In line with our recently increased interest in spirits, we were thrilled to try out the Genesis soda stream- instant mixers of any type at your fingertips! Making water into soda still kind of seems like magic, event as an adult. You start with plain old water from the tap, and end up with something sparkling and festive.
It was incredibly simple to put together, and is easy to store. The 60-liter carbonator fits nicely into a tube, then you get to forget about it. After filling the bottle with water, you screw it in, press the big button on top a few times (until it makes a loud “buzz” sound that makes several of us jump and squeak each time) and you have tasty carbonated water. The bottles you fizz in are the same bottles you mix syrups into or screw the cap onto for storage. The seal is great- it keeps the water or soda fizzy well.
We’ll admit we used to be turned off by at-home soda makers because the only syrups readily available were full of artificial sweeteners, something we have a taste-aversion to. Trying out the “Sparkling Naturals” line eliminated that issue- we tried the cola, the root beer and the black currant/pear- all delicious. The root beer was especially satisfying. We also enjoyed the My Water Flavoring Essence. Just a couple drops pep up the sparkling water even more. A couple of our staff don’t mind diet soda tastes, and enjoyed the diet pink grapefruit. It’s a lovely pink color and (ahem) would be good with tequila.
A few of us were initially put off by the price tag- available on amazon for about $100 for the most basic version, asking, “How much will we save on soda?” Think, though, about all of the 2 liter bottles of soda languishing flat and mostly full in your fridge. We also don’t have to worry about having stuff on hand- just pull out the Soda Stream and spritz. It’s also increased the amount of water we drink, so we like to think of it as a health investment. For extra feel-good points, you reuse the bottles, so reduce your carbon footprint. Also, it’s just fun. Recommended, highly.
