Make Your Own Soda

Awesome!  Awesome!  Awesome!  I can't say it enough!  I love this product.  My hubby and I drink a lot of soda and the Munchkins drink soda occasionally.  Needless to say it can get expensive.  I had heard about people making their own soda at home and was intrigued, yet skeptical.  I am extremely picky with my soda and will not drink generic brands because they are usually too sweet and do not have enough carbonation in them.  They also usually go "flat" very quickly because of their lack of carbonation.  I was a Coke girl.  Until we switch to a zero calorie soda then my taste changed because I didn't like the Coke brand zero calorie soda but like the Pepsi brand.  Everyone was shocked!  But that is beside the point.  The point is we drink soda.........It gets expensive...........I am picky so won't drink generic.........I found a solution..........

The Soda Stream!!!

SodaStream was founded overseas in 1991 and came over to the United States in 2003.  Over 10 million SodaStreams have been sold in more than 40 countries.  Nope, that isn't a typo, 10 MILLION!!!  That right there tells me that it is a trusted brand.

I was excited when I got the chance to review the SodaStream.  Skeptical as I was I wanted to try it and see if it could be a solution for me and my family.  It couldn't get here fast enough.  I wasn't home when it got here, we were on the road back from our vacation but it was waiting at the front door for us.  I was ecstatic.  I didn't even help Hubby and the Munchkins unload the car.  I grabbed the box and ran inside with it.  I started to open it but felt a pang of guilt not helping unload the car so ran back out to help drag everything inside.  THEN I broke into the box.

I wasn't the only one that was excited though, Hubby and both Munchkins were right beside me.  Munchkin 1 actually had the Soda Stream on his Christmas Wish List and didn't get it so it was like Christmas had come late for him.

I pulled everything out of the box and boy was there a lot!  They sent a multitude of flavors for us in addition to the regular samples that are included to try along with everything else we would need to get started.  So we wasted no time.  Hubby and I quickly read the directions.  It was pretty self explanatory but I always like to read the directions first, just in case.

It was exactly as I thought.  Just a few steps and we were on our way.

1. screw in CO2 canister
2. fill bottle with cold water
3. screw bottle onto machine
4. press the button to add carbonation
5. add syrup (flavoring)

I didn't need any batteries or to plug it in.  I didn't even need to hook it up to any plumbing.  It was super light and easy to move.  It also had a slim design and fit nicely on my counter without taking up a ton of room.  I couldn't believe how easy it was!  We had drinkable soda in a matter of a minute.  I was impressed.  Since all of us wanted to taste it we opted for Root Beer because it was something we all liked and was caffeine-free.  I loved that we could control the amount of carbonation and flavoring we added as well.  After making the soda we all tried a bit and I was surprised to find that it was really tasty.  I would make a Root Beer float with it any day! 

In addition to the Root Beer we have also tried the Diet Lemon-Lime, Cola Free, and Orange.  We are thrilled with all the flavors.  SodaStream also has mixes for flavored sparkling water, Crystal Light, Country Time Lemonade, and Kool-Aid!  As well as energy drink mixes.  I loved that the diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda rather than aspartame.  This is the same sweetener I use in my home.  The SodaStream has officially replaced our normal soda.  I even took the SodaStream with me to my Mother-in-law's for Munchkin 1 and I's birthday party.  Everyone there was impressed.  They all tried some of the Cola Free and agreed that it was delicious.

The price to make your own SodaStream Soda is less than buying premixed and packaged soda from the store.  Sodas at the store run about $.50/can.  When you make your own soda at home with the SodaStream it ends up being about $.25/can.  This is half the price.  I don't know about you but I like that it saves me money. 

SodaStream improves my carbon footprint as well.  With soda you buy in bottles or cans you cannot reuse the can or bottle but with SodaStream you can reuse the bottle.  I love that!  You might be thinking, "Well what about the CO2 bottle?"  The answer to that is although the bottle itself is not reusable by you once it is empty you can exchange it in store for a new one and only pay for the amount of gas.  The retail location will then turn in the bottle for recycling. Even the soda syrup bottles and carbonating bottle are recyclable!  This is much better than polluting with cans and bottles.

It truly was mind blowing to me that all this time we had been spending all this money on soda when we could have been making it cheaper at home, with less of a negative impact on the environment!  I love the convenience of being able to make my own soda at home and not having to run to the store when I am out of soda or lug around heavy cases of soda.  I don't even have to store the soda anymore!  I am sold!  I love my SodaStream and encourage you to get one for you and your family.  It is such a great gadget. 

You can purchase your own SodaStream and its products are sold on their website and at many major retailers including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Sam's Club, and many more.  You can find a retailer near you here.



Jenn, Mom Of Two Munchkins was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and was under no obligation to review it.  Nor was Jenn, Mom Of Two Munchkins under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.