Thoughtstream on Sodastream

[freetrav]

About three weeks ago, on a whim, I bought myself a Sodastream system. This is basically the latest incarnation of the old make-it-yourself seltzer thingy - it takes water, and injects CO2 into it to make it fizzy. After it makes the water fizzy, you add syrup - it comes with a sampler pack (12 flavors, one bottle each), and places that sell the

Comments

[beki]

If you have Cash and Carry or the equivalent, try their syrups. All of the ones here carry them, but with different selections.

[freetrav]

Don't have Cash-and-Carry; wouldn't know who the equivalent is. I do have some alternate sources to order from, though...

[nightshade1972]

Thank you for this review. I'd been pondering a Sodastream system, but if the flavors are only "meh" and not "wow, tastes just like Coke", I think I'll save my money. For the record, I'm perfectly happy drinking generic grocery store soda, so maybe the flavors wouldn't be a huge disappointment to me, but since the generic stuff doesn't offend my sensibilities I think I'll just stick with those rather than investing in a Sodastream.

[freetrav]

Well, supposedly it saves you money in the long run to make it yourself, and you DO have the option of using it to try interesting flavors that you may have to make the syrup for yourself, or which aren't available commercially. But it's definitely a consider-carefully decision.

[freetrav]

Another thought... If you're a member of a Sam's Club or equivalent, or if you have a soda-supply wholesaler that you can shop, you can sometimes get name brand syrups in bulk bags. Pour it into gallon bottles with pump tops, and you'd be set. Don't know what the cost factor would be, though.

[nightshade1972]

Well, like I said, the local grocery store has their generic brand of diet caffeine free soda, their version of Dr Pepper, and lemon-lime soda for about half the cost of their brand-name equivalents. That's what I usually drink. Also worth considering (from my POV, anyway) is that I'd still have to make the stuff myself. I'm in enough pain on a daily basis that I think I'd rather just keep buying the grocery brand than buy the Sodastream and the attendant supplies, then make the stuff myself.

[herveus]

I wonder how it would work with secanjabin...minty goodness (or strawberry, or rosemary, or thyme, or oregano)...

[freetrav]

I don't see a reason it shouldn't work; just bear in mind that the 'base flavor' of seltzer is closer to being 'sour' than plain water is, so expect the flavor of the final beverage to be altered accordingly.

You do, of course, want to use the correct syrup:seltzer ratio; obviously, start with whatever's normal for the syrup you're using.

The Sodastream syrups are 'designed' for 1:24; the syrups from PittsburgSodaPop are documented as 1:5; I used the 1:24 for the Starbucks tests above - the Peppermint could have stood a lower ratio, the Vanilla a higher.

By all means, experiment - and I'd like to hear what the outcomes are.