These days sparkling water is all the rage. Nobody wants to drink a plain bottle of water anymore. They might decide to mix it up by adding flavor, but many people will opt for a bottle of sparkling water instead—often served with a slice of lemon to give it a hint of flavor.
But carbonated water is expensive. In fact, premium carbonated water can cost over $5 a litre. Many people just don’t have room in their budget to drink it regularly.
If you want to drink carbonated water regularly without spending a fortune—not to mention dragging those heavy bottles back with you from the grocery store all the time—you’ll want to make it yourself.
How to Carbonate Water – Three Ways
If you don’t know how to carbonate water, there are a few different ways to do it. Some are more complicated than others, and some are more expensive than others.
If you’re itching to start making your own sparkling water, try one of these methods:
1. Old School Seltzer Making
In the past, many bars used seltzer bottles to make their sparkling water, and this was also the most common way of making it at home. At first glance it seems to be a very simple system: a bottle which attaches to a gas cylinder you then use to carbonate your water.
These bottles are pretty easy to find on eBay and at many antique shops, but they should be used with extreme caution. If used improperly these bottles can explode. With the cost of gas cylinders, you’ll also still be paying $0.50 for every bottle you drink.
2. Using a CO2 Tank
Another way to carbonate your water is by getting a CO2 tank and hooking it up to a bottle full of water. You’ll have to modify the bottle cap so it attaches to the CO2 tank properly and purchase a regulator to make sure you’re getting the right amount of CO2. This can be done with a few parts from the auto store, as seen in this video.
This method is complicated to set up, and you still run the risk of creating an explosion if you do it wrong. The exact price per litre depends on how much sparkling water you drink, but there are still pretty big savings here—if you don’t blow anything up.
3. Using a SodaStream to Carbonate Water
Do you want something simple to use? Something that requires virtually no set up, takes almost no space and that anyone can use without blowing up the bottle?
A SodaStream is a home carbonation machine that uses a CO2 tank and specialized bottles to get the job done right. Different models come with varying features, but they all allow you to control how carbonated your drink is. You’ll be able to make fizzy drinks with ease.
These machines are small, taking up only a corner of your counter space, and use no electricity whatsoever, which means you can even take yours camping if you really want to. They also come in a variety of colors, which means you’ll be able to find a sodastream that looks great in your kitchen no matter what your style is.
Even better, with a SodaStream machine your sparkling water only costs about $0.25 per litre.
There are many different ways to carbonate your water. Some are more difficult than others. Some are more effective than others. The vast majority can be dangerous if done improperly.
Stop wondering how to carbonate water! A SodaStream machine is the best way to safely make a delicious daily dose of sparkling water.