Which sodastream

A lifelong seltzer addict , I got my first SodaStream for Christmas five years ago, long before Whole Foods had created towering displays of La Croix and Polar had released limited-edition flavors with names like Unicorn Kisses and Dragon Whispers. At the time, I didn't know much about SodaStream, but it seemed to get the job of turning tap water into sparkling water done, so that was enough for me.

Oh, how times have changed. Almost everyone has their preferred brand of sparkling water now, and most hard-core seltzer lovers have—or want—a SodaStream. But how do you know which model is right for you? And be mindful that the SodaStream water bottles should be replaced every few years because they come with an expiration date—due to the small risk of the older, weakened plastic exploding.

But the situation seems to be improving. She has experience in multiple settings, from a startup to an NGO to Fortune companies. Outside of work, she considers herself a retired competitive skier, an erstwhile rower, a bookworm, an ice cream aficionado, and a travel lover. Our pick. SodaStream Fizzi OneTouch The best soda maker This automated soda maker offers a wide range of bubbles—from lightly carbonated to super-fizzy—and makes great-tasting seltzer.

How it compares. It has been a Wirecutter pick since In our tests, water from the Fizzi was nearly indistinguishable in fizziness and taste from water we carbonated with the Fizzi OneTouch. To carbonate water with the Fizzi, you press down on the top button in two-second increments one to three times, depending on how bubbly you want your water. This seems straightforward enough, but our first time using the machine, our estimate of two seconds was too generous apparently SodaStream does not adhere to the Mississippi-counting school , which resulted in some water gushing from the top of the bottle while we pressed the button.

But our second time using it, we had no issues. Whereas the Jet required you to screw in the bottle, the Fizzi lets you just pop it in with one simple movement, using the same mechanism as the OneTouch. The Fizzi also uses the same, easily exchangeable liter carbonating cylinders as the Source and takes up a similarly small amount of counter space. Using the Fizzi, though, we were surprised by the sound it made, which was slightly louder and more abrasive than the light gushing sound made by the OneTouch.

Like all SodaStream bottles, the Fizzis are also not safe for dishwashers. It makes a fine alternative if the OneTouch goes out of stock or suddenly becomes much more expensive. If you want to carbonate beverages such as juice, wine, or cocktails, we recommend the iDrink Drinkmate.

In contrast, SodaStream will void your warranty and money-back guarantee if you carbonate beverages other than water, and your beverage will likely explode everywhere. SodaStream does offer flavoring that you can add after carbonating. In our tests, the Drinkmate carbonated apple juice, wine, and a mocktail with no problem.

The Drinkmate requires a few extra steps to carbonate and then release pressure. This reaction makes beverages extra fizzy, and in the case of home soda makers, it can cause the liquid to fizz out of the bottle.

Most of the experts we spoke with described experiencing a SodaStream overflow or explosion at some point when trying to carbonate juices or other beverages.

But the Drinkmate has a pressure release valve in the bottle cap that helps counter this effect. Compared with all of the SodaStream machines we tried, however, the Drinkmate was more difficult to use. Then, you must remove the bottle, shake it gently, and release the pressure using a silver tab before removing the cap. Alternatively, you can press a quick-release valve to relieve the pressure, but the bottle did fizz over a bit when we tried this after carbonating apple juice.

In our tests, the Drinkmate produced merely adequate fizz in water—the SodaStream models we tested produced much more. But the Drinkmate stands out for its ability to directly carbonate drinks such as juice and wine. We carbonated apple juice in this soda maker and compared the results side by side with bottled sparkling apple juice from the same brand. The Drinkmate produced a lush, bubbly carbonated juice with large bubbles and a zippy mouthfeel that our testers unanimously loved.

Several years ago the only widely available way to exchange your cylinders was to visit a participating store, which could be a pain depending on where you lived. But recently, it has become easier to exchange cylinders by mail as well. Return shipping for your empty cylinders is free SodaStream provides a label.

If versatility and variety aren't important to you, and all you're really after is the most enamel-dissolving, ear-ringing spicy water you can make at home, the One Touch will deliver and deliver with ease. The One Touch's fully automated capabilities means it is unmatched in terms of user experience. All you have to do is click the bottle in, press a carbonation setting, and Bob's your uncle.

If you want straight-forward functionality, and a machine that makes extra fizzy! One warning: The One Touch, unlike most soda makers, needs to be plugged in to an electric power source in order to work. The gas is released through a siphon and then forced into water in a sealed bottle. At-home soda making is a great alternative to buying seltzer, since it cuts down on the number of plastic bottles you're bringing home from the store and then recycling after a single use.

While the bottles that come with most soda makers have expiration dates and must be replaced every couple of years, you will certainly get more use out of them than your average store-bought seltzer bottle. The CO2 canisters can be exchanged and refilled via retailer websites and at some stores—they can also last quite a while.

One avid soda maker at the office said she got 60 liters of soda out of a single canister in her Aarke Carbonator. I first evaluated each machine by reading the assembly and operation instructions and taking notes on ease of use right out of the box. Then, using water that had been chilled overnight, I tested the highest carbonation setting for each model. I then had several coworkers do a blind tasting out of identical drinking glasses to assess the carbonation levels, and tasted the water myself.

During my tests, I found that there was little difference in noise level, carbonation time, and amount of carbonation between the different models.