DailyDirt: DIY Soda (Pop Or Whatever You Call Carbonated Beverages)
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
Making your own carbonated soft drinks has a few benefits — from knowing where all the ingredients came from (eg. no brominated vegetable oil) to getting the satisfaction of creating your own custom flavoring. It’s not quite as simple as punching a button on a vending machine, but it’s not exactly rocket science, either. Here are just a few links on being your own soda jerk.
- Sodastream has been around since 1903, but it went public on the Nasdaq in 2010 and started expanding its DIY soda making system to take on the big soft drink makers. But marketing itself as an alternative isn’t always easy, and it had to change its 2013 SuperBowl commercial to remove Coke and Pepsi logos. [url]
- The secret recipe for a can of Coca-Cola isn’t just getting the mixture of caramel coloring and phosphoric acid right; there are also a zillion other details from packaging and distribution that have been optimized. The top of the aluminum can is actually a different aluminum-magnesium alloy from the rest of the can, engineered so it can have a pop-top and still withstand the pressurized contents. [url]
- When making your own soda, be sure to use 100% essential food oils that are rated food grade. Recipes to make Open Cola and the “original” Coke are available, but there’s a bit of set up involved. [url]
If you’d like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post via StumbleUpon.
Filed Under: beverage, flavoring, food, open cola, pop, recipes, soda, soft drinks
Companies: coca cola, pepsi, sodastream
Comments on “DailyDirt: DIY Soda (Pop Or Whatever You Call Carbonated Beverages)”
The original formula for Coke...
had cocaine in it… so THAT would be an addictive beverage. Probably not a “soft drink” with that kind of kick in it.
Re: The original formula for Coke...
Some would get a kick from it, but I’m sure that if I took one sip that would bore me teriffically.
(Sinatra fans will get it.)
Sodastream...
If you check the net, you can find instructions for making your own version of the Sodastream carbonation device. Basically all it does is add pressurized CO2 to water to add the carbonation. You can do the same thing with a generic tank and some plumbing fittings. Then you just add the soda mix. It ends up being cheaper than using their over-priced CO2 canisters.
Sodastream Ripoff
I feel sorry for people who buy the Sodastream if they are thinking its going to save them money. If you look at the cost of the consumables $40 for CO2 tank it carbonates 60L then the syrups average $8 they make 12L. So 1 CO2 cylinder plus 5 syrups will cost you $90 after tax (13% sales tax here) that breaks down to a cost of $1.50 per litre. Thats more then the cost of the major brands charge and in some cases double.
Also the Sodastream does a bad job when it comes to carbonating it only carbonates at 15psi. Many sodas need higher carbonation levels such as colas they are better served at 30psi.
Like Rekrul pointed out there are many cheaper ways to build a carbonator and you can buy the syrup from many sources. You can even buy your favorite Coke or Pepsi flavours if your willing to pay the premium price. My rig cost me $20 it consists of a CO2 bike pump and a tubeless tire valve.
Re: Sodastream Ripoff
Well I’m not sure about America but in Australia/New Zealand you do not buy a new cylinder and instead you replace the old empty one for a new refilled one.. Its an actual exchange and it only costs $30 for a 60L one.. (and that’s direct from Sodastream themselves .. cheaper from retailers)
The syrup costs RRP of $6.95 and seeing as a 2L bottle of coke from the supermarket costs when not on special of average $4.00 (a 1.25Litre bottle costs approx $2.80) Sodastream is very cost effective here.. The UK is equivalent in costs of coke/pepsi and savings I am told too.
Though I agree with you about the pressure difference’s and the ‘fizz’ it doesn’t really give.
Re: Re: Sodastream Ripoff
It may work out cheaper in your country but here in Canada its twice the cost to run. A 2L Coke averages $1.50 to $2 and can be found on sale for $0.99.
My biggest problem I have with Sodasteam is the ridiculous price they charge for the CO2. They have the same $30 exchange price here for the cylinders but your paying a ridiculous cost for the CO2. I had a 20lb CO2 tank it cost me $23 to fill it enough to carbonate about 720L of soda at 30psi or about 1440L at 15psi. So for the $23 I would spend it would cost me $720 at the cylinder exchange rate for the same amount of CO2. That breaks down to a $1.15 per pound of CO2 but Sodastrem is charging $26 a pound.
If you want to save money I would recommend this kind of setup for $130 it may not be as pretty but it would fit in cupboard out of sight.
http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=247
For the cost of a low end Sodastrem you would have the equivalent of an extra 5 cylinders CO2 that would cost another $150 on top of the cost of the Sodastream so half the cost. Then when your out of CO2 it would cost about $15 to refill the tank but at Sodasteams cost it would run you another $180 thats ridiculous.
If looks are important and you have $300 to $400 to spend you can build a nice kegerator and have soda and beer on tap.
Here are some great examples of home built kegerators they also have on this site lots of info for making your own sodas and beer.
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/show-us-your-kegerator-29053/
Soadastream does to things I find distasteful:
Human rights violations in Isreal/Palestine
Hardware lock-in using patents to force their business model on customers.
I much prefer my generic soda charger with cartridges that ollow a common, open standard.
All that trouble for something not even good for you. Try carbonating some fruit juice.
Re: Re:
Or drink Monster Khaos or Rockstar Juiced.
You know, if you piss into one of these things, you can make Rolling Rock beer.
Newer system
I have had a SodaStream for about 5 years, and love it. No schlepping is the #1 advantage, and the costs are decent. A recharge canister is only $15… I like it, and use it regularly.
I am backing a new Project on KickStarter for a device called SPRiZZi, which is more like a Keurig-type experience for soda… It is closing soon, so check it out!
creative commons soda maker
Blimey the pricing disparity between countries seems rather odd. Soon though, as 3d printer technology matures you’ll be able to make your own soda maker and then make the soda….cool!
Of if you prefer something simple, how about making your own corkscrew 🙂
http://www.giftsandmerchandise.co.uk/product/diy-corkscrew
great information
Thanks for this information. I’ve been thinking about getting into making my own soda because of the nasty ingredients in commercial soda. Looking forward to implementing this!