Home Soda Machines

[TBA]

My son drinks a ton of diet soda. Since I cannot seem to convince him to stop (he is an adult) I was thinking about recommending a home machine. I found one that uses Splenda.

Any thoughts good or bad?

[LWolf]

1. Home soda, without the machine:

Carbonated water + some unsweetened fruit juice; about 2/3 - 1/3.

I don't know anything about soda machines except what I've seen recently advertised, which requires a little bottle of flavoring that has all the reasons not to drink soda in it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. Apparently the home soda machines are capable of turning tap water into carbonated water,

with or without the flavorings.

If that's the case, I might get one for the summer, since I find carbonated water more thirst quenching than regular water.

Like L Wolf, I flavor it by adding a couple of ounces of fruit juice (or wine, if I'm feeling decadent). Apple, white grape, cranberry, and sour cherry are especially good for these purposes, any non-pulpy 100% juice, actually, but NOT commercial "juice drinks," which are mostly sugar water, or worse yet, corn syrup water.

[nolabear]

4. Soda Stream is AWESOME. I just add a little fruit juice.

It's got that clean, bright taste and pays for itself really fast. If you're into flavors they're food, but I don't do artificial or sugary so I loves me some cran-lemon fizzy water.

[Major Nikon]

5. Here's my post about the subject in Cooking & Baking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/115718194

For me, carbonated water is a compliment to espresso. Since I drink espresso often (at home), I was going through a lot of carbonated water which as you know gets cumulatively expensive. Since it's just water and CO2, I knew there had to be a better way. I briefly considered getting a sodastream, but the cost of buying relatively expensive proprietary CO2 cartridges seemed like a bit much.

I have never owned a sodastream or anything like it, but the description from others leads me to believe that all it does is make carbonated water. The flavorings are added after carbonation.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

6. In previous related posts, I enthusiastically endorsed Soda Stream

and I do so now as well. Soda Stream is the machine that allows you to make carbonated water out of tap. I drink enormous amounts of carbonated water and the machine pays itself off for me.

I don't drink much soda, so I haven't used many of the syrups. However, I do have the Cola and Ginger Ale syrups. Both of them are great. Neither uses fake sugar or HFCS. They taste really good to me, but everyone's different.

I have owned a lot of the Soda Stream models, but recently upgraded to the fancy one that you plug in, which keeps track of the gas in your tank and makes the process easier by just pushing a button for the kind of carbonation you like. Since I like my throat to burn, I hit the max carbonation button and repeat once more when the cycle is done.

[Sophiegirl]

8. I endorse the Soda Stream too.

My DH and I bought one several months ago. There are so many flavoring options. You can buy the soda flavors at Bed, Bath and Beyond, or make your own as others have suggested. I also use Crystal Lite Pink Lemonade. Very yummy!

[bif]

7. Got one for my daughter for Christmas

She absolutely loves it!