The buying mistake
Do not buy a soda maker until you answer one question: are you carbonating only water, or other drinks too? SodaStream is the safe mainstream answer for sparkling water. Drinkmate and Breville are the better answers for juice, tea, cocktails, wine, and flat soda.
Quick comparison
| Maker | Best for | Carbonates | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| SodaStream ART | Most people | Water | Manual only |
| Drinkmate OmniFizz | Experimenters | Many cold drinks | More parts to clean |
| SodaStream E-Terra | Automatic SodaStream buyers | Water | Needs power |
| Aarke Carbonator 3 | Design-led kitchens | Water | Higher price |
| Breville InFizz Fusion | Premium home bars | Many cold drinks | Expensive |
Product picks
SodaStream ART
The best default buy if you mostly carbonate water. ART uses SodaStream's Quick Connect cylinder ecosystem, has a simple manual lever, and looks better on the counter than the cheapest SodaStream models.
Strengths
- Easy manual lever
- Broad SodaStream cylinder and flavor ecosystem
- Cleaner countertop look than entry models
Tradeoffs
- Carbonates water only
- No automatic carbonation presets
Drinkmate OmniFizz
The right pick if you want to carbonate juice, tea, wine, cocktails, or flat soda in addition to water. Drinkmate's detachable Fizz Infuser gives it more drink flexibility than SodaStream.
Strengths
- Carbonates many cold drinks, not just water
- Manual, no power needed
- Good value for experimenters
Tradeoffs
- Extra Fizz Infuser part adds cleaning friction
- Check bottle date codes because some older bottles were recalled
SodaStream E-Terra
The better SodaStream for buyers who want push-button consistency. E-Terra adds electric carbonation presets and LED feedback while keeping the same mainstream SodaStream cylinder ecosystem.
Strengths
- Automatic carbonation buttons
- LED feedback feels more polished
- Uses mainstream Quick Connect cylinders
Tradeoffs
- Requires power
- Still water-only, like most SodaStream models
Aarke Carbonator 3
The countertop design choice. Aarke Carbonator 3 is built around a stainless steel enclosure and a slim lever design for buyers who care how the machine looks as much as how it bubbles water.
Strengths
- Most design-forward manual carbonator
- Stainless steel enclosure
- No power required
Tradeoffs
- Costs more than SodaStream and Drinkmate
- Water-only use case
Breville InFizz Fusion
A premium alternative for buyers who want to carbonate more than water but prefer Breville's appliance polish. It is the splurge pick for cocktails, juices, teas, and home-bar experimentation.
Strengths
- Built for more than water
- Premium Breville fit and finish
- Strong home bar fit
Tradeoffs
- Expensive
- Overkill if you only drink sparkling water
Buy SodaStream if…
You mostly want sparkling water and the easiest cylinder exchange path. SodaStream’s biggest advantage is not magic carbonation. It is retail availability, simple bottles, easy flavors, and a broad replacement ecosystem.
Buy Drinkmate if…
You already know water-only will frustrate you. Drinkmate is the smarter buy for iced tea, juice, cocktails, wine spritzes, and rescuing flat soda. The tradeoff is that the detachable Fizz Infuser adds another part to rinse and manage.
Buy Aarke or Breville if…
You are buying a countertop object, not just a utility tool. Aarke is the design-led sparkling water machine. Breville is the premium experimenter machine for home-bar buyers who want to carbonate more than water without the simpler Drinkmate feel.
Related decisions
- Water-only versus all-drink carbonation: Drinkmate OmniFizz vs SodaStream ART.
- Manual SodaStream versus automatic SodaStream: SodaStream ART vs E-Terra.
- Pair it with chewable ice: best nugget ice makers.
Bottom line
Buy SodaStream ART unless you have a clear reason not to. The main clear reason is wanting to carbonate more than water, in which case buy Drinkmate OmniFizz or Breville InFizz Fusion.
Frequently asked questions
Can SodaStream carbonate juice or wine?
No. Standard SodaStream machines are for water. Add flavor after carbonating. If you want to carbonate juice, wine, tea, cocktails, or flat soda, buy Drinkmate OmniFizz or Breville InFizz Fusion instead.
Which sparkling water maker is cheapest to own?
Usually SodaStream, because its cylinder exchange ecosystem is the easiest to find. Drinkmate can use standard 60L cylinders in many bundles, but bottle and accessory availability matters. The machine price is only part of the cost.
Is Aarke worth it over SodaStream?
Only if design matters. Aarke is the nicer countertop object. SodaStream ART is the better value for most sparkling water drinkers.
Are there safety issues with Drinkmate?
Drinkmate recalled certain 1 liter bottles sold from April 2023 through October 2024. If you buy used or old stock, check the bottle date code and replacement guidance before using it.
