Saving in Branson: Soda Stream

THE AMAZING SODA STREAM!!

I had really been looking into getting a Soda Stream. I did a lot of research on how to use the product, customer reviews of it, and the cost of the system. Everything was so positive. Now I have experienced it for myself and this skeptic knows it is all true!!

First of all, it is so easy to set up. The instructions take up about 2/3 of a page. I intensely read the instructions because I was expecting a complicated process. That little bit of instruction is truly all you need to get it set up and going. Here is how easy it is to set up: pop the back off, screw in the CO2 bottle, put the back on, and make soda. No tools are required!!

Second, it is so easy to use. I thought I was going to have to be careful not to mess the machine up or not to cause spills. It really is a breeze. Here is how easy to make the soda: put water in a bottle, screw the bottle onto the machine, press the top button a few times, remove the bottle from the machine, add syrup. It helps if you let the soda settle after gently swirling it around to mix in the syrup. It seems to get a little sweeter if you wait about a minute before tasting it.

Third, it is so much fun. I am always mixing in unusual flavors into my Sonic drinks. I am doing this at home now. The first soda I made was raspberry ginger ale. It was delicious. This machine allows you to make whatever drink you want. The carbonation is impressive too. You can adjust how fizzy you make your drink. Your drink can get very fizzy if you like it that way.

I am having a problem with storing the soda so I can make another flavor. I need to buy another Soda Stream liter bottle. I will tell you that if you store the soda in a soft plastic bottle (it was an empty disposable water bottle), the lid shoots off when you open it. It doesn’t make a mess. It is just surprising. I had a hard plastic reusable water bottle that I tried also. It did not work well either. The soda went flat. Maybe I just didn’t have the lid on tight.

Now about the flavors being like name brands. I do not agree with this whole heartedly. My teenage son really liked the energy drink. He said it was just like Monster. I am a diet cola expert. The diet cola that you make with the Soda Stream is sweeter than Diet Coke but not as sweet as Diet Pepsi. It also has a spiciness to it that tastes a lot like Best Choice Diet Cola (the local generic brand). Don’t get me wrong. This is NOT a bad thing. It is just different than the name brands. I like the flavor of the diet cola very much. I am not an expert in any other flavors of sodas but I am enjoying all of the flavors so far.

I am looking forward to trying carbonated juice. My son loves sparkling grape juice. I am going to try adding juice concentrate to the carbonated water. I have heard good things about that.

I cannot review the long term use of the machine since I just got it. I really want to know how long the CO2 bottle is going to last as well as the hard plastic bottle that I make the soda in.

Overall, my experience with this machine has been great. It is easy and fun. It is green since I don’t have to buy soda in cans and bottles. As far as cost, once you buy everything you need to get it going and maintaining it, I don’t think one would save money going the Soda Stream route vs. the traditional soda buying route. Cost doesn’t change my mind about this machine though. It is really appealing to be able to make whatever drink I want whenever I want.

Here is how easy it was to make the energy drink (I purchased an extra small bottle for the energy drink)

1) First place the bottle filled with water into the machine