SodaStream, what is the point?

Kkuba on 29/06/2015 - 11:31

I used to think it was a cool idea that you could carbonate anything you wanted, orange juice for example. But I had never used one.

I recently discovered that my girlfriend has a Sodastream, so of course I had to start experimenting.

First thing I was told was to pour the flavour in after the carbonation process, strange but it seemed to align with the instructions on top of the machine, to use only water in the carbonation vessel. Then it hit me. The Sodastream ONLY makes carbonated water. Then you do what you want with the soda water.

I could think of two possible reasons for this:

  1. The pressure release valve in the machine could become sticky with sugar if it were to splash up, which might not be ideal, also could be difficult to clean this.

  2. Things like cola tend to build up more fizz, and could over-flow the bottle during carbonation (just like pouring warm Coke over ice), causing a mess.

So, I would like to know what others use their Sodastream for - other than water, and if they have had any issues, like the ones above?

Otherwise, what, indeed, is the point, when you can buy 1.25L soda water from the major supermarkets for around $0.75 now. I am not sure how much a single charge of CO2 costs, but if you factor in the price of the machine, I can only imagine that the payback period would not make it a 'cost saving' exercise. Convenience of not having to carry heavy bottles of drink home or just having soda water always available?

Genuinely curious as to why you have one in your household?

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • Evil-Elmo on 29/06/2015 - 11:45
    +2

    I don't have one, but one thing that springs to mind is the environmental impact from buying, transporting and disposing/recycling lots and lots of soda water bottles from the supermarket.

    • Kkuba on 29/06/2015 - 12:05

      A very good point I had not considered. Thanks for your input. = )

  • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2015 - 11:50

    Genuinely curious as to why you have one in your household?

    Fizzy vodka. :-D

    Oh, and a constant supply of soda water's pretty handy. Got a large CO2 bottle (6kg) and hose as well a couple of other connectors for it (already had a spare regulator) so the running costs are much less.

    Carbonated fruit's pretty trippy and goon-bag champagne's fun (carbonated cheap white wine), too.

    • Kkuba on 29/06/2015 - 12:04

      Fizzy vodka? Very interesting!

      So, it seems that there are users who disregard the instructions of only using water in the carbonation vessel?

      Haven't had any issues with overflow or anything like that?

      I just wanted to check how important it was to abide by these instruction.

      I think I might start experimenting a bit…

      • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2015 - 12:22

        So, it seems that there are users who disregard the instructions of only using water in the carbonation vessel?

        Haven't had any issues with overflow or anything like that?

        I tried re-carbonating some flat cider once. Poured it out of the cider bottle, into the empty Sodastream bottle (so it was only about half full - not sure whether that makes a difference).. gave it a big pump of gas and instantly the benchtop, machine, and parts of myself were covered in sticky cider overflow.

        Never again will I be game enough to try carbonating anything other than water lol. It took long enough trying to make sure all the sugary residue was completely gone from every nook and cranny in the machine after that time. I still fantasise about making all sorts of fun concotions though. I wonder what I did wrong for such an unpleasant result..

      • retiredfeline on 29/06/2015 - 12:28
        +1

        Ethanol's probably ok, sugar and other sticky stuff not.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2015 - 12:41

        So, it seems that there are users who disregard the instructions of only using water in the carbonation vessel?

        Well, yeah, but I disregard the instructions for most things. :-)

        As far as overflow goes, keep an eye on the liquid and carbonate and release the pressure slowly. Sugary and more complex liquids are more likely to froth and overflow. Don't bother with carbonating red wine unless you want your kitchen to look like a crime scene. This goes double for tomato juice, so carbonated bloody marys are out unless you get a gas bottle and reg.

        I think I might start experimenting a bit…

        Worst thing that could happen* is that you'll have to mop the ceiling but there's plenty of suggestions on the web about sodastream hacking.

        Regardless, it's not cheaper than buying plain soda water but raw cost isn't always the main factor. Convenience, flexibility and lack of packaging play a part, too.

        *Well, OK, not quite the worst thing. Technically, you could clog the overpressure release, rupture the bottle, causing a small explosion that might remove a limb or two. But you'd probably survive. ;-)

  • timmypete on 29/06/2015 - 12:40

    I have one primarily for soda water. While the maths on flavoured drinks isn't that different from soft drinks on special, I've found that having soda available without having to keep stock from the supermarket or lug it home is well worth the hassle of an extra appliance. I haven't invested in a reg and large CO2 bottle but I will probably in the future.

    On your other original point, I think that their reccomendation of water-only is for both reasons. I made sparkling shiraz once after the Sodastream goon video was mentioned here. Like waterlogged turnip I'm firmly in the never-again camp.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2015 - 14:56
      +1

      Watching this by Heston Blumenthal really annoyed me.. I was like "oh come on, it doesn't happen that calmly and elegantly, surely?! How many takes were there before that?" hmpf. lol

      edit - much more sophisticated, detailed video here.. pure class lol

  • blitz on 29/06/2015 - 12:43
    +2

    I put Vegemite in mine to make Fizzimite. All of my friends love it and I intend to start selling it as a healthy cola substitute.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2015 - 12:48
      +3

      And all the salt will make it isotonic, too. Gatorade had better watch out.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2015 - 14:52

      Hang on. This is news to me. It sounds weird enough for me to actually love it.

      Are you actually being serious? Does this crazy sounding concoction work?

  • IdLikeToBeATree on 29/06/2015 - 16:27

    I like using the coke flavour for mine because I don't actually like coke, I find it too fizzy and sugary/feels weird on my teeth whereas the soda stream one I can control how much flavour/fizzyness

  • timthetoolman on 30/06/2015 - 16:08

    It's very handy to have a bottle or two of water in the fridge that you can fizz up on the spot ( otherwise just drink as normal)
    Its kinda like having 1L of all soft drinks ready to go whenever you want without having to keep them in the fridge.
    I too use the cola a fair bit and it has about 60% less sugar than Coke but still tastes good.
    Its just convenient, but definitely more expensive.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2015 - 19:42

    You can refizz flavoured stuff. You just have to do a few tiny pumps compared to when doing plain water. Then release pressure very slowly, ready to reseal it again quickly if it foams up too much. Then reseal, and do the same process again. I used to do it from time to time when we owned one.

  • PCAviator on 13/07/2015 - 23:56

    Have one and use it now and then. I find it handy because the Dr Pete syrup (Dr. Pepper) is awesome and its harder to find real Dr. Pepper in the stores for cheap. Much cheaper to make it in a Soda Stream, and it tastes fairly authentic too. You can also get X-Stream Syrup which is your energy drink clone, again cheaper to make over time than buying it, although energy drinks are pretty poisonous to a lot of people :P The other thing as mentioned here is that you can control the syrup. I use about half (or less) of what they recommend as the mix ratio and it still tastes pretty good to me.

  • KBZ on 02/09/2015 - 21:02

    Don't know if anyone follows this topic anymore but anyone tried using the the CO2 bottle and adapter from KegKing?
    And how much mileage do you get from one of those 6Kg bottles?

    • KBZ on 24/09/2015 - 16:13

      UPDATE: Bought a 6KG tank and wow its pretty big! From forums it should last about 14 months. Bit of an eyesore may try to sell it and buy a 2.6KG bottle.

  • Japius on 25/09/2015 - 11:48

    I still buy coke, Soda Stream cola is nothing like coke, but its good to have for when you dont have soft drinks or just want something different. Last night my daughter had a friend sleep over, I didnt have any lemonade etc, they made some with the soda stream. Sure it probably cost the same as a bottle of sprite from coles but I didnt have to go out at 6pm and buy a bottle so its a win for me.

  • rockyroad on 30/10/2015 - 08:58

    I got mine (Sodastream Play) because I got sick of lugging 3-5 kilos of water home each week, and wasting plastic bottles along with the transport energy costs to move water around on trucks instead on in pipes. It is also cheaper if you use a larger gas bottle with a custom tube. I have a 2.6Kg which lasts about 6 months making 8-10 bottles per week.

    I have 6 sodastream bottles in the fridge to keep regular supply (best gassed when cold) and mostly drink sparkling water. The kids add it to cordial or sometimes we use the soda stream flavours also.

    Best thing is you can make it whenever you need it. I find I drink a lot more water now.

    Tip for SodaStream Cola flavour - try one and half to two capsful instead of just one.

    • tonyjzx on 31/10/2015 - 14:57

      I kinda with you there. There's something you cant get away from. Like I buy milk and the occasional carton of water.

      BUt I also used to get a lot of soft drinks and alcohol but really, you're replacing one expense with another.

      I cut down on the beer and soft drinks eventually.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/10/2015 - 09:29

    Lots of fizzy misadventure on youtube -
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sodastream+fail

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