Seltzer vs. SodaStream and Why I Switched

Searching for healthy drink alternatives to soda and juices can be challenging. Luckily, my family and I drink a lot of flavored seltzer - not only is it refreshing, but it's caffeine free and sugar free. I'm pleased this is our drink of choice, but while dropping empty cans into the recycling bin one day, I began to think about my impact on the environment and the amount of money I spend in a month on cases of seltzer.

Looking at those empty cans, I thought of all that recycling waste and couldn't believe a small family produced so much. I thought about how many times I found half-empty cans lying around the house or forgotten in the refrigerator. No one drank them, they went flat, and eventually ended up in the recycling bin anyway. What a waste.

I needed a solution, and some research lead me to SodaStream soda makers. It's a product I remember seeing in commercials, but the brand name made me believe that it was just for soda. This isn't true at all. The SodaStream makes carbonated water that you flavor to taste, and they have a variety of soda, juice, and water options. I decided to give it a try.

What Do You Need for SodaStream?

I wasn't sure what kind of commitment I was going to make for this product but, in the end, I went all-in. I purchased the SodaStream TERRA Hydration Pack which comes with the TERRA sparkling water maker, two CO2 cylinders, and three carbonating SodaStream bottles. I also bought the SodaStream Classics Zero Sugar Variety Drink Mix 4-Pack to test out some flavors.

How To Use SodaStream

I opened the box and realized that no assembly was required; I simply had to open the back cover and attach the carbonator inside the unit. The process took seconds. Next, I filled the carbonating bottle with water up to the marked line and snapped it into place. Then, I pressed the top button three times to make sparkling seltzer water. With SodaStream, you can decide how fizzy you want your drink to be. You can press the button three times for standard fizz, or five times for strong fizz. To add flavor, I poured a single drop of Pink Grapefruit drink mix into the glass.

How Does SodaStream Taste?

The moment of truth arrived as I took the first sip. I was greeted with delicious, refreshing, perfectly-carbonated sparkling water. It was great, and tasted better than any brand seltzer I've ever purchased because I could customize the flavor intensity and carbonation to my preferred taste. I was hooked immediately.

Is SodaStream Worth It?

It is for us - we use the SodaStream constantly! On average, we go through about four liters daily. It has made us drink even more water per day because we love the flavors. I've tried all the flavors I've purchased, and was pleasantly surprised by the taste of each. I plan on exploring more of the drink mixes because they tasted good and most are completely sugar free.

Will SodaStream Save Money?

I quickly realized my monthly seltzer bill had virtually vanished and that a carbonator easily lasts over a month, even with my family's heavy usage. Now my recycling bin is nearly empty, and I feel better that I made a positive change for my family and the environment. The best benefit is, you don't have to commit to an entire can at a time - just pour the exact amount you want from the bottle with no waste!

Now I consider myself a bit of a sparkling water barista. I mix and craft flavors easily and have created many of my own combinations. My personal favorite is one I created myself: I take mint leaves and drop them into ice-cold fizzy water with a slice of lemon for a refreshing minty-lemon sparkling water that's perfect on a hot day.

Don't take my word for it. If you love sparkling water, or you're looking for healthy soda alternatives for you and your family, try it. The SodaStream has plenty of flavors for anyone, and the ability to create your own will satisfy even the most discerning taste buds!