Fathryn wrote:

Who here uses Soda Club/Soda Stream?

I know a few of you use them, and I tried to find the thread where people were waxing rhapsodic about them, but my search skills are failing me. I usually drink about 4 6-packs of carbonated water a week, and now that we've moved into a place of our own, my SO was thinking about getting one, but I wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations on which system was best.

Talisker wrote:

I'd go with the Fountain Jet -- it comes with the 110 liter canisters (vs. the 60 liter canisters the other models use), which means more soda per canister, and way less expense shipping stuff back and forth. IE, it's cheapest (both up-front, and ongoing cost wise).

Larged wrote:

We have one and love it. Geoff is the seltzer drinker...

Larged wrote:

...and he used to go through at least a bottle a day. It probably saved our relationship with our neighbors, who were pissed that we were filling up the recycling bin so fast. We have the Fountain Jet and it works fine, although I think we need to replace a few of our bottles. At the time, ours didn't come with the 110 liter cannisters, which is a pity. Looks like they do now, though.

I like some of the soda mixes, but I am not too terribly picky so I don't know if you want to take my word for it. They basically taste like store brand, and I don't mind store brand.

Fathryn wrote:

FoRmaT wrote:

60 and 110 liters?! Gosh, you Americanos are extreme!

I drink about 48 liters of carbonated water a month, so it will take me a couple of months to go through a canister.

barstein wrote:

Fountain Jet arrived today. That was quick. I thought I had read somewhere on Qt3 that SodaStream was slow shipping - maybe that comment was specific to refills.

First experience: Since the wording was a little vague on the subject of how long to press the button ("press briefly and release quickly"), I was too conservative in my pressing. Because I never heard a Bzzzt, I should have experimented further but instead I removed the vessel to test. This was stupid, but then again I didn't know what the Bzzzt was supposed to sound like. It wasn't nearly fizzy enough, so I screwed it back on and pressed the button a couple more times. This time the machine seemed downright excited or agitated because, I later realized, there was too much air at the top of the bottle. Nice shower/bath I got when I unscrewed the bottle again.

Next try was smooth as ice, though. The manual should have said to "press briefly and do not release until you hear a Bzzzt", and I think adding the sound to the online animation demonstration would have been a good way to let customers hear what it sounds like. Normally with appliances like this I jump right in without bothering with the manual, but this time I was actually a little proud that I took the time, and I got drenched anyway. Justice!

Fussbett wrote:

Wikipedia wrote:

Soda siphons are therefore best kept away from children, intoxicated people, or the infirm, unless streams of pressurised water are to be intentionally used for mirthful purposes.

(1:46:47 PM) sanitario666: children, intoxicated people, the infirm, or barstein

barstein wrote:


While making my third bottle a few minutes ago, I noticed the well-placed warning sticker that actually has the words LOUD BUZZ written in caps, at the top of the device. Here I was so fixated on the product manual with its comparatively mild language ("Press the carbonating button in short presses until you hear the buzz"), and so proud that I was taking the time to do so. Looks like I'm the first and only member of the Qt3 SodaStream Soda Bukake Club.

Talisker wrote:

Despite all the stark warnings not to, I tried fizzing up some apple cider. It was delicious! Or rather, the 30% that stayed in the bottle was. Holy fricking foam.

(I actually released it pretty carefully, so it didn't go all over the kitchen, but I did get sprayed a little, and cleaning out the machine was a pain in the neck)

BennyProfane wrote:

Yeah, I tried it with a mix of water and orange juice (trying to recreate Izzy's Clementine).

Don't try it. You'll end up wearing it, and cleaning the machine up afterwards is a royal pain.

mouselock wrote:

Anyone actually tried buying name brand soda syrup (say at Costco or Sam's Club) and using it in their machines?

I'm afraid I'd just never be happy with anyone's generic cola, when I know I could be drinking genuine Coca Cola brand.

Larged wrote:

Can you really buy genuine Coca Cola soda syrup at Costco? Holy schmokes, I'd be all about that.

Fathryn wrote:

Horray, I got mine! No more having to lug cases of water upstairs. :D