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A household that drinks two liters of sparkling water per day spends roughly $800–$1,200 per year on cans and bottles — plus generates a significant amount of plastic and aluminum recycling. A home carbonation system reduces that cost to about $30–$50 per year in CO2 refills and eliminates the packaging entirely. The math on these machines is unusually straightforward: most households recoup the cost of the device within three to six months.
SodaStream popularized home carbonation and still holds the widest retail distribution, but their ecosystem has a significant limitation: official SodaStream cylinders work only with SodaStream machines, and their machines officially only carbonate water (not juice, wine, or other beverages). Several competitors have emerged with systems that use standard 60L CO2 cylinders — widely available at Target, Walmart, and online — and can carbonate virtually any cold beverage.
| Model | Carbonates Other Drinks? | CO2 Cylinder | Electric? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DrinkMate OmniFizz | Yes (any cold drink) | Standard 60L | No | ~$80 |
| SodaStream Terra | Water only | SodaStream proprietary | No | ~$90 |
| SodaStream Art | Water only | SodaStream proprietary | No | ~$130 |
| Philips ADD4902 | Water only | 60L or proprietary | No | ~$100 |
SodaStream machines use proprietary cylinders that must be exchanged through SodaStream's own retail network or subscription service. The cylinders are $15–$20 each and work only in SodaStream machines. The DrinkMate and several competitors use standard 60L paintball/aquarium-compatible CO2 cylinders — available at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, home brewing stores, and widely online. Standard cylinders cost $15–$25 and can be refilled at local gas suppliers for around $5. Over several years of use, the cylinder ecosystem choice affects your ongoing cost and convenience significantly.
If you travel frequently or live somewhere with limited retail access, the standard cylinder compatibility of the DrinkMate is a genuine advantage — you're not locked into a single supplier's availability or pricing.
SodaStream's strongest argument is retail presence and simplicity. If you only want sparkling water (not other beverages), and you live near a store that does SodaStream cylinder exchanges (Target, Best Buy, Williams Sonoma, many grocery chains), the ecosystem is genuinely convenient. The Terra and Art models are well-built, attractive machines that work seamlessly. If customizability and cylinder freedom don't matter to you, SodaStream is a perfectly reasonable choice — just be aware that you're committing to their cylinder pricing and availability for as long as you own the machine.
Sparkling water on demand for pennies per liter, no bottles, no hauling cases home from the store. Check current prices below.
Shop Sparkling Water Makers on Amazon →A standard 60L CO2 cylinder carbonates approximately 60 liters of water (at moderate carbonation). At $15–$25 per cylinder, that's roughly $0.25–$0.40 per liter — compared to $0.80–$2.00 per liter for bottled sparkling water. The machine pays for itself typically within 3–6 months for a household that drinks sparkling water daily. If you refill cylinders locally at a gas supplier (~$5 per refill), the cost drops to under $0.10 per liter.
No — carbonating warm or hot liquids causes violent foaming that will overflow the bottle and potentially spray everywhere when the pressure is released. All beverages must be thoroughly chilled (ideally below 40°F) before carbonating. This is especially important with juices and sugary beverages, which foam more aggressively than plain water even when cold.
You'll notice the machine produces less carbonation per press, or the carbonation button becomes easier to push without the usual resistance. Some cylinders have a built-in indicator. You can also weigh the cylinder — an empty standard 60L cylinder weighs about 2.5 lbs less than a full one. Most users simply keep a spare cylinder on hand and swap when they notice diminished performance.
Yes. Carbonating water at home adds CO2, which dissolves into carbonic acid — the same compound that makes all sparkling water slightly acidic. The pH and effect on tooth enamel is identical to commercial sparkling water. The key variable is your tap water quality; if your tap water has a strong taste or odor, a simple Brita or pitcher filter run before carbonating will improve the result significantly. Using filtered water produces sparkling water comparable to any premium bottled brand.