How to Make Club Soda With a SodaStream

On this page (8 sections)

1. What is the difference between club soda and seltzer?
2. How do you make club soda with a SodaStream step by step?
3. Why does cold water make better club soda?
4. Which SodaStream setup suits club soda making?
5. How do you keep club soda fizzy after carbonating?
6. How do you flavor club soda without losing the fizz?
7. What mistakes make club soda go flat or taste wrong?
8. Which SodaStream should you buy for club soda?

To make club soda with a SodaStream, carbonate cold tap water in a SodaStream bottle and then add a small pinch of baking soda or mineral salt to mimic the store-bought taste. The fizz comes from the CO2 cylinder; the pinch only tweaks flavor.

Club soda is carbonated water with a faint mineral taste. SodaStream machines give you the bubbles, and one extra step gives you the club soda character.

The whole job takes under a minute once the bottle is cold.

What is the difference between club soda and seltzer?

Club soda has added minerals; seltzer is plain carbonated water. That mineral pinch is what separates the two, and it's the only thing a SodaStream can't do on its own.

Plain SodaStream output is essentially seltzer. Store club soda gets its taste from small amounts of potassium bicarbonate and other mineral salts.

A pinch of baking soda in your own bottle copies that saline edge closely enough for most drinks.

The difference matters more in mixed drinks than in a plain glass. Club soda's minerals soften the sharp bite of the bubbles, which is why bartenders reach for it in a highball.

If you just want fizzy water for the table, skip the pinch and you have seltzer.

How do you make club soda with a SodaStream step by step?

Chill the water, fizz it in the SodaStream bottle, then add the mineral pinch and reseal. Cold water holds carbonation better, so start there and the rest is quick.

1. Fill a SodaStream bottle with cold tap water to the fill line.
2. Snap the bottle into the machine and press the carbonation button.
3. Press a few times for a stronger fizz; one press gives a light bubble.
4. Unscrew the bottle and add about 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda per liter.
5. Cap the bottle and turn it gently to mix, then chill before serving.

Don't stir hard after adding the powder. A slow swirl keeps the carbonation in the water instead of letting it foam out.

The SodaStream Terra makes this easy because the bottle snaps into a secure seal before you fizz. Our guide to how to use a SodaStream Terra covers the button press and bottle seating in more detail.

How much baking soda should you add?

Use about 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda per liter and adjust from there. A full teaspoon makes the water taste salty, so measure small and taste.

Some people prefer mineral salt or a commercial club soda blend instead. Either works, but keep the dose tiny.

The goal is a faint mineral note, not a salty drink.

If you carbonate flavored water or add citrus, taste first and then decide whether the mineral pinch helps. Citrus already adds its own edge.

Why does cold water make better club soda?

Cold water absorbs CO2 more readily, so the bubbles last longer and taste sharper. Warm water fizzes fast, then goes flat in the glass.

Chill your tap water in the fridge before filling the bottle. A cold bottle also feels more like a store-bought club soda straight from the cooler.

Room-temperature water still works, but expect a livelier pour and a shorter fizz life.

Don't fill above the line on the bottle. Headspace matters, and overfilling can push water up into the machine during carbonation.

Keep the water level at or below the marked fill line every time.

Which SodaStream setup suits club soda making?

Any current SodaStream machine carbonates water, so the choice comes down to bottles, CO2 and how much you'll fizz. For club soda at home, the value bundle gives you the most room to experiment.

SodaStream Terra Value Bundle: best for club soda beginners

The Terra Value Bundle suits households that will make club soda daily and want spare CO2 on hand. It's a manual machine with the Quick Connect CO2 system and a snap-and-seal bottle fit.

It includes two 60L Quick Connect cylinders that each make up to 60 liters of sparkling water. The three BPA-free bottles are dishwasher safe and ready for the next round.

The slim body measures 3.07 by 7.9 by 16.9 inches and tucks under most upper cabinets.

This bundle is the pick for most people starting out because the spare cylinder means fewer interruptions. The extra bottles also help when you want club soda and plain seltzer going at once.

SodaStream Terra Starter Kit: best for small kitchens

The Starter Kit suits one or two people who want a single bottle and cylinder without spare storage. It's the same Terra machine with a lighter box.

It includes one 60L Quick Connect cylinder and one BPA-free bottle, plus a bubly lime drop. The cylinder makes up to 60 liters, so a light-fizz household gets weeks of club soda before the first exchange.

When it runs low, the Quick Connect cylinder goes back through SodaStream's exchange at participating retailers.

Pick this one if counter space is tight or you aren't sure how often you'll fizz. You can add bottles and cylinders later without buying a second machine.

SodaStream 1L Classic Bottle Twin Pack: best for extra club soda batches

The Classic twin pack suits anyone who wants a second and third bottle in rotation. Two bottles mean one can chill while the other is carbonated.

These bottles are BPA free and dishwasher safe, and SodaStream says they last up to 2 years. The hermetically sealed caps hold carbonation longer than an open pour.

They fit all SodaStream machines except the Aqua Fizz, Duo and e-Duo, so check your model first.

Skip them if you already have three bottles or you own a Duo or e-Duo. For everyone else, a second bottle is the cheapest way to keep club soda on hand.

How do you keep club soda fizzy after carbonating?

Cap it, chill it, and pour gently down the side of the glass. The bubbles leave faster with warmth, shaking and hard pours.

Store club soda in the sealed SodaStream bottle in the fridge. A capped bottle holds carbonation well for a day or two.

After that, the fizz fades even with the best cap.

Pour at an angle so the stream runs down the glass wall. Straight-down pours knock CO2 out before the drink reaches your mouth.

A chilled glass helps too, though it's optional.

Don't leave a half-full bottle on the counter for hours. Warm club soda tastes flat and dull, and recarbonating an already-flavored bottle is messy.

How do you flavor club soda without losing the fizz?

Add flavor after carbonating, then stir slowly and chill. SodaStream's own drops and syrups are designed for this order, and they keep the bubbles mostly intact.

Bubly drops give a zero-sugar fruit note. Pepsi or Mountain Dew syrups turn the same water into a classic soda.

A squeeze of lemon or lime works for a fresh twist. The Terra bundle includes two bubly drops to start with.

For a true club soda, keep the flavor neutral and rely on the mineral pinch. For a soda-pop crowd, skip the minerals and go straight to syrup.

Our SodaStream machine guide compares models by how well they handle flavored drinks.

What mistakes make club soda go flat or taste wrong?

Warm water, overfilling and too much mineral powder are the three common faults. Each one is easy to fix on the next batch.

Warm water carbonates weakly and loses fizz fast. Overfilling past the line can push water into the machine.

Too much baking soda makes the drink taste salty or soapy, so measure small.

Also avoid carbonating water that already has syrup or juice in it. Sugar and pulp foam up and can foul the machine.

Add flavors only after the fizz, every time.

Which SodaStream should you buy for club soda?

Pick the Terra Value Bundle for most households, since two cylinders and three bottles keep club soda flowing without constant refills. The Starter Kit is the better fit for small kitchens or occasional fizzing.

Add the Classic twin pack if you want extra chilled bottles in rotation.

Any of them follows the same method: chill the water, fizz it in the bottle, add a tiny mineral pinch, and cap it fast. That's how to make club soda with a SodaStream in under a minute, and it costs far less than buying bottles by the case.

If you're still choosing between models, read the SodaStream ART review for the lever-style carbonation and the SodaStream E-Duo review for the automatic option. Both handle club soda the same way, so the decision comes down to how you like to fizz.

Frequently asked questions

Can a SodaStream make club soda instead of seltzer?

Yes. Carbonate water first, then add a tiny amount of baking soda or mineral salt to give it the saline edge club soda has.

Seltzer is just carbonated water, so the flavor step is the only difference.

How much baking soda goes in a liter of homemade club soda?

Start with about 1/8 teaspoon per liter and stir gently. Too much tastes soapy or salty, so add a little at a time and taste before pouring a full glass.

Do I carbonate before or after adding minerals?

Always carbonate the plain water first. Minerals and flavor drops go in after the fizz, because adding them before carbonating can cause foam and a weak result.

How long does homemade club soda stay fizzy?

Sealed and chilled, it keeps good carbonation for a day or two. After that it goes flat, so make only what you plan to drink and store it capped in the fridge.