Is SodaStream Worth It?

On this page (9 sections)

1. Is SodaStream worth it for your drinking habits?
2. Does SodaStream save money compared with buying seltzer?
3. What does CO2 exchange add to the routine?
4. Which SodaStream setup fits a regular routine?
5. How do you set up and use a Terra?
6. Do reusable bottles make SodaStream more convenient?
7. Which care habits and mistakes matter most?
8. When might SodaStream not be worth it?
9. Is SodaStream worth it for you?

SodaStream is worth it if you drink sparkling water most days, have an easy CO2 exchange option, and will use reusable bottles. If your interest is mainly occasional soda or a drink for guests, buying ready-made bottles may suit you better.

The biggest benefit is making the amount and fizz level you want without keeping packs of drinks at home. Savings depend on your habits, so decide whether the routine fits before choosing a kit.

Use our guide to compare sparkling water makers if you're still choosing a machine.

Is SodaStream worth it for your drinking habits?

SodaStream makes the most sense when sparkling water is already part of your week. Regular use gives the machine a job, while an occasional craving rarely justifies another counter appliance.

Look at what you drank over the last week, rather than what you hope to drink after buying one. Count plain seltzer separately from flavored soda because syrups and drops add another ongoing cost.

It also helps to separate drinks you have at home from drinks you buy while out. A machine on your kitchen counter won't replace every can bought during a commute or lunch break.

When is SodaStream worth it for daily drinks?

Daily drinkers benefit most if they like choosing their own fizz and flavors. You can make plain sparkling water for a meal, then flavor a poured glass without committing the whole bottle to one taste.

A household with different preferences may find that flexibility useful. Someone who only enjoys a particular ready-made drink should avoid buying a machine on the assumption that homemade versions will taste identical.

Does SodaStream save money compared with buying seltzer?

SodaStream can save money if your ongoing cost per liter is lower and you use it long enough to cover the machine. Frequent use helps recover that initial cost, but doesn't make every refill or flavor economical.

Work through the comparison in this order:

1. Divide your usual ready-made drink spending by the liters you buy.
2. Divide the cost of a CO2 exchange by the liters you expect to carbonate.
3. Add flavor costs if you normally drink flavored soda.
4. Allow for replacement bottles and any supplies bought separately.
5. Compare the remaining savings with the cost of getting started.

SodaStream says each 60 L Terra Quick Connect cylinder makes up to 60 liters of sparkling water. Use that as a ceiling, since choosing stronger fizz uses more gas and can bring the next exchange sooner.

Keep return rewards separate from your basic calculation until you know you'll complete the return process. A reward that goes unused doesn't lower your household spending.

Our guide to SodaStream versus buying sparkling water explains the cost factors. Convenience can still justify the machine even when the savings are small.

What does CO2 exchange add to the routine?

CO2 exchange adds a recurring errand or mail return to making drinks at home. Check how you'll get full cylinders before buying, including whether a participating retailer fits your normal shopping route.

For mail returns, think about where you'll keep the packaging and when you'll send empties back. Keeping a spare full cylinder lets you continue making drinks while arranging the next exchange.

The SodaStream CO2 Refill, 2 Pink Cylinders includes two pink Quick Connect cylinders, an exchange box, and a prepaid return label. It suits regular Terra users who want a reserve and will follow through with returns.

Skip this pack if your machine needs a different connection or you don't yet know how quickly you'll use gas. Accepting an empty cylinder for return doesn't mean the replacement cylinder fits the machine that used it.

Read how the SodaStream CO2 exchange works and SodaStream's exchange instructions before mailing empties. See SodaStream screw-in versus Quick Connect if you're unsure which connection you need.

Which SodaStream setup fits a regular routine?

Choose the starter kit for a smaller initial setup and the value bundle when you'll use extra bottles. Both are Terra options, so the bundle decision is about supplies rather than a different carbonation experience.

Terra Starter Kit: for one person or a smaller setup

The SodaStream Terra Starter Kit includes one Quick Connect cylinder, one dishwasher-safe BPA-free bottle, and one bubly Lime flavor drop. It's a sensible starting point if one bottle can cover your drinking routine.

The machine measures 7.9 inches deep, 5 inches wide, and 17 inches high. Measure your counter and leave room to reach the controls and attach or remove the bottle.

Skip this kit if several people will need separate bottles from the start. Adding accessories immediately may make a larger bundle the more practical choice, depending on what you'll actually use.

Terra Value Bundle: for shared daily use

The SodaStream Terra Value Bundle includes three dishwasher-safe BPA-free bottles and two bubly flavor drops. That gives a household more room to rotate chilled water, finished drinks, and bottles awaiting cleaning.

Confirm the cylinder count before ordering because the package details conflict. Don't base your choice on an assumed number of spare cylinders.

Skip the bundle if the extra bottles would sit unused or crowd your fridge. For other machine styles, compare SodaStream machines before stocking up on accessories.

How do you set up and use a Terra?

Set up the Terra with the correct cylinder and plain cold water, then add flavor after carbonation. Read its directions before the first use so the cylinder and bottle are seated correctly.

Wash the bottle according to its care instructions, install the Quick Connect cylinder, and fill with drinking water to the marked fill line. Snap the bottle into place as directed before pressing the carbonation control.

Start with light carbonation and increase it gradually until you find a level you enjoy. Repeating that amount makes your drinks more consistent and avoids using extra gas without a reason.

Wait for the machine's pressure-release step before removing the bottle. Add syrup or drops slowly afterward because adding ingredients to fizzy water can cause foaming.

Use water you already enjoy drinking. Carbonation adds bubbles, so it won't solve an unpleasant taste in your tap water.

Our SodaStream Terra use guide covers the routine in more detail.

Do reusable bottles make SodaStream more convenient?

Extra bottles help when chilling and cleaning would otherwise interrupt your routine. One can hold cold plain water while another holds a finished drink or waits to be washed.

The SodaStream 1L Slim Bottle, White Twin Pack provides two reusable plastic bottles compatible with the Terra. It suits households sharing a machine or people who want separate bottles for plain and flavored water.

Skip extras if your existing bottle is enough, and check fridge space before adding more. The nominal bottle size isn't permission to fill above its carbonation line.

Follow the care markings on the exact bottles you receive before using a dishwasher, since the cleaning guidance conflicts. Check SodaStream bottle sizes and types before buying replacements.

Which care habits and mistakes matter most?

The most useful habits are cleaning bottles promptly and checking their condition. Flavor residue needs more attention than plain water, especially around the cap and bottle opening.

Follow the bottle's washing instructions, rinse away soap, and let it dry before storage. Our guide to cleaning SodaStream bottles covers bottle care.

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Carbonating flavored liquid in the Terra. Add flavor only after carbonating plain water.
• Overfilling the bottle. Use the marked fill line so there's room for carbonation.
• Ignoring bottle damage or expiry markings. Replace bottles as directed, including those with cracks or distortion.
• Buying cylinders by capacity alone. Connection type must match the machine.
• Leaving the last exchange too late. Arrange a replacement before your reserve runs out if daily use matters.

Cap finished drinks promptly and keep them chilled. Making a batch you'll drink soon is more useful than filling every bottle simply because you have spares.

When might SodaStream not be worth it?

Skip SodaStream if storage or cylinder returns would stop you using it regularly. A machine tucked away behind other appliances may be less convenient than the ready-made drinks it was meant to replace.

It's also a poor match if your main goal is carbonating juice directly. The Terra workflow is plain water first, with flavor added afterward.

If those drinks matter more than plain sparkling water, compare SodaStream alternatives and check each machine's permitted liquids. Choose around what you drink rather than adapting your habits to a machine.

Is SodaStream worth it for you?

SodaStream is worth it when frequent use, easy exchanges, and bottle storage all fit. Choose the Terra Starter Kit for a smaller setup, or the Terra Value Bundle if several bottles will earn their space.

Add the refill pack when a spare cylinder solves a real gap in your exchange routine. Buy the bottle twin pack when sharing, chilling, or cleaning makes your current supply too small.

If you still can't picture using it through an ordinary week, keep buying ready-made drinks for now. Review how to carbonate water at home to decide whether the daily steps appeal to you.

Frequently asked questions

Is SodaStream cheaper than buying sparkling water?

SodaStream can cost less over time if you use it often enough to recover the machine cost; compare CO2 exchanges, replacement bottles, and flavors with your usual ready-made drinks. Use the amount you actually carbonate per cylinder in your calculation, rather than assuming you'll always reach the advertised maximum.

How much sparkling water does one SodaStream CO2 cylinder make?

SodaStream says each 60 L Quick Connect cylinder makes up to 60 liters of sparkling water; actual output depends partly on how much gas you use for each bottle. Stronger fizz can mean more frequent exchanges, so use a conservative output estimate when working out your ongoing costs.

Is SodaStream worth it for one person?

SodaStream can be worth it for one person who drinks sparkling water most days; a starter kit makes sense if you don't need several bottles ready at once. If you only drink an occasional glass, ready-made sparkling water avoids storing a machine and arranging cylinder exchanges.

Can you use a SodaStream to carbonate drinks other than water?

For the Terra, carbonate plain water first, then add flavor drops, syrup, or citrus; don't put those ingredients into the bottle before carbonation. If you want to carbonate juice or other drinks directly, choose a machine whose instructions specifically allow those liquids, rather than adapting the Terra.