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Three things to consider when buying a soft drink maker
Carbonating machines come in both a classic manual version and those that require electricity:
Manual carbonators have the advantage of being cordless, so you can place them anywhere.
Wired carbonators have a pre-set dose so you never use more carbon dioxide than you need. This means that the gas canister will last longer, but the carbonator will need a power socket.
If you drink a lot of sparkling water, you may need spare bottles so you can keep your fridge well-stocked with fizzy water. There are a few things you should consider before choosing a sparkling water maker:
- Can all bottles from the same brand be used for the machine?
- Are the spare bottles for this particular model expensive?
- Are the bottles large enough and space efficient?
- Are there any small bottles available that you can take to work/the gym/on picnics etc.?
- Are the bottles dishwasher-safe?
Most sparkling water makers are supplied with a gas cartridge, so you can easily start to make fizzy water – but sometimes the gas cartridge is not included and must be bought separately.
A brand new gas cartridge costs in the region of £20. Remember to factor this in to the purchase price of the carbonator when comparing different models. Once you have your gas cartridge, it costs a lot less to refill it – but it may be a good idea to keep a spare cartridge at home anyway.
Some gas cartridges are climate compensated for carbon dioxide emissions by planting trees. Read more on the AGA website about carbon offsetting.