Most mocktails can rapidly go from a healthy choice to an onslaught of calories, thanks to sodas, syrups, and sweeteners. Most of the time, they are a no-go.
It’s the product I hoped would be the antidote to my iced-tea-or-bust mentality. When it arrived, I thought, “Watch out, 2020, here comes your newest non-alcoholic-beverage-barista-mixologist.” People aim for the stars.
Honestly, I’ve never attempted to create my drink recipes before. But, with the mocktail battle all too real, it was time to get started. Teetotallers, too, deserve fizzy pink drinks with umbrellas!
I decided to try infusing using my knowledge of cooking and my wide experience as a human being who consumes cold beverages — and now I had SodaStream to assist me.
But are the results as good as store-bought seltzers and pricey bar mocktails? Is this do-it-yourself method of carbonating your water worth the expense, counter space, and hype?
Pros
- If you like kitchen gadgets, I admit it’s a fun one to try and reminds me of high school science experiments.
- Can’t give up your one Coca-Cola each day? The SodaStream syrups contain far less sugar and calories than a typical can, so it’s a terrific place to start.
- If you enjoy making your drinks like a nice diet root beer, and want to quit buying cases of LaCroix every week, SodaStream could be an excellent way to save money.
- SodaStream concoctions are intended to keep carbonated longer than conventional seltzer. You might argue it’s greener because you’re not buying plastic bottles or using cans for your seltzer or soda.
- If you’re sick of glancing at ingredient labels to discover which seltzers have added sodium and which don’t, or if you’re confused about what “natural flavours” truly are, a SodaStream is for you. Bubbles and water. You can add whatever tastes you like.
Cons
- Is your kitchen small? This bad boy, which resembles a miniature rocket blasted into space with a full tank of nitrogen, may take up too much counter space, i.e. your entire freaking condo.
- By the time you’ve finished purchasing replacement cartridges and flavoured syrup, you won’t have saved much money and may only be breaking even. Plus, don’t you want to enjoy that store-bought seltzer is still one of the few items in the world that can be purchased for $1 per litre?
- If you can’t live without coconut-flavoured LaCroix (or any other brand), keep buying it because fresh coconuts won’t offer you the same flavour in a DIY version.
- Put chia seeds in your coconut water to spice it up even more. You’ll be grateful.
