Sodastream Carbonating Soda Machine

Sodastream Drinks Makers carbonates your own mineral water

The Sodastream systems were originally invented by an Englishman named Guy Gilbrey, in 1903. It was a machine to carbonate water at home, and became a big hit in the 70’s and 80’s.  It was then out-competed by low-price drinks, and was finally killed off by 1.5 litre PET-bottles.  Now Sodastream is back, based on a combination of several factors:

  • People want to reduce their intake of sugar
  • Water carbonated at home is a lot cheaper than buying pre-carbonated drinks
  • Environmental awareness is growing.  The environmental footprint of transporting carbonated drinks from factory to store, and then from store to people’s homes is completely unwarranted
  • All the troubles of empty bottles and recycling
  • People are drinking more sensibly, with soda pop consumption on the decrease and mineral water on the increase

Sodastream and other carbonation machines are undoubtedly coming into their own.  Carbonating your own water is a lot cheaper than buying carbonated beverages from the store.  The low price of carbonic acid means a lot, and in addition you get environmental benefits, as well as not having to haul heavy drink bottles home or empty cans back to the store.  But what really means the most is that aromas for carbonated water from Aromhuset works well with Sodastream, and all other soda machines, and even with purchased carbonated water.  Several Swedish producers of carbonated water have had great success with flavouring carbonated water.  This is simply because flavoured carbonated water quite frankly tastes better and is more refreshing than the unflavoured kind.

One can now flavour your own water at home and the results are actually even better, as you can decide for yourself how much carbonic acid to add, and if the beverage should be lightly or heavily flavoured.  There are 25 different flavours to choose from, like the children’s favourites Banana, Raspberry or Toffee. The health benefits are significant when compared to regular soda, which easily contains 10% sugar (i.e. 1.5 litres of soda contains 150 grams of pure sugar).  You can also mix flavours to create custom-made tastes like “lemon and apple” or “blackcurrant and passion fruit”.  This means that there are actually hundreds of flavours, if you should ever tire with the flavours in stock. Of course, it is is quite unlikely that you will tire of the original flavours because you can buy different kinds all the time – you’ll never get fed up.

Even better than the cost saving over buying flavoured carbonated drinks is that everyone on an Atkins diet, low-carb or GI diet, or those with diabetes now have something good to drink.

Sodastream has 3-4 models

Sodastream has three models, or if you count the Sodastream Jet Limited Edition, four:

  • Sodastream Jet
  • Sodastream Design
  • Sodastream Jet Limited Edition
  • Sodastream Pure

One machine stands out, the Sodastream Design.  Its beauty outweighs the wisdom of buying any of the others, but it is also the machine that lets you add the most carbonic acid, if that is what is wanted.

In some countries Sodastream also sell a machine called SodaMaster, but without any containers for carbonic acid.  This exists solely to sell based on its low price.

Sodastream calls its containers Alco2Jet.  These are cartridges made from aluminium to make transportation from the filling station to the retailer easier.  Sodastream machines come with one of these containers. Unfortunately, they have a nasty habit of running out at the most inopportune of times.  This means that you really need two Alco2Jet-containers so that you can refill one while the other is in use.  Most customers do buy an extra container.

Carbonate your own water with Sodastream

To get fresh mineral water, you simply carbonate ordinary drinking water.  This can then be flavoured with the different aromas from the Aromhusets large array of more than twenty different varieties.  These in turn come in two sizes, either 30 or 100ml, where 30ml is enough for about 15 litres of carbonated water, making it the ideal size for home consumption without getting tired of the taste.  The 100ml size is enough for about 50 litres and is cheaper overall, making it ideal for larger consumers, as well as the vending machines that exist in many workplaces.