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Seltzer is the perfect drink for someone who likes bubbles a lot. The Best Soda Makers at home could be cheaper and better for the environment than buying seltzer at the store. It also lets you get artistic with carbonated drinks and makes sure that bubbly drinks are always just a button press away. Whether you like coffee or not, if you’re reading this, you probably like seltzer or are at least interested in how soda makers work.
This makes sense, since more soda makers seem to come out every year, giving people a more eco-friendly option than buying soda in cans. I got a few popular types, including three of SodaStream’s best ones, to find the best sparkling water maker for 2023. Most are pretty simple machines that pump carbon dioxide into water, but there are some differences between types that might make one better for you than another.
Best Soda Makers Comparison Table
| Product | Carbonation Method | Compatibility | Bottle Capacity | Dimensions | Weight | Available Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aarke Carbonator III | Lever-operated | CO2 cylinders | 1 liter | 16.3 x 9.6 x 5.5 inches | 7.7 lbs | Stainless Steel, Brass, Matte Black, White |
| Drinkmate OmniFizz | Push-button operation | CO2 cylinders, 14.5 oz bottles | 1 liter | 16.5 x 9.8 x 5.9 inches | 6.1 lbs | Black, Red, White |
| Philips GoZero | Push-button operation | CO2 cylinders | 1 liter | 15.4 x 7.9 x 4.7 inches | 3.5 lbs | White, Black |
| OTE Portable Sparkling Water Machine | Button-activated carbonation | CO2 cartridges | 0.5 liter | 8.3 x 4.3 x 3.7 inches | 1.1 lbs | White, Pink |
| iSi Soda Siphon | CO2 cartridges | iSi soda chargers | 1 liter | 14.6 x 4.2 x 4.2 inches | 2.2 lbs | Stainless Steel, Red |
| MySoda Woody | Push-button operation | CO2 cartridges | 1 liter | 15.7 x 7.9 x 4.3 inches | 3.3 lbs | Light Wood, Dark Wood |
Aarke Carbonator III Premium Sparkling & Seltzer Water Maker
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Carbonator III |
| Carbonation Method | Lever-operated |
| Compatibility | Works with CO2 cylinders |
| Material | Stainless steel body |
| Bottle Capacity | 1 liter (33.8 oz) |
| Dimensions | 16.3 x 9.6 x 5.5 inches |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs |
| Additional Features | Adjustable carbonation level, BPA-free |
| Available Colors | Stainless Steel, Brass, Matte Black, White |
To go with your sparkling water, get yourself a shiny new machine. The stainless steel, matte black, and glossy white designs of the third generation of Aarke Carbonators give them a polished look. They look great on any kitchen counter and don’t take up much room. Don’t be put off by the fact that it has to be operated by hand.
We found that its curved handle was easy to push with little or no force. The machine made water with big, strong bubbles that gave a small tingle from the front to the back of the mouth, which we thought was a nice bonus. The carbonator isn’t very useful because it only works with water, but you can add taste to the water after you pour it into a glass. It doesn’t come with a jar, so you’ll need to buy one on your own.
The Good
- Sleek and stylish design
- Simple to use and keep up
- It works with regular CO2 cylinders.
The Bad
- Compared to other choices, it’s pretty pricey.
- Not many color choices
Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | OmniFizz |
| Carbonation Method | Push-button operation |
| Compatibility | Accepts 3 oz CO2 cylinders, 14.5 oz bottles |
| Material | Plastic body with metal accents |
| Bottle Capacity | 1 liter (33.8 oz) |
| Dimensions | 16.5 x 9.8 x 5.9 inches |
| Weight | 6.1 lbs |
| Additional Features | Fizz infuser for flavoring, BPA-free |
| Available Colors | Black, Red, White |
With Drinkmate’s Sparkling Water one of the Best Soda Makers, you can add carbonation to drinks like smoothies, wines, teas, or even just a glass of water. It’s easy to use and clean, and you don’t need batteries or power to do so. When we tried it with apple juice and wine, the results were very refreshing.
They had just the right amount of carbonation, were strong but not mean, and had lots of tiny bubbles all over. We were most pleased by the sparkling wine, which was almost as good as champagne. Unlike other bottles, which only have a maximum fill line, this one has several markings to help you make different numbers. Just remember to stop at the fill line, because this machine makes drinks extra foamy at first.
The Good
- Flexible machine that can carbonate different drinks
- Easy way to get carbonation
- Small and easy to carry
The Bad
- Lack of ability to carbonate large amounts
Philips GoZero Sparkling Water Maker
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | GoZero |
| Carbonation Method | Push-button operation |
| Compatibility | Works with CO2 cylinders |
| Material | Plastic body with stainless steel accents |
| Bottle Capacity | 1 liter (33.8 oz) |
| Dimensions | 15.4 x 7.9 x 4.7 inches |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs |
| Additional Features | Snap-lock mechanism, BPA-free |
| Available Colors | White, Black |
For the price, the Philips GoZero Sparkling Water Maker is a machine that looks and makes seltzer that is surprisingly beautiful. Even though the seltzer tasted good and had lively bubbles, it went flat faster than the seltzer from more expensive tabletop soda makers we tried. After about five minutes, it went from crackling to sizzling.
Even though this Philips soda maker looks simple and classy, it’s not very easy to use because you have to twist the bottle and CO2 tank in at odd angles. If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to buy a CO2 tank separately. When comparing prices, be sure to account for this extra cost: Cylinders cost around $30, but you can trade empty cylinders for savings that will bring the price down to around $15.
The Good
- Design that is both new and small
- With just one button, it’s easy to use.
The Bad
- The price is higher than some other choices.
OTE Portable Sparkling Water Machine
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Portable Sparkling Water Machine |
| Carbonation Method | Button-activated carbonation |
| Compatibility | Uses CO2 cartridges |
| Material | Plastic body |
| Bottle Capacity | 0.5 liter (16.9 oz) |
| Dimensions | 8.3 x 4.3 x 3.7 inches |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs |
| Additional Features | USB rechargeable, BPA-free |
| Available Colors | White, Pink |
The best soda maker we tried was the OTE Portable Sparkling Water Machine. The OTE soda maker is the best choice if you need a more portable soda maker, like if you want something to keep on your bar cart or at your desk at work. Other portable drink makers were hard to put together, leaked, and made seltzer that was at best just okay. The OTE model, on the other hand, made good seltzer in just a few steps.
When you twist on the leak-proof inner cap and tube, put in an 8-gram CO2 charger, and twist on the outer cap, the machine quickly carbonates the contents of the bottle. At first, the seltzer from the OTE machine was just as tasty and bubbly as the ones from our dining choices. But it didn’t last as long. After about 10 minutes, it had the sour taste of flat seltzer, so if you choose this type, make sure to drink your seltzer right away.
The Good
- Designed to be portable and light
- Doesn’t need electricity or CO2 tanks to work.
The Bad
- Large amounts can’t be carbonated as much as they could
iSi Soda Siphon
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Soda Siphon |
| Carbonation Method | Uses CO2 cartridges |
| Compatibility | Requires iSi soda chargers |
| Material | Stainless steel body, silicone parts |
| Bottle Capacity | 1 liter (33.8 oz) |
| Dimensions | 14.6 x 4.2 x 4.2 inches |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs |
| Additional Features | Pressure control system, BPA-free |
| Available Colors | Stainless Steel, Red |
A classic soda siphon is one of the Best Soda Makers if you want a soda maker that you can put on your bar cart. The canister of a siphon carbonates the water and shoots it into your drink. This is used by professional bartenders and looks and feels impressive when making fancy cocktails. We have to admit that this carbonator is hard to put together and takes a lot of steps to use, but the carbonation was strong and lasted a long time, so the initial trouble was worth it.
The bottle can hold 1 quart of water, and a measure tube helps you add the right amount of liquid so you don’t overfill it. There is also a pressure control button to keep the unit from getting too pressurized. Small CO2 chargers are used, but they can only be used once, so you’ll need to keep a lot of them on hand.
The Good
- Classic and elegant design
- Simple to use and refill
- Can carbonate various beverages
The Bad
- Requires CO2 cartridges for carbonation
- Initial cost is relatively high
MySoda Woody Sparkling Water Maker
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Woody |
| Carbonation Method | Push-button operation |
| Compatibility | Uses CO2 cartridges |
| Material | Plastic body with wooden accents |
| Bottle Capacity | 1 liter (33.8 oz) |
| Dimensions | 15.7 x 7.9 x 4.3 inches |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs |
| Additional Features | Snap-lock mechanism, BPA-free |
| Available Colors | Light Wood, Dark Wood |
The design of this machine, which is similar to that of the Drinkmate, was one of the Best Soda Makers. It comes from a company in Finland that focuses on sustainability, so shipping costs are higher. However, the price is still about the same as SodaStream, even with the higher shipping costs. This model is the most eco-friendly on our list because it is made of a sustainable material called biocomposite and doesn’t need energy.
Even though it can’t go in the washing, this carbonator was easy to set up, use, and clean. Like the Drinkmate, it only carbonates water, though. We loved the carbonation every time, and it was always the same. This machine doesn’t come with a CO2 cylinder, but it works with all standard cylinder types. Even better, the Mysoda comes in a variety of colors to match your kitchen.
The Good
- The design is retro and stands out.
- Easy to use and simple to set up
- Standard CO2 cartridges can be used.
The Bad
- Some users may find that it doesn’t last as long as other models.
FAQs
A soda maker is a machine that lets you carbonate water or other drinks at home. It is also called a carbonation machine or a sparkling water maker. It adds carbon dioxide (CO2) gas to drinks like soda or bubbly water to make them fizzy.
Most soda is made in a simple way. First, you put water or your drink of choice in a bottle. Then, you connect the bottle to the soda maker and press a button or lever to let CO2 gas into the bottle. When the gas mixes with the liquid, carbonation is made. Finally, you can add spices or syrups if you want to make soda.
Yes, soda makers are usually user-friendly. Often, they come with clear directions and designs that are easy to understand. Most of them are easy to use by pushing a button or pulling a handle, and the carbonation process only takes a few seconds. Some soda makers even tell you how much carbonation is in the soda, so you can adjust how bubbly it is to your liking.