SodaStream - Green Review

My daughter, Bella, and I were completely ecstatic when I got the email from SodaStream accepting my offer to review their product here, on Products & Reviews! I had written them because I had heard so much about the SodaStream and was starting to see them everywhere (even Target) and really wanted to try it out for myself!

Bella was thrilled when the package arrived, and she was ready to get to work making some soda! The SodaStream was VERY simple to put together and came with very straight forward instructions, that even someone like me, who generally can't manage to follow instructions to save my life, could follow! All-in-all it only took a few minutes to get it from box to ready to use, cleaned and all :) which was good, because any longer and Bella would have had a coke-stroke or something lol.

Making soda with the SodaStream is super simple, once you get the hang of it!

Directions

As shown above, first you fill the SodaStream bottle up with cold drinking water (you can use tap water, but our tap water here has a really strong nasty taste, so I used filtered water).  Then you screw the bottle onto the SodaSteam at an angle.  Then straighten it and begin to add carbonation by pressing the button at the top!

Note On Carbonation

At first we had a hard time finding the right amount of carbonation to add, three pumps (as directed in SodaStream book) was not enough and five pumps (as directed on soda mix bottles) was still a little off. My only guess to the reason is that maybe my pumps are shorter length than a "regular" pump? But by the third batch we had it all worked out! Our trick was just carbonating until it makes a fizz sound, which seemed to give the best taste!

After you have the amount of carbonation you desire return the bottle to the angled position, you will hear a "pfft" sound like when you open a soda pop.  Then unscrew the bottle.

To Add Flavor

Hold bottle at an angle (as shown above) and pour a full cap of the flavored soda mix of your choice slowly into the bottle.  This will reduce fizzing. Place the bottle cap that came with your SodaStream kit on the bottle and gently roll the bottle a few times in your hands to mix the flavor throughout the beverage!

Then blamo... you're done! 

Family Favorites

Everyone has their favorite flavors, for me this cranberry-raspberry (I could seriously drink this everyday), pictured above, was hands down the BEST, and Bella LOVES the root beer and the coke (go figure)! Honestly we haven't tried a single flavor that we didn't like! 

Dieters Need To Know

They are all delicious and the best part is that all the regular sodas are only 35 calories per 8oz serving!!! WITH NO AFTER TASTE!!!!!! So it's great for those of us trying to cut calories! They do also have diet options that are 0 calories! Plus, as I said before these things are available at Target now, so you can buy your SodaStream soda mix refills when your out at Target!!!

How is SodaStream Green?

Image via SodaStream.com

With your SodaStream you reuse the same 1 liter bottle multiple times to make all your beverages and only need to refill your soda mixes occasionally, verses buying soda at the store and wasting all those bottles, cans, plastic, boxes, and energy (to make the soda and to transport it).

The SodaStream does not need electricity to run.  It runs simply off of the CO2 cartridge (carbonator) that is attached to it.  One CO2 cartridge can be used to make 60 - 110 liters of soda, plus it can be refilled! For more information on how SodaStream is keeping it green check out their website!

Also, on the natural side, SodaStream has a variety of naturally sweetened soda mix options for those who are cutting out all the artificial junk. They have mixes for flavored carbonated water as well!

My Recommendation

If you have been looking at the SodaStream and thinking about getting one, I would absolutely recommend it! Also, defiantly try the cranberry-raspberry flavored soda... it's so refreshing!!! I think you will especially like the SodaStream if you have kiddos, because they just get a kick out of it, and it has less sugar than regular sodas, which is a huge bonus! Plus, yeah I'll admit it, it's fun for adults too ;)