exvaxman wrote:There is a sode stream knockoff being sold through Tuesday Morning for $30. I have no idea about refills, but someone might want to investigate.

This is the one offered at Tuesday Morning:
http://www.tuesdaymorning.com/kitchen_electrics.jsp

And at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Primo-Flavorstati ... B0086FWV62

Cynthia wrote:It's hard to know what reasons work for different people, but I love my SodaStream.


So I'm a complete addict. I've had mine for a year now, and I haven't gotten over the joy of that "ssssshhhh" sound when you release the bottle after adding the CO2 to the water.

Again -- don't know how others will react, but I find it to be a real blessing.

I gotta say, SodaStream changed my life. I drink it plain, straight up, several times a day instead of my previous 2 liter a day diet pepsi practice. Sometimes I vary the carbonation by blasting the pump less. I never buy the syrups. I have to refill the canister once a month @$15. It is worth it not buying and schlepping Jewel seltzer all the time. I think there are some tips online how to get co2 cheaper, not sure it is worth the trouble investigating. Best tip is keep the SodaStream bottle in the fridge even when its empty, it carbs up faster/cheaper when cold.

I would not go to the trouble of investigating alternatives unless you have a large family. I find the bottle lasts long enough. I do like the plain selzer it makes and love that I know its pure Lake Michigan and not something else. I love putting fresh lime or lemon with the selzer too just straight or adding a sweeter its like fizzy lemonade. Its good to be able to vary flavors and concentrations of sweetners.

I bought an extra bottle, so we always have a backup. We also use Brita filtered water that is kept in the 'fridge, so it is always cold. We now have 3 Co2 canisters, so I only have to trek for refills once a month or so. I will also second the comment that this contraption weaned me off of my massive cola addiction.

Its great plain with lots of lemon or lime. Add sugar or splenda and you have lemonade. Has anyone seen the diet grape soda stream mix? I am not so fond of the soda mixes that try to mimic popular brands but I do like the grapefruit, the orange and I would probably like the grape.

Primo flavorstation 110 now down to $15 at Tuesday Morning [at least in Niles; there were about a dozen].

Was on the fence about buying one of these . . . but at $15 it was suddenly quite attractive!

Giovanna

Pepsi will buy SodaStream, in extended shift away from sugary drinks

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pepsi ... 2018-08-20

We've used our SodaStream for c. 3 years now and are quite satisfied. We don't do any flavouring, just simply make bubbly water. Two points:

1. If you like a lighter fizz, pump the CO2 into room temperature water. The warmer water solution will saturate earlier, with less dissolved gas. This also lengthens the life of your gas volume.

2. Amazon, among others, sells a conversion kit that allows you to couple standard gas valves to the proprietary SodaStream bottle. It appears that one typical adaptation uses paintball cylinders to gas the SodaStream machine.

Geo

If you're a DIY type, have a little extra space and go through a lot of fizzy water, you can make your own carbonation system pretty easily. You need 4 parts:

-CO2 tank, $30-60. I bought a 10lb tank for $50, which can carbonate at least 200L of water between refills.
-CO2 regulator, $50. I bought a dual gauge draft beer dispensing regulator that screws into the tank. The gauges show the pressure coming from the tank and the pressure going to the bottle. You can adjust the latter depending on how fizzy you want your water.
-Gas line with ball lock assembly, $10. This is just the line that runs from the regulator to the bottle.
-Carbonation cap, $10. This is a stainless steel cap that screws on to any standard soda bottle and attaches to the gas line.

Disadvantages vs. Sodastream
Too big and ugly for a countertop. I store mine under the bar in my basement.
Larger upfront investment of about $120.
Need to go to a compressed gas supplier for refills (but the folks at NFC are wonderful).
CO2 tanks need to be tested every 5 years, which costs $10-20.

Advantages vs. Sodastream
Cheap refills. It costs about $20 to refill a 10lb tank. It would cost about $300 for the same amount of CO2 if you buy Sodastream cylinders at retail (14.5oz cylinders go for around $30 each).
Large tank means fewer refills. I refill mine about every 2 years.
Simple to adjust pressure.
Use with any soda bottle.

After carbonating about 100L, the DIY system is the cheaper option.

If you buy SodaStream refils at Bed, B & B they cost $15 and your empty bottle. Makes the numbers much more congenial!

Geo

Geo wrote:If you buy SodaStream refils at Bed, B & B they cost $15 and your empty bottle. Makes the numbers much more congenial!

Geo

That's how I do it. Bought two tanks to start, so I always have a spare on hand. Then, when one runs out, take it back to B,B&B with $5 off coupon and replace it. Easy and very affordable -- and lots nicer than hauling full bottles home from store and empty ones off to recycling.

Worth noting is that, because of the pressure, the water bottles have to be replaced every three or four years (they have "best by" dates). But that's still a couple of bottles every four years, rather than five or six bottles every week. I figure I cut the cost of my fizzy water by half, by having gotten the Soda Stream -- plus the not hauling bottles part is an even bigger benefit.

Plus I'm not the DIY type and don't have extra room. My SodaStream takes up about the same space as two 2-liter bottles. So good for the space-impaired.

anyone encountering shortages? we have been pretty strict in quarantine, only shopping for groceries once every 8-10 days, and no side errands etc (really stunned at some of the accounts of people going to like 5 different stores just for kicks!). but we consume A LOT of bubbly water (nobody in our house drinks soda or juice, so it is our main beverage every meal and throughout the day), and we own 4 canisters for the sodastream refill. each one lasts us about a week. four weeks ago we were empty and went on a dash to refill - and we were told there were some shortages with delivery. a few days later we tried again, and succeeded. but this week we are almost out again and even though we've been so strict we have tried 3 different targets (you just run in to customer service masked and gloved), and no one has refills. the sodastream website doesn't confess to shortages, but there are lots of stories similar to ours on twitter. the website also doesn't seem to be accurate about which retailers have cartridges (ie a Jewel they listed told us on the phone they don't carry them). anyone have luck anywhere?

Hi,

Have you contacted Bed, Bath and Beyond? I saw them there a few months ago.

Regards,
CAthy2

We always use BB&B--they are set up specifically to trade cartridges.

You might think about investing in the conversion kit so you can use the larger CO2 tank. It'll save you lots in the short run.


Geo

https://www.wish.com/product/5b6aba8ec856d61230a375b3?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=US&_force_currency_code=USD&pid=googleadwords_int&c=%7BcampaignId%7D&ad_cid=5b6aba8ec856d61230a375b3&ad_cc=US&ad_curr=USD&ad_price=23.00&campaign_id=7203534630&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3anW47XH6QIVQdbACh1mNgWyEAQYBSABEgIbSPD_BwE&share=web

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Have you contacted Bed, Bath and Beyond? I saw them there a few months ago.

Regards,
CAthy2

They've just reopened for curbside pickups.

thanks all! bed bath and beyond had been closed; will try them in the meantime, and also i have now been introduced to wish.com - we ordered the adaptor. let me know if you have a local source for large food grade C02 tanks! there is a place on Western in Bucktown that sells helium to the public so I will try there.

Annack, any welding supply company should have CO2 bottles, IIRC.

Geo

Hacking Your SodaStream With a Paintball Canister Can Save You Piles of Money
Here is another hack to consider.