Pros and cons of buying a SodaStream

What is carbonated water?

Carbonated water is just water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. In order to retain a specific flavour profile, some carbonated drinks incorporate minor amounts of minerals together with flavour enhancers.

The carbon dioxide contained in carbonated water is either artificially infused under pressure or occurs due to the earth’s natural processes. This is known as carbonation, and it causes tiny bubbles to develop in the water, giving it an effervescent quality.

Natural mineral water, club soda, sparkling water, and seltzers are all examples of carbonated water.

Natural sparkling mineral water (such as Perrier and Gerolsteiner Sprudel) occurs naturally in mineral springs and contains minerals along with sulphur compounds.

The first man-made carbonated water was created in 1767 by British scientist Joseph Priestley, and was only available to the British royal family and other nobles in the early 20th century.

As it is free of artificial chemicals and excessive calories, carbonated water is often a preferred refreshing alternative to sugary sodas.

Read: Clean your reusable water bottle

If you’re a serious sparkling water drinker, you might wonder, is it better to just make your go-to fizzy drink at home rather than buying it at the store?

Enter the SodaStream, a home appliance that infuses water with carbon dioxide (from a pressurised cylinder) to produce sparkling carbonated water.

How does a SodaStream work?

The SodaStream works, to put it simply, by dispensing CO2 from a gas cylinder into fresh water contained in a bottle.

The device comes with a compressed gas cylinder, and you have the option to choose between glass or plastic bottles.

The company, named after its most famous product, also sells flavourings and concentrated syrups such as Diet Lemon Lime, Strawberry Watermelon, and Cherry Cola so that you can create your own flavoured drinks.

More than 100 types of concentrated syrups are listed on the site, with its products being distributed in more than 80,000 retail stores across 45 countries.

To make carbonated water using a SodaStream:

1. Fill the bottle to the line with fresh tap water.
2. Secure the bottle in the main compartment of the SodaStream and close it.
3. Press the button to adjust your level of carbonation (the more you press, the more carbonated your drink will be) and start the process.
4. Remove the bottle. Your carbonated drink is ready!

If needed, add a few drops of concentrated syrup and gently mix. The process is fairly simple and the drink tastes just like store-bought sparkling water.

Pros and cons of using a SodaStream

There are five models of SodaStream (Terra, Art, Duo, Jet and Power) available.

All retail for between $79 and $299 with the Duo being the most expensive premium option – coming with both plastic and glass carafes.

All models of the SodaStream are space efficient. If you are environmentally conscious and prefer longevity, it is better to opt for glass bottles instead of plastic bottles. The plastic bottles come with an expiration date of three years and aren’t dishwasher safe, unlike the glass bottles.

The advantages of using a SodaStream

Spend less on store-bought sparkling water

Constantly buying cans of sparkling water can make a dent in your wallet, while making your own sparkling water at home would cost about $0.2 to 0.3 per glass. Once the gas cylinder is empty, you can send it back in the mail or drop it off at selected retail stores to get a replacement at minimal cost.

Avoid artificial chemical flavourings and sweeteners

When you make your own sparkling water, you can safely avoid all toxins and chemicals that are present in store-bought variants.

Read: Food and drink is getting sweeter, but it’s not all sugar

Reduce the usage of aluminium

While aluminium cans can be recycled, most of them – almost $2bn worth a year – continue to wind up in landfill. It means that energy and carbon emissions are needlessly generated to make more cans out of primary aluminium. Using a SodaStream eliminates the hassle of buying numerous aluminium cans every year, and the bottles are easy to use and clean.

The disadvantages of using a SodaStream

Quite expensive

The basic price range of a SodaStream starts from $79, making it a fairly expensive up-front investment. If you don’t regularly drink lots of carbonated water, it might take you a while to break even on the cost of the machine.

The sparkling water loses its fizz quite fast

The sparkling water made using a SodaStream cannot be stored for long as it quickly goes flat. Another point to note is that you cannot use the same water and carbonate it again.

The gas canisters must be regularly replaced

The carbon dioxide cylinders that come with SodaStream must be regularly replaced depending on the level of carbonation required for your drinks. This creates a hassle should you ever run out of gas and have no replacement on hand.

Read: Five ways to make non-alcoholic drinks more interesting

Health implications of drinking sparkling water

Carbonated beverage consumption has been linked with diabetes, hypertension, and kidney stones, all risk factors for chronic kidney disease.

Studies have been conducted that show carbonated beverages are linked to an increase in the body’s acidity but there is not enough evidence to establish a direct connection between the two.

However, carbonated water could improve swallowing ability by stimulating the nerves, and reduce constipation in people with irritable bowel syndrome and chronic digestive issues.

Are you a fan of sparkling water? Do you have a SodaStream? Let us know in the comments section below.