why am I just finding out about SodaStream?

[Sho'Nuff]

BJ's will refill CO2 tanks?

NO, they sell the pre-filled tanks. You trade in the spent one for a new one + a few bucks.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

RO as in Reverse Osmosis?

Why the hell would you want an RO filter? Just buy a good activated carbon filter (Britta or whatever)...

Cause nothing tastes quite like 18.2 megohm h2o.

 

[Evadman]

I'd rather buy a regular machine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Coke-Pepsi-Soda...251?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5988fe53

 

[TallBill]

I'll stick with drinking juice, water, milk, and vodka.

 

[mb]

I'll stick with drinking juice, water, milk, and vodka.

That sounds like a terrible mixed drink.

 

[MovingTarget]

I'll stick with drinking juice, water, milk, and vodka.

In that order? :whiste:

 

[JayWill]

I've had my Soda Stream for about 4 months now and still use it everyday. We use the 130L canisters and it lasts my family of 4 about a month. We make around 4L/day. We don't always drink soda's, carbonated water is great by itself as well.

I've tried a bunch of syrup's and the best i've found (other than original brand name syrups from Sam's) is from Rio sold at Prairie Moon. I make my own syrup from concentrate, just add the concentrate to 4/5 gallon filtered water and 5lbs sugar, let dissolve and store in a gallon jug with a 1oz dispenser. I know it sounds gross, but for a 12oz glass you only need 1 or 2 squirts depending on your taste. The cola flavor is excellent, and is a close match for coke. The root beer, orange, lemon-lime, cream soda, and sarsaparilla are all excellent as well.

Right now i'm averaging $1.08/2-liter factoring in the CO2 from SodaStream, the concentrate, and sugar. I'll eventually make the move to one of the setups from CO2Doctor but for me the price wasn't really the selling point so much as the convenience was.

 

[paperfist]

Dude 2L in a day is nothing, I average 4-6L per day.

Of soda? Holy! I don't feel so bad now sneaking in a 16oz Dr Pepper twice a week

The cheapest place to get Co2 is welding supplies. If you have a tank it cost about $15 for a 50lb refill. Enough to last about 2 years.

Are there different grades of Co2?

 

[guyver01]

Right now i'm averaging $1.08/2-liter factoring in the CO2 from SodaStream, the concentrate, and sugar.

Wow.

Soda at the local supermarket is $0.65/2L for the Generics... which is all you make with SodaStream.

More i read about this SodaStream... the biggest waste of money it seems.

 

[DrPizza]

The ratio for syrup is usually 6 to 1. Sams sells 1 gallon syrup that makes 6 gallons of soda for $11 , basically $1 a 2-liter.

Uhhh, that's 6 gallons of water, 1 gallon of syrup = roughly 7 gallons of soda.

 

[Codewiz]

Of soda? Holy! I don't feel so bad now sneaking in a 16oz Dr Pepper twice a week



Are there different grades of Co2?

Yeah, medical and non-medical. Sodastream sells non-medical but they try to argue they use food grade. Well there is no standard for food grade. It is just a made up term.

As long as you aren't getting CO2 from a filthy or nasty place, you are fine.

 

[MovingTarget]

Personal update: We added a sodastream to our wedding registry thinking "why not?" and it looks like one was purchased for us. We will try it and then go with the adaptor options from co2doctor to hook up standard tanks. Hopefully this will all go as expected....so, more to come soon!

 

[TonyG]

For anyone wondering about co2 quality, most places like praxair and airgas sell medical grade co2 for all uses, as they service both medical and non-medical industries. It is easier and cheaper for them to maintain one filter system for the co2, instead of medical and non-medical filter systems.
I just purchased a refrigerated fountain machine this past week which I am setting up at my shop. I found a good deal on some used equipment via a local auction, so the equipment is only costing me around $300 to get up and running, not including the syrup.

 

[sourceninja]

I put an actual soda fountain in. Costs a bit more but over 3 or 4 years pays for itself.

 

[richardycc]

I have one for about 8months now, if you are looking to save money, this machine will NOT do that, it cost like 80cents/liter as their co2 is very expensive, and you can get generic soda for less than that. get a real soda fountain machine from ebay if you want to save money and drink lots of soda. We don't drink enough to invest a real machine.

 

[Born2bwire]

I put an actual soda fountain in. Costs a bit more but over 3 or 4 years pays for itself.

I have to be honest. I'm not sure I want to be drinking enough soda to the point where a soda fountain would save me money.

 

[sourceninja]

I have to be honest. I'm not sure I want to be drinking enough soda to the point where a soda fountain would save me money.

We have lots of parties and that helps. I wish I could get a gun system honestly.

 

[Born2bwire]

We have lots of parties and that helps. I wish I could get a gun system honestly.

Taken out of context this becomes rather unsettling.

 

[sourceninja]

Taken out of context this becomes rather unsettling.

There's a reason they call them shooters!

 

[slag]

double post

 

[slag]

It doesn't seal. It just bubbles the gas into the liquid.

It does seem quite wasteful, as far as gas is concerned. Come to think of it, I bet it may not carbonate it much more than say, sparkling cider - very small bubbles.

That would kinda suck. Wish I could try it out, though.. it would be interesting. Anyone have one, by chance?

If someone gets one, post a review!

It does seal. You screw a 1 liter bottle onto the machine, press the button 3 times, and then unscrew the water bottle. Then add the liquid.

-obligatory necro. Bought one this weekend.

 

[Colt45]

I just have a 20lb tank of CO2. From there, a regulator, down to 30 - 40 PSI.

Then a hose that goes into a 2L cap. Screw cap to 2L of beverage, turn on tank, shake the fuck out of the 2L for a minute, done.

Ice tea is really good carbonated. Odd that no one sells it like that. (here anyway).
Mango juice is really good too.