SodaBuddy SBWJS18CO2 Soda Maker: Full Review

The SodaBuddy SBWJS18CO2 is an electric soda maker designed for home use. This machine lets you conveniently make your own sparkling water and soda drinks right from your kitchen.

The SodaBuddy uses CO2 cylinders to carbonate water. It provides you the ability to produce refreshing fizzy drinks without artificial sweeteners or preservatives. With some flavored syrups, you can make soda, club soda, Italian soda, and other bubbly beverages.

The SodaBuddy features a compact and durable design. It's easy to set up and use with its user-friendly operation. This review will provide an overview of the SodaBuddy's main features, pros and cons, to help you determine if it's the right at-home soda maker for your needs.

Appearance and Design

The SodaBuddy SBWJS18CO2 soda maker has a sleek and modern stainless steel design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It measures approximately 10 inches tall and 7 inches in diameter, so it has a relatively small footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space.

The main materials are stainless steel for the carbonation chamber and a BPA-free plastic for the 1 liter soda bottle that comes included. The stainless steel gives it a premium high-end look and feel. All materials are durable and made to last through frequent use and cleaning.

There is a digital display on the front that shows the carbonation levels and a button to start the carbonation process. The design is intuitive and easy to operate. Overall, the appearance lives up to the SodaBuddy name with a fun, retro soda shop aesthetic.

In comparison, the DrinkMate 410-02-14Zx2-PP1 features a compact design, perfect for those with limited counter space. It boasts a user-friendly interface with a simple push-button operation, allowing users to carbonate any beverage. The design is also aesthetically pleasing, combining form and function while ensuring durability. This versatility in drink carbonation appeals to those looking for a multi-functional soda maker.

Ease of Use

The SodaBuddy soda maker is designed to be easy and convenient to use. Initial setup takes only a few minutes - just attach the carbonator to the base, connect the CO2 canister, and you're ready to start making soda.

The process of making soda with the SodaBuddy is simple:

1. Add cold water to the carbonator up to the fill line
2. Attach the carbonator to the base
3. Add flavoring syrup to the carbonator
4. Press the carbonation button to inject CO2 and mix the water and syrup
5. Once carbonated, the soda is ready to drink directly from the carbonator

The carbonation process only takes about 2-3 minutes, so you can quickly make fresh soda on demand. No electricity or batteries are required, just the CO2 canister.

With its simple operation and fast carbonation, the SodaBuddy allows anyone to make tasty homemade soda with minimal effort. The streamlined design makes consistent carbonation easy.

Additionally, for those looking for vibrant and unique flavors, the Ulable Red provides an excellent option. This product offers a rich, flavorful profile that enhances your homemade sodas. Whether you're hosting a party or enjoying a quiet night in, Ulable Red makes it easy to impress your guests with delicious beverages.

Features

The SodaBuddy SBWJS18CO2 has several handy features that make it convenient to use.

• CO2 Canister - The soda maker comes with a 60L CO2 canister that easily screws into the back of the unit. This provides enough carbonation to make up to 60 liters of sparkling water. The canister is compact and portable.

• BPA-Free - All parts that come in contact with water and soda are made from BPA-free plastic. This ensures no harmful chemicals leach into your drinks.

• Dishwasher Safe Parts - The removable parts like the carbonating bottle and flavoring bottle are top rack dishwasher safe. This makes cleanup fast and easy.

Carbonation

The SodaBuddy allows you to control the level of carbonation in your homemade soda. It comes with a carbonator that uses CO2 cartridges to infuse soda water with bubbles.

You can adjust the carbonation level from lightly fizzy to very bubbly by adding more or fewer cartridges. Each cartridge carbonates up to 1 liter of water. For very fizzy soda like cola, add 2-3 cartridges per liter. For a lighter carbonation like lemon-lime soda, use 1 cartridge per liter.

The carbonator attaches directly to the included BPA-free plastic bottle so you can carbonate and flavor water in one container. The carbonation happens very quickly, in under a minute. The bottle is designed to maintain the fizziness and pressure. Reviewers say the carbonation effect rivals store-bought soda.

You can reuse the CO2 cartridges until they run out of gas. Each cartridge carbonates approximately 5 liters of water. Replacement cartridges are inexpensive and widely available.

Overall, the SodaBuddy makes it easy to achieve your desired level of carbonation, from lightly fizzy to very bubbly. The carbonation system produces a soda-fountain quality fizz to make your homemade sodas even more enjoyable.

Flavoring

The SodaBuddy allows you to flavor your sparkling water however you like. One option is to add syrups like those made by Torani. With a wide variety of fruity, sweet, and coffee flavors, syrups are an easy way to customize your sparkling water. The SodaBuddy's 60oz capacity gives you plenty of room to add as much or as little syrup as you want.

You can also use natural fruit juices to add flavor. For the lowest sugar options, go for juices without any added sweeteners. The carbonation in the sparkling water will lift the flavors from juices like lemon, lime, grapefruit, pomegranate, cranberry, orange, pineapple, mango, grape, apple, and more. Experiment with different juice combinations to create your own unique flavored sodas. The SodaBuddy makes it simple to give your sparkling water a delicious fruity twist.

Cleaning

The SodaBuddy soda maker is very easy to clean. All parts that come in contact with liquids, such as the carbonating bottle and flavoring bottles, are top-rack dishwasher safe. For hand washing, simply rinse thoroughly with warm water. The carbonating cylinder and CO2 cartridge do not require regular cleaning.

To clean the SodaBuddy after use:

• Rinse out the carbonating bottle thoroughly with warm water. The bottle is dishwasher safe.
• Remove any leftover flavoring syrup from the flavoring bottles and rinse them out as well. The bottles can also be placed in the dishwasher.
• Wipe down the exterior of the soda maker base with a damp cloth. Do not submerge the base in water.
• Allow all parts to air dry completely before the next use.

The easy cleanup is a nice benefit of the SodaBuddy. With dishwasher safe bottles and minimal cleanup required, you can enjoy fresh homemade soda without a lot of fuss.

Pros

SodaBuddy’s simple yet attractive stainless steel design was appreciated by many users. The carbonation process only takes about 2 minutes, allowing you to quickly make fresh sparkling water or soda on demand.

The CO2 canister is easy to insert and lasts for up to 60 liters of soda, making it economical. Flavoring the sparkling water with syrups or juice is simple with the included 1 liter BPA-free bottle.

Users found SodaBuddy easy to use right out of the box, with clear instructions. The sodamaker efficiently carbonates water and provides a satisfying bubbly drink.

Many reviewers commented on how easy SodaBuddy is to clean by simply rinsing out the bottle after use. The stainless steel construction means you don't have to worry about any plastic tastes or odors.

Overall, users found SodaBuddy to be an affordable, convenient appliance that makes it simple to create your own sparkling beverages at home.

Cons

The SodaBuddy SBWJS18CO2 soda maker has received some complaints from customers. Here are some of the negatives to consider:

• The carbonation tends to be on the lighter side. Some customers report they wish the soda water had more fizz. It may take some experimenting to get the level of carbonation you desire.

• A small number of users report issues with carbonation stopping after a month or two of use. This seems to point to an issue with the CO2 cartridge not piercing properly. Make sure to fully tighten the cartridge to pierce it.

• There are a few reviews saying the machine broke after 6 months to 1 year of use. This seems to be a quality control issue in a small subset of units.

• Cleaning can be a chore, with some nooks and crannies that are hard to reach. Be prepared to dedicate time to fully clean all parts after use.

• The soda water flavor is more neutral compared to brands like Sodastream. The machine doesn't add any sodium or minerals for flavor. This allows you to customize, but you'll need to add more syrup for stronger flavor.

• There have been some complaints about the plastic bottle feeling flimsy. Take care when carbonating to avoid damage.

• A handful of customers report receiving units with missing or damaged parts. Quality control in manufacturing could be improved.

• The CO2 cartridges use a proprietary fitting. You're locked into buying replacements from the manufacturer.

Overall the SodaBuddy makes decent homemade soda, but has some drawbacks to be aware of, mainly around carbonation inconsistencies, build quality, and cleaning challenges. Make sure to thoroughly research before purchasing.

Conclusion

The SodaBuddy Sparkling Soda Maker is a solid soda making machine that produces good carbonation and allows you to create a variety of flavored sodas at home. It's easy to use, with a simple mechanism for adding CO2 cartridges and flavorings. The plastic parts feel a bit flimsy, but overall it produces good fizzy sodas once you get the carbonation right.

The ease of switching out CO2 cartridges makes it more convenient than buying bottled soda. The machine isn't too large, so it doesn't take up much counter space. It can make around 60 liters of soda before needing a new cartridge.

While it doesn't have some of the features of higher end soda makers, like custom carbonation levels, the SodaBuddy gets the job done if you want an affordable way to make seltzer and flavored sodas at home. The flavors it comes with are decent, but you can also add your own.

If you're looking for a basic soda maker that makes good fizzy water and sodas, the SodaBuddy is a good choice. It delivers solid carbonation and functionality without costing too much. The simple design makes the process easy. Overall, it's a good home soda maker for the price.