Your thoughts on soda club machine?

[Pinoikoi]

http://www.sodaclubusa.com/environment.htm

It claims to save money (from buying bottled seltzers for instance) and claims to be better for the environment (less container waste, I guess)

plus, i do occasionally enjoy a soda..

anyone had one? pros/cons?

My mom had a personal carbonation machine (which she bought after I moved out). I can't remember if it was this machine, or something similar...

There is no local retailer near me, so I would have to have replacement carbonation thingies mailed in.

Is there another similar machine that reuses carbonation containers?

I know- lots of questions...

[Pinoikoi]

no one? Everyone on this board only drinks water??

[mightymoo]

I drink soda, but I try to keep it to a minimum, so I probably wouldn't buy something like that, even if it would save money.

Just thought I'd respond.

[dvons]

In our major soda drinking days we did belong to one but we were going through a LOT of soda a week (at least 24 cans between the two of us). Since we've cut out HFCS and artifical sweeteners though we don't use it at all and sold it at a garage sale when we moved.

If you are only an occasional drinker, I don't think it is worth it at all. You can also make "sodas" like rootbeer/gingerbeer/birchbeer pretty easily from natural ingredients.

Deb

[Pinoikoi]

Well, I ended up with my mothers drinkmaker. It originally cost $200- but I have to get some new cartridges for it.

I am not a HUGE fan of drinking water (um, I KNOW it is good for me- but seltzers taste better!).

Anyway, I think I will stick with that one- just because it is free.

I have really cut most sugar out of my life- but once in a while- I will allow myself an indulgence. And the CO2 cartridges are good until they run out.

Happy someone responded!

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by dvons

In our major soda drinking days we did belong to one but we were going through a LOT of soda a week (at least 24 cans between the two of us). Since we've cut out HFCS and artifical sweeteners though we don't use it at all and sold it at a garage sale when we moved.

If you are only an occasional drinker, I don't think it is worth it at all. You can also make "sodas" like rootbeer/gingerbeer/birchbeer pretty easily from natural ingredients.

Deb

so the clubs you have to buy the ingredients regularly? I thought it was just the name of the machine! I thought you only had to buy ingredients when you ran out? I am confused by the "belong to one" comment..

[kristenok18]

I drink alot of seltzer in addition to water, but from what I saw on the website it looked like you had to get the whole package of syrups, including the diet stuff. I didn't look too hard, though, so I couldn't be wrong. If it were just a seltzer maker (and I weren't obligated to keep buying stuff), it would definitely be something worth looking into. I should probably send the link to my mom....she will *only* drink seltzer.

Kristen

[Pinoikoi]

It looked to me like you could get just the machine, or the machine with seltzer syrups, or the machine with soda syrups, etc.. (different packages)

I did end up getting my moms drinkmachine, though, I think their website is www.drinkit.com - they are made in Sweden. I DO however, have to get the carbon thingy refilled, and some flavors.. her machine was MUCH more expensive than the soda club one was though. $79 compared to $213.. big price difference.. Mine was *free* though! She was moving, and I asked her VERY nicely not to sell it in her garage sale, but to send it to me! So I guess, based on the fact that one of my original questions was about $- that has cleared that up for me for the most part! I wonder if the soda club machine uses the same CO2 cartridges? It would be nice! I still have to find a source to replace my stuff, it would be great if they were interchangeable then I could get the better priced one.

[UlrikeDG]

Thank You!!!

Originally Posted by alaskanteach

http://www.sodaclubusa.com/environment.htm

I've been looking for one of those since my parents visited us in Germany. My mom also visited her friend who was shocked (SHOCKED, I TELL YOU) that she'd never seen a bubble machine before. Germans tend to drink a lot of Schorle, and Apfelschorle is one thing my kids really miss from our life over there. I've made it once or twice by mixing club soda and concentrated apple juice, but it's not the same. It seems like the German Apfelschorle is made using tart apple juice (e.g., granny smith) rather than sweet juice like we're used to in the US.

My mom and I have both looked for machines and never seen them here. So, thank you for that link.

[Pinoikoi]

Happy to be of service, Ulrike..

here's an update.. I found out that drinkmaker is no longer shipping refilled co2 containers. I called the office in Seattle, and he told me I may as well "use my machine as an anchor".. Can you believe that? He said he is only servicing the Washington, Oregon area.. so what about all the people that bought machines everywhere else? I was pretty mad..

Anyway, I found out that sodaclub has a retailer that is local to me (actually just outside of my neighborhood!) so they said that they would look at the machine I've got and see if the cartridges they sell will fit it. They do sell sodaclub syrups too, so I can get them there as well. If worse comes to worse, and the cartridges they sell don't fit, then i will use their trade in program to get a $40 credit on a new machine.. better than nothing, right (especially since mine was free, really)?

they don't deliver in my area, but at least I have a place to go and buy the stuff I need!

By the way, when i was calling around trying to find a source for syrup and CO2, one lady mentioned that you can buy soda syrup at Sams club (maybe Seltzer, too) not sure, but may save some $$

[Pinoikoi]

oh, yeah, interestingly enough, the place that sells them also sells RVs.. at first I thought that was kind of weird.. but now it makes sense since it is supposed to be smaller, save on space, use no electricity and still provide beverages..

many of the retailers also sell boats.

[UlrikeDG]

Originally Posted by alaskanteach

By the way, when i was calling around trying to find a source for syrup and CO2, one lady mentioned that you can buy soda syrup at Sams club (maybe Seltzer, too) not sure, but may save some $$

My mom found italian soda syrup at Target recently. They had some really neat flavors, too.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by UlrikeDG

My mom found italian soda syrup at Target recently. They had some really neat flavors, too.

really, awesome! We don't have any targets up here, yet, but I read in the paper that they were hiring managerial positions in AK... so I guess we will get one soon! I mostly shop at Fred Meyer, but we don't have a Kmart or Target, so avoiding Walmart is sometimes hard. It will be nice to have more options!