Having a Sodastream in your kitchen allows you to make your own fizzy drinks as and when you feel like it.
These small appliances are affordable, environmentally friendly and give you complete control over your drinks.
To help you make sense of the options, we’ve reviewed the best four SodaStream models on the market in Australia.
1. SodaStream Power (Top Pick)
The SodaStream Power Black is the best option on the market for most homes. It has a sleek and modern design as well as a small footprint so it can fit anywhere on the kitchen counter and look great.
This soda maker is also brilliantly simple to use and it’s quiet too.
A great feature is that you can choose your preferred amount of carbonation by simply pressing the light, medium or high buttons on the top of the soda maker.
Each button has a corresponding LED indicator and you can easily switch between the selection.
This gives you control with minimal effort and no mess. You can also run the machine again two more times if you would like more carbonation.
What We Like:
- Easy to use
- Three carbonation levels
- Convenient
What We Don’t Like:
- Needs to be plugged in to work
- No manual carbonation option
2. Sodastream Source Element Sparkling Water Maker
The SodaStream Source has a simplistic design (by Yves Béhar) so it doesn’t take up much counter space, although it is tall so be aware if you have low cabinets.
A big plus is that this soda maker does not need electricity or batteries in order to work.
The snap-lock bottle insertion holds the bottle of tap water in place then you push down the top of the machine to begin carbonating.
There are three LED lights that tell you the level of carbonation, once you reach the level of fizz you want, just lift your hand off and the carbonation stops.
One potential downside that is worth mentioning is the loud squealing noise made when the carbonation is finished.
What We Like:
- No electricity or batteries needed
- Uses an easy, snap-lock mechanism
- Efficient
What We Don’t Like:
- Noisy to use
- A smaller carbonator means you need to replace CO2 more often
3. Aarke Sparkling Water Maker
The stylish, sleek design of Aarke Sparkling Water Makers will fit well in any kitchen.
This carbonator moves away from the plastic appearance we are used to and uses stainless steel instead, giving it a sturdy and well built appearance. Of course, this also means it is weighty.
One of the useful features on the Aarke is the steel grill at the bottom to catch any spilled water.
Spills happen from time to time when making fizzy water but at least there’s no mess when using one of these soda makers.
The design is user-friendly, to carbonate the water you hold the lever down until a loud sound is heard.
You can repeat this up to three times if you want to add more carbonation.
What We Like:
- No cords or batteries
- Modern, smart appearance
- Steel grill to catch any drips
What We Don’t Like:
- Loud, potentially off-putting noise after carbonation
- Does not come with a CO2 canister
4. Sodastream Spirit Sparkling Water Maker
The Sodastream Spirit classic starter kit comes with the spirit, a 1L bottle and a CO2 cylinder.
The machine is easy to use and quick to set up; with no batteries or cords you just attach the gas canister and it’s ready to carbonate water immediately.
The Spirit soda maker features a button on the top that you press and hold to carbonate the water.
There is no indication on the machine of how fizzy the drink is so it might take a bit of practice to get the carbonated water as you like it.
This sodastream is affordable and very simple in its use and design.
What We Like:
- Energy efficient
- No fuss
- Great choice if this is your first soda stream
What We Don’t Like:
- Light is a little cold Manual setting only
- More basic than other models
Sodastream Buyer’s Guide
Sodastreams save on plastic and give you complete control over your fizzy drinks (no more added sugar or unnecessary caffeine!).
The biggest benefit of soda makers will be convenience and health.
Home soda makers might save you money too (Digital Trends have researched this in more detail).
Important questions to ask when choosing the best soda maker for you:
- Is the carbonation manual or electric?
- Does the model require plugs or batteries?
- How do you know when the water is carbonated (LED lights/ indicators)?
- Is the model compatible for use with other bottles or only sodastream bottles?
- What size CO2 canister does the machine come with (and where to exchange or buy CO2 canisters if needed)? Note that for Sodastream Kmart is a good option for exchange and replacements.
RELATED: SodaStream vs SodaKing
Think also about whether you want to make sparkling water or flavoured drinks, as some machines have additional features specifically for adding fruit juice flavours and syrups.
As CO2 carbonators come at a range of prices, consider what features are necessary.
Generally, the more features the soda makers have the more expensive they are.
Also, don’t forget to factor in long term costs such as CO2 refills/ canisters and flavour syrup.
