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Which one should you buy?

For most homes, a simple, sturdy machine that fizzes water with one button and uses easy-to-swap gas cylinders. That's the SodaStream Terra:

If your family gets through a lot of fizzy water, a soda maker saves money, plastic and trips to the store. No more lugging crates of bottles home, no more recycling bin overflowing with plastic.

It's also a lovely way to drink more water. A glass of cold sparkling water with a squeeze of lime feels like a treat, and it's a cracking base for mocktails and long summer drinks.

How a soda maker works, and what it really costs

Inside the machine sits a cylinder of carbon dioxide under pressure. You screw or clip a bottle of cold water into the machine and press the button. A burst of CO2 goes into the water and dissolves, and that's your bubbles. Press more times for stronger fizz.

Cold water matters. Gas dissolves much better in cold water than warm, so chilled water fizzes faster, stays fizzy longer and wastes less gas.

The numbers

A cylinder is sold as making 60 litres, but if you like it properly fizzy, expect more like 30 to 40 litres. Even so, homemade sparkling water works out at roughly 40 to 50 cents a litre, against about $1 to $3 a litre in the shops. Swapping an empty cylinder costs around $15; buying a new one outright is about $30. So it pays for itself if you drink it every day, and it doesn't if you have a bottle a fortnight.

SodaStream Terra at a glance

SodaStream also sells the Terra direct, and at the time of writing it was a little cheaper there, so it's worth comparing.

What to look for in a soda maker

• Easy cylinder swaps. Clip-in cylinders are quicker and less fiddly than screw-in ones.

• Check the cylinder type. Quick Connect and the older screw-in cylinders don't fit each other's machines. Buy refills to match.

• Gas you can get locally. Check where you can exchange empties near you, or whether mail exchange suits you better.

• Dishwasher-safe bottles. And budget to replace them every few years.

• Know what it can fizz. Most machines, including the Terra, are for water only. If you want to fizz juice or wine, you need a machine made for it.

The Terra is simple, sturdy, quick to swap and easy to clean. Its only real limit is that it does water and nothing else, which, for most people, is all they want.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

• Your house drinks sparkling water every day

• You want to cut down on plastic bottles

• You like mocktails and long drinks

Skip it if

• You only have the odd bottle: the gas exchanges will feel like a chore

• You want to carbonate juice or wine: get the Breville

• You don't want any plastic bottles: look at the E-Duo

How to get the best from it

Chill first, fizz second

Fill the bottle to the line with cold water and keep a couple in the fridge, ready to go. Cold water holds its bubbles far better.

Flavour after, never before

Carbonate plain water, then add your flavour: a squeeze of lime, a few slices of cucumber, some crushed berries or a drop of syrup. Tilt the bottle and add it slowly, or it'll foam over.

A spritzer, the safe way

Half white wine, half sparkling water, over ice. Fizz the water first, then pour the two into the glass. Never put wine or juice in the Terra; it's made for water only, and you'll make a sticky mess of the machine. A spritzer is a nice, lighter drink, and with plenty of ice it goes a long way.

A simple mocktail

Fresh lime juice, a few mint leaves and a little simple syrup in a glass with ice, topped up with fizz. No alcohol, all of the fun.

Looking after it

• Bottles in the dishwasher, machine wiped with a damp cloth.

• Replace tired bottles. If a bottle is scratched, cloudy or past its date, swap it.

• Weigh the cylinder if you're not sure how much gas is left. Full is about 1,167 grams; empty is about 750 grams.

• Return exchange cylinders promptly. On SodaStream's own exchange orders, empties need to go back within 90 days or there's a $15 charge per cylinder.

• Keep spare cylinders somewhere cool, away from heat.

The one rule

Plain cold water in, flavour after. That keeps the machine clean and the bubbles lively.

Questions people ask

Does a SodaStream really save money?

If you drink sparkling water most days, yes. Homemade comes in at roughly 40 to 50 cents a litre compared with about $1 to $3 for bought.

How many litres does one CO2 cylinder make?

It's sold as 60 litres. If you like strong fizz, expect around 30 to 40.

Can I carbonate juice or wine in a SodaStream Terra?

No. The Terra is for water only. Fizz the water, then add your flavour or mix it with juice or wine in the glass.

Where do I get CO2 refills?

Exchange empties at stores that sell SodaStream, or by mail. Make sure you get Quick Connect cylinders for the Terra; the older screw-in ones won't fit.

Why should I use cold water?

Cold water absorbs and holds carbon dioxide far better, so you get stronger, longer-lasting bubbles from less gas.

Cook with it

Top up a long drink from my Best Summer Cocktail Recipes.

Updated October 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.