Sparkel vs Sodastream: how to decide which to buy?

Follow me on Twitter & Instagram @ErinLYYC

Maybe you’ve been hearing about the new Sparkel machine that doesn’t use CO canisters to make carbonated water. If you’re trying to decide between getting a Sodastream and a Sparkel, here’s the key differences you need to know about.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: Carbonation
Sparkel has a unique carbonation process. You add the two-part sachet to the machine, and close the lid. There’s a water tank in the back that will mix with the sachets when you’re ready.

The sachets are made up of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate or baking soda. Sparkel says this combination mixes with the water and generates CO2 gas naturally when mixed with water. None of the carbonator ends up in your beverage - only the CO2 it creates. The carbonator powder dissolves and is left in a seperate tank located behind the bottle.

With Sodastream, you do need to buy CO tanks, and while you can set up online ordering, you most often need to go to a store to exchange them.

When it comes to how much carbonation you want, most Sodastreams give you three levels, Sparkel has five.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: environment
So which is more environmentally friendly; Sodastream or Sparkel? That’s hard to say. Sodastream uses carbon dioxide tanks, but you do get credit for recycling them, though yes, you do usually have to *drive* to a store to do it. Sparkel’s packs of carbonator do leave you with small plastic garbage—too small for most civic recycling programs to use, but you could make your own carbonator. Sparkel also uses electricity where some Sodastreams do not.

Which one is better for the planet? That’s hard to measure.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: Types of liquid
Sparkel allows you to add flavourings and herbs to your water before it’s carbonated. You can do that with Sparkel because the carbonator nozzle never touches the beverage so there’s no danger of contaminating it or getting it dirty.

I feel like adding flavours like herbs and fruit beforehand allows for the flavours to be better infused and they end up tasting stronger right out of the gate, instead of needing to wait. Sparkel has all kinds of ideas on its website, but I liked making cucumber mint water and adding a few blueberries for colour and subtle flavour.

The fact you can also carbonate other things means this isn’t just a sparkling water or seltzer machine, it’s a drink station. I tried carbonating red wine, and cold brew tea. You can also carbonate juices. So Sparkel is really versatile.

SodaStream has been selling flavour syrups for years. I’ve never liked SodaStream’s liquid soda flavourings by comparison, I found them to be loaded with chemicals and artificial tastes, so I’ve always just added my own flavours afterwards.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: Taste of water

How does Sparkel water taste? And is there a taste difference between water carbonated with carbon dioxide gas from tanks and water carbonated with sachets of citric acid and baking soda? Well, yes.

It’s kind of hard to put a finger on because of course water is tasteless, but the Sparkel water tastes different than the Sodastream water. Less *canned* if that makes sense. It tastes softer. Now don’t get me wrong, both taste fine and if I served them to you blind you wouldn’t notice which was which, but there does seem to me to be a subtle and not unpleasant difference.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: Power

Sparkel needs electricity to work, so you’ll have to find a plug. You can get SodaStream machines that don’t need power.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: carbonation time
SodaStream carbonates in about 15-20 seconds or so—pretty much instantly. With Sparkel you do need to wait. It takes a full three minutes to fully carbonate the beverage.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: DIY
With Sparkel, it is possible to easily make your own carbonator powder with citric acid and baking soda. You can check out my how to video on YouTube ***** That means it can be cheaper and you’ll create less waste with Sparkel. DIY pressurized CO tanks… ummm, no thanks.

SodaStream vs. Sparkel: Price
Sparkel costs about $99CAD while Sodastreams start at about $120; my Sodastream Source was $149.

90 Packs of Slarkel Carbonators cost about $59.99. That translates to about 65 cents per use.
A 60 liter CO2 cartridge can be had for about $35 and you get a credit for bringing the old tank back. SodaStream tanks are supposed to carbonate about 60 bottles so that workes out to about 60 cents per use.

But if you want to make your own carbonator powder by getting citric acid and baking soda in bulk, you can, and the cost per use plummets.

Those are they key differentiators between Sparkel and Sodastream. Happy shopping!

[lynn]

Great video! Am I the only one getting weather announcer vibes

[KBolhuis]

What a great comparison video! Thanks so much. Have just ordered a Spärkel system!! Went online to order a SodaStream. Am I ever glad I saw your video. I'm positive we'll enjoy the Spärkel much better. I'm going to watch your "How to make you own Spärkel water Carbonator" now! Thanks again, Erin!

[ritchielubeck]

Bought myself a Sodastream One Touch just a few minutes ago. Here in the netherlands we don't have Sparkle. Kudos for the explanation.

[timmybuchanan]

I don't have any experience with the sparkel system, but I think perhaps some key points may be missed in your review.
1. So you have to go to the store to buy c02 for the sodastream... just like you have to go to the same store to buy the sparkel sachets or ingredients if you diy. What's the difference?
2. I thought most sodastreams give you infinite levels... the longer you hold the button down the more fizzy it will be. On the model you are showing it is not three levels, the lights work on a timer to give you an estimate of how fizzy it will be based on how long you hold down the pressure button.
3. Re. environmentally friendly. It is mentioned that you have to drive to the store to get a new tanks, but you have to also drive to the store for the sparkel sachets. From what i can see there is zero plastic waste from the sodastream because the cylinders are refilled and you swap a cylinder.
4. While you do mention DIY pressurised c02 tanks, and just discounted this, you should have explained the options because this is how you can really reduce the cost. And there are options where you are not using DIY methods to refill the sodastream cylinder. You can purchase larger tanks that can be connected to the sodastream with an adapter that can bring the cost from 60 cents per litre down to 10 cents per litre. It would only be fair that you mention this option.
5. What about cleaning the sparkel, is that mentioned? I searched and found something saying if you are using the sparkel to carbonate beverages other than water you need to do a deep clean on occasion. Also is there any other cleaning required?

[giseleaparecidadesouza]

I go to my local Walmart and bring back the soda stream canister after it is empty, and buy a store "refill" for $15. You go to the service counter and that's where they have them. Don't buy the regular soda stream refills because they are much more expensive, by the Walmart refills.

[moremoola]

Great video and I love that sparkle does not approve of making your own mixture under the disguise that it'll void your warranty...😂
Not willing to say, hey we're trying to sell packets here...😅😅😅😅😅😅

[tcanada]

I owned a soda stream and got tired of the exchange tank method (always an long ordeal at Walmart .. clerks not knowing how to ring up the sale minus the exchange) and using the soda stream was sometimes a big mess when the bottle isn’t perfectly aligned and spews all over. This sparkle system looks great .. the ability to make my own carbonated packs sounds even more amazing (will watch your other video) and the ability to carbonate with any natural flavors ...thanks for sharing!

[tcdeliverymississauganews]

I think you got the pricing very wrong and that this review was biased. Sodastream genisis at Walmart is 79.99 for a kit, with a canister machine and bottle. The soda stream can carbonate juices just not recommended and they have organic add ins not just the chemical ones

[AtotehZ]

The price for exchanging a gas canister is 19 CAD in Canada and 7 CAD for the syrup. That's a total cost of 19 CAD/60 liter and 7 CAD/9 liter.
All in all you're paying 0.31 CAD/liter of club soda and 1.1 CAD/liter of Soda.
There are many different kinds of syrup to choose from. Some are sugar reduced, and that will taste artificial to you if you're not used to it.(because it is)
Unless you think all soda you're getting in fast food places tastes artificial(made the same way as sodastream), it's because you've picked a syrup brand/type you don't like.

[uuhamm]

It's a tank exchange, not recycling. You swap an empty tank for a full tank and it costs $15 here. Sodastream refills them and checks them for damage. It's still quite expensive though for CO2. Which is why I've used an adapter to adapt a standard paintball CO2 bottle to mine. The standard bottle costs $5 to refill and holds more CO2

[ChaziChaz]

I feel like I'm watching a CTV news segment. Thanks for making my choice easy! Great review.

[Janidontbcruel]

excellent review I was definitely torn between the two. Sparkel wins for me.

[sergeantbilko]

Erin, your review videos are the best! You give the consumer plenty of differences and comparisons between the two which for me is takes a lot of the guess work out of trying to decide.
Very unbiased and detailed information. Thank you.

[steelavocado]

I use a paintball canister for my sodastream. While its a bit expensive to buy that with the nozzle adapter, the refills are only 5 bucks at the local sporting goods store. It fills about 80 liters as well. It is well worth my money to use this method rather than exchanging co2 tanks for 15 bucks

[Inshokuten]

In Sodastreams defence you can make your own flavour syrups, or any other way you wish to flavour. Can also refill your own tank easily with dry ice or use a much larger co2 tank and adapter, which cuts the cost to a fraction of the proprietary tanks. As you mentioned about Sparkle though you can make your own powder instead of buying which also cuts down on the cost significantly. Generally if you are comfortable using larger tanks, or refilling with dry ice Sodastream is going to be cheaper in the long run with a higher up front cost(Locally I can refill a sodastream tank for about 2 dollars), while Sparkle will be a bit more expensive in the long run with a lower upfront cost. If you and your drink alot of carbonated beverages Sodastream is probably the way to go. If you aren't comfortable either refilling your bottles or using a larger non proprietary co2 bottle then Sparkle is probably the better option.

[jamesu]

I ended up with soda stream, the jet model, $80, also ended up getting a 20pound co2 bottle and refill my soda stream myself, upfront cost about $300, but will cut costs by 10x in the long run, love it! also use mio water enhancer not the syrups, that also saves $$$

[AtotehZ]

You don't drive to the store just to replace your Sodastream gas canister. You do it in combination with other things. The exchange of canisters is a non-issue for the user environmental-wise. Whether canisters is a worse way to store it is a better question. It has to be driven from the factories and to the stores. This can either be a bad point for Sodastream if empty bottles are collected and delivered every time... or a good one if they've found a way to refill the bottles locally in the store.

[jameskishtok]

You can get a larger CO2 tank from homebrew people and/or paintball places, although I've only researched it.

[chadhenderson]

You don't have to worry about the the soda going all over your counter when you put the syrup in with the sparkle.... You get 100% co2 with every bottle with sparkle, as opposed to the sodastream when the tank gets low... And one last thing ---- you don't have to shake the soda to mix the syrup, which makes the soda go flat.

[Sivakadi]

Thanks for your video. It helped me to choose Sparkel over sodastream!