Top 6 Soda Makers (2025): Drink Mate, SodaStream, Aerfro
Is it cheaper to make your own soda?
Photo: Matthew Korfhage
Whisk your own water is convenient, saving space and is the most eco-friendly option, rather than stacking sparkling bottle cases in the fridge. But it’s probably not cheap. Aside from the initial cost of the machine, you will need to continue refilling CO.2 Canister. These can run in a 60-liter canister range from $20 to $30, depending on your brand. Note that “60 liters” refers to the theoretical amount of soda made in each canister. If you’re an avid carbon agent that likes carbonation, this might be something like 30 liters.
Some brands also have recycling programs that send empty canisters and replace them with full canisters. These recycling programs were included in my tests.
Carbon agents are relatively simple techniques. Generally, gadgets need CO2 A way to pump the sauce and gas into some water. However, different manufacturers have different abilities to inject carbon dioxide into the water and maintain it there.
For consistency in evaluating the best soda makers, me and contributor Andrew Watman tested each maker with filtered water made with Zero Water Filterand then keep the fridge temperature and test the foaming not only at the moment of carbonation, but also at two hours and the next day to see how the foam lasted. For manufacturers that can carbonate carbonates rather than just water, I have tested wine, juices and soda. And for manufacturers with filtration, I have of course tested with unfiltered water and used chemical indicators to support the filtration claim.
I evaluated each soda water manufacturer for ease of use, air bubble quality, duration of carbonation in the provided container, and ease of CO exchange2 Cartridges, and simple intangible assets: Did I love my soda maker? We spend a lot of time together: it’s a shame that we don’t love it.
I also tested the test
Photo: Andrew Watman
$250 Braeville Infits Fusion: Like Omnifizz for drinks, Breville Infizz Fusion allows you to blow your favorite liquid with carbon dioxide. Also, with a much more durable construction than our top pick Omnifizz, our contribution reviewer Andrew Watman, noted the lovely tactile sensation of carbonated buttons and attractive die-cast metal colors. However, he also discovers that using the “fusion cap” on the device is a bit difficult, and requires a little tweak each time to snap the bottle into the machine and turn the cap on properly. These little complaints have kept the device out of our top pick.
Photo: Chris Haslam
$200 SMEG Soda Maker: There are many things I like about this SMEG soda maker. In the world of ethical or plastic carbon factors, Smeg is the only soda maker named “aarke,” a clever knob control with a sophisticated form that can be called plausible. British contribution reviewer Chris Haslam loved it (8/10 Wired recommends), but there are some issues. The only soda maker I have tested is that it doesn’t come with a canister that starts you, Smeg does not run a canister change system in the US (you need to use SodaStream), instructions are crazy and sparse, and the fit to the Tritan bottle machine is a bit janky. If you are a pro at soda making and canister exchange and want something that looks neat on your countertop, this may be for you. But it’s an interesting place to start.
Photo: Andrew Watman
Aarke Carbonator III is $229: Metallic and slim Ark is stylish and perhaps even sexy. This may be a good reason to love it. And invite them to live at your countertop. And unlike many people, it’s a one-touch system. However, Watman observes that the bubble is finer and fainter than the other entrants, and needs to flip the machine to screw the canister into. But it’s fine if you like delicate bubbles.
Photo: Arke
$350 with Aarke Carbonator Pro: The “Pro” is an upgraded model of the Canarbator 3, but it has a nice glass bottle rather than a plastic bottle. All of this is pretty clean, but with a slightly sudden price hike.
Photo: Matthew Korfhage
Drink Mate Splitzer $80: The portable version of Drinkmate Omnifizz, shaped like a nail gun, offers many of the same wonderfully scented features as Omnifizz, but in a smaller, more portable package. So, what should we not love? It’s a little jankier. The Fizz Infuser mechanism is extremely difficult and awkwardly to ring forward, giving you the feeling of danger of breaking plastic. And at some point the carbonation trigger remains stuck in the “on” position, until it blows up the carbonation into the air and removes CO.2 The tank is completely. This was an error I couldn’t replicate, but it made me a bit leary forever.
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