DRINKPOD Fizzpod Soda Maker Soda Maker: Full Review

Fizzpod is a new brand in the popular market of home soda makers. With the rise of the health-conscious consumer and concerns over sugary sodas, many people are choosing to make their own carbonated beverages at home. Soda makers provide the ability to carbonate water and control the ingredients going into your drink. Fizzpod is a compact and portable soda maker designed for convenience and variety. This review will dive into the features and specifications of the Fizzpod soda maker to determine if it's a worthwhile investment for home carbonation. We'll cover design, ease of use, available flavors, technology, maintenance, pros and cons, and overall value compared to other soda makers. Whether you're looking to cut back on sugary sodas or get creative with your own bubbly beverages, read on for an in-depth review of the Fizzpod soda maker.

Overview

The Fizzpod Soda Maker by Drinkpod is a compact and user-friendly soda maker that allows you to easily make sparkling water and flavored sodas at home.

Some of the key features and specs of the Fizzpod include:

• Sleek and compact design - Weighing just 2.2 pounds, the Fizzpod has a small footprint and can fit easily on most kitchen counters. It measures 12 x 5 x 12 inches.

• 60L CO2 cylinder - The Fizzpod comes with a 60L CO2 carbonator cylinder that can make up to 60 liters of sparkling water before needing a replacement.

• Makes sodas and sparkling water - The soda maker can carbonate plain water to make sparkling water. It can also be used with Drinkpod flavor syrups to make flavored sodas like cola, lemon-lime, orange, etc.

• Carbonation control - A carbonation dial allows you to control the amount of fizziness, from lightly sparkling to very effervescent.

• Dishwasher safe - All parts that come in contact with water/syrup are top rack dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

• BPA free - Made from BPA-free plastic for safety.

Sleek, Compact Design

The Fizzpod has a modern, sleek design that looks great on any countertop. It has a cylindrical shape and is available in three color options - black, white, and rose gold. The soda maker itself is about 12 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter, making it compact enough to store easily.

The main materials are plastic and metal. The plastic components like the carbonating bottle and flavor pods are BPA-free. The soda maker itself has a durable metal base and perforated metal top where the CO2 cartridge goes. There are also metal parts inside that connect to the CO2 cartridge and help carbonate the water.

Overall, the Fizzpod has a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic. The combination of matte and shiny finishes gives it a premium look and feel. The compact size and neutral color options mean it won't look out of place in most kitchens. The materials seem high-quality and durable enough for daily use.

Ease of Use

The Fizzpod offers simple and convenient soda making thanks to its straightforward design. Set up takes just a few minutes - simply insert the CO2 cartridge, add water to the fill line, and drop in the flavor pod of your choice. Making fizzy water or soda requires just the push of a button, with carbonation happening in seconds. The button lights up when your drink is ready.

Cleaning the Fizzpod is also quick and easy. After use, rinse the bottle and flavor pod holder with water. The flavor pods are designed for single use, so there's no need to wash reusable flavor containers. The CO2 cartridge is discarded and replaced after use. With just three main parts - the bottle, holder and cartridge - clean up is a breeze.

Overall, the Fizzpod simplifies the soda making process. The intuitive design allows you to enjoy fresh carbonated drinks at the push of a button, without the hassle of complex soda machines. The easy maintenance means you won't waste time cleaning many components. For convenient homemade soda on demand, Fizzpod delivers.

Flavor

The Fizzpod offers a wide variety of flavors to choose from. It comes with 16 flavor pods to get you started, including classic flavors like cola, lemon-lime, root beer, and orange soda. The flavors taste natural and not overly syrupy like some soda brands. The flavors are subtle enough to let the carbonation shine through.

When making soda, the carbonation level can be adjusted to preference. The standard carbonation produces a nice fizzy soda with small bubbles. Going up to the max carbonation creates a soda with big bubbles and a strong carbonation bite. The carbonation provides that satisfying crisp, bubbly mouthfeel expected from soda.

The flavors mix well into the carbonated water without an artificial or chemical aftertaste. The taste resembles homemade soda made from syrups rather than the high fructose corn syrup sodas found in stores. The flavors are potent enough to come through despite the carbonation. Overall, the Fizzpod provides a delicious soda drinking experience with flavors that pop and satisfy.

Value

The Fizzpod provides excellent value compared to other home soda makers on the market. At around $100, it's priced similarly to entry-level models from SodaStream but includes more features like custom carbonation levels and an LED progress display.

When comparing operating costs, the Fizzpod really shines. Its CO2 canisters contain enough carbon dioxide to make 60 liters of soda, costing about $0.16 per liter produced. SodaStream's 60L canisters cost nearly the same but would only produce around 30-40 liters in most of their models, doubling the per-liter cost. The Fizzpod's compatibility with less expensive, third-party CO2 cylinders also helps improve its value proposition.

By saving money on soda water while still being able to create customized flavors, the Fizzpod provides an affordable way to enjoy premium sodas at home. Its efficient carbonation technology ensures very little CO2 is wasted, further maximizing the value you get out of each cylinder. Overall the Fizzpod delivers an impressive cost-to-performance ratio compared to other home soda makers.

Technology Inside the Fizzpod

The Fizzpod uses a unique carbonation technology to produce bubbly, fizzy soda on demand. Unlike soda stream machines that require proprietary CO2 canisters, the Fizzpod utilizes innovative CO2 capsules that rapidly infuse sparkling water with carbon dioxide.

These single-use CO2 capsules contain pressurized carbon dioxide that gets released when pierced by the Fizzpod's internal mechanism. This allows the Fizzpod to carbonate water within seconds, providing instant fresh soda whenever you want it. The capsules are compact, portable and much easier to obtain than sodastream CO2 tanks.

In terms of connectivity, the Fizzpod doesn't have any smart features or Bluetooth connectivity. It's designed to be simple and low-tech, focused entirely on delivering delicious homemade soda. The lack of complex technology makes the Fizzpod very easy to use. Simply add water, insert a CO2 capsule, press the button, and enjoy fresh fizzy soda made your way!

Maintenance

The Fizzpod requires very little maintenance to keep working properly. The main maintenance tasks are changing the CO2 cartridges and occasionally cleaning the appliance.

Filter Changes

The Fizzpod doesn't actually have any filters to replace. This helps reduce the maintenance requirements compared to some other soda makers.

Cleaning

It's a good idea to clean the Fizzpod every few months or so. Start by unscrewing the CO2 cartridge and removing it. Then wash the bottle and any other removable parts in warm soapy water. Rinse everything thoroughly.

You can use a bottle brush to scrub inside the bottle if needed to remove any residue. Don't use abrasive cleaners or pads that could scratch the bottle.

After cleaning, rinse and dry thoroughly before reattaching the CO2 cartridge.

Repairs

The Fizzpod has very few parts that can break. But if anything does happen to malfunction, contact the manufacturer about potential warranty coverage or repair options.

Given the simple design, repairs are unlikely to be needed. With gentle care and occasional cleaning, the Fizzpod should provide years of reliable service.

Pros & Cons

• Pros - Easy to set up and use - simply fill the pod with water, attach to the base, and press the button to make sparkling water in seconds. - Good variety of flavor pods to choose from including cola, lemon lime, orange, cherry, grape, and more. - Compact, lightweight design takes up minimal counter space. - Allows you to carbonate and flavor water without artificial sweeteners or sugary sodas. - Affordable replacement pods sold in multi-packs. - Produces good carbonation and accurate flavoring.

• Cons - Pod flavors can be a bit too sweet or strong for some tastes. - Only compatible with proprietary DRINKPOD pods, cannot use pods from other brands.
  - Base needs to be cleaned periodically to prevent mold growth. - Not dishwasher safe, hand wash recommended. - Some complaints of pods losing carbonation quickly after opening. - Cannot customize carbonation level.

Conclusion

The Fizzpod Soda Maker is an affordable and user-friendly option for making sparkling water and soda at home. Its compact, sleek design doesn't take up much counter space. The easy-fill water tank, one-button operation, and dishwasher safe parts make the Fizzpod simple to use.

The Fizzpod uses Drinkpods to carbonate and flavor the water. Each Drinkpod makes about 12 ounces of soda or sparkling water. The Drinkpods come in a decent variety of flavors like cola, lemon-lime, grape, and orange. However, the flavor intensity is milder than sodas made with syrups.

Overall, the Fizzpod Soda Maker delivers solid performance for the price. It's a great budget-friendly alternative to pricier brands. The Fizzpod allows you to quickly make fizzy drinks at home while saving money and reducing waste compared to buying canned and bottled beverages. If you're looking for an affordable, no-frills soda maker that gets the job done, the Fizzpod is definitely worth considering.