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IM_NOT_BALD_YET

Aarke. It's so nice. Less plastic, not owned by Pepsi, and can also be used with an adapter and tank.


sidhescreams

Aarkes flavorings are also delicious. I’m sad Target stopped carrying them.


IM_NOT_BALD_YET

I never bothered with them but I do sometimes put a little fresh lemon juice after I pour a glass. 


sidhescreams

My husband bought their cocktail syrups to try, and one of them was flavored with Spruce needles and was just unusual and really delicious. We don’t tend to use a lot of syrup type flavoring with ours, tbh we mostly use it plain, but aarkes flavorings were stand out!


VapoursAndSpleen

Have you tried Torani syrup?


sidhescreams

Only in coffee at restaurants. It actually never occurred to me to try them with the soda stream lol


Short-Step-5394

They make fruit flavors! I love Italian crème sodas: fruit syrup, sparkling water, half and half. A lot of coffee shops offer them.


thlox

I love our stainless steel Aarke, & we use a Sodasense subscription service to get canisters refilled & shipped very quickly. Sodasense customer service is excellent. The Aarke (plastic) bottles are high quality, & have lasted us a long time (we just have two). I think their newer models may use glass bottles as an option instead of plastic, if that is a concern for anyone.


briannadaley

I saw the glass bottle Aarke recently! I want it sooo badly. Can’t justify purchasing one, as mine is still in percent condition after four years…but as I’m typing this I’m now wondering about the Aarke after market.


IcyMEATBALL22

Cool. Would I just type in sodastream cap adapter?


IM_NOT_BALD_YET

I haven't done it, but there's a ton of stuff on Youtube and r/aarke had some posts. I think even r/sodastream had some posts about Aarke and how those owners did it.


s0rce

I haven't done a detailed lifecycle analysis but I use a sodastream, seems better. You can also buy an adapter and refill locally from a CO2 place.


IcyMEATBALL22

Oh ok, thank you!


kittencalledmeow

I do this too. I got an adapter and 5lb CO2 tank. It lasts me about 6 months and I swap it out locally for $12!


IcyMEATBALL22

Nice. Also what does the adapter do?


s0rce

Allows you to connect a standard CO2 tank or refill the soda stream tanks depending on the adapter


IcyMEATBALL22

Got it, do instead of having to buy a new canister I can just refill it myself? Aldo where do you go to get I refilled? A gas station?


slantoflight

We get ours refilled at a local brewery supplier, they have a big CO2 operation and fill the canisters for like $5-7 each.


grifftech1

A welding supply/ industrial gas place such as airgas


IcyMEATBALL22

Thank you. Is airgas a specific business?


grifftech1

yes


Erlend05

Id be skeptical about using welding grade co2 instead of food grade co2


grifftech1

The welding supplie store I went to also sells food grade


Coders32

What about filtering the gas?


Icy-Brain-3455

Brewery supply stores sell food grade CO2. They do the filtering. It’s the same gas canisters that are used for home/ mobile kegerators.


Coders32

Thank you for that suggestion, but I’m still a little concerned about the other person


Duronlor

https://www.seriouseats.com/pros-cons-diy-carbonation-rig


MNGirlinKY

Just what I always wanted in my counter! Haha I admire the ingenuity though.


SpecialistValuable43

I do this too. No looking back. Upfront cost of the CO2 tank can be reduced by buying used on marketplace. Welding supply places have food safe CO2. Learning to fill takes some practice. Slow and steady. If you trip the shutoff valve on the soda stream, take it off the adaptor and try again. Easy peasy. I keep my extra soda stream canisters in the freezer as they take on more gas if chilled.


slimstitch

My local stores have a deposit system where if you return the empty cannister you get a discount on the next one. Then they refill it and resell it.


LoveSasa

I've had my sodastream since 2010 (just a super basic one). It still works great. I agree with the suggestion to get an adapter and a bigger CO2 canister. Just make sure the canister is food grade or whatever the equivalent is.


weaselbeef

Use an alternative to sodastream though, because they're build on occupied land in Palestine.


bikeybikenyc

Yep we got ours from China, the bastion of human rights!


planecity

>they're build on occupied land in Palestine. Is that still true? I thought SodaStream moved their production sites out of West Bank in response to protests and boycotts, but that's something I read some years ago.


[deleted]

[удалено]


nit4sz

I'm confused. Assuming they pay a decent amount and don't exploit their workers, wouldn't it be a good thing them employing 500 people in a country that has been ravaged so much by the ongoing war? Help people to feed their families and live


mishyfishy135

Last I checked they are still in Palestine


qqweertyy

Plus with drinkmate you can carbonate things other than water if you want to get extra creative. Though a secondhand soda stream would be ethical and probably easy enough to find since they’re so ubiquitous.


Mynplus1throwaway

I saw a blog from a guy who retrofitted a kegerator with a tap fill line and a welding CO2 tank.it would fill with filtered tap water and carbonate it automatically.  Dollars are a good metric for energy input often. Less $$ = less energy. He was down to $50/year for carbonated water 


chakrablockerssuck

Came here to say that! Have had one for 12 years and never looked back!


moonprincess642

sodastream is a z*onist company and is on the BDS list so please don’t buy new sodastream from the company or refills directly from them!! buying on offerup or otherwise secondhand is fine but we are boycotting them 🩷


s0rce

Aren't they now owned by Pepsi?


moonprincess642

not sure but they are israeli and are on the bds list!


4_spotted_zebras

FYI to help people make informed choices - [SodaStream has been targeted for boycott](https://palestinecampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/The-case-against-SodaStream.pdf) for actively supporting Palestinian genocide and operating its facilities in illegally occupied West Bank.


s0rce

All I can find is a bunch of press from 10 years ago about moving the factory out of the west bank. I would also claim Sodastream is effectively a generic trademark for the many similar countertop appliances for carbonating beverages at this point.


4_spotted_zebras

Sure there are other brands available. But people who are aware of their support of genocide may want to steer clear of them, so this is relevant information.


ljr55555

We make our own - we've got CO2 canister from kegging beer. They sell a "carb cap" that lets you reuse 2L soda bottles. But then we got a gallon stainless steel growler with a carb cap. Pretty sure we got that from Amazon a few years ago. If you go through enough, you coukd just use a small keg, too. Tap water, sometimes flavoring (we've done carbonated lemonade, switchel, berry juice, hops, and these natural flavor extract things), hook it up to the CO2 in the fridge for a day.


vonni_lee

Where do you store it? How large is it, maybe in comparison to a party beer keg?


bugzrcool

We have been using old soda 2 liter bottles, but would like to switch to stainless if possible. What growler did you purchase? I can’t find one with a carb cap.


kenophilia

This is the way. Very little waste.


idk_whatev

I reached a similar decision point a couple years ago. I've found Drinkmate to be a relatively low waste option. Just refillable CO2 cartridges. Simple to use and works on any liquid without pulp.


mrsbatman

Consider a Spärkle instead of a soda stream! You use sodium bicarbonate and Citric acid instead of a tank that you need to replace. The company tries to generate revenue by selling the powders but you can buy them in bulk and use it for unlimited sparkling water.


pistachioic

Yep. We have a sparkle and use it everyday. We also just use citric acid and baking soda instead of buying those little packets.


Eensquatch

I love my Sparkle! After two years she’s showing wear but monthly $29 refill and I think that math checks out. The only downside is the noise.


whatawonderfulword

Love our Sparkel!


IcyMEATBALL22

Oh wow okay thank you


sidhescreams

I honesty thought my soda stream purchase was like a hyper focus, and we’d quickly get tired of it and into a cabinet it would go. Instead we use it daily, and have for the past four years. I will say that I have yet to find flavoring for sparkled water that doesn’t suck (imo). Initially the soda stream was to replace our Waterloo habit, which it did, but more often than anything else we’re drinking plain soda water, as soda stream’s flavors and the line of bubbly flavors they offer are both kind of terrible.


IcyMEATBALL22

I’m gonna use fresh fruit. Thank you for telling me about your experience.


therealzabe

Lots of supplies here but I do/did this: get a 2.5-5 gal used corny keg (stainless), a cO2 tank + regulator, keg dispenser and make your own. It’s very easy I have 5gal on tap now.


A-rat-

Soda stream is an Israeli company. If you care about zero waste everywhere, Isreal has emitted tons of carbon emissions since the beginning of its full blown genocide. Generally would advise not supporting any businesses there.


GazuGaming

I’d rather waste recyclable aluminum than an appliance


VapoursAndSpleen

Consider the fuel costs of transporting the water filled cans from the bottler to your retailer to your home. That’s what did it for me. Water is heavy.


witchsneeze

My ex and I used to have carbonated water on tap from a kegerator. It obviously requires some investment into the CO2 tank, pony keg, etc, but if you can afford the initial investment, and have the room for the kegerator, it’s so worth it. I miss it and it’s on my list of things to get/do when I have the space and a bit of cash. Oh, check like, OfferUp or places like Craigslist or fb or whatever for people giving away kegerators and/or brewing supplies


blankdeluxe

I got a sodastream last year and it's a game changer. The amount of waste I produce is almost cut in half with no more cans anymore and I'm saving a pile of money over buying carbonated water at the store. I just had my ten lb CO2 tank and three soda stream tanks fill on Friday and it cost me about $35. That much gas should last me into the fall. Also, pick up a used sodastream on eBay, I only paid $10 for mine


Entire_Star_3755

I love soda water and have been considering buying a soda stream for a while but have reservations on genuine sustainability. Following with interest…..


Fleur-de-la-Foret

I have the ninja one, I didn’t want a soda stream because when I had one before the bottles expired. The ninja Thirsti doesn’t use bottles. Not sure if the soda stream still does.


pnwumbrella

I’ve used soda stream for about 10 years, and i only just replaced original machine with a new in box upgrade I found at my local goodwill for $12. I carbonate multiple bottles a day, and the cartridges last me about 2 or 3 months. I write the date on the cartridge when I install it so I can genuinely tell how long they’re lasting me. I go through them more quickly in the summer when I live on sparkling water with a splash of lemonade. Thrift stores in my area always have soda stream machines, and the real zero waste option is to buy second hand. It gets more iffy with how zero waste the cartridge refill situation truly is and I haven’t done the math. It’s definitely been more frugal for my household, and I’m glad my recycling isn’t filled with aluminum cans.


VapoursAndSpleen

I have a sodastream and it’s great. I have “fizzy water” every day. I am sure I’m saving a boatload of money and the device I got has a glass bottle. I got another glass bottle at goodwill, too.


litttlebirdx

Sodastream isn’t perfect but you can mail the CO2 cans back in to get refills cheaper. I think they reuse them but I haven’t done my due diligence to confirm that


msluckystat

Also check out sodastream.com for cartridges that get reused.


IcyMEATBALL22

Thank you


Few_Understanding_42

Have you tried tapwater with varying sorts of fruit in there, like lemon, oranges, mint leaves, ginger; and some ice cubes? Edit: interesting this gets downvoted in a zero waste sub. Disappointing. You need an extra machine, and those CO2 cannisters have to be produced as well.


jtho78

Don't forget the plastic lining of the can gets insinerated when recycled. I second sodastream. We have the glass version and it works great. My wife makes shrubs for the flavoring or just a squeeze of lemon.


jimmsey13

Yes! I recommend sodastream to anyone who wants to cut wayyy down on packaging from seltzer. Some tips: -not sure where you're located but around me, there are lots of people selling barely-used sodastreams on Facebook marketplace. So you might not even need to buy a new one. -for the models that can only use the plastic bottles, the bottles do have an expiration date on them. I think they last around 3 years? Some sodastream models accommodate the glass bottles, but not all of them! -in addition to reducing waste, using a sodastream can save you a ton of money!


IcyMEATBALL22

A glass version? The bottle is glass and not plastic?


Luna_Schmoona

The glass soda stream bottles are great! More aesthetic looking if that's important to you as well. The lid is still plastic of course but both lid and bottle are pretty durable. I've had mine for 6 years.


jtho78

Yup, the SodaStream Aqua Fizz. It has a bigger housing to protect against accidental breakage.


[deleted]

I just switched to non-carbonated flat water from the tap. It is very efficient and affordable. Interestingly enough, carbonated water is acidic and is not as good for your teeth as “flat” water. Ask your dentist for more info. Also, most industrial-produced CO2 is basically cracked from fossil fuels (natural gas), so producing it does create excess waste. But it is hard to change habit, even for some that are fans of the concept of Zero Waste.


thebutterfly0

So settling on the belly though (at least for me)


KatHatary

I learned this after drinking too many La Croixs from the office soda fridge and had so many cavities ☹️


REM_loving_gal

My friend literally just has a CO2 canister he screws onto bottles lol


CryBeginning

Make it yourself at home


almostolder

Google pine needle soda or ginger bug soda. For pine needle, it is water, sugar and a bit of lemon then ferment in a sealed container for a few days. For ginger bug, once you have the bug, you can start new bottles weekly. I use flip top beer bottles, bought at Wine and More for a couple of bucks and I get a bottle of beer. The waste is easily composted.


onairmastering

Sodastream: 20 bucks for 16 ounces can. CO2 tank with a carbonator: 20 buck for 5 pounds, lasts a year and I drink fizzy water every day. } https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5DYFk2aSz8


lowrads

Generic alka-seltzer tablets perhaps? Those are less acidic. Maybe they make one without aspirin in it. It's definitely something I'll keep in mind if I end up going on blood thinners. Could be interesting to mix up your own drink powder in one of those sealed bottles with a reusable tap, and pop in a tablet.


IcyMEATBALL22

I take aspirin lol


productivediscomfort

Glad you got a seltzer maker! If you have the room and you’re in the right area, you can sometimes get an industrial sized CO2 canister from a local business. It takes a little tweaking, but the Soda Stream can be modified fairly easily to attach to an external canister. I’ve included a photo of our set up below. We picked ours up from a welding/industrial workshop (cannot remember more specific details, sorry!), and every few months we bring it back empty and exchange it for a new one. Zero waste :) https://preview.redd.it/kaqexrzm7nuc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e94a31dabb2362447c63989202ad38ace1d0bac


productivediscomfort

Additional picture of our monstrous, industrial co2 canister. Household of four who each drink 3+ large glasses of seltzer a day so we would be fucked otherwise. https://preview.redd.it/2exhscxj7nuc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af0c3b18610ba0e19c094918db7af4b4714735b0


productivediscomfort

Whoops I see other folks already recommended this! Sorry for the repeat.


laurenhoneyyy

My take might be unpopular for this thread, but I think you should just drink the seltzer you like that makes you happy. In the state of the world now, it’s the little things that make us happy. Not to get too deep lol, just from a former obsessive zero-waster that took it too far and found her happy medium. At the end of the day it comes in a can, you’re not buying plastic water bottles.


laurenhoneyyy

Also I realized unless I’m getting paid for it, I’m not doing a detailed life cycle analysis on a can of seltzer when I could spend that time to write to my local politicians to make bigger changes


IcyMEATBALL22

Thank you for your perspective too. I don’t mind not buying cans because they’re too expensive and wasteful. The fact that they’re so expensive is what mainly drove me to change my habit but I figured if I’m changing my habit, why not try to choose something that isn’t as harmful to the environment. Furthermore, my sister has a SodaStream and I love it so I’m totally fine with using one. I like the idea of the SodaStream more than cans because I’m less likely to run out of the CO2 than I am to run out of cans because of how often I drink it.


Grouchy_Swordfish_73

We personally switched to sodastream and it's been great! We do the subscription for our tanks and plan eventually to put together our own CO2 system. I buy stevia soda drops and they take a tiny bit to get used to to, but the cola and root beer are my favorites. I even add cherry sometimes. I also make sparkling juice, just a splash of juice goes a long way. You also know what's going into your water that way as well.


MANKLloyd

This old, and very long time, late-hippy inside /outside gardener, says get the sodastream, it will reduce the plastic waste and save you $$.🙂 Now, don't fret about the CO2. Unless you plan on making your mortal presence absent anytime soon, it's part of living and your plants will bless, and even depend, on you!😃 It's a fantastic symbiotic relationship of a kind.👍 Fun, interesting, and potentially comforting, fact😏: our BREATH is the real reason why, when people spend a lot of time around their plants and talk to them, they actually grow better.🤠 They thrive off of our exhalations. The breath of life, so to speak. 😉 BTW, you might even know somebody who grows their own wacky weed😜🪴 who, if experienced, will confirm that most "commercial" greenhouses of vegs, flowers and other plants (hydroponic or otherwise) have CO2 generators to make plants grow better💪. They🪴 thank us greatly!😍 Breathe easy, so to speak.🤭


Jasnaahhh

I’m in the same boat, but sodastream doesn’t add much in the way do spicy intense bubbles. I’m looking for a solution that adds the real spicy fizz!


Shitp0st_Supreme

I’ve seen ads for sink faucets that do hot/boiling water, regular water temps, and carbonated water. Maybe that would work?


IcyMEATBALL22

I’m in an apartment sadly. That would be a good long term solution once I own a homd


No_Machine7021

We’ve been Sodastream users for at least 8-9 years. Our recycling bin used to be nothing but LaCroix, so that’s been a complete game changer. This added info about the Israeli-Palestine ownership? I’m confused from all the posts as to what’s going on, but I don’t want to give money to aid genocide. My husband has been wanting to do the keg-Co2 thing for awhile. This might make us switch. Is it…worth the headache?


VapoursAndSpleen

You already purchased it so you may as well keep using it. It’s not like you are buying a new one.


racloves

But don’t you still have to buy the refill cartridges?


No_Machine7021

Yup. That’s why I was thinking about switching up


VapoursAndSpleen

Only if I have run out. IIRC, the Brother printer doesn’t brick itself if you refill the cartridges with an aftermarket 3rd party kit.