What’s the best soda water maker?
Seltzer. Soda water. Sparkling water. Whatever you happen to call it, the bubbly stuff has never been more popular. If you’re looking to trim your monthly beverage bill without giving up your seltzer addiction, at-home soda water makers churn out those fizzy drinks on the cheap. After much testing (and one dastardly case of hiccups), the steady $100 SodaStream Terra emerged as the best soda water maker for 2023.
While there are more elegant options, the SodaStream Terra is probably the best soda water maker for most people.
To find the best, I hauled in a total of eight sparkling water makers, including three SodaStream models, Ninja’s fancy new at-home Thirsti machine and Aarke’s striking stainless-steel carbonator.
Here are the five best soda water makers to buy in 2023.
The Terra is SodaStream’s entry-level model, but it works well and lands at the top of our list as the best soda water maker for most people. The Terra made consistently fizzy water with simple manual pumps. It’s very easy to operate and doesn’t take up much space on the counter.
If it’s more than just sparkling water you covet, Ninja’s souped-up Thirsti beverage system is the right pick. At $180, it’s more expensive than a standard SodaStream, but that’s because it does a whole lot more.
If design and aesthetics are important to you, the Aarke is pretty clearly the best-looking soda water maker on the market. It’s built from metal, while most others are constructed from cheaper plastics. It also has something of a vintage malt shop appeal, and it’s slim, so you can slide it onto the counter without forfeiting much real estate. The Aarke III works well, although it releases CO2 a bit less consistently than a SodaStream.
If you’re looking to transport yourself to an Italian piazza, a bottle of sparkling water poured from a shapely glass bottle could help. SodaStream’s Aqua Fizz has all the functions of the other models but an elevated design. The carafe that accompanies the $160 starter package is glass, and the base that holds them while in use is metal. It’s also quieter than other models since the bottles are encased completely while they’re being pumped with gas.
How I tested soda water makers
In testing to find the best soda water makers, it mostly came down to general performance, ease of use and overall value. I made at least 10 full bottles of sparkling water using each, noting how proficiently and consistently a machine executed its most vital duty of imparting CO2 into water. I also carbonated other liquids including fruit juice and wine, but found that there was really no difference in performance based on the type of liquid being carbonated. If a machine carbonated water well, it did so across all liquids.
Some of the machines took more muscling and pumps of the lever to get CO2 emitted into the bottles. Of the manual machines, the SodaStream models were the most consistent. But with five unique settings, the Spärkel electric seltzer maker made the most precise soda water.
The stylish Aarke III carbonator comes in five finishes and has a vintage malt shop look.
I also took note of the sturdiness and build of each soda water maker. The Aarke III is by far the most stylish soda water maker and is built solidly out of stainless steel with five finishes to choose from. While aesthetics are nice, it’s also by far the priciest model with a $200 tag, which keeps it from being the best model for most people.
Other soda water makers we tested
DrinkMate OmniFizz: This $120 sparkling water maker did a fine job carbonating water, wine and juice. I don’t have much negative to say about the machine other than that the hinge at the top that connects the bottle to the machine seems like it could loosen or break over time.
SodaStream Fizzi One Touch: This is SodaStream’s electronic sparkling water maker and lists for $130. It works well and has three presets to get whatever level of carbonation you seek. This is another model I don’t have any major issues with, but I just don’t think it’s worth the extra $30 over its manual counterpart, the Terra.
Soda Sensei: This $100 model looks nice, but it struggled a bit more than the SodaStream Terra to make consistently bubbly water.
Sparkel: This unique carbonation system uses powder packets instead of CO2 canisters to add fizz to water. It works well but the machine base is bulkier than most and isn’t quite worth the $150 price.
How much cheaper is it to make seltzer at home?
Let’s use the rough estimate SodaStream gives of getting 60 liters out of each $15 cartridge if you use the exchange program. That breaks down to about 25 cents per liter. By comparison, the average cost for a 1-liter bottle of soda water is about 80 cents in a store.
Are soda water makers better for the environment?
Definitely. A soda water maker such as SodaStream or the Aarke Carbonator has almost no negative environmental impact. If used instead of store-bought seltzer, these machines will take hundreds of cans and plastic bottles out of the waste management and recycling system every year. Standard CO2 canisters are reusable, too, which is why SodaStream will sell you a refill for half price if you return the empty canister.
Can you carbonate other beverages with a soda water maker?
Beyond making bubbly water, you can add fizz to just about any liquid with a soda water maker. Fruit juices, sparkling wine and beer that have gone flat are just a few popular beverages to consider other than water. But, heck, if you want fizzy milk, you can make that, too.
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