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Brands
Aarke Carbonator 3 C3-00
Aarke Carbonator Pro A1182-AU/NZ
Breville InFizz Aqua BCA600
Breville InFizz Fusion BCA800
DrinkMate OmniFizz Arctic Blue
Monten Soda MK3 Matte White
MySoda Woody AU-WD002F-MGE
Philips GoZero Soda Maker ADD4902
SodaStream E-Terra
SodaStream Gaia
SodaStream Terra
Twenty39 Qarbo Classic
Cost
Price
$299
$499
$249
$299
$150
$320
$100
$139
$189
$99
$119
$226
Calculated cost per litre
$0.72
$0.39
$0.52
$0.46
$0.39
$0.51
$0.44
$0.53
$0.54
$0.39
$0.38
$0.61
Type
Type
Manual
Manual
Manual
Manual
Manual
Manual
Manual
Manual
Automatic
Manual
Manual
Manual
Carbonisation mechanism
Mechanical lever
Mechanical press
Mechanical lever
Mechanical lever
Mechanical press
Mechanical press
Mechanical press
Mechanical button
Automatic carbonation buttons
Mechanical press
Mechanical press
Mechanical press
Recommended products
Recommended
Recommended
Recommended
Recommended
Recommended
Test results
CHOICE Expert Rating
Performance score
Ease of use score
Controls score
Carbonisation level control score
Installing CO2 canister score
Installing and removing bottle score
Water spillage score
Cleaning score
Bottle shape score
Canister replacement score
Calculated litres per cylinder (L)
26.4
50.8
38.5
43
50.7
39.4
45.1
36.1
37
51.6
52.5
41.2
Sustainability
Comments
Good points
• Very good control for different levels of carbonation.
•Can easily achieve consistent carbonation levels with manual controls.
•Very good controls for carbonation using metal side lever.
•No water spillage during use.
•Water drip tray.
•Compatible with SodaStream and SodaKING cylinders so replacement is possible at most grocery shops, home appliance shops, and petrol / convenience shops.
•Vintage style metal lever for carbonation is aesthetically pleasing and looks quite classy along with the thin metal body which takes up less space on the benchtop.
•Can easily achieve consistent carbonation levels with manual controls.
•Very good controls for carbonation using metal side lever.
•No water spillage during use.
•Water drip tray.
•Compatible with SodaStream and SodaKING cylinders so replacement is possible at most grocery shops, home appliance shops, and petrol / convenience shops.
•Vintage style metal lever for carbonation is aesthetically pleasing and looks quite classy along with the thin metal body which takes up less space on the benchtop.
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Uses a glass bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Uses a glass bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Excellent carbonation consistency
• Large carbonation paddle is easy to operate with whole hand
• Excellent carbonation consistency
• Large carbonation paddle is easy to operate with whole hand
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Flavours can be mixed prior to carbonation
• Large carbonation paddle is easy to operate with whole hand
• Flavours can be mixed prior to carbonation
• Large carbonation paddle is easy to operate with whole hand
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Flavours can be mixed prior to carbonation
• Flavours can be mixed prior to carbonation
• Very consistent carbonation (press button once until gas stops flowing)
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Large carbonation button is easy to operate with whole hand
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Large carbonation button is easy to operate with whole hand
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Very good control for different levels of carbonation.
•Can easily achieve consistent carbonation levels with manual controls.
•No water spillage during use.
•Water drip tray.
•Plastic and stainless steel exterior collects fingerprints but is easy to wipe down and maintain.
•Compatible with SodaStream and SodaKING cylinders so replacement is possible at most grocery shops, home appliance shops, and petrol / convenience shops.
•Thin body is aesthetically pleasing and takes up less space on the benchtop.
•Can easily achieve consistent carbonation levels with manual controls.
•No water spillage during use.
•Water drip tray.
•Plastic and stainless steel exterior collects fingerprints but is easy to wipe down and maintain.
•Compatible with SodaStream and SodaKING cylinders so replacement is possible at most grocery shops, home appliance shops, and petrol / convenience shops.
•Thin body is aesthetically pleasing and takes up less space on the benchtop.
• Electronic control gives three pre-set levels of carbonation
• Uses a plastic bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Extremely easy to install carbon dioxide cylinder using the Quick-Connect interface
• Uses a plastic bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Extremely easy to install carbon dioxide cylinder using the Quick-Connect interface
• Very good carbonation consistency
• Uses a plastic bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Extremely easy to install carbon dioxide cylinder using the Quick-Connect interface
• Uses a plastic bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Extremely easy to install carbon dioxide cylinder using the Quick-Connect interface
• Excellent carbonation consistency
• Uses a plastic bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Extremely easy to install carbon dioxide cylinder using the Quick-Connect interface
• Extremely consistent use of carbon dioxide; 0.8 grams variation across 10 runs
• Uses a plastic bottle that is dishwasher safe
• Extremely easy to install carbon dioxide cylinder using the Quick-Connect interface
• Extremely consistent use of carbon dioxide; 0.8 grams variation across 10 runs
• Can use screw-type 60L carbon dioxide cylinders from Sodastream and other vendors
• Flavours can be mixed prior to carbonation
• Flavours can be mixed prior to carbonation
Bad points
•Carbon dioxide cylinder can only be installed through the bottom resulting in the soda maker needing to be turned on its side or upside down while also making it harder to remove the cylinder if it gets stuck.
•Bottle must be screwed in counter clockwise before carbonation. Can be finnicky when installing and removing full bottle.
•Relatively expensive.
•Stainless steel can collect finger-prints, but still relatively easy to clean.
•Not supplied with carbon dioxide cylinder.
•Bottle must be screwed in counter clockwise before carbonation. Can be finnicky when installing and removing full bottle.
•Relatively expensive.
•Stainless steel can collect finger-prints, but still relatively easy to clean.
•Not supplied with carbon dioxide cylinder.
• No visual indicator of carbonation; the glass bottle sits in a lowered enclosure for safety
• The carbonation enclosure sometimes lifted during the carbonation process, leading to major spills
• Frequent spillage
• Maximum fill line on glass bottle can be hard to see
• Bottle lid is small
• Instructions for carbonation need to be more precise
• The carbonation enclosure sometimes lifted during the carbonation process, leading to major spills
• Frequent spillage
• Maximum fill line on glass bottle can be hard to see
• Bottle lid is small
• Instructions for carbonation need to be more precise
• Brushed stainless steel body and chrome lever can attract fingerprints, but is easy to wipe clean
• Instructions for carbonation need to be more precise
• Chrome lever can attract fingerprints, but is easy to wipe clean
• Chrome lever can attract fingerprints, but is easy to wipe clean
• Carbon dioxide cylinder installation is cumbersome
• Shiny button can attract fingerprints, but is easy to wipe clean
• Shiny button can attract fingerprints, but is easy to wipe clean
• Bottle must be screwed on and off the soda maker, which can be awkward
• High carbon dioxide usage will result if the carbon dioxide cylinder is not very tightly screwed in
• Shiny button can attract fingerprints, but is easy to wipe clean
• High carbon dioxide usage will result if the carbon dioxide cylinder is not very tightly screwed in
• Shiny button can attract fingerprints, but is easy to wipe clean
• Very short bottle expiry date (16 months after first use)
•Carbon dioxide cylinder can only be installed through the bottom resulting in the soda maker needing to be turned on its side or upside down while also making it harder to remove the cylinder if it gets stuck.
•Bottle must be screwed in counter clockwise before carbonation. Can be finnicky when installing and removing full bottle.
•Not supplied with carbon dioxide cylinder.
•Bottle must be screwed in counter clockwise before carbonation. Can be finnicky when installing and removing full bottle.
•Not supplied with carbon dioxide cylinder.
• Can only use Sodastream Quick-Connect carbon dioxide cylinders
• Electronic pre-sets mean you can't easily adjust carbonation levels beyond what's offered
• Electronic operation requires the soda maker to always be within reach of a power outlet
• Electronic pre-sets mean you can't easily adjust carbonation levels beyond what's offered
• Electronic operation requires the soda maker to always be within reach of a power outlet
• Can only use Sodastream Quick-Connect carbon dioxide cylinders
• Screw mount for bottle felt clunky and squeaked
• Occasional spillage due to the bottle not being screwed on properly
• Screw mount for bottle felt clunky and squeaked
• Occasional spillage due to the bottle not being screwed on properly
• Can only use Sodastream Quick-Connect carbon dioxide cylinders
• Bottle is approximately 37cm tall, making it hard to wash in a regular sink, and difficult to store in the fridge
• Must put downward pressure on the top of the soda maker for carbonation to take place; it's an awkward action and sometimes feels like the maker can topple over due to its tall and slim design
• Bottle cap has a venting position that must be closed during carbonation; it's a bit loose and easy to mistakenly leave open
• Must put downward pressure on the top of the soda maker for carbonation to take place; it's an awkward action and sometimes feels like the maker can topple over due to its tall and slim design
• Bottle cap has a venting position that must be closed during carbonation; it's a bit loose and easy to mistakenly leave open
Tester summary
Aarke's Carbonator Pro is the only soda maker in this test to use a glass bottle. For safety, the bottle is completely enclosed during the manual carbonation process, which means you can't see what you're doing. It can be hard to achieve a consistent level of carbonation without spillage (we used three, two-second button presses and a slightly lower water level), and spills will need to be soaked up by a rag as they pool at the bottom of the maker. It looks good, but can be frustrating to use, with the bottle's enclosure sometimes getting pushed up by the pressure and causing major spills.
The Breville InFizz Aqua is manual soda maker with a large lever that can be pressed with a whole hand. This makes it quite easy to use, and it excelled in our carbonation consistency test, in which the soda maker put an almost identical amount of carbon dioxide into every bottle we made (using six, one-second presses). The soda bottles have a quick-release mount that is easy to use, and spillage was not an issue during our tests.
Breville's InFizz Fusion is manual soda maker with a large lever that can be pressed with a whole hand, which makes it easy to use. Its nozzle is built in to top that is placed on the bottle. This allows flavours to be inserted during the carbonation process, and already-made drinks can be re-carbonated. The instructions for carbonating a drink are vague, but we used the method of six one-second presses (as per the Breville InFizz Aqua) to good effect.
The Drinkmate OmniFizz is a manual soda maker with a removeable nozzle that allows it to carbonate not only water, but flavours and other drinks as well. The bottle is easy to place onto the soda maker, but the carbon dioxide cylinder is cumbersome. Even though the back cover comes off to reveal the cylinder, the machine still needs to be put on its side to remove the cylinder using fingertips only. A carbonating button at the top can be pressed with multiple fingers, with the stated method being three, one-second pushes for high fizz.
Monten Soda's MK3 is a lovely looking soda maker with a large button that can be pressed with a whole hand, and it's almost automatic in the way it works. The instructions to use it are simple: press the button until the gas stops flowing, then let it go to vent the gas. It produced very good carbonation consistency in our tests using this method; there was no guesswork or muscle memory required to achieve the same result. However, the cylinder must be very tight for it to work properly, otherwise carbon dioxide will leak noticeably through the top of the maker.
MySoda's Woody is an inexpensive soda maker that claims to be made from a composite material that includes woodchips. It has a nice texture and an interesting speckled look. It's easy to carbonate water using bottles that attach to its quick-release spout, and carbonation consistency was OK across our 10 test runs using the stated method of three, one-second presses. Replacing the carbon dioxide cylinder is a bit of a juggle as it screws in to the top of the soda maker, which is removeable. Our supplied bottle and the extra ones we purchased for testing all had a very short expiry date.
The Sodastream E-Terra is an automatic soda maker that requires very little effort to use. Simply press one of the three buttons to make low, mid, and high-strength carbonated water. It can take the guesswork out of making fizzy water, but after 10 test runs we noticed that its carbonation consistency still wasn't as good as the manual version of the Terra. It had a little too much variation in the amount of carbon dioxide that was injected into the water. That said, the results were still refreshing every time. The main downside of this soda maker is it needs to always reside near a power outlet. It uses a pink Quick-Connect carbon dioxide cylinder, which may be a bit harder to refill than the traditional blue screw-in version.
Sodastream's Gaia is the cheapest of the company's soda maker's in this test, and it felt like it. Its bottle has to be screwed on rather than snap-locked in place, and it's not a smooth process. It can be prone to spilling if the bottle isn't screwed in all the way. On the bright side, we achieved a very good level of carbonation consistency across 10 runs, despite this being a manual machine. We used the stated maximum of five, one-second presses of the button. It uses a pink Quick-Connect carbon dioxide cylinder, which may be a bit harder to refill than the traditional blue screw-in version.
Despite being a manual soda maker, the Sodastream Terra responded superbly to muscle memory. Its carbonation consistency across 10 runs was excellent, as it produced a virtually identical result every time and used almost the exact same amount of carbon dioxide every time. It can be a very economical soda maker, even when using its stated maximum carbonation level of five, one-second button presses. The pink Quick-Connect cylinder is extremely easy to install and remove, with the downside being that it might be harder to find refills or alternate gas supply solutions.
Tall and slim is the Twenty39 Qarbo Classic; it can be toppled if one is not careful while carbonating. The carbonating bottle is so tall it might be difficult to place in a fridge, and to wash under a tap. A benefit of the Qarbo Classic is that the carbonating nozzle is part of the bottle top, and it allows for flavours to be added before the carbonation process. Simply take off the cap and nozzle to then wash it. This makes it possible to carbonate all sorts of drinks, not just water, and also allows for the re-carbonation of drinks.
Features
Bottle type
Plastic
Glass
Plastic with stainless steel cap and base
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Core material
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel
Stainless steel
Stainless steel
Plastic
Stainless steel
Biopolymer and wood chip composite
Plastic/Stainless Steel
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Includes bottle
Includes C02 cylinder
Pre-set carbonisation levels
Drip tray
Operating light
Specifications
Measured bottle capacity (litres)
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.85
0.9
0.84
0.9
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.8
CO2 cylinder type
400-425g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-425g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
400-460g/60L
Weight (excluding water bottle) (kg)
2.87
4.85
2.91
2.83
2.19
2.87
2.39
2.21
2.92
2.22
2.47
1.68
Dimensions (cm, W x H x D)
15.3 x 41.5 x 25.5
17.1 x 51 x 29.5
15.5 x 43.5 x 26
15.5 x 43.5 x 26
12.7 x 41 x 20.6
14.5 x 45 x 30.2
13.2 x 41 x 24.7
12.5 x 42.5 x 23.5
13.4 x 42.5 x 19.4
13.6 x 42.7 x 21.4
13.4 x 42.7 x 19.5
8.1 x 41.5 x 16.6
Warranty (years)
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Country of origin
China
China
China
China
Taiwan
China
China
China
Israel
Israel
Israel
China