These are nice and we love carbonated water, but I bought a CO2 beverage tank and line with a cap, that snaps right on to any soda bottle. We use two liter bottles. It cost about $120 total for the tank, line and connector. I have it filled once per year at my local air/gas supplier with food grade CO2 for about $17 and I can make more than 1000 two liter bottles at a cost of 1.7 cents per bottle. If your family drinks it daily, this saves hundreds of dollars per year. These options look nice but you still have to exchange the CO 2 cartriges multiple times where as I get my tank filled once per year.and it's easy, cheaper and will last my lifetime. Love this channel and show. 👍
this is the right answer, I got a 20lbs CO2 tank and have not have to refill it since I bought it 4 years, and probably drink 1 liter of soda water a day...
@@sanbalestrini What parts would i need to buy to make this happen? ive been tempted to set something up like this for myself but have no idea where to start.
I love my Sodastream Fizzi. I've used it daily for three years and it's going strong. I just fill the bottles with water, refrigerate, and fizz as needed. Zero fuss.
I have a Sparkel. You do have to plug it in, but then you can carbonate anything, not just water. I have small containers of citric acid and baking soda and a small scoop that equals the amount in the sachets. Works great.
That is a fantastic idea. I love my Sparkel and it never occurred to me purchase the citric acid and baking soda rather than by the Sparkel packets. Thanks for the tip!
I did Sparkel for 2 -3 years leaving a previous SodaStream model. Like you I had to containers for the Citrus and Baking. Went back to soda stream (fizzy). They both carbonate well. SodaStream was faster, easier to maintain, clean up. No more cleaning the water bin or adding water to the back. No more spilling into the lower ben at the bottom. The main reason I went with the Sparkel was the convenience of not going to the store to exchange. Now that SodaStream have return from your home. I had to go back. I basically keep 6 CO2 canisters and replace them when I get down to 2. Nothing against Sparkel it does its Job.
i got the Sodastream for my birthday yesterday and i fell in love with it! i wanted one ever since i saw this on TV years ago. so thank you to my wonderful nephew and niece in law for my nifty gift! i am going to🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 fizz me up some water soon after i finish my coffee!
I bought a Sparkel and loved it until after about 6 months, because it was no longer carbonating the water. It would stop part way through and the lights would blink and such. Looked up the instructions about how to clean the unit. It worked a few times after cleaning it and then the same thing happened again. After cleaning it 5 times or so and only getting it to work a few times of use after cleaning, I contacted Sparkel and they replaced it while under warranty. I was very happy for about 6 months and the same thing happened again. I use water that is filtered from my reverse osmosis system. I just stopped using it altogether, since it is terrible after about 6 months. I'd suggest steering clear of the Sparkel unit.
You failed to mention that the extra step of a carbonating lid gives the option of carbonating other liquids besides water, which is a must for my family.
@@tananario In the reviews they mumble about how the Drinkmate can carbonate other things, and the reviews are for "Soda Makers" not "Plain Seltzer Makers". A feature that allows you to make actual sodas, not just one of the components is kind of a big dea
I purchased a Sodastream from Goodwill for $5, then purchased a Tank Adapter that allows me to use refillable tanks from Paintball/Airguns. I have a 5lb tank, costs me about $15 to fill and lasts me almost 2 months, with 3 of us using it multiple times per day. I usually get my refills from a Homebrewer supply, but that is because I like supporting local small business rather than one of the National Chains when I can.
Been using Sodastream since they first became available in the USA... when my machine broke I figured I'd try DrinkMate since they had a sale going on. Not going back... more consistent and better carbonation, ability to carbonate almost any liquid and seems to be more efficient with the CO2.
Yeah I feel like this review is really in remiss but not mentioning the fact the drinkmate can carbonate anything, that's a huge feature. Not to mention if you have guests coming over you can pre-carbonate the bottles without having to need to make it on the fly.
They did mention it ... and complained that you had to use a special carbonation cap. Which adds about 5 seconds to the process, and is ridiculous. I've had my DrinkMate about 3 1/2 years now, and am extremely happy with it. It's miles better than my brother's SodaStream.
@@whodoyoudanceforI don't have it myself (yet) although it's the one I decided on after doing a bunch of research. From everything I've heard, it's more efficient with it's CO2 usage...getting better carbonation results, and using less CO2 in the process. That's a benefit that is equally applicable even if you're only interested in carbonating water, although the fact that it can carbonate more than water is a huge selling point.
Right, and they didn't even mention that the SodaStream only works with carbonating water and you can premix the drinks for DrinkMate, plus I hear it has the ability to get fizzier than the SodaStream.
This roundup was pretty useless. It only covered the most superficial aspects of each. For example, I have the Drinkmate (the one on the far right). It has a separate cap. I liked this, as it meant it was easy to take out and clean. But the main feature that made me choose it is that - unlike the sodastream - it's completely okay with carbonating things other than just water. Yes, you can do that in the sodastream and others, but it's generally not recommended. I think this is mainly because it'd hard to clean if you overcarbonate and release and the non-water squirts back up through the mechanism. Now you have some sticky liquid trapped in your machine that you can't clean out.
@@XCodes Well, yes and no on your first paragraph. Sodastream has a couple of their new machines with a proprietary "quick connect" adapter. I have no doubt this is anything but a cash grab, but it does have the side-effect of providing a solution out their with those with disabilities that prevent them from being able to screw/unscrew the cylinder. You can, however, buy a 3rd party adapter to turn a screw in tank into a QC one. But this connector is only on two of their models and the other two use the screw in style, so those canisters are still readily available. In fact, those sodastream canisters are what I'm using in my Drinkmate right now. Also, both styles of canister sell/exchange for the exact same price. So it's not like they're somehow gouging for the proprietary ones. And they're totally interchangeable. I bought a non-sodastream one for cheaper. Then I went and exchanged them at Target for refilled sodastream branded ones. Same price, whether you turn on sodastream branded ones or 3rd party ones.
Agree with you, there are lots of details they missed. They really need to focus on sustainability as well. those cartridges are not cheap, it's just another way to monetize diy.
@@XCodes It never "changed". They came out with new machines that used the new fitting, but also kept selling the other style that used the old, standard fitting. Sodastream is the one that MADE it a standard for the home soda machine. I also don't know what you're talking about with the prices on amazon. Two 60L cylinders sell for $65 from Sodastream or $60 for non-Sodastream ones. You were probably comparing apples to oranges, like two Sodastream ones to a single non-Sodastream one.
Love these videos meant for consumers. Americas Test Kitchen is my go to reviews because they actually test the items against eachother and not just give a pros and cons list.
I have the sodastream aqua fizz. I love it, though the best carbonation happens when the water is very well chilled (I bought some extra bottles to always have very cold water at the ready).
You can purchase glass bottles for use with most soda stream machines if you prefer glass to the plastic bottle that comes with it. I have an entry level soda stream and find it works great. It cost me $67 CAN including a full tank, not a small starter tank. It does a great job, but you have to practice getting the best compromise between carbonation and number of bottles out of a tank. If I know I will drink an entire litre in one day, I will use lower carbonation, as I do not need it to last a few days. Even with the most judicial use of the carbonation button, I have never gotten more than 40 bottles out of a tank, nowhere close to the 60 they promote. But it still works out to be a great deal. When it comes to the syrup flavours, the best tasting I have found is the soda stream root beer syrup. It rivals most brand name root beer. Ginger Ale is terrible, cola not bad if you are making Cuba Libre, cream soda is passable. Bubly grapefruit is terrible. Those are all I have tried to date. :)
Have you ever tried Torani syrups? I don’t use them much any more (cutting back a little on sugar), but I find them to be really delicious. And a great variety.
@@deanmar9002 From what I have seen on the net, people do seem to like the PEPSI syrup. I haven't tried that one yet, being a Coke drinker when I do drink pop, but I think I will give it a try if I ever come across it on special somewhere. But as I said, I do enjoy the root beer syrup.
I'm sure you can get glass bottles for the rest - but I'm not sure you should. The sodastream one that takes them makes you lock the bottle inside a container to refill it. If something goes catastrophically wrong, it's not going to fire shards of glass across your kitchen. Their 'fancy' ginger ale syrup (one sold in the glass bottle) is pretty delicious. Perfect for making a mule.
We love the fizzi, except one thing . The Fizzi has a plastic button you push, attached to a hinge mechanism that depresses the canister to charge the water. Plastic=easy to break. I think it’s a major design flaw that the main moving part on it is plastic. We just broke our second Fizzi and have to decide if we’re buying another or getting a different model
I havent looked at Sodastream in a long time but I remember the CO2 refills being insanely expensive and a pain to get, the cost was more than just buying soda. I would be surprised if costs have actually come down and not gone up. I was hoping this would cover the real costs of these devices: the CO2 refills and if they are proprietary and can only be purchased at certain stores.
for the soda stream its like 30 for a new cartridge or 15 if you recycle your old one too.I went with it because in the short term its more expensive but depending on your use you'll save money in the long run (assuming of course that you really get about 60 liters out of each canister, I just got mine so I expect I'll find out in the near future)
😂😂😂 You are so right. But I am seriously considering it. I am trying to wean myself off soda. Switched to carbonated water, but the guilt for plastic bottles is weighing on me. Then found Aluminum cans. Still… The cost….
Once again the prices quoted are much lower than what appears on the linked URLs. I suspect these videos are quite old. ATK needs to be honest with viewers.
Don't use soda stream, they use a non user friendly design so they can sell their overpriced non refillable cannisters. You also can only carbonate water, not juice or other liquids. The drinkmate is the one to get. You can carbonate any liquid, and you use refillable tanks which makes the cost per liter only pennies
I'm missing something here on the economics of this, at least when it comes to the Sodastream machines. Please tell me if I'm figuring this correctly! The Sodastream CO2 cylinder is about $30, and it makes 60L. That's $0.50 /liter. The Sodastream variety flavor pack is about $21, and make a total of 36L, which is about $0.58 / liter. So ignoring the cost of the machine, Sodastream costs approximately $1.08 / liter. The "not on sale" price of flavored seltzer at the supermarket is usually about $0.60 for a 1-liter bottle. So I don't see how the Sodastream machines make economic sense.
Any reason there’s no testing of the old fashioned siphons? I have one and it’s quite simple. But the charger I actually use is even more so: a bottle (and I have extras for cooling more water), a cap that screws onto the bottle, you drop in a small CO2 cartridge and twist the cap. Presto. Done. I’m scared to death it will break, because these kind seem to be scarce. Nothing on the counter - just my 2 bottles in the fridge and cartridges and cap stored nearby.
but......what about levels of carbonation? i was all ready for adam to talk about PSI and how pressurized these got to commercially bought sodas/seltzers. i've often heard it criticized that home carbonators are not anywhere near as carbonated because they do not pressurize near as high. and then what about comparing this to a whipping siphon? i think this review was really lacking. i don't feel informed enough to buy one. i don't know anything more still about the different models.
whipping siphons are VERY expensive per liter but can give higher carbonation. Chilling the liquid before carbonation helps, but it's still not up there with commercial levels.
We had the original version Soda Stream and the plastic components in the top broke, can't repair, can't replace - so much for minimizing plastic waste - threw away the whole unit...why ATK did you not cover how the components stack up in that crucial spot?
They do a little bit of dishonesty in the full review where they mention that the Drinkmate's plastic components *seem* less sturdy. They don't mention that the functional parts, where it actually matters, are plastic for all the manufacturers.
I have the drink mate and the soda stream, I like the drink mate because you can fizz it with the syrup or juice. I use a 10 pound co2 bottle with an adapter to fizz up my water, tank last me about 8 to 10 months before I have to refill it again. way cheaper.
How does the adapter work and does it cause any problems for you using a larger tank? I'm thinking of getting the drinkmate. I saw your comment and I'm wondering how cost effective the adaptor + different tank is compared to just getting the small 60 liter tanks.
My kegerator cost me $40. It came with a 5 pound Co2 tank. $20 to refill. I have NUMEROUS Cornie kegs that fit inside. I can carbonate about 20, 5 gallon (18.9 liters) Better yet, I can carbonate 2 or 3 at the same time, and have all of them on tap. I recently got a 20 pound Co2 tank, costs the same to refill it. Seems that the filling labor, is what costs, the carbon dioxide is not. Before you say it, I have 2 Cornies with 3 connectors. The third is in the lid, and has an airstone down in the bottom. I can carbonate 5 gallons in 4 hours, if it is cold. Yes, it DOES work on Adult Beverages, too. steve
I am not sure what you are talking about - if I wanted to duplicate your set up. If I went to a home brew store would they be able to set me up ? Or do you have a video by chance?
I absolutely love my SodaStream machine. I would recommend to get at least 2 can of CO2. You can swap empty can to a filled one at Bed Bath &. Beyond. I love drinking soda water with a squeeze of fruit to have a hint of flavor without using sugar. DO NOT fizz your fruit drinks. The acid interact with CO2 will burst and over flow the machine. ALWAYS apply fruit juice after soda over ice.
When my Soda Stream gave out after many years of service I switched to the Drinkmate. I really don't understand why you call it "cumbersome" or contrast its plastic parts to Soda Stream. The working parts of the Soda Stream are also plastic. I know this from repeatedly taking it apart to replace or repair them. The ease of use is similar. The kicker is that the Drinkmate can carbonate things that aren't plain water and to do so without creating a geyser when you open the bottle. The loss of carbonation inherent in the other brands' adding flavoring to carbonated water, inverting a few times and releasing makes the already-weak carbonation of these devices nearly indetectable.
I like my SodaStream, and use it daily. The only drawbacks are that they can be a pain to exchange at the participating store, and that the SodaStream syrups are not that tasty. But it’s easy to find alternative syrup, or you can just drink it plain, which is the healthiest option.
DrinkMate for me. I can carbonate the liquids of my choice. Your soda tastes flat - carbonate it. It is super simple to use - how hard is it to press down on a big button? The bottles are great for on the go. And the company itself is not rooted in less than desirable social practices like the other major company. The only negative is that bottles must be hand-washed. They will not tolerate the high heat of a dishwasher.
Surprised there was no comparison of carbonation pressure... I like my water to explode on my tongue... Commercial bottles at the store do that... Not so much my Drinkmate (which is a great machine imo)... So I continue to look for a REAL carbonation machine... None of these seem to be that. I wonder if there's a way to hack the relief valve...
@@blackmantis001 Drinkmate... I also bought a 25# CO2 bottle and I fill the machine's internal one from that... It lasted three years before I filled it again. I did this 5 years ago. No problems, works great, cheap... Happy about the purchase.
For the conscious, sorry to be the sand on your KY... SodaStream had to close their state-sponsored factory on occupied territories at the west bank and promptly was acquired by Pepsi Co.
Hi. I notice that Drink Mate and Rio Soda were missing in this review. They will both carbonate nearly any beverage. I can't help you with Drink Mate, but if you are interested in reviewing Rio Soda, let me know.
They completely glossed over the fact that all except the drinkmate only carbonates water, flavorings have to be added afterwards... And all 4 they recommend do exactly the same thing... Why not talk about the pros and cons of the other designs, like the packet powered one or the drinkmate that allows you to carbonate even flavored liquids?
Wow they bypassed the one major drawback of the SodaStream, which is you can only carbonate water. With the Drinkmate, you can carbonate anything, and they barely even mentioned that brand.
Your reviews these days are garbage ,no mention of the amount of carbonation each model produces ,small bubbles, large bubbles, no mention if the mechanics are stainless steel or plastic.
Hack the system with your own 25 lb CO2 bottle, and the cost comes down to around 3 cents a liter. I drink at least two bottles per day, and the last CO2 tank lasted me three years.
The refills are expensive and annoying to have to take to the store and exchange. I bought a small 20lb CO² tank it costs $30 to refill and lasts for over a year. I've tried refilling my own cartridges and also adapting it directly to the soda stream. I would recommend just refilling the cartridge. It will never be "full" so it only lasts about half as long. But hooking it up directly to your machine usually causes the outlet to freeze because there's too much pressure and it's hard to regulate it without a bunch of extra stuff. Also the hoses that I've found are cheap and leak if you don't turn off the tank.
i thought the sodastream was the worst model. it could only fizz water. and after you add flavoring, it goes flat. what's the point? the soda sensei and the drinkmate were the best. it carbonates anything from juice to wine to liquor in the bottle. you cant do that with a sodastream.
How do you guys read my mind every single time? It's like I Google something or am researching a tool and boom you guys just release a video on it. Either your analytic team is really really good or there's a lot of coincidences going on. Either way happy to get a video on this!
To my knowledge, the Drinkmate does not use the chemical carbonators... Only CO2 canisters. So that was just incorrect. Also this comparison ignores various other features and use cases that might matter to buyers, such as carbonating things other than water. I have a Soda Sensei by Soda Sense, which is basically a rebranded Drink Mate and one of the biggest factors that caused me to choose it was the detachable actuator that both allows for easier cleaning and the company officially supports carbonating any beverage of your liking, which last I knew Soda Sense expressly says voids your warranty. The Soda Sense Sense service is also really nice convenience. All in all, this was a really shallow survey. Not the kind of thorough and comprehensive comparison I expect from this channel.
What I'm kinda sad about the current soda maker market is most of the machines are designed to be on the countertop. But how frequently I drink sparkling water is very seasonal, mainly in summer. I don't want a machine that I use mainly in one season to be on my countertop. There should be more portable models, which works as good as countertop ones.
@@happily_blue Such basic soda makers have no difference from portable ones and the sizes are just bigger. I prefer portable ones even if that is so light.
@@hkyt21 The one big difference I think is where the CO2 comes from. I don't think there are places or services where you can trade in soda siphon cartridges for refills like the larger canisters.
@@happily_blue Small co2 cartridges aren't designed to be refilled in general. We buy co2 cartridges from Amazon. I don't get why that is a problem. Do you say more trash? Come on. You shouldn't be so nitpicky.
Had a SodaStream Source and then switched to a different screw in model. Suddenly it was making that loud buzzing burping sound which you want and you could see bits of dry ice in the bottle. Twice the carbonation of the Source which isn’t screw in.
You cant to a review of the best soda makers without talking about the Drinkmate... come on. Sodastream lets you carbonate only water and that great for those who want only that. But Drinkmate lets you carbonate anything. Coffee, tea, wine, a soda that went flat. Im going around looking for reviews and this one did not even mentioned Drinkmate.
I purchased a Soda Stream several years ago and was very disappointed with the inability to hold the fizz. After carbonating one bottle, taking a drink and putting it into the refrigerator for one hour the bubbles were practically all gone. The next time I tried carbonating a bottle I pressed the carbonator five times and the same thing happened. Yes, you guessed it, the next time I pressed it ten times and the same thing happened. My Soda Stream went into the trash.
you didn't explain the difference between the the sodastream vs the sodastream "automatic" other than you want to take the guess work out of your carbonation. thanks. very helpful. and then you ended recommending the "manual" aarc model... again, not describing at all what "manual" means. thanks. very helpful again.
very typical of the ATK utube channel, the new videos are actually old and outdated. either the products are out of production and no longer available, but for sure the ATK 'Best of" price jump kicks in. it's not $83, it's now $129
Yeah, ATK has been doing that for some time--running old videos, oftentimes of obsolete products or models. I guess ATK sees this as a good business model for themselves as we're watching the video and they're getting the ad revenue, but it's not a sustainable model as consumers figure out the products are no longer available. Dear ATK, thanks for another trip down the road to nowhere.
These are nice and we love carbonated water, but I bought a CO2 beverage tank and line with a cap, that snaps right on to any soda bottle. We use two liter bottles. It cost about $120 total for the tank, line and connector. I have it filled once per year at my local air/gas supplier with food grade CO2 for about $17 and I can make more than 1000 two liter bottles at a cost of 1.7 cents per bottle. If your family drinks it daily, this saves hundreds of dollars per year. These options look nice but you still have to exchange the CO 2 cartriges multiple times where as I get my tank filled once per year.and it's easy, cheaper and will last my lifetime. Love this channel and show. 👍
this is the right answer, I got a 20lbs CO2 tank and have not have to refill it since I bought it 4 years, and probably drink 1 liter of soda water a day...
@@sanbalestrini can you provide a little more info about how to purchase these parts? Thanks so much!!
@@sanbalestrini What parts would i need to buy to make this happen? ive been tempted to set something up like this for myself but have no idea where to start.
I'm sorry y'all but UA-cam keeps removing my answers, this is my 5th and final attempt...
@@eliza9822 ua-cam.com/video/5oCizeyK9lM/v-deo.html
I love my Sodastream Fizzi. I've used it daily for three years and it's going strong. I just fill the bottles with water, refrigerate, and fizz as needed. Zero fuss.
I have a Sparkel. You do have to plug it in, but then you can carbonate anything, not just water. I have small containers of citric acid and baking soda and a small scoop that equals the amount in the sachets. Works great.
That is a fantastic idea. I love my Sparkel and it never occurred to me purchase the citric acid and baking soda rather than by the Sparkel packets. Thanks for the tip!
I did Sparkel for 2 -3 years leaving a previous SodaStream model. Like you I had to containers for the Citrus and Baking. Went back to soda stream (fizzy). They both carbonate well. SodaStream was faster, easier to maintain, clean up. No more cleaning the water bin or adding water to the back. No more spilling into the lower ben at the bottom. The main reason I went with the Sparkel was the convenience of not going to the store to exchange. Now that SodaStream have return from your home. I had to go back. I basically keep 6 CO2 canisters and replace them when I get down to 2. Nothing against Sparkel it does its Job.
i got the Sodastream for my birthday yesterday and i fell in love with it! i wanted one ever since i saw this on TV years ago. so thank you to my wonderful nephew and niece in law for my nifty gift! i am going to🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 fizz me up some water soon after i finish my coffee!
I bought a Sparkel and loved it until after about 6 months, because it was no longer carbonating the water. It would stop part way through and the lights would blink and such. Looked up the instructions about how to clean the unit. It worked a few times after cleaning it and then the same thing happened again. After cleaning it 5 times or so and only getting it to work a few times of use after cleaning, I contacted Sparkel and they replaced it while under warranty. I was very happy for about 6 months and the same thing happened again. I use water that is filtered from my reverse osmosis system. I just stopped using it altogether, since it is terrible after about 6 months. I'd suggest steering clear of the Sparkel unit.
So many machines and no details...
Wate of time watching
You failed to mention that the extra step of a carbonating lid gives the option of carbonating other liquids besides water, which is a must for my family.
@@rsh4599
Don't make pulpy OJ, it will taste spoiled. But if you strain in and add a bit of water, it might be a fresh drink.
Did they? Because it’s about soda WATER.
@@tananario Any roundup like this that doesn't factor in carbonating soda as well as soda water is a pretty big miss.
@@tananario In the reviews they mumble about how the Drinkmate can carbonate other things, and the reviews are for "Soda Makers" not "Plain Seltzer Makers". A feature that allows you to make actual sodas, not just one of the components is kind of a big dea
The Drinkmate is also great at re-carbonating flat soda :)
I purchased a Sodastream from Goodwill for $5, then purchased a Tank Adapter that allows me to use refillable tanks from Paintball/Airguns. I have a 5lb tank, costs me about $15 to fill and lasts me almost 2 months, with 3 of us using it multiple times per day. I usually get my refills from a Homebrewer supply, but that is because I like supporting local small business rather than one of the National Chains when I can.
oil in that CO2 just FYI
@@cgazmommyof3They specifically said they go to homebrewer supply. It's food grade so no.
Been using Sodastream since they first became available in the USA... when my machine broke I figured I'd try DrinkMate since they had a sale going on. Not going back... more consistent and better carbonation, ability to carbonate almost any liquid and seems to be more efficient with the CO2.
Yeah I feel like this review is really in remiss but not mentioning the fact the drinkmate can carbonate anything, that's a huge feature. Not to mention if you have guests coming over you can pre-carbonate the bottles without having to need to make it on the fly.
The DrinkMate Omnifizz is a million times better than my previous SodaStream. Not sure why this one was not mentioned.
They did mention it ... and complained that you had to use a special carbonation cap.
Which adds about 5 seconds to the process, and is ridiculous.
I've had my DrinkMate about 3 1/2 years now, and am extremely happy with it. It's miles better than my brother's SodaStream.
@@lizcademy4809What about it is better if you're just carbonating water?
@@whodoyoudanceforI don't have it myself (yet) although it's the one I decided on after doing a bunch of research. From everything I've heard, it's more efficient with it's CO2 usage...getting better carbonation results, and using less CO2 in the process. That's a benefit that is equally applicable even if you're only interested in carbonating water, although the fact that it can carbonate more than water is a huge selling point.
@@Starburstnova It does go to a lower pressure though, only 6.5bar
Right, and they didn't even mention that the SodaStream only works with carbonating water and you can premix the drinks for DrinkMate, plus I hear it has the ability to get fizzier than the SodaStream.
This roundup was pretty useless. It only covered the most superficial aspects of each.
For example, I have the Drinkmate (the one on the far right). It has a separate cap. I liked this, as it meant it was easy to take out and clean. But the main feature that made me choose it is that - unlike the sodastream - it's completely okay with carbonating things other than just water. Yes, you can do that in the sodastream and others, but it's generally not recommended. I think this is mainly because it'd hard to clean if you overcarbonate and release and the non-water squirts back up through the mechanism. Now you have some sticky liquid trapped in your machine that you can't clean out.
@@XCodes Well, yes and no on your first paragraph. Sodastream has a couple of their new machines with a proprietary "quick connect" adapter. I have no doubt this is anything but a cash grab, but it does have the side-effect of providing a solution out their with those with disabilities that prevent them from being able to screw/unscrew the cylinder. You can, however, buy a 3rd party adapter to turn a screw in tank into a QC one.
But this connector is only on two of their models and the other two use the screw in style, so those canisters are still readily available. In fact, those sodastream canisters are what I'm using in my Drinkmate right now.
Also, both styles of canister sell/exchange for the exact same price. So it's not like they're somehow gouging for the proprietary ones. And they're totally interchangeable. I bought a non-sodastream one for cheaper. Then I went and exchanged them at Target for refilled sodastream branded ones. Same price, whether you turn on sodastream branded ones or 3rd party ones.
@@XCodes I use Soda Stream cartridges with my Drinkmate carbonator.
@@mahna_mahna Thank you :-)!
Agree with you, there are lots of details they missed. They really need to focus on sustainability as well. those cartridges are not cheap, it's just another way to monetize diy.
@@XCodes It never "changed". They came out with new machines that used the new fitting, but also kept selling the other style that used the old, standard fitting. Sodastream is the one that MADE it a standard for the home soda machine.
I also don't know what you're talking about with the prices on amazon. Two 60L cylinders sell for $65 from Sodastream or $60 for non-Sodastream ones. You were probably comparing apples to oranges, like two Sodastream ones to a single non-Sodastream one.
Love these videos meant for consumers. Americas Test Kitchen is my go to reviews because they actually test the items against eachother and not just give a pros and cons list.
I have the sodastream aqua fizz. I love it, though the best carbonation happens when the water is very well chilled (I bought some extra bottles to always have very cold water at the ready).
Yes. No matter what method used, very well chilled comes out much better and fizzier and lasts longer.
This was nothing but a paid for add, DrinkMate is far superior to SodaStream... wow.
You can purchase glass bottles for use with most soda stream machines if you prefer glass to the plastic bottle that comes with it. I have an entry level soda stream and find it works great. It cost me $67 CAN including a full tank, not a small starter tank. It does a great job, but you have to practice getting the best compromise between carbonation and number of bottles out of a tank. If I know I will drink an entire litre in one day, I will use lower carbonation, as I do not need it to last a few days. Even with the most judicial use of the carbonation button, I have never gotten more than 40 bottles out of a tank, nowhere close to the 60 they promote. But it still works out to be a great deal. When it comes to the syrup flavours, the best tasting I have found is the soda stream root beer syrup. It rivals most brand name root beer. Ginger Ale is terrible, cola not bad if you are making Cuba Libre, cream soda is passable. Bubly grapefruit is terrible. Those are all I have tried to date. :)
That's helpful, I'm glad to learn that you can buy glass.
Have you ever tried Torani syrups? I don’t use them much any more (cutting back a little on sugar), but I find them to be really delicious. And a great variety.
I agree...the syrup flavors are pretty bad.
@@deanmar9002 From what I have seen on the net, people do seem to like the PEPSI syrup. I haven't tried that one yet, being a Coke drinker when I do drink pop, but I think I will give it a try if I ever come across it on special somewhere. But as I said, I do enjoy the root beer syrup.
I'm sure you can get glass bottles for the rest - but I'm not sure you should.
The sodastream one that takes them makes you lock the bottle inside a container to refill it. If something goes catastrophically wrong, it's not going to fire shards of glass across your kitchen.
Their 'fancy' ginger ale syrup (one sold in the glass bottle) is pretty delicious. Perfect for making a mule.
The Drinkmate is the only one that can add carbonation to more than just water.
We love the fizzi, except one thing . The Fizzi has a plastic button you push, attached to a hinge mechanism that depresses the canister to charge the water. Plastic=easy to break. I think it’s a major design flaw that the main moving part on it is plastic. We just broke our second Fizzi and have to decide if we’re buying another or getting a different model
Agree... the plastic mechanism inside always breaks
I havent looked at Sodastream in a long time but I remember the CO2 refills being insanely expensive and a pain to get, the cost was more than just buying soda. I would be surprised if costs have actually come down and not gone up. I was hoping this would cover the real costs of these devices: the CO2 refills and if they are proprietary and can only be purchased at certain stores.
for the soda stream its like 30 for a new cartridge or 15 if you recycle your old one too.I went with it because in the short term its more expensive but depending on your use you'll save money in the long run (assuming of course that you really get about 60 liters out of each canister, I just got mine so I expect I'll find out in the near future)
@@Gadgetmaster101 so is the sodastream machine with 60 lit co2 tanks worth it? Or too expensive in the long run
Soon we will empty the living room to make room for the kitchen gadgets!
😂😂😂
You are so right.
But I am seriously considering it.
I am trying to wean myself off soda. Switched to carbonated water, but the guilt for plastic bottles is weighing on me. Then found Aluminum cans. Still… The cost….
Once again the prices quoted are much lower than what appears on the linked URLs. I suspect these videos are quite old. ATK needs to be honest with viewers.
I keep seeing these kind of comments without any sources.
Don't use soda stream, they use a non user friendly design so they can sell their overpriced non refillable cannisters. You also can only carbonate water, not juice or other liquids. The drinkmate is the one to get. You can carbonate any liquid, and you use refillable tanks which makes the cost per liter only pennies
I'm missing something here on the economics of this, at least when it comes to the Sodastream machines. Please tell me if I'm figuring this correctly! The Sodastream CO2 cylinder is about $30, and it makes 60L. That's $0.50 /liter. The Sodastream variety flavor pack is about $21, and make a total of 36L, which is about $0.58 / liter. So ignoring the cost of the machine, Sodastream costs approximately $1.08 / liter. The "not on sale" price of flavored seltzer at the supermarket is usually about $0.60 for a 1-liter bottle. So I don't see how the Sodastream machines make economic sense.
You get money back for returning the cylinder, so the actual cost per CO2 charge is much less than $30, if you don't factor in the upfront cost.
Your demo led to neither of the choices because you just did a run through to sell anyone that you can. But it didn't work on me.
Any reason there’s no testing of the old fashioned siphons? I have one and it’s quite simple. But the charger I actually use is even more so: a bottle (and I have extras for cooling more water), a cap that screws onto the bottle, you drop in a small CO2 cartridge and twist the cap. Presto. Done. I’m scared to death it will break, because these kind seem to be scarce. Nothing on the counter - just my 2 bottles in the fridge and cartridges and cap stored nearby.
but......what about levels of carbonation? i was all ready for adam to talk about PSI and how pressurized these got to commercially bought sodas/seltzers. i've often heard it criticized that home carbonators are not anywhere near as carbonated because they do not pressurize near as high.
and then what about comparing this to a whipping siphon? i think this review was really lacking. i don't feel informed enough to buy one. i don't know anything more still about the different models.
whipping siphons are VERY expensive per liter but can give higher carbonation.
Chilling the liquid before carbonation helps, but it's still not up there with commercial levels.
We had the original version Soda Stream and the plastic components in the top broke, can't repair, can't replace - so much for minimizing plastic waste - threw away the whole unit...why ATK did you not cover how the components stack up in that crucial spot?
They do a little bit of dishonesty in the full review where they mention that the Drinkmate's plastic components *seem* less sturdy. They don't mention that the functional parts, where it actually matters, are plastic for all the manufacturers.
I have the drink mate and the soda stream, I like the drink mate because you can fizz it with the syrup or juice. I use a 10 pound co2 bottle with an adapter to fizz up my water, tank last me about 8 to 10 months before I have to refill it again. way cheaper.
I have this same exact set up after doing a ton of research. It’s perfect.
How does the adapter work and does it cause any problems for you using a larger tank? I'm thinking of getting the drinkmate. I saw your comment and I'm wondering how cost effective the adaptor + different tank is compared to just getting the small 60 liter tanks.
My kegerator cost me $40. It came with
a 5 pound Co2 tank. $20 to refill. I have
NUMEROUS Cornie kegs that fit inside.
I can carbonate about 20, 5 gallon (18.9
liters) Better yet, I can carbonate 2 or 3
at the same time, and have all of them
on tap.
I recently got a 20 pound Co2 tank, costs
the same to refill it. Seems that the filling
labor, is what costs, the carbon dioxide is
not.
Before you say it, I have 2 Cornies with 3
connectors. The third is in the lid, and
has an airstone down in the bottom. I
can carbonate 5 gallons in 4 hours, if it
is cold. Yes, it DOES work on Adult
Beverages, too.
steve
I am not sure what you are talking about - if I wanted to duplicate your set up. If I went to a home brew store would they be able to set me up ? Or do you have a video by chance?
I absolutely love my SodaStream machine. I would recommend to get at least 2 can of CO2. You can swap empty can to a filled one at Bed Bath &. Beyond. I love drinking soda water with a squeeze of fruit to have a hint of flavor without using sugar. DO NOT fizz your fruit drinks. The acid interact with CO2 will burst and over flow the machine. ALWAYS apply fruit juice after soda over ice.
Can you add an adaptor hose to the Aarke for the bigger refillable CO2 tanks?
I'm planning on getting one. Thanks for the information.
Why don't they demo them?!
Soda Stream Fizzy! Just in time with this video as we are looking at getting one!
Ive never gotten more complements on an appliance than with my Aarke Carbonator 3
When my Soda Stream gave out after many years of service I switched to the Drinkmate. I really don't understand why you call it "cumbersome" or contrast its plastic parts to Soda Stream. The working parts of the Soda Stream are also plastic. I know this from repeatedly taking it apart to replace or repair them. The ease of use is similar. The kicker is that the Drinkmate can carbonate things that aren't plain water and to do so without creating a geyser when you open the bottle. The loss of carbonation inherent in the other brands' adding flavoring to carbonated water, inverting a few times and releasing makes the already-weak carbonation of these devices nearly indetectable.
They didn’t mention that the Drinkmate can carbonate anything
I like my SodaStream, and use it daily. The only drawbacks are that they can be a pain to exchange at the participating store, and that the SodaStream syrups are not that tasty. But it’s easy to find alternative syrup, or you can just drink it plain, which is the healthiest option.
Could even make your own syrup which makes it even more of a blast
By the way there are glass bottles you can buy for your SodaStream fizzy
Shilling for soda stream?
Hello
I've had my soda stream for years!!!!!
I want to try Sparkel. Ripoff Sodastream is not cost-effective.
DrinkMate for me. I can carbonate the liquids of my choice. Your soda tastes flat - carbonate it. It is super simple to use - how hard is it to press down on a big button? The bottles are great for on the go. And the company itself is not rooted in less than desirable social practices like the other major company.
The only negative is that bottles must be hand-washed. They will not tolerate the high heat of a dishwasher.
Surprised there was no comparison of carbonation pressure... I like my water to explode on my tongue... Commercial bottles at the store do that... Not so much my Drinkmate (which is a great machine imo)... So I continue to look for a REAL carbonation machine... None of these seem to be that.
I wonder if there's a way to hack the relief valve...
This was the most helpful comment. Have you found a way to match commercial carbonation?
@@blackmantis001 Almost... Pressurize the bottle, take it off, shake it vigorously for a few seconds, pressurize it again... that about does it.
@@bosatsu76 Which machine are you using?
@@blackmantis001 Drinkmate... I also bought a 25# CO2 bottle and I fill the machine's internal one from that... It lasted three years before I filled it again.
I did this 5 years ago. No problems, works great, cheap... Happy about the purchase.
Cool Carbonator!
Love my Soda Stream! I bought it a few years ago and it still works like a charm. I don’t remember what the style is, but it’s held up wonderfully.
I bought a Soda stream and was very disappointed in it. Not nearly enough carbonation and the flavors were not good.
For the conscious, sorry to be the sand on your KY... SodaStream had to close their state-sponsored factory on occupied territories at the west bank and promptly was acquired by Pepsi Co.
Blows my mind that there’s only one glass bottle option.
Second video/product in a row where I use the link and the price is almost double of what was said in the video
Yup. ATK affect
@@LoebRules Nope. This is actually an old video that has been reposted. Prices have changed since it was made.
@@sandrah7512 reading glasses? None of
What you said supports that the attached video doesn’t match the post video’s product.
Hi. I notice that Drink Mate and Rio Soda were missing in this review. They will both carbonate nearly any beverage. I can't help you with Drink Mate, but if you are interested in reviewing Rio Soda, let me know.
They completely glossed over the fact that all except the drinkmate only carbonates water, flavorings have to be added afterwards... And all 4 they recommend do exactly the same thing... Why not talk about the pros and cons of the other designs, like the packet powered one or the drinkmate that allows you to carbonate even flavored liquids?
We had a Sodastream, but after a while, the honeymoon was over.
Is a siphon head for bottles that can keep pressure after been carbonated from your machines interesting?
Why do I expect this guy to have a 3-pack-a-day voice and be as effemitae as someone named, "Louie?"
Wow they bypassed the one major drawback of the SodaStream, which is you can only carbonate water. With the Drinkmate, you can carbonate anything, and they barely even mentioned that brand.
Your reviews these days are garbage ,no mention of the amount of carbonation each model
produces ,small bubbles, large bubbles, no mention if the mechanics are stainless steel
or plastic.
Needed to know for a friend.
the drink mate is way better, also it doesn’t support apartheid
I'm happy with my Soda Stream works great for my use. I got a great deal off Amazon with extras
Pathetic that it isn't noted that some units will carbonate anything, unlike - for example - Sodastream.
I use the aarke 3. and it is just perfect!
Hack the system with your own 25 lb CO2 bottle, and the cost comes down to around 3 cents a liter. I drink at least two bottles per day, and the last CO2 tank lasted me three years.
The refills are expensive and annoying to have to take to the store and exchange. I bought a small 20lb CO² tank it costs $30 to refill and lasts for over a year. I've tried refilling my own cartridges and also adapting it directly to the soda stream. I would recommend just refilling the cartridge. It will never be "full" so it only lasts about half as long. But hooking it up directly to your machine usually causes the outlet to freeze because there's too much pressure and it's hard to regulate it without a bunch of extra stuff. Also the hoses that I've found are cheap and leak if you don't turn off the tank.
Im looking for making carbonated water that would be stronger than Topo chico.
Have you found one? I need to replace my topo chico aswell.
i thought the sodastream was the worst model. it could only fizz water. and after you add flavoring, it goes flat. what's the point? the soda sensei and the drinkmate were the best. it carbonates anything from juice to wine to liquor in the bottle. you cant do that with a sodastream.
I’ve used Soda Stream -three in 15 years.
Are you guys using liters now?
Where can I buy it for $83
Maybe eBay.
Absolutely Magnificent & So Easy.
I'm going to that out this Summer 🌞🌴.
Sincerely Yours 🤠 Mr Severance,
"The Cake 😋 🍰🎂 🥳🎉 🥂 🎈 🎊 Man ".
Hello!
How do you guys read my mind every single time? It's like I Google something or am researching a tool and boom you guys just release a video on it. Either your analytic team is really really good or there's a lot of coincidences going on. Either way happy to get a video on this!
soda stream did not pay for this ad
To my knowledge, the Drinkmate does not use the chemical carbonators... Only CO2 canisters. So that was just incorrect.
Also this comparison ignores various other features and use cases that might matter to buyers, such as carbonating things other than water.
I have a Soda Sensei by Soda Sense, which is basically a rebranded Drink Mate and one of the biggest factors that caused me to choose it was the detachable actuator that both allows for easier cleaning and the company officially supports carbonating any beverage of your liking, which last I knew Soda Sense expressly says voids your warranty. The Soda Sense Sense service is also really nice convenience.
All in all, this was a really shallow survey. Not the kind of thorough and comprehensive comparison I expect from this channel.
I got a Soda Stream and didn't like it! Even doing light carbonation, it tainted the flavor of the drink. Not impressed!
WHAT GIVES THE MOST BUBBLEZ AND FIZZ
Drinkmate consistently gives the most carbonation compared to sodastream
What I'm kinda sad about the current soda maker market is most of the machines are designed to be on the countertop. But how frequently I drink sparkling water is very seasonal, mainly in summer. I don't want a machine that I use mainly in one season to be on my countertop. There should be more portable models, which works as good as countertop ones.
I have the Sodastream Fizzi. SUPER light, so it wouldn't be a hassle to put away for the colder seasons, or even after every use -- it's that light.
@@happily_blue Such basic soda makers have no difference from portable ones and the sizes are just bigger. I prefer portable ones even if that is so light.
@@hkyt21 The one big difference I think is where the CO2 comes from. I don't think there are places or services where you can trade in soda siphon cartridges for refills like the larger canisters.
@@happily_blue Small co2 cartridges aren't designed to be refilled in general. We buy co2 cartridges from Amazon. I don't get why that is a problem. Do you say more trash? Come on. You shouldn't be so nitpicky.
what's the name of the machine that uses the packets I don't want to support a group of people who occupy land that isn't there's thanks👍👍👍👍
molto bravo👍
any update not just for soda other drinks would be nice fruits like orange etc drinkmate is good but dont like their bottles
I want my time back. You don't even provide links to each one.
Why ?
Is there a safe way to dispose of spent cannisters?
Pretty much any retailer which sells them will exchange them for a very reasonable credit towards a replacement
Had a SodaStream Source and then switched to a different screw in model. Suddenly it was making that loud buzzing burping sound which you want and you could see bits of dry ice in the bottle. Twice the carbonation of the Source which isn’t screw in.
Yes dont forget to tell the pepole you have to buy the pods that cost like 30 dallers all so buy the air tubes too that cost alot
nice now I can sell my own black market cola
Nice nice
Unless you're into simple carbonated water, these are only as good as the flavor additives, and the range tends to be really limited.
this is an ad, not a review.
You cant to a review of the best soda makers without talking about the Drinkmate... come on. Sodastream lets you carbonate only water and that great for those who want only that. But Drinkmate lets you carbonate anything. Coffee, tea, wine, a soda that went flat. Im going around looking for reviews and this one did not even mentioned Drinkmate.
He lives and dies by his home soda maker. Ok.
I purchased a Soda Stream several years ago and was very disappointed with the inability to hold the fizz. After carbonating one bottle, taking a drink and putting it into the refrigerator for one hour the bubbles were practically all gone. The next time I tried carbonating a bottle I pressed the carbonator five times and the same thing happened. Yes, you guessed it, the next time I pressed it ten times and the same thing happened. My Soda Stream went into the trash.
"I'll see YOU later!" :O
Don't see the Sodastream Terra here.
And you can fill them yourself!
you didn't explain the difference between the the sodastream vs the sodastream "automatic" other than you want to take the guess work out of your carbonation. thanks. very helpful. and then you ended recommending the "manual" aarc model... again, not describing at all what "manual" means. thanks. very helpful again.
Prefer the ones without the additional acid which is bad for your teeth 🦷
very typical of the ATK utube channel, the new videos are actually old and outdated. either the products are out of production and no longer available, but for sure the ATK 'Best of" price jump kicks in. it's not $83, it's now $129
Yeah, ATK has been doing that for some time--running old videos, oftentimes of obsolete products or models. I guess ATK sees this as a good business model for themselves as we're watching the video and they're getting the ad revenue, but it's not a sustainable model as consumers figure out the products are no longer available. Dear ATK, thanks for another trip down the road to nowhere.
They were bought by a big company. Of course this happened.
@@ajs11201 I used to consider them so reliable, and that’s what their brand was all about.
👍
Unfortunately, all the syrups have sucralose, for even non-diet drinks.
You aren't limited to their syrups.