How Much Can You Save Making Seltzer With a SodaStream? We Do the Math

If you happen to’ve caught the seltzer bug, you would not be alone. The glowing water enterprise has exploded (sorry) to the tune of $3.6 billion in 2022 and does not present any indicators of fizzing out. (OK, I am accomplished.) If you happen to’re solely now realizing how a lot of that just about $4 billion has come from your individual pocket, a SodaStream or an identical at-home glowing water maker can put a critical dent in your month-to-month seltzer spend. 

A can of seltzer prices about $0.50 when bought in a case. That will not sound like a ton, however these numbers add up shortly, particularly for the heavy customers amongst us. So how a lot does it price to make glowing water at dwelling and the way a lot are you able to save in a yr when you begin making seltzer at dwelling? We did the mathematics to search out out. 

The financial savings will range based mostly on how a lot you drink, however a SodaStream may save as a lot as $600 a yr for a family of two individuals who had beforehand been crushing cans by the caseload. Beneath is a breakdown of how a lot you will save when you begin making glowing water at dwelling. And if the fizzy stuff is not your bag, we beforehand calculated how a lot you will save utilizing a Brita as an alternative of shopping for bottled water (spoiler: it is also lots).

How a lot are you able to save by switching to a SodaStream?

If you happen to make seltzer water at dwelling with a SodaStream, one-can-per-day LaCroix drinkers can count on to avoid wasting $150 per yr whereas Canada Dry drinkers will save extra like $121. If you happen to’re like me and drink two (or extra) cans in a day, you may double these financial savings to $300 and $242 over the course of a yr. And if there are a number of seltzer drinkers in your house, you may proceed to multiply these financial savings. A household with two soda water drinkers glugging two cans every per day, for example, can count on to pocket almost $600 for the yr. 

How I did the mathematics

To get these figures, I began with the tough estimate SodaStream provides: 60 liters, or 2,029 ounces of carbonated water from every cartridge. A single cartridge prices $15 when you use SodaStream’s change program. I then divided the overall ounces by 12 (the quantity of ounces in a single can,) and located that every cartridge will make the equal of about 169 cans of seltzer. That breaks right down to 9 cents for each 12 ounces of glowing water made at dwelling. Lastly, I multiplied 9 cents by 365 and 730 to get the yearly totals for many who drink one or two cans per day. 

One other manner to take a look at it, roughly talking, is you will want about two CO2 cartridges — $30 complete — to get via the yr for one 12-ounce serving of bubbly water every day. If you happen to’re a two-can (24 ounces) drinker, you will spend extra like $60 per yr on 4 CO2 canisters wanted to make that quantity.

To check this with canned seltzer, I priced out the price of each LaCroix and Canada Dry seltzer, that are offered largely in 8- and 12-packs, respectively. LaCroix was barely dearer at about $0.50 per can, versus Canada Dry which averaged out to $0.41 for every 12-ounce can. Each had been the most affordable costs I discovered on the web from a serious, nationwide retailer as of November 2022.

However what concerning the upfront price of a SodaStream?

In case you do not have a SodaStream or different glowing water maker, there may be the upfront price of a machine to contemplate. Within the chart under, you will see the overall yearly complete price for making at dwelling with the worth of an entry-level SodaStream Terra ($100) included. That $100 will get you the glowing water maker plus one CO2 canister so I subtracted $15 from the earlier complete because the first provide of fuel is on the home. The financial savings, even with the machine price included, are nonetheless vital — as a lot as $247 for the yr when you eat two cans of LaCroix per day. 

Different benefits to creating soda water at dwelling

I will be the primary to confess, there was an adjustment interval after I lastly kicked the cans and began making glowing water at dwelling. It isn’t that making soda water with these machines is tough, however it’s simply barely extra labor-intensive than reaching for a chilly can within the fridge and popping the highest.

That stated, CO2 cartridges final the typical family months or longer, so that you’re virtually by no means with out some bubbly water shut at hand. And, until you may have huge dry space for storing, heavy circumstances of soda water must be replenished, saved and loaded into the fridge somewhat usually.

There may be additionally the environmental impression to contemplate. It is estimated that for each ton of aluminum produced, about 5 tons of caustic purple mud wastes are additionally produced, together with a bunch of different pollution. And whereas aluminum cans are largely recyclable, any stress that we will alleviate on our native recycling techniques means they may run extra effectively.

Learn extra: Can You Recycle Takeout Containers? This is What to Know

A SodaStream might solely final a few years

I am a more recent consumer of SodaStream, however a pal who has been repeatedly SodaStreaming for near a decade tells me that these plastic machines usually break after about two or three years of normal use. The excellent news is that, in most of these circumstances, the SodaStream had been beneath guarantee (most include a restricted two-year) — and the corporate is “superb” about getting replacements out with little problem or questions requested, they stated. 

Different soda water makers to contemplate

SodaStream will be the most well-known at-home carbonator however there are a number of choices obtainable in 2022. Swedish dwelling equipment model Aarke makes a really trendy, sturdy and utterly chrome steel mannequin, for example. You’ll be able to learn my full overview of the Aarke carbonator right here or take a look at CNET’s full listing of the greatest at-home glowing water makers for 2022.  

And for extra We Do the Math, take a look at how a lot it can save you by procuring at Dealer Joe’s in comparison with different grocery shops, and if it is cheaper to purchase meal kits than groceries.