The Best Soda Makers in Canada

If you find yourself constantly in front of a shelf with soda drinks and sparkling mineral water when shopping, it might be the right time to invest in a home version of a seltzer machine and enjoy those bubbles whenever you want. Carbonated water made at home not only helps to reduce bottle waste, but can improve hydration levels in your body. Some people prefer clear water to anything else and have no issue drinking those eight glasses to support healthy level of hydration. However, some need a more enjoyable alternative to satisfy their daily thirst. Sparkling water, with no added sweeteners, can be such an option. After all, even plain soda or soda with a splash of lemon juice can taste much better than tap water.

Carbonated water can relieve stomach pain, help with digestion and weight loss, prevent constipation and reduce bad cholesterol level. Whatever the reason is – whether to improve your water intake or to satisfy fizzy drink cravings without extra sugar in them – a sparkling water machine is a solution to all those listed demands.

With those facts in mind, we browsed the market and created buying guide that includes the top-rated soda makers available to Canadian consumers. The guide observes the most popular SodaStream models, compares them to other brands as Aarke and Spärkel and analyses different features you can get from each machine.

Our pick of the best kitchen appliances and accessories.

• Carbonation level: Not every soda maker is equipped with a variety of carbonation levels. Seltzer machine types that have only one level and can carbonate liquids close enough to standard store sodas and pop drinks. However, if you want to customize your drinks and have more control over carbonation, then opt for manual push-button sparkling water maker that has various features included.

• Carafe material/durability: Soda makers should come with a specially designed carafe made of either glass or plastic. While plastic is the more common option, you might have to replace it every two years. The glass carafe is more durable than plastic; it never degrades and can be used year after year, which means it won’t produce any unnecessary waste.

• Capacity: The capacity of a CO2 canister directly aligns with how long it will last and how often you will use it. There are two types of carbonator capacity, 30 L and 60 L. The number of times you would have to exchange empty tanks for full ones depends on how much carbonation you put into every drink.

• Liquids you can carbonate: Most soda makers can only accommodate water, while there are a couple of brands that can add carbonation into any liquid. Consider whether you want to add bubbles into your wine, tea, juices. However, before adding sparkle into any liquid (except water), make sure your soda maker was designed for it. Otherwise, it can damage the machine or even put you in danger.

• Size/portability: Ask yourself whether the soda maker will stand on the countertop, or if you do not mind and have space to put it away after every use. Another factor to consider is would you want to take the machine with you whenever you go camping or spend a weekend at an Airbnb. Size and portability might not play a significant role for you if you have enough space to keep it on a countertop and do not plan on moving it around. However, if the convenience of mobility and compact size for travelling matters, then choose a lightweight, smaller option that does not need an electric outlet to work.

We are not only a buying guide that selects and suggests the best soda makers for you. We try to look at every product from the ‘people’s experience’ side and find items that we would buy for ourselves and our families. For this reason, we did complete research on the best soda makers on the market, compared to what other guides say (Insider, Wirecutter, The Spruce Eats, and others), and went through a great number of customers’ reviews to make sure our list meets a variety of budgets and preferences.

When we were working on this buying guide, we focused on the most reliable brands and soda maker models. One of the goals we did not pursue was to suggest to you the trendiest, newest devices. On the contrary, we made sure to select sparkling water makers that have reliable, numerous reviews, at least four Amazon stars, that were tested over some time and approved by customers and professionals.

What is SodaStream?

SodaStream is an Israel-based company that manufactures home carbonation products. The soda maker that comes under the same name is a well-known machine that can turn plain tap water into a sparkling, bubbling delightful drink.

How does a soda maker work?

A soda maker works by adding carbon dioxide from a pressurized cylinder into a liquid, which turns water (or any other liquid if compatible) into a bubbly, carbonized drink.

Are soda makers healthy?

Unless you add sweeteners into your sparkling water, which increases calories, there has been no clear evidence that carbonated water is unhealthy.

Is SodaStream worth it?

Firstly, SodaStream or any other brand of sparkling water maker is a great way to reduce bottle waste. Besides that, carbonated water can help with food digestion, relieve stomach pain, and improve the amount of water you consume during the day. Therefore, yes, if you need to improve your water drinking habit, customize variety of drinks or cut down bottle waste, soda makers worth it.

What is the best SodaStream model?

According to features, and customers’ reviews the best soda maker is DrinkMate Sparkling Water and Soda Maker. It is a durable, reliable model that has all features you can find in any other machine, yet it is suitable to use with other liquids besides water.

Sparkel vs. SodaStream: Which one is the best soda maker?

It depends on your drink preferences. Both soda makers are known for their durability, both brands found devoted customers; however, the main difference is that SodaStream is compatible with water only. Although, you can always purchase specialty syrups to add fruit flavour. Meanwhile, Sparkel soda maker can add bubbles to any liquid of your choice; wine, cocktails, flat beer, variety of juices. Another difference is that SodaStream works with a CO2 cylinder while Sparkel machine works with specially designed carbonators. Both have to be purchased separately, however, CO2 tanks seem to last longer than powder carbonators.

SodaStream Genesis vs Fizzi: What’s the difference?

The only difference between SodaStream Genesis and Fizzi is their aesthetic. Fizzi comes in a variety of colours, and Genesis comes only in black.

SodaStream recipes: What can I do with a sparkling water maker?

For all-year recipes, you can always refer to the official SodaStream website. However, the easiest way to experiment with different flavours is to use specialty syrups or add sparkling water to your favourite juice, and to make it a cocktail add a splash of alcohol.