≡ Menu

Soda Sherpa

SodaSparkle Review

SodaSparkle sparkling water maker

Pros: The SodaSparkle is extremely portable and simple to use.

Cons: The SodaSparkle is almost entirely made of plastic (everything but the CO2 canisters themselves), which shortens the lifespan. This is also an issue for anyone trying to cut plastics completely out of their lives.
[click to continue…]

0 comments

Cuisinart Sparkling Beverage Maker Review

Cuisinart sparkling beverage maker

Pros: The Cuisinart Sparkling Beverage Maker is quite well made despite being one of the more affordable home carbonation machines currently available.

Cons: Cuisinart has recently redesigned their canisters, making them smaller and more expensive.

[click to continue…]

0 comments

10 Sugar Substitutes (and When to Use Them!)

A pile of sugar cubes

Anyone who pays even the slightest bit of attention to the constantly growing science of nutrition will know that eating too much sugar is incredibly bad for you. Eating too much sugar can cause much more than weight gain; it has been linked to heart disease, kidney disease, liver failure, and of course diabetes. And it has wormed its way into almost every part of our diets.

Cutting out sugar won’t be easy—especially since research has shown that sugar addiction is as real as drug addiction—but it is possible, even if you have a massive sweet tooth. There are dozens of natural sweeteners. Many even have significantly more flavor than sugar, and soon enough you might be wondering why you ever liked sugar at all.

Switch to one of the following sugar alternatives for some guilt-free sweetness. [click to continue…]

0 comments

iSi Soda Siphon Review

iSi Soda Siphon

Pros: The iSi Soda Siphon is extremely portable and is solidly manufactured to last you a long time. It also works with non-proprietary CO2 canisters, allowing you to save a lot of money on soda.

Cons: The iSi Soda Siphon has to be used in a very specific way to get the correct amount of fizz.
[click to continue…]

0 comments

How to Make Your Own Kombucha

Six mason jars filled with kombucha

Kombucha is an ancient fermented tea drink with a myriad of potential health benefits and a tangy flavor many people love.

What Are the Health Benefits of Kombucha?

There’s still a lot of debate in the scientific community about the health benefits of Kombucha, but people claim it gives them more energy, assists with proper digestion, and kills bad bacteria. We do know that it contains probiotics and antioxidants, both of which help your body digest food and process out chemicals.

It should be noted that kombucha is highly acidic and may worsen some pre-existing conditions such as acid reflux.

Why Make Kombucha at Home?

Kombucha has become popular enough in the past few years that you can buy it in many health stores, but it’s always better to make your own kombucha. Store bought kombucha has generally been pasteurized, which kills all of the healthy bacteria in the drink. [click to continue…]

0 comments

SodaStream Jet Review

SodaStream Jet sparkling water maker
Pros: The SodaStream Jet home soda maker is one of SodaStream’s simplest machines, which means it’s also one of the most affordable.

Cons: The SodaStream Jet doesn’t come with any special features. Most notably, it doesn’t have an automatic locking mechanism for bottles so you will have to screw your bottles into place by hand.

[click to continue…]

1 comment

How to Make Your Own Kombucha SCOBY

Ping kombucha SCOBY

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that has existed for thousands of years, and in recent years it’s become one of the health industry’s favorite new fads. Kombucha contains a variety of B vitamins and healthy bacteria, including probiotics similar to those found in yogurt.

You can buy kombucha in some health food stores or at certain restaurants, but it’s often most rewarding—and most affordable—to learn how to make kombucha yourself, starting with the scoby. [click to continue…]

1 comment

Mastrad Purefizz Soda Maker Review

Mastrad Purefizz

Pros: The Purefizz Soda Maker can carbonate any liquid you might want to drink, not just water. It is also more portable than SodaStream machines and many competitors.

Cons: The Purefizz Soda Maker uses single-serve cartridges, so you need to buy them in large packs if you don’t want to spend a fortune.
[click to continue…]

0 comments

Is Soda Bad for Your Teeth?

Woman drinking from Coke bottle

Whether you call it soda, pop, or Coke, sweetened carbonated beverages are enjoyed by people all over the world. There is almost nothing as refreshing as a fizzy drink whether drank with a meal or enjoyed alone. Getting together for a soda is also a social occasion for many people. However, soda comes with a variety of health risks, most especially dental risks. While soda is an enjoyable beverage, research shows that it is extremely bad for your teeth.

[click to continue…]

0 comments

SodaStream Penguin Review

SodaStream Penguin

Pros: The SodaStream Penguin’s main advantage over other SodaStream machines is that it uses glass carafes rather than BPA-free plastic bottles. It is also actually shaped like a penguin, making it a unique and stylish addition to any modern kitchen.

Cons: The biggest drawback of the SodaStream Penguin is that it uses a smaller carbonator than most SodaStream models (14.5oz instead of 33oz).
[click to continue…]

0 comments

Is Soda the Best Hangover Cure?

Hungover man

Hitting the bars too hard can cause a load of pain and regret, even in the healthiest people. People look to hangover cures, but so many of them seem like little more than worthless.

However, it turns out that there is one hangover cure that looks promising, and it probably isn’t much further than your refrigerator door. A group of scientists based out of China has recently announced the findings of new research that indicates the best means of curing a hangover might be a simple glass of soda.
Sounds crazy, huh?

After all, soda isn’t exactly known for being healthy. With its tasty and sweet mixture of sugar, preservatives, and a pound more of sugar, most of us would consider it anything but. Then again, neither is a fun night of binge drinking. It seems that when it comes to fixing a hangover, two wrongs do make a right. [click to continue…]

0 comments

Hamilton Beach Fizzini Review

Hamilton Beach Fizzini

Pros: The Hamilton Beach Fizzini is a handheld home carbonation system, making it one of the most portable soda makers available. It is also easy to use.

Cons: The Hamilton Beach Fizzini only provides moderate fizz and drinks only stay fizzy for a few hours.
[click to continue…]

0 comments

13 Kombucha Books With Easy to Follow Recipes

Glass of kombucha

For many, kombucha is an acquired taste. But once you get into it, you’ll crave it. Unfortunately, drinking kombucha on a regular basis an expensive habit to maintain—unless you start to make it at home instead of buying it.

That’s where these kombucha books come. They cover the science and basics of brewing kombucha for beginners, with recipes and variations even experts will love. Getting started brewing kombucha at home is relatively inexpensive and it will save you a lot of money in the long run. Check out the books below for ideas on how to get started.

[click to continue…]

1 comment

SodaStream Genesis Review

SodaStream Genesis sparkling water maker

Pros: The SodaStream Genesis is one of the most attractive SodaStream machines, featuring a sleek design small enough to fit in virtually any kitchen. It is also one of the more affordable SodaStream machines.

Cons: The biggest drawback of the SodaStream Genesis is the lack of an automatic locking mechanism for bottles, forcing you to screw the bottles in yourself. It also uses BPA-free plastic bottles instead of glass carafes, which may be an issue for some people.

[click to continue…]

0 comments
Freshly mixed cocktail sitting on bar

Looking to become a bartender? Bartending can be a competitive industry. Even servers with years of experience sometimes have a tough time getting hired.

The good news, you can find a great bartending gig—even without experience. You just have to take the right steps.

It is possible to get a job bartending with little to no experience.

You should know about cocktails and you’re great at customer service, including how to lay on the charm to receive those much-desired tips. You know how to deal with drunks, higher-ups, and how the cash register works.

If you are not acquainted with these things, learn them.

This is a no-brainer. If you don’t have experience and want the job, you will have to be confident about your skills. This means knowing how to present your acquisitions and how to convince your potential employer that you are the best thing to walk through the door since their latest software update, which allows customers to order drinks electronically from their iPhone. You have to be tech-savvy these days.

Assuming that you have all the above under your belt and you’re ready to roll, here is a bit of basic info to help ease any leftover anxieties. [click to continue…]

0 comments

Soda Plus Review

Soda Plus

Pros: The Soda Plus is made of stainless steel, allowing it to last for several years. It is also dishwasher friendly.

Cons: The seal on the Soda Plus wears out relatively quickly and is proprietary. Replacements are not sold at this time.

[click to continue…]

0 comments

15 Bartending Books for Amateur Mixologists

Two cocktails sitting on a bar

Whether you’re new to mixology or you’ve been at it for years, there’s always a great new recipe to discover. We’ve rounded up the best bartending books to help you improve your drink mixing. Best of all, all these books are easy to find on Amazon. [click to continue…]

1 comment

SodaStream Play Review

SodaStream Play

Pros: The SodaStream Play is made entirely of plastic, which makes it the lightest SodaStream machine available, ideal for taking on picnics or to other one day events.

Cons: The SodaStream Play uses BPA-free plastic bottles rather than glass carafes and is entirely made of plastic. This is mostly a drawback if you’ve been trying to completely cut plastics out of your life.
[click to continue…]

0 comments
Kombucha in flip top bottles

Kombucha is tasty beverage made by combining the bacteria culture (called the scoby) with tea and sugar. The scoby is responsible for creating the probiotics and enzymes while fermenting the tea into an effervescent brew.

There are some clear benefits to drinking kombucha. Besides having medicinal properties, kombucha has become a valued energy tonic and all-around refreshing drink for health-conscious consumers. Here are nine healthy reasons to start adding kombucha to your daily diet. [click to continue…]

2 comments

SodaStream Source Sparkling Water Maker Review

SodaStream Source sparkling water maker

Pros: The SodaStream Source features an LED fizz indicator making it easy to customize your carbonation level. It also has an automatic locking mechanism so you don’t have to manually screw the bottles into place.

Cons: The SodaStream Source has a smaller carbonator than other SodaStream machines with the same number of features.
[click to continue…]

0 comments