Drinkmate Carbonated Soda Maker Review: Elevate Your Beverages

In a world increasingly seeking healthier alternatives and personalized experiences, the demand for home beverage carbonation has soared. Gone are the days of solely relying on store-bought fizzy drinks; now, you can create sparkling masterpieces right in your kitchen. However, not all soda makers are created equal. We dive deep into the Drinkmate Carbonated Soda Maker, a revolutionary device that promises to transform your drinking habits.

For years, I relied on a SodaStream Penguin, a bulky but reliable gadget that served its purpose well. When a cross-country move presented the challenge of transporting fragile glass bottles and potentially hazardous CO2 cylinders, I decided it was time for an upgrade. My subsequent attempt with a Mastrad PureFizz soda maker proved disastrous, failing after just a month and consuming numerous expensive CO2 cartridges. This experience underscored the importance of investing in a high-quality, dependable carbonator.

The quest for a superior home carbonation experience led me to the Drinkmate, and its unique capabilities immediately set it apart from competitors like the SodaStream. While most home carbonators are limited to sparkling water, the Drinkmate shatters these boundaries, allowing you to infuse fizz into virtually any beverage. This isn’t just a minor improvement; it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to experiment with flavors and textures.

Unleashing Carbonation Creativity: The Drinkmate Advantage

What truly distinguishes the Drinkmate from its counterparts is its unparalleled versatility. Imagine turning ordinary drinks into extraordinary, effervescent delights:

• Sparkling Wine: Transform a still bottle of wine into a bubbly celebration in moments.
• Custom Juices: Carbonate any type of juice – from fresh-squeezed orange to exotic mango – for a healthier, homemade soda alternative.
• Revitalize Flat Beverages: Bring flat beer or soda back to life with a fresh burst of carbonation, reducing waste.
• Innovative Cocktails: Elevate your mixology by adding fizz to pre-mixed cocktails or spirits for unique concoctions.
• Carbonated Teas & More: Explore beyond the usual with sparkling iced teas, sports drinks, or even cold brew coffee.

The ability to carbonate a wide array of liquids is not just a marketing claim; it’s a testament to Drinkmate’s advanced engineering. When I inquired about what makes their device so different from SodaStream, their explanation highlighted the core innovation:

“The difference is the pressure process and how that is controlled. SodaStream doesn’t have any way to control the amount of pressure that is released. Drinkmate features 5 valves that allow for fast and slow release of the pressure. This is the key to control the pressure and the new technology that allows to carbonate any liquid.”

This intelligent pressure regulation is crucial. Attempting to carbonate sticky or sugary beverages in a SodaStream can lead to messy overflows, clogged mechanisms, and potentially damaged appliances. The Drinkmate’s specially designed lid and internal valve system ensure a controlled release of CO2, preventing such issues and allowing for safe, clean carbonation of almost anything liquid.

PRO: The ability to carbonate any beverage is revolutionary. Fresh strawberry juice, lightly mixed with water and carbonated, then garnished with mint, was an absolute revelation – vibrant, refreshing, and entirely customizable.

Effortless Operation and Thoughtful Design

The Drinkmate Carbonated Soda Maker is designed for both functionality and ease of use. It’s a sleek, countertop appliance, similar in footprint to a SodaStream, ensuring it fits seamlessly into any kitchen aesthetic. The package typically includes the main unit, a sturdy BPA-free plastic bottle, a special fizz-infuser cap (which houses the critical pressure release mechanism), and a standard storage cap for your finished beverages.

Simple Steps to Sparkling Drinks

Operating the Drinkmate is intuitive:

1. Fill the Drinkmate bottle with your chosen beverage (ensuring it’s below the fill line).
2. Attach the fizz-infuser cap securely to the bottle.
3. Insert the bottle and cap assembly into the Drinkmate unit.
4. Press the carbonation button in short bursts until you achieve your desired level of fizziness. The controlled release mechanism prevents over-carbonation and messy spills.
5. Remove the bottle, replace the fizz-infuser cap with the regular storage cap, and enjoy your freshly carbonated drink.

PRO: The gadget is remarkably lightweight and compact, making it easy to store in a cabinet or move around your kitchen as needed. Its simple design also contributes to straightforward cleaning and maintenance.

CO2 Cylinder Compatibility and Convenience

One common concern with home carbonators is the availability of replacement CO2 cylinders. Drinkmate cleverly addresses this by being compatible with standard 60L SodaStream CO2 cylinders. This is a significant advantage, as SodaStream cylinders are widely available at major retailers across North America, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, and various grocery stores.

PRO: Easy access to replacement CO2 cylinders ensures uninterrupted carbonation enjoyment. This widespread compatibility eliminates the hassle of searching for proprietary cylinders, making the Drinkmate a truly user-friendly appliance.

The Drinkmate Bottle: Plastic vs. Preference

The Drinkmate comes with durable, BPA-free plastic bottles, which are essential for safety during the carbonation process as they can withstand the internal pressure better than glass. While many users, myself included, often express a preference for glass bottles due to concerns about flavor transfer or plastic longevity, the plastic bottles used by Drinkmate are robust and designed for repeated use.

CON: I genuinely prefer glass bottles over plastic, particularly when carbonating beverages with strong or lingering flavors. After experimenting with carbonated tomato juice for a fizzy Bloody Mary (a somewhat unconventional but interesting experiment!), I found that a residual tomato flavor lingered in the bottle despite thorough cleaning. However, this is a minor drawback for most everyday uses. For those who frequently carbonate strong-flavored liquids, owning multiple bottles or dedicated bottles for specific flavors might be a good solution. As a tip, if you’re carbonating thick concentrates like Bloody Mary mix, always dilute them with water first for best results and easier cleaning.

Despite this minor critique, the functionality and safety provided by the plastic bottle under pressure are undeniable. They are built to last and are a practical choice for a device designed to handle a variety of liquids.

Understanding the Brand: Drinkmate, iSoda, i-Drink

Navigating the brand names associated with the Drinkmate can sometimes be a little confusing. On various marketing materials and even some online retailers, you might encounter names like Drinkmate, iSoda, or i-Drink. For instance, Amazon even sells a hand-held portable carbonator under the iSoda/Drinkmate brand that isn’t prominently featured on their main website.

PRO: Despite the varied branding, rest assured that this company, officially known as i-Drink Products, is a reputable and well-established player in the home carbonation market. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, they have been in business for over 15 years and hold the impressive title of being the “second largest manufacturer of home and portable carbonators in the world.” This heritage speaks volumes about their expertise, reliability, and commitment to innovation in the beverage industry.

You can see the Drinkmate in action in this explanatory video:

Real-World Experience and Endless Possibilities

Bringing the Drinkmate into our home has opened up a world of culinary experimentation. It’s a truly fun gadget to have, constantly inspiring us to explore new beverage combinations. We’ve had fantastic successes, like a refreshing grapefruit and thyme gin fizz, and some amusing failures, such as the aforementioned Bloody Mary (which, while fizzy, was perhaps best left still). The Drinkmate is available in three stylish colors – black, red, and white – to match any kitchen decor.

The device has been a particular hit with the kids, who now delight in crafting their own “sodas” using everyday store-bought apple juice and lemonade. It’s a fantastic way to offer them a customizable, potentially healthier alternative to commercial sodas, putting them in control of their drink creations. My 12-year-old son, Nathan, enthusiastically gives the Drinkmate “two very enthusiastic thumbs up,” a high recommendation from a discerning young critic.

From carbonating sports drinks for a pre-workout boost to adding a sophisticated sparkle to your morning orange juice, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. It encourages creativity, reduces reliance on single-use plastic bottles, and provides a healthier way to enjoy sparkling beverages at home.

Final Verdict: Is the Drinkmate Right for You?

The Drinkmate Carbonated Soda Maker stands out as a superior choice for anyone serious about home carbonation. Its unique ability to carbonate any beverage, not just water, truly sets it apart from conventional soda makers. While the plastic bottle may be a minor point of contention for some, its safety and durability are undeniable. The widespread compatibility with SodaStream CO2 cylinders adds to its convenience, making refills a breeze.

If you’re tired of plain sparkling water and yearn to explore a universe of fizzy juices, wines, cocktails, and more, the Drinkmate is an exceptional investment. It’s user-friendly, reliable, and backed by a reputable company with years of industry experience. This device isn’t just a kitchen appliance; it’s a passport to endless sparkling beverage adventures, empowering you to become your own master mixologist.

Consider the Drinkmate Carbonated Soda Maker if you are:

• A beverage enthusiast eager to experiment with carbonating various liquids.
• Looking for a healthier and more sustainable alternative to store-bought fizzy drinks.
• Seeking to reduce plastic waste from bottled sparkling beverages.
• Someone who enjoys entertaining and wants to impress guests with unique sparkling creations.
• In need of a reliable, easy-to-use, and versatile home carbonator.

Embrace the fizz and elevate your drinks with the Drinkmate!

DrinkMate Giveaway

Stay tuned for exciting opportunities to win your very own Drinkmate Carbonated Soda Maker!