Opinions on SodaStream archived
We love our Soda Stream and use it exclusively for bubbly water. We were spending a fortune on cases of bubby water from CostCo or Whole Foods every week, plus the recycling bin was aways overflowing with bottles. I'm asusming there has been a significant cost savings but never really looked into the math.
LOVE IT!! We use it mostly for seltzer and its so convenient, easy and tasty.
What are the costs associated with it? I assume it depends on how much you are using it, which will vary per person/family, but what are the general ongoing costs involved?
I also like it.
You need the water to be chilled before adding the 'bubbly' to it. So, if you have cold water out of the fridge door, then it's very quick & easy. Otherwise, you may need to keep some bottles of water in the fridge chilling before you can add the bubbles.
You need the water to be chilled before adding the 'bubbly' to it. So, if you have cold water out of the fridge door, then it's very quick & easy. Otherwise, you may need to keep some bottles of water in the fridge chilling before you can add the bubbles.
BTW: I think they sell the system at Kitchen a la Mode.
After the initial purchase, the costs are just for the replacement CO2 cartridges. I think they have those costs on their website, but since it's been a while since I got a replacement set, I don't remember exactly how much it was.
After the initial purchase, the costs are just for the replacement CO2 cartridges. I think they have those costs on their website, but since it's been a while since I got a replacement set, I don't remember exactly how much it was.
Love, Love, LOVE IT. I have one in my office and at home. The cost savings pay off very quickly and its awesome for the environment. And yes, Kitchen a la mode has the air canisters and a huge selection of flavorings if you are into that.
Like sprout said, keeping the cold water chilled first is key to an even better product. We fill our containers with cold water and keep them handy in the fridge for when we want the bubbly.
Like sprout said, keeping the cold water chilled first is key to an even better product. We fill our containers with cold water and keep them handy in the fridge for when we want the bubbly.
fastpitch73 said:
What are the costs associated with it? I assume it depends on how much you are using it, which will vary per person/family, but what are the general ongoing costs involved?
The only costs involved are the up-front costs to buy the machine itself ($100-150, depending on the model) and the ongoing refilling of canisters. KALM gives a discount when you bring in your old canister for recycling/refilling. I think the replacement canisters are in the $20 range.
We need a new canister every few months I would guess. It seems to take a looong time to go through a canister but that would vary widely depending on your usage.
Great for seltzer, especially if you like it really fizzy (like husband does). Fun for tweens, especially since you can go lower fizz if you like it less fizzy (like daughter does) -- these things have become part of the bar/bat mitzvah circuit, FWIW.
Sadly, doesn't replace my Diet Coke habit, since the diet cola flavor just isn't "right"
Sadly, doesn't replace my Diet Coke habit, since the diet cola flavor just isn't "right"
Yeah, it doesn't have to be cold water but it does improve the taste. The beauty of the SodaStream is that you can make your seltzer more or less carbonated depending on how you like it. The carbonator refills are $14.99 and will make roughly 50 to 60 bottles, so the cost per bottle pretty much depends on the amount you're carbonating your water. I like lots of bubbles so I press the button more times than the SodaStream average, which means I'm getting more like 40 to 50 bottles of seltzer.
The Genesis ($99.99) is the bestselling model of SodaStream at Kitchen a la Mode and probably the best value if your seltzer overhead is one of your biggest reason for buying the machine (which, by the way, doesn't run on batteries or electricity, just the CO2 carbonator). The other reasons to buy are (1) Better for the environment, reducing the need for all those disposable bottles (2) Control of the water that is the base of your seltzer (3) Convenience of less recycling and less general schlepping (4) Being able to have seltzer whenever you want it (5) Control over the fizziness of your seltzer (6) Ability to make sodas, fresca, tonic, sparkling lemonade and iced tea with the SodaStream flavors, among other things like homemade sodas from your own simple syrups and unlimited combinations with juice and the like (or even wine to make a custom white wine spritzer).
When it comes to the personal finances of using this, I'd say the more you use it, the faster you see the savings. With just the cost of the carbonators, you're looking at roughly 20 to 25 cents per liter. The biggest cost is the initial purchase of the machine and any accessories that you'll have to amoritze into that amount; the less you use it, the more it would make each bottle cost.
We've sold hundreds upon hundreds of machines and thousands of flavors and carbonators at Kitchen a la Mode. Our customers definitely rave about the machine and with the number of carbonator refills that come through the store, I can tell you for a fact that our locals are definitely getting a lot of use for it. I had one math geek of a regular customer (who I love and adore and I hope he doesn't mind me calling him that!) say that with the four bottles or so a day they go through at his house, he figured out they're spending half the money they use to on seltzer (and that includes the original start up costs).
The Genesis ($99.99) is the bestselling model of SodaStream at Kitchen a la Mode and probably the best value if your seltzer overhead is one of your biggest reason for buying the machine (which, by the way, doesn't run on batteries or electricity, just the CO2 carbonator). The other reasons to buy are (1) Better for the environment, reducing the need for all those disposable bottles (2) Control of the water that is the base of your seltzer (3) Convenience of less recycling and less general schlepping (4) Being able to have seltzer whenever you want it (5) Control over the fizziness of your seltzer (6) Ability to make sodas, fresca, tonic, sparkling lemonade and iced tea with the SodaStream flavors, among other things like homemade sodas from your own simple syrups and unlimited combinations with juice and the like (or even wine to make a custom white wine spritzer).
When it comes to the personal finances of using this, I'd say the more you use it, the faster you see the savings. With just the cost of the carbonators, you're looking at roughly 20 to 25 cents per liter. The biggest cost is the initial purchase of the machine and any accessories that you'll have to amoritze into that amount; the less you use it, the more it would make each bottle cost.
We've sold hundreds upon hundreds of machines and thousands of flavors and carbonators at Kitchen a la Mode. Our customers definitely rave about the machine and with the number of carbonator refills that come through the store, I can tell you for a fact that our locals are definitely getting a lot of use for it. I had one math geek of a regular customer (who I love and adore and I hope he doesn't mind me calling him that!) say that with the four bottles or so a day they go through at his house, he figured out they're spending half the money they use to on seltzer (and that includes the original start up costs).
We love ours--use it for seltzer as well. If you replace the canister at KALM, I think it's $16 or $17. Maybe every 2 months or so? And we fill at least one bottle a day. We always keep an extra canister on hand, and, like others, always have the bottles filled with cold water in the fridge so we're ready to go.
Well, there you go! Cross-posted with Fishy. Even cheaper than I said! 
I bought the upgraded canisters and they will hold seltzer fizzy in the fridge for two weeks!!!
Love it !!! I go thru around 3-4 bottles a day....about a canister a month. Have 4-bottles--(2 for plain & 2 for the flavors), Kids love making their own soda or fizzy drinks. Got everything from KLM and get all the refills there too !!! Gave one to my Dad for a gift and he loves it too.
Best thing since sliced bread. Even if it wasn't cost effective (which it is) the fact that I don't have to lug all those bottles home from the store is priceless! And it stays fizzy for days. I don't think I've ever poured one out for being flat.
I bought the two pack of smaller bottles for our children. This way they can take them in their lunch or keep them by their bed.
I bought the two pack of smaller bottles for our children. This way they can take them in their lunch or keep them by their bed.
Be sure everyone who helps in the kitchen knows that the bottles shouldn't be recycled. :-(
Love it. Got one for teenage son for Christmas. He was going through way too much regular soda and often opening a can and forgeting it, so there was lots of waste. He loves the grape & root beer flavors and the concentrates have far less calories and no high-fructose corn sryup, so I'm happier with what he's drinking. (sweetness is from sugar, apple juice concentrate and Spenda).
Like susan1014, my husband and I have a very serious Diet Coke habit. Has anyone found a suitable replacement through SS? We've been seriously considering it to save on the ridiculous numbers of bottles and cans we go through, but are afraid it will disappoint. We would probably enjoy it otherwise, but will get MUCH less use out of it if it doesn't replace the DC. Thanks!
Yes, if it let me banish the Diet Coke, it would be great for the environment (no cans, no shipping of liquids) and for me (no more bricks to lug home), but it hasn't happened so far.
At the price point, the SodaStream has been a super toy for husband and for tween gatherings, but hasn't been the transformation I'd hoped for, since the diet cola didn't meet standards!
At the price point, the SodaStream has been a super toy for husband and for tween gatherings, but hasn't been the transformation I'd hoped for, since the diet cola didn't meet standards!
It would be nice (but I won't hold my breath) if the Coca Cola company or others would sell the syrups to their drinks for SS. Then they could also profit from this product as well as satisfy the addicts among us. (If that were to happen, I wonder if I could then concoct Mexican Coke - i.e. with sugar rather than HFCS. That's MY addition.)susan1014 said:
Yes, if it let me banish the Diet Coke, it would be great for the environment (no cans, no shipping of liquids) and for me (no more bricks to lug home), but it hasn't happened so far.
At the price point, the SodaStream has been a super toy for husband and for tween gatherings, but hasn't been the transformation I'd hoped for, since the diet cola didn't meet standards!
We don't have SS but I'm thinking about it.
We have Mexican coke at our local Costco. I'd rather have one a week than all the diet coke in the world!!
Another soda stream lover here. I don't like any of the soda mixes but I love having seltzer.
Another soda stream lover here. I don't like any of the soda mixes but I love having seltzer.
Where do you get your water from? Tap? Poland Spring/Nestle 5L water containers?
Mexican coke is made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup. It's similar to Kosher coke but a little dryer, I think. You can find it here and there around Maplewood but it's all over Southern California.
We now have it in ShopRite here, actually, so I'm no longer hungering for it. I can have it any time I want, but wouldn't mind making my own if that were possible. I'm afraid that I have it almost daily ....amie said:
We have Mexican coke at our local Costco. I'd rather have one a week than all the diet coke in the world!!
Mar 28, 2012 at 8:15am Edited
Fine Fare has Mexican Coke ... it is in glass bottles and on the label lists sugar as opposed to High Fructose Corn Syrup. For me it is the only Coke. But also pay attention to labels as some of the imported glass bottled Coke does have or may have HFCS ... when I lived in Philly all the bodegas and there were many had it for sale but they would usually all run out at the same time until a new shipment came later in the week, but one spot still had the stuff. I thought it tasted off and when I bought it again from my usual supplier I asked about it and he told me to look at the label because some of the bodegas were starting to buy the glass bottle Coke from Honduras which used sugar and/or HFCS (I do believe he mentioned it was cheaper to buy). I checked the label from the place that didn't run out of it and sure enough it was labeled as from Honduras and not Mexico and had HFCS and/or Sugar on the attached label.
Mmmmm Rum and Mexican Coke with half a lime ...
Mmmmm Rum and Mexican Coke with half a lime ...
Ok I'll put in a very small negative about the SS...hubby doesn't like any of the seltzer flavorings except orange. And he only drinks flavored seltzer. So he used it for a while but got sick of drinking only orange so now I'm back to buying Vintage bottles as the SS sits on our counter.
Overall it worked great and saved us money / hassle / bottles while he used it!
Overall it worked great and saved us money / hassle / bottles while he used it!
Wow, sounds like near-universal acclaim...Thanks so much for your input! I also learned that they have a version with glass bottles, which is appealing to me. We'll give it a try!
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fastpitch73