4 ms·

I've looked at it before, but never taken the plunge. Well worth it? I go through about 2 liters of soda water a day, if not more...

A1kmm 14y ago
SodaStream tries everything they can to stop people competing with them to refill their gas cylinders or supply competing gas cylinders for use with the equipment they sell, and have largely succeeded, allowing them to sell carbon dioxide at a significant mark up. For comparison, considering only the cost of obtaining carbonated water, and assuming water is free (since it isn't a significant cost), in New Zealand dollars: 1 L of store bought carbonated water: ~$0.99 1 L of water at the lowest Sodastream carbonation: $0.20 (assuming $12 / 450g of CO2, 450g makes 60L). 1 L of water using market rate food grade CO2: $0.0032 (assuming a 3.5 kg cylinder makes 467 L and costs $15 to fill). Note that if you do buy a cylinder, there are additional costs (in NZ, a cylinder must have a safety warrant of fitness issued in the last three years to be filled, which costs ~$15 - so that is an additional $5/year to add to the cost of ownership). This article provides information on the DIY approach: http://m.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-06/how-make-your-own-home-carbonation-system http://m.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-06/how-make-your-own-ho...
- X-Istence 14y ago
  If I am currently paying $1 per bottle of store bought (2L) club soda, and I get make 2 L of water using Sodastream for $0.80, I will make my money back in no time (considering I drink 3+ liter a day). Sure it might be cheaper to go food grade and do it that way, but I am more than happy saving even a smaller amount of money, because it adds up quick.
Osiris 14y ago
Who drinks just pure soda water? I'm American and I never see this. My wife visited the Ukraine and it's apparently quite common there. I also found Argentina drinks a lot of "agua con gas". Still, I'm just fine with plain flat water and some ice.
- X-Istence 14y ago
  I'm from Europe ... and yes I get funny looks when I ask for club soda at bars and restaurants. I stopped drinking Soda with sugar/HFCS/fake sugar about 2 years ago for health reasons. I like the carbonation. There are quite a few people I know personally that drink it as well (non-Europeans), mainly because it is better for them than regular soda.
- Erwin 14y ago
  In every of the European countries I've been to, every time I go to a nice restaurant I've been asked whether I wanted my mineral water plain or fizzy. The less nice places might bring you tap water by default (which is generally perfectly fine and safe). Some eco-friendly system places here in Copenhagen now have their own water filtration system and make higher-quality still and fizzy water on site.
  - lostlogin 14y ago
    An aside, if in a high altitude country that speaks Spanish, if you learn nothing else, learn the difference between aqua sin gas and aqua con gas (excuse my possibly incorrect spelling). The resulting explosion marks you as a tourist for the rest of the day.

A1kmm 14y ago

SodaStream tries everything they can to stop people competing with them to refill their gas cylinders or supply competing gas cylinders for use with the equipment they sell, and have largely succeeded, allowing them to sell carbon dioxide at a significant mark up. For comparison, considering only the cost of obtaining carbonated water, and assuming water is free (since it isn't a significant cost), in New Zealand dollars: 1 L of store bought carbonated water: ~$0.99 1 L of water at the lowest Sodastream carbonation: $0.20 (assuming $12 / 450g of CO2, 450g makes 60L). 1 L of water using market rate food grade CO2: $0.0032 (assuming a 3.5 kg cylinder makes 467 L and costs $15 to fill). Note that if you do buy a cylinder, there are additional costs (in NZ, a cylinder must have a safety warrant of fitness issued in the last three years to be filled, which costs ~$15 - so that is an additional $5/year to add to the cost of ownership). This article provides information on the DIY approach: http://m.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-06/how-make-your-own-home-carbonation-system http://m.popsci.com/diy/article/2012-06/how-make-your-own-ho...

X-Istence 14y ago
If I am currently paying $1 per bottle of store bought (2L) club soda, and I get make 2 L of water using Sodastream for $0.80, I will make my money back in no time (considering I drink 3+ liter a day). Sure it might be cheaper to go food grade and do it that way, but I am more than happy saving even a smaller amount of money, because it adds up quick.

Osiris 14y ago

Who drinks just pure soda water? I'm American and I never see this. My wife visited the Ukraine and it's apparently quite common there. I also found Argentina drinks a lot of "agua con gas". Still, I'm just fine with plain flat water and some ice.

X-Istence 14y ago
I'm from Europe ... and yes I get funny looks when I ask for club soda at bars and restaurants. I stopped drinking Soda with sugar/HFCS/fake sugar about 2 years ago for health reasons. I like the carbonation. There are quite a few people I know personally that drink it as well (non-Europeans), mainly because it is better for them than regular soda.
Erwin 14y ago
In every of the European countries I've been to, every time I go to a nice restaurant I've been asked whether I wanted my mineral water plain or fizzy. The less nice places might bring you tap water by default (which is generally perfectly fine and safe). Some eco-friendly system places here in Copenhagen now have their own water filtration system and make higher-quality still and fizzy water on site.
- lostlogin 14y ago
  An aside, if in a high altitude country that speaks Spanish, if you learn nothing else, learn the difference between aqua sin gas and aqua con gas (excuse my possibly incorrect spelling). The resulting explosion marks you as a tourist for the rest of the day.