SodaStream has been bubbling up everywhere for a while now. Chances are you know someone who has one – or maybe you own one yourself.
But with every new trend, it's good to have some healthy skepticism. Otherwise your kitchen will be filled with unused appliances.
With things like the up-front cost of the machine, syrup cost, and CO2 tank replacements…is SodaStream really cheaper for your pop and carbonated water fix?
Let’s take a look at the benefits of SodaStream – including the ones that will help save you money.
SodaStream is better for the environment
Even without considering any monetary benefit, it's important to note that SodaStream produces significantly less waste than buying the canned or bottled variety.
This, of course, depends on how much pop or sparkling water you tend to drink. But one CO2 tank produces the equivalent of 30 2L plastic bottles. That's a lot less waste.
But what do you do with the empty carbonator?
When your CO2 tank runs out, simply bring the empty carbonator to a participating retail location. They'll exchange your empty tank for the price of the gas only.
At Canadian Tire, this will cost you $19.99. It spikes up to $49.99 if you aren't exchanging your old canister.
Check out SodaStream’s store locator to find an exchange station near you.
SodaStream is healthier
If you're trying to kick your pop addiction, sparkling water is a great alternative.
Not only do you still get the fun bubbly texture (without the piles of sugar), but you can add hints of flavour as you like – even a slice of lime can go a long way.
SodaStream has plenty of flavours
You may be surprised at just how many different flavour syrups SodaStream offers – there are more than 30 varieties available. This includes SodaStream’s own brands of flavours as well as those from other well-known drink brands.
You can find flavour options from some of your favourite brands, including these:
- Pepsi,
- Bubly,
- 7Up, and
- Soda Press Co.
And, of course, there are plenty of variations to these, like diet options, 0 calorie versions, etc.
Some of the flavours that SodaStream itself provides include:
- ginger ale,
- root beer,
- peach iced tea,
- cranberry raspberry blend,
- black cherry cola, and
- homestyle lemonade.
Several of these also have diet and other versions available.
Plus, all SodaStream and other branded flavours are available in multipacks, which can save you even more cash.
The best part is you can add these flavours as you like – giving you the power to control how sugary your drink is.
If you want a special treat, add a bit more than usual. If this is your 2nd glass that day, just add a little. Or don’t add any at all. It’s up to you.
Plus, there are plenty of tasty recipes online that can really spruce up your water consumption.
The syrup is also a little healthier (if soda can be that). It’s just made with sugar, while store-bought soda contains glucose-fructose, which is worse for you.
SodaStream cost comparison
These are all good reasons to consider SodaStream, but will it really help keep money in your account?
Well – yes and no. It depends what you use it for.
- SodaStream sparkling water: $0.33 per litre
- Generic sparkling water: $1.00 per litre
- Coca-Cola: $0.99 per litre
- SodaStream pop: $0.52 – $1.11 per litre
The first hurdle when purchasing a SodaStream is the up-front cost of the machine itself.
Right now there are 4 versions available, ranging from $119.99 to $199.99. For the sake of this analysis, we'll meet in the middle and use SodaStream Source for $149.99.
Bonus tip – Wait for a 20% off coupon from Bed, Bath & Beyond to come in the mail, or for a Canadian Tire personalized offer that gives you $30 in Canadian Tire e-money when you spend $150 or more to purchase your SodaStream.
So this means before you can even start saving money, you have to make up for this initial cost. How long will that take?
Sparkling water comparison
For SodaStream, the only cost for each glass of sparkling water is the carbonation itself.
It costs $19.99 per replacement cylinder (as long as you exchange your empty tank) and each one can make 60L of carbonated water. This means you're paying $0.33 per litre:
$19.99 / 60 L = $0.33/L
The cheapest prices available for sparkling water at both grocery store giants Walmart and Superstore were about $1.00 per litre. With every litre of SodaStream, you’re saving $0.67.
This is how much you'll need to drink in order to recoup the up-front cost and start saving money:
| Up-front cost of machine | Litres required to make up cost | How many days (drinking 500ml/day) |
|---|---|---|
| $119.99 | 179 | 358 (1 year) |
| $149.99 | 224 | 448 (1.2 years) |
| $179.99 | 269 | 537 (1.5 years) |
| $199.99 | 298 | 597 (1.6 years) |
Pop comparison
But it's a different story when you start to add some tasty flavour to your drinks. Now you have to factor in the cost of the syrup on top of the carbonation.
SodaStream sells its syrup at $6.99 for a bottle that makes 9 litres of pop. This is pretty expensive, costing you $0.78 per litre. It gets worse when you add the cost for carbonation, bringing the total price per litre to $1.11.
($6.99 / 9 L) + $0.33 = $1.11/L
In comparison, even branded Coca-Cola costs about $0.99 per litre at both Walmart and Superstore. This means for every litre of flavoured SodaStream, you're losing $0.12.
Adding this little bit of flavour to your drinks no longer makes SodaStream worth it (from a pure money perspective).
But wait – there’s so much more!
You have more than just the syrup on their site to choose from.
In fact, this SodaStream-branded syrup sold at Canadian Tire will plummet your cost per litre. For $11.99 and enough syrup to flavour 60L of water, you're looking at $0.19 per litre. Add the cost of the carbonation, and you're looking at a total of $0.52 per litre.
So now you're back to making money – $0.47 per litre, to be exact.
In this scenario, you'll have to drink a bit more in order to make up for the up-front cost of the machine:
| Up-front cost of machine | Litres required to make up cost | How many days (drinking 500ml/day) |
|---|---|---|
| $119.99 | 255 | 511 (1.4 years) |
| $149.99 | 319 | 638 (1.7 years) |
| $179.99 | 383 | 766 (2 years) |
| $199.99 | 426 | 851 (2.3 years) |
You can bring this cost even lower by substituting the syrup for off-brand water flavours when they go on sale. Price checking can go a very long way.
Some things to note
These numbers are all based on the recommended servings for both the carbonated water and syrup.
If you like your water a bit bubblier – you'll be using more carbonation with each glass, decreasing the value you get per tank.
Likewise, you could use less than the recommended amount of syrup to offset its increased cost.
That's one of the perks of SodaStream – you're in control of the taste and cost (to an extent).
How do you feel about SodaStream?
As with most things, it's not always a simple matter of money.
Yes, you can save money with SodaStream – if you use it right and skip the flavour. But you can also lose money.
Despite this, you're still opting for the healthier alternative (just don't put too much of that tasty syrup in!) and eliminating a whole truckload of waste with each canister.
So, what do you think? Is SodaStream worth it?
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Comments
You're right! As soon as you cut the SodaStream-affiliated syrup, the cost goes way down. It can definitely be a nice and cheap treat.
Adding a splash of coke or cranberry juice sounds delicious. Thanks, Cathy!
Great idea, Louis. Thanks for sharing!