Does anyone own a SodaStream?

[RamblingRose]

I like sparkling/seltzer water but hate the waste from the plastic bottles.

I was contemplating getting a SodaStream but the CO2 cartridges seem expensive. I've read that there is an adapter you can buy online that would allow you to get the cartridges refilled like a paint gun but that presents the problem of finding a place to get them filled.

About how many drinks can you get from a cylinder?

I don't see the machine being a cost saver but rather an environment saver.

Thoughts?

[rickford66]

1. Why not build your own electrolysis rig and produce your own CO2 ?

No plastic bottles or discarded cartridges.

[democratisphere]

2. Expensive and inconvenient.

Buy your sparkling selzer waters in platic bottles and recycle the bottles.

[FBaggins]

3. Not at all

The real expense is in replacement CO2 canisters at $15 a pop.

But if you're even just a little bit handy, you can refill the bottles yourself for about a dollar (depending on the price of dry ice at your local market).

[Siwsan]

9. With a replacement cylinder, I'm saving 50%

The bottles are smaller, so I finish them before they go flat. The most inconvenient thing is storing the unit, because it's so tall.

[Siwsan]

4. I have one, and I love it

My brother found it, for about $5, at a Goodwill store. The cylinder makes 60 liters, costs about $30, but when you take it in, for an exchange, I THINK the replacement is considerably less - around $15, but don't hold me to that. I used to buy my sparkling water in 2 liter bottles, from Kroger, for about .99 but the bottles are inconvenient - takes up lots of room in the refrigerator, and then having to take the bottles back for a refund. The Soda Stream is just way more convenient.

I have 2 bottles that I keep filled and in the refrigerator. I love to add a little fresh lemon, or ginger syrup. The bottles are around $19, new, but you can find them at charity shops, flea markets, etc, for much less.

Lots of places have exchanges - Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart, Best Buy (but I'd double check your local store, to be sure) and I know you can buy them on-line but then you are stuck holding the empties.

[Dream Girl]

5. Don't bother.

I love sparking water and find the bubbles and taste of soda stream to be “off”. Just buy sparkling water or seltzer and recycle. Save your money. Plus it’s kind of a pain to do.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. I like sparkling spring water or club soda in glass

bottles. You are right...taste different with soda stream. If you are addicted to it you won't even like the taste of it in a plastic bottle.

[surrealAmerican]

6. It does rather depend on where you might get cylinders refilled.

We've been using large sized paintball tanks with an adapter for the last four years or so, but the place where we used to get those filled has since closed. My spouse has resorted to refilling the paintball tanks from a larger welding tank that can be refilled at a welding supply place. This is a much fussier process.

We used to get about 50 liters from a full (24oz size) paintball tank - with our current method of filling it's less than that.

It should be noted that both the gas cylinders and the plastic water bottles have an expiration date. We've not retired any of the cylinders yet, but did have to replace the water bottles. They last about four years. It's not that they wouldn't work after that, but old plastic will leach undesirable chemicals into the water.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

7. I use a 5 gallon corny keg and a 5# CO2 tank.

Tank costs around $25 to refill. Have to refill it every 25 gallons or so.

You can also buy metal seltzer bottles that use screw on CO2 charges.

[janterry]

8. I was thinking about getting one but decided not to because

of the teeth issue (carbonic acid damages teeth). You probably already know this - perhaps most do - but to tell the truth - I had no idea. I was shocked.

Anyway, I still drink seltzer - but only once every few months or so - so there are not more bottles floating around.

fwiw:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/02/the-sad-truth-about-seltzer/433947/

[RamblingRose]

10. I did not know this. Thanks for the info. n/t

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Interesting. Goggled and most articles disputed

this. Regular soda and drinks like Gatorade do affect enamel. You never know one day milk bad, next day milk good.

[corbettkroehler]

13. Had It And Hated It

I offer a standing ovation for your quest to reduce plastic waste. My wife LOVES sparkling water and we switched to glass bottles since plastic is an environmental menace, especially to sea life.

As for the SodaStream, we had one and returned it because in short, it was ineffective. It barely added any fizz to any beverage we tried.