Product: SodaStream Drink Maker
Retail: Models range from $100-$200
http://www.sodaclub.com/
Product Rating: Excellent

By Deanna M. Murray
Director of Content (and diet soda aficionado)

Before you continue, I must let you know one of my deep, dark secrets. … I can’t write review this product in good conscience until you, the reader, know something about me and understand why this product has changed my life … seriously.

I am a Diet Coke addict.

It’s sad, but true. I am one of those who gets up every single morning, runs down to the local 7-11 and buys the 700 oz fountain drink, carries it religiously everywhere and always takes a few swigs before spouting off something extremely profound … yes that’s me.

So, a few months back when I saw a home product to make your own carbonated beverages, I was skeptical at best – but intrigued. ‘Yes,’ I thought to myself … ‘I think I need to try that.’

Not quite knowing how harsh a critic I would be, SodaStream sent me one of their starter sets: The Penguin. The Penguin consists of the actual carbonating appliance, two cylinders of Co2 and several different types of soda syrup. It also comes with two very attractive carafes for making the soda and serving it.

With bated breath, my family and I tore open the box and placed the appliance on the counter. It does not need to plug in at all, and really doesn’t take up a ton of counter space. It also has a very sleek, contemporary design. It’s fun to look at!

So … which soda to make first?

Every child in my house (there are 6 total) thought they had a voice in this decision, but (hahaha) they didn’t … the SodaStream product was put to my ultimate taste test first – the diet cola.

Making the soda is extremely easy. You fill the sturdy glass carafe to the filling line with cold water; slip the carafe into the penguin appliance, then pump the ‘beak’ until you hear whistles. The more carbonation you want, the more you pump. The directions recommend about 6 pumps – I like it highly carbonated, so I opted for 10.

After pressing the ‘depressurizing button’ on the penguin, and removing the carafe, the syrup is then added to the carbonated water. I learned quickly to pour the syrup in slowly or it will cause the soda to bubble up and out of the carafe, all over the counter. So pouring slowly is important.

Upon first taste of the diet cola mix, it threw me back to my childhood where RC Cola and Shasta were prevalent on the shelves of the supermarket and in my kitchen pantry. It’s a little sweet, a little more syrupy but still very tasty. And while it might not take the place of my daily run to the 7-11, it definitely is yummy.

My favorite soda in the SodaStream line of drinks is actually the diet grapefruit, which tastes kind of like Fresca. It is already a family favorite.

Each kid in the house has their favorite as well. The root beer and lemon-lime are well liked, and I’ve made the energy drink and even mixed it with some Vodka (testing its taste against a Red Bull and Vodka drink) and it was really great.

Now if there are drawbacks to the machine, it’s knowing how to find the Co2 carbonator tubes, but SodaStream offers an exchange program, kind of like you’d do for your propane grill. You return your used cartridges for new ones via mail.

Soda mixes can also be purchased thru the company in their Soda Club, but I also found the mixes on sale at Kohl’s for about $3.99 a container. (One container makes 50 servings of soda.)

So while this particular appliance isn’t necessarily a necessity by any means, it is awfully fun to have and does save some money in the long run if your family is like mine and runs through quite a bit of soda. I love the fact it doesn’t take up a lot of counter space (it’s a thin unit) and doesn’t need an outlet to use. I also really can appreciate the fact the carafes hold just enough for say, serving the family for dinner. There’s not a whole lot of waste.

Thanks SodaStream for the fun – and hey, if you ever really crack the code on the secret Diet Coke formula … I could easily see the 7-11 sales in my area falling drastically.