Purchased a What? A Sparkling Water Maker?
I drink A LOT of flavored sparkling water.
I like the fizz, the bubbles, and the variety of flavors. The problem … it gets expensive!
Here’s the breakdown:
:: 8 pack of Bubly brand sparkling water, 12 oz. cans costs $5.99
:: That’s approximately 74 cents per can
:: I drink 3 cans per day
:: That adds up to $2.22 per day
:: That adds up to $15.54 per week
So, I decided to buy a sparkling water maker from the popular brand SodaStream.
:: I paid $79.99 for SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Bundle
:: I saved $20 off the regular price of $99.99
The SodaStream paid for itself in just five weeks considering how much I spent on Bubly brand sparkling water at my local grocery store.
What is a SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker?
The SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker turns tap water into bubbly water at the touch of a button. Then, you can add flavors and syrups to elevate the taste to your liking.
Learning that the SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Bundle comes with “Bubly” brand flavor drops, I knew this machine was right for me. It couldn’t get any closer to buying Bubly than offering flavors from the actual Bubly brand, my favorite sparkling water.
The SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Bundle offered everything I would need to immediately start making my own bubbly drinks at home.
Bundle offers:
:: Sparkling water maker
:: Two quick connect CO2 cylinders
:: Three 32 Fl Oz dishwasher-safe, BPA-free & reusable carbonating bottles
:: Two 1.36 Fl Oz Bubly flavor drops
:: CO2 exchange box (fits 2 cylinders) with prepaid label
Here’s the best part! You don’t need a power source because it is not run by electric power.
Benefits of Making Your Own Sparkling Water at Home
Aside from the cost savings, here are some benefits of making your own sparkling water:
>> Saves money on store bought sparkling water.
>> No more lugging heavy cases of sparkling water from the store.
>> Provides a healthy alternative to soda.
>> One SodaStream bottle can save thousands of plastic bottles over time.
>> No more bottles and cans to recycle at home.
>> Helps improve your water intake daily.
>> Offers endless ways to flavor the water.
How Does the Sparkling Water Maker Work?
Making sparkling water in the SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker is super easy!
Here’s how it works:
>> Quick Connect technology allows for easy CO2 cylinder installation.
>> Fill your bottle with water and connect it to the machine with the SnapLock technology.
>> Push the button to fizz, selecting the amount of carbonation you prefer.
>> Add your favorite flavoring to the water or keep it plain.
>> Your sparkling water is ready to be enjoyed.
Adding Flavors to Your Sparkling Water
I’m not a fan of unflavored sparkling water so I always add flavoring. SodaStream offers a wide range of flavors including Pepsi product flavors, Bubly flavors, mocktails, and cocktails.
I’m not sure I would go as far as saying the soda flavors taste absolutely authentic, but it has potential. Perhaps I need a little more practice when adding the right amount of flavoring. This flavored water can offer you a healthy alternative to drinking diet coke and other soda while at the same time, helping you to drink more water each day.
42 available flavors from SodaStream including:
:: Authentic PepsiCo flavors like Pepsi and Mountain Dew
:: Bubly Drops like peach mango, lime, cherry lemonade, and blackberry
:: STARRY® Zero Sugar Lemon Lime Drink Mix and more
:: Pink grapefruit, lemonade, strawberry watermelon, cranberry raspberry and more
:: Tonic, ginger ale, colas, lemon lime, orange and other soda flavors
:: Organic Soda Press Zesty Ginger Kombucha, Soda Press Summer Orange, and Soda Press Pink Grapefruit
Note: Always remember to fizz water before adding the flavors.
Suggestion: Use cold water. The cold water seems to reduce squirts of water spurting out while you’re ‘fizzing’ it in the machine. Plus, cold water yields cold sparkling water, so you can drink it cold, right away.
You also need to master the holding of the fizz button to yield the amount of bubble you like. Short button holds are more effective for me. I also find using a small funnel to add the flavoring allows me more control of how much flavor I pour in the water.
You can find sparkling water flavor recipes online to make your own flavoring and simple syrups for sodas.
Product Features and Specifications
The sleek looking SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker is a nice addition to any kitchen. It takes up very little space and is cordless. The dishwasher-safe bottles makes for easy cleaning.
Available product colors:
:: Black
:: White
:: Red
:: Blue
Dimensions: 7.9″ L x 5″ W x 17″ H
Weight: 10.8 lbs.
Capacity: 60 Liters
What is the CO2 Exchange?
The CO2 cylinders are each capable of carbonating up to 16 gallons of water. And, with the machine’s Quick Connect System, it’s super easy to slot in a new CO2 gas cylinder. However, when the cylinder runs out, you don’t discard it. It’s refillable and with the SodaStream CO2 exchange program, you simply exchange it for a full cylinder, so you’ll never run out of gas.
There are two easy ways to exchange CO2, online and in a store.
Here’s how to exchange CO2 cylinders online:
- Place a refill order from SodaStream and send back your empty cylinders.
- SodaStream arranges to deliver you full cylinders with a return box and free mail return label.
- Place your empty capped cylinders in the provided box, peel and stick on the free return label, and send the box back via USPS or leave it in your mailbox to be picked up. You have up to 60 days to return the empty cylinders.
Here’s how to exchange CO2 cylinders in the store:
- Visit the store locator on the SodaStream website for retailers near you.
- Bring your empty SodaStream gas cylinders to that retail store.
- Exchange your empty cylinders and only pay for a refill.
Let’s Get Real: Some Cons
Okay, so perhaps it’s easier to just go to the store, buy sparkling water, and throw the empties in your home’s recycling bin. However, using the SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker can save thousands of bottles over time. That’s a lot of bottles and saved plastic waste.
It could also be deemed a hassle to continually replace the CO2 gas cylinders and pay for the refill. The full cylinders last a relatively long time, so I have not been bothered by the exchange program.
And yes, there is the added expense of buying the flavoring (though it’s cheaper than buying cans in the store). And some of the water flavors taste better than others. However, the Bubly cherry lemonade flavor is my go-to favorite.
Final Thoughts About SodaStream’s Terra Sparkling Water Maker
As much as I acknowledge that it’s more convenient to just buy flavored sparkling water, I do like using my SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker. It’s easy to use and I have saved money on my weekly grocery bills. It’s not only a sleek design that looks and fits nicely on my kitchen counter (next to the refrigerator), but I also appreciate the fact that I don’t have to plug it in to operate it.
I appreciate my SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker. It’s a less expensive and healthier alternative to drinking soda. But I cannot tell a lie … I still enjoy an occasional can of Bubly brand sparkling water or Diet Coke.
