stevia and Crystal Light has a version without Aspartame called Crystal Light Pure. It uses stevia as well. Finally, Costco off and on carries berry flavored green tea packets called healthy to go. When they don't have them in the warehouse, I have ordered from the manufacturer online

 

[MelBay]

learnalot:

Didn't really like their version of Dr. Pepper even though I wanted it to be good.

I found Zevia at the store today, and have to agree that the DP was not all I hoped it would be.

wackymother, I'll look for club soda and/or seltzer water in cans. That's a good idea.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Transit]

I can't comment on the cost effectiveness of SodaSteam but after using it for several months I do like having it around. My favorite flavorings are the Mio water flavorings added to the seltzer.
I wish I could find a flavoring like Manhattan Special Coffe soda.

This is good also

Mind Eraser recipe
2 oz vodka
2 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
2 oz seltzer

Pour vodka, kahlua, and tonic water into a rocks or old-fashioned glass. Serve with a straw.

 

[wackymother]

Or you could get this kind of seltzer maker:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846

These use those little CO2 cartridges and you just dispense a glass at a time.

 

[Ken555]

Mel, my spouse is a Refund Cashier at Costco. I'm told they gets lots of those returned by dissatisfied customers. YMMV. Buyer beware.

Dave

I haven't returned mine to Costco! I think it's great.

 

[DaveNV]

I haven't returned mine to Costco! I think it's great.

And that means you're one of those who mileage has varied. I don't own one, but saw them at Costco and asked about it. The immediate reply was, "We don't want one of those - too many of them come back." I've learned over the years not to argue with my Refund Cashier. Who else would have a better idea of what Costco customers like?

Dave