Soda Stream?

Emily3907

So, I have actually kicked my Coke addiction and mainly stick to unsweetened tea, water and sparkling water now as beverages. I am starting to develop a sparkling water problem, because I love the bubbly-ness of it. My current favorite is La Croix brand, specifically the Cherry-Lime.

Anyways, buying canned and flavored sparkling water is kinda pricey, especially at the rate I am drinking it. So, I am considering asking for a soda stream for Christmas. However, in looking at the flavor options, it looks like the lower calorie/no carb flavors are few and far between. I am not concerned about the soda flavors, I am more into the sparkling water, but I also am not a fan of artificial sweeteners.

So, I was wondering if anyone had a soda stream and if you like it? What flavoring do you use? Is there a certain brand of flavors that is better than others? Also, is there a way to make my own flavorings?

Thanks!

DaddieCat

I use a soda stream all the time. I just add fruit juice, or those powdered flavor packets to the water. I don't buy the flavored syrups... no reason. You can literally put anything in the water that you want. Syrup is expensive and not that tasty imo.... I can get 5 calorie flavor packs, or calorie free if that's your thing, for a dollar in a million different flavors.

Emily3907

Cool. So the flavoring can literally be anything you want. I thought you had to use the special stuff they sell. That certainly opens up a lot more options!

DaddieCat

Emily3907 wrote: »

Cool. So the flavoring can literally be anything you want. I thought you had to use the special stuff they sell. That certainly opens up a lot more options!

All the options ever. The power is yours!

Alatariel75

I love my Soda Stream and just drink sparkling water with a squirt of lemon or lime juice. It's bubble, very refreshing and very few cals.

ForeverSunshine09

I love my Soda stream. I use the diet cola and diet orange. My husband uses diet root beer, diet Dr. Pete and Diet Energy. YOU can add fruits and any water enhancer you want. They have a few ocean spray syrups now too. Every place has a different variety of syrups.

Yi5hedr3

Look for a good water filter instead.

Unknown

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KellieTru

We have a soda stream. Hubby puts a splash of juice in his glass and tops up with the sparkling water. Me...I like a lime slice with mine. It's cheaper than buying bottles of carbonated water.

earlnabby

I have a Sodastream and use it regularly. I get extracts from Olive Nation ( https://www.olivenation.com/extracts-flavorings/extracts.html ) to flavor it like seltzer. My favorites are cranberry , lime, and cassis (black currant). I already had lemon and orange extracts in my cupboard. You need just a small amount to flavor the water with no (or minimal) calories. I do like the SodaStream diet Root Beer when I want a soda.

The original cartridge comes with the unit and it costs $15 to exchange for a full one. I fizz up 2-3 liters a day and a cartridge will last me over 3 weeks. After the initial purchase, I calculate that it costs me less than half the price of buying cans of seltzer plus I don't have to deal with hauling full 12 packs and empty cans in and out of my apartment.

vegmebuff

Love my Soda Stream. I do not buy the syrups. I steep a strong fruity, herbal tea or green tea. I chill it and then use the tea with extra water. I read you don't like artificial sugar, but I use pure Stevia (not the stuff cut with anything) and really like it. I also squeeze lemon and/or lime with some Stevia. I also put Apple cider vinegar into the water with some Stevia too - maybe not for everyone I'm sure.

vivmom2014

One of the things I love about the Trader Joe's sparkling waters is that they aren't sweet.

But lugging home those bottles...ugh. We go through a LOT.

My sister has offered me a soda stream and I think after reading this thread I just may take her up on it. Thanks!

Queenmunchy

My brother has one and I use his every time i visit to make club soda and it's awesome. Otherwise, I don't drink much club soda at home, so I never purchased one.

Emily3907

Thanks everyone! I think I am going to put it on my list for Santa! I think it would really make sense. In between my husband and I, we are going through at least 24 cans a week, so it would be nice to not have to keep buying these every time I go to the store!

earlnabby

Queenmunchy wrote: »

My brother has one and I use his every time i visit to make club soda and it's awesome. Otherwise, I don't drink much club soda at home, so I never purchased one.

How do you make club soda with your SodaStream? I have googled the recipe and couldn't come up with anything. Do you put anything other than baking soda in yours?

Queenmunchy

earlnabby wrote: »

Queenmunchy wrote: »

My brother has one and I use his every time i visit to make club soda and it's awesome. Otherwise, I don't drink much club soda at home, so I never purchased one.

How do you make club soda with your SodaStream? I have googled the recipe and couldn't come up with anything. Do you put anything other than baking soda in yours?

If I remember correctly, we just put water in it. Oops, I guess it's not club soda, but seltzer.

ModernRock

catscats222 wrote: »

sometimes when you do the math on this stuff it just comes out cheaper to buy the cans of fizzy water

I've done the math, although everyone's situation is different. For example, the distance from your home to a SodaStream exchange location and the availability of inexpensive sparkling water. Our store brand sparkling water (Kroger) is about equal per serving to the ongoing cost of using the large soda stream CO2 canisters. When on sale, the Kroger water is cheaper. However, that also involves moving and recycling all of those cans. Also, I have to assume the water they use is fine, while I've had my water tested and I know it is fine. Doing the CO2 canister exchanges at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 5 dollar coupon makes SodaStream less expensive. There are also adapter kits available if you want to go through the trouble of storing your own large tank of CO2 and refilling the canisters yourself. There's plenty of info you can find online about that option.