There are two brands that dominate the soda maker market: DrinkMate and SodaStream. Today we will compare their two best-selling models and see which of these soda makers is the better choice.
If you are a health-conscious person but you love the carbonation that soda gives, then, a compromise you can easily do is by drinking soda water (a.k.a. sparkling water). Since it is just essentially water that is carbonated, it does pose any health risks that a can of soda does. Soda manufacturers put a lot of sugars to an unhealthy point that may cause serious health problems for you for the years to come. This is not a problem for sparkling water because it does not have sugar in it.
Does soda water taste awful? Water is tasteless in the first place. And so is sparkling water. However, manufacturers of soda makers already thought of this problem, and they solved it by selling flavor drops that you can put on your sparkling sodas. Fruit drops such as peach, mango, and cucumber are available online. If you are excited to taste all of these flavors, then I know you are interested in a soda maker. In this comparison, we are going to compare two soda makers you can get inexpensively online – the DrinkMate vs SodaStream Fizzi. To determine which of these machines is the better soda maker, we are going to take a closer look at their similarities and differences.
DrinkMate vs SodaStream Fizzi
Let’s review the specifics of those soda makers in a side by side chart.
DrinkMate |
SodaStream Fizzi |
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| Image |  |
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| Available Colors | Ivory White, Matte Black, Royal Red | Black, Icy Blue, Rose Gold, White |
| CO2 Cylinder Compatibility | 60L CO2 (DrinkMate or SodaStream) | 60L CO2 (SodaStream) |
| Compatible Bottles | 1 Liter reusable carbonating bottle | 1 Liter and 0.5L reusable carbonating bottles |
| Dishwasher Safe | No | No |
| Carbonating Bottle Material | BPA-Free Plastic | BPA-Free Plastic |
| Bottle Connection Type | Snap-lock | Snap-lock |
| LED Fizz Indicator | No | No |
| Electricity Required | No | No |
| Automatic Carbonation | Manual Pump Action | Manual Pump Action |
| Selectable Levels of Fizz | No | No |
| Product Dimensions (L x W x D) | 8 x 5 x 16 inches | 7.9 x 5 x 17 inches |
| Product Weight | 3.8 pounds | 6.1 pounds |
| Warranty Period | 2 Years | 3 Years |
| What’s Included | DrinkMate machine, 1 BPA-free 1 Liter reusable carbonating bottle, and Fizz Infuser | SodaStream Fizzi machine, Carbonating cylinder, 1 Liter reusable carbonating bottle |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
CO2 Cylinder Compatibility
How does a soda maker carbonate water? All of these are possible due to CO2 which comes in cylinders and small tanks. Both the DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi are compatible with a 1-liter canister of CO2. You can get CO2 cylinders from both companies. You can see that SodaStream is the more established company out of the two because even the DrinkMate is compatible with CO2 cylinders from SodaStream. One huge difference, in terms of CO2 cylinders, is that the SodaStream Fizzi comes with one carbonating cylinder out of the box, so you can start making soda water immediately.
Manual Pump Action
Unfortunately, both the DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi does not have an automatic carbonation process. Instead, both soda makers use a manual pump action to make sparkling water. One advantage of the manual pump action is it does not require electricity or batteries to work. Therefore, both machines will not take up any convenience outlets in your kitchen countertop. Regarding its disadvantage, you cannot set the level of carbonation you prefer for your soda water. You just have to guess every time you use both soda makers.
Quality of Carbonation
The quality of carbonation of both the DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi is virtually identical. Since it is carbonation is manual and both use the same CO2 cylinder, the carbonation process is essentially the same. Both soda makers produce high-quality sparkling water. It only depends on how much your preferred fizz level is. However, the steps of carbonation are quite different from both machines. We’ll talk about this more in the differences section.
Also read: SodaStream Fizzi vs Source – What are the differences between these soda makers?
Differences between DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi
Ease of Use
To be fair, both soda makers are easy to use. There are no clunky steps as their process is straightforward. However, there is one minor step that differentiates these soda makers.
DrinkMate
Out of the box, you will get the DrinkMate machine itself, the reusable BPA-free carbonating bottle, and the fizz infuser. Again, the DrinkMate does not come with a CO2 canister out of the box. However, it does come with a fizz infuser. This fizz infuser lets you attach the carbonating bottle to the machine which is an extra step you need to do (which is non-existent with the SodaStream by the way). This may not be a problem for most of you. However, this is one more thing that you can lose or break. However, you can easily buy a fizz infuser from DrinkMate on Amazon.
SodaStream Fizzi
SodaStream has already established itself as the most reputable company in the business. Their years of experience are evident with the easiness of use of their products. With the SodaStream Fizzi, you can directly connect the carbonating bottle without needing to attach a fizz infuser. After which, you can just press the single button on the top of the machine to fizz away. For its easiness of use, the SodaStream Fizzi undoubtedly wins this round.
The Winner Is- SodaStream Fizzi
Drinks You Can Make
Some people don’t like sparkling water since it is bland. While it is true, it does not need to be like that. Enter fruits drops and flavors.
DrinkMate
DrinkMate does not sell fruit drops and flavors. However, they do provide you with pretty tasteful concoctions you can make with stuff you already have in your fridge. You can also look at their cocktail recipes if you are interested. If you are not a drinker, you can enjoy their infusion drinks and mocktail drinks.
SodaStream Fizzi
SodaStream has been in the industry longer than DrinkMate. As a result, they offer a wider variety of flavored syrups than its competitor. Since the main purpose of these soda makers is to avoid sugars altogether, SodaStream offers fruit drops with a lot of flavors to choose from. We all deserve a cheat day once in a while, right? With that said, you can get a root beer flavoring from SodaStream in packs of 4. Soda flavorings SodaStream is selling contain less sugar from the store-bought sodas. SodaStream also has its recipes available on its site.
The Winner Is- SodaStream Fizzi
Carbonating Cylinders Cost
The DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi have a small barrier to entry since both machines cost inexpensively. However, they differ when it comes to the CO2 cylinders.
DrinkMate
Although both machines cost similarly, the DrinkMate is already at a disadvantage because it does not include a CO2 cylinder out of the box. Moreover, it puts them at a greater disadvantage because the cost of their carbonating cylinders is more expensive. A single 60-liter CO2 cylinder can set you back $45. The cheapest price per cylinder costs just under $30. Since the DrinkMate is compatible with the carbonating cylinders of the SodaStream, you can get cylinders cheaper through them.
SodaStream Fizzi
On the other hand, SodaStream prices their CO2 cylinders at only $30 per cylinder. Not only does the Fizzi have a CO2 cylinder out of the box, but you can also save more money by getting their gas exchange program that charges you $15 per refill. One thing worth noting is that they are now limiting orders to 2 per customer due to the pandemic. In the long run, the SodaStream Fizzi will save you a lot more money.
The Winner Is- SodaStream Fizzi
Pros and Cons
Finally, some pros and cons of the DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi will help us determine which soda maker is the best option.
DrinkMate
Pros:
- The DrinkMate has arguably the better overall design.
- It is much more portable since it is a smaller and lighter machine.
- Its carbonation quality it can make matches that of an already established soda maker (SodaStream).
Cons:
- The upfront cost is higher since the DrinkMate does not come with a CO2 cylinder out of the box.
SodaStream Fizzi
Pros:
- The SodaStream Fizzi is easier to use because it does not require attaching a fizz infuser.
- You can enjoy a plethora of specialty drinks with the flavorings they are also selling.
- Long-term savings are higher than with the Fizzi than the DrinkMate.
Cons:
- Neither machine lets you set the level of fizz you want.
The Final Verdict: DrinkMate vs SodaStream Fizzi
You can now control the sugar and ingredients you put in your drinks using the DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi. With these machines, you can prevent all the unnecessary and unhealthy amounts of sugar found in sodas. Some people tend to go with ‘zero’ or ‘light’ variants of sodas due to this exact reason. However, there are still harmful chemicals in these types of sodas. A soda maker solves these problems. Between the DrinkMate and SodaStream Fizzi, there is no argument that the SodaStream Fizzi is better in every category.
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