I'm feeling thirsty. (Photo courtesy of SodaStream)
I am addicted to seltzer but hate buying soda drinks in economically correct 2-liter bottles. The stuff always seems to go flat after a few drinks, and I’m left with a giant plastic bottle that I suspect will end up floating onto a pristine beach in Cozumel. That’s where bottles used for soda drinks end up.
Seltzer is cheap soda, no doubt, but is there a less wasteful and more cost-effective way of getting my bubbly fix?
Not long ago, I perused the SodaStream display at the Go Green Expo. This Israel-based company manufactures sleek, eco-friendly machines for making soda drinks at home. The company’s two primary claims are a) its seltzer maker is an eco-conscious choice that doesn’t create millions of tons of plastic trash each year like bottled soda drinks do, and b) its home soda maker saves consumers money when compared to the cost of buying bottled soda.
Wait, a company claims that its new, shiny, earth-friendly product saves people money? It’s time for a Cheapo Challenge!
First, let’s just admit that the SodaStream seltzer maker creates far less waste than the bottled drinks industry does. Frankly, almost anything creates less waste than the bottled drinks industry, so good for them. Let’s move on to the cost-saving analysis.
The basic setup of a home soda maker includes the machine, carbonators (canisters of carbon dioxide that provide the bubbles), and the reusable carbonating bottles for storing soda drinks after they’re made. SodaStream also sells flavored syrups that consumers can add to their basic seltzer for approximations of bottled ginger ale, cola, etc.
SodaStream sells several models of seltzer maker, with the cheapest (the Fountain Jet) starting at $89.95. The Fountain Jet Seltzer Value Kit ($169.99) comes with one seltzer maker, three carbonators that each make 60 liters of seltzer, and four carbonating bottles.
Part 1: Start-Up Costs
We have the capacity to make 180 liters of seltzer for $169.99, without purchasing additional carbonators. Here’s the breakdown:
$169.99 divided by 180 liters = 94.4 cents per liter
At the local grocery store, I buy 2-liter bottles of store-brand seltzer for 99 cents each.
.99 divided by 2 liters = 49.5 cents per liter
49.5 cents x 180 liters = $89.10
Right off the bat, we’ve saved $80.89! But wait…
Part 2: Savings Over Time
Part of the SodaStream benefit comes from its value over time. You need only to replace the carbonators with the home soda machine setup, whereas you’d be spending the same amount for store-brand seltzer over the same period of time. Let’s calculate the cost savings over a 1-year period if I drink four liters of seltzer a week.
The Fountain Jet Value Kit makes 45 weeks of seltzer. To get to 52 weeks, we’ll need to buy additional carbonators. We can send in our three empty carbonators in exchange for full ones – the most economical option – for $44.99.
To calculate the exact cost of one week of seltzer with the exchanged carbonator, PLUS the initial cost of the home soda maker setup, let’s rock the math skills:
$44.99 divided by 3 = $14.99 for each 60-liter carbonator
$14.99 divided by 60 = 25 cents per liter of seltzer
Additional week of seltzer at the rate of 4 liters per week = $7
Total cost for a year of a home seltzer maker: $176.99
Compare that to the cost of a year of store-brand seltzer:
99 cents x 2 two-liter bottles a week = $1.98
$1.98 x 52 weeks = $102.98
Conclusion
One year of store-brand seltzer will cost much less than one year of soda drinks from a seltzer maker – but SodaStream’s product will probably save you money in the long run. In fact, if you simply exchange three empty carbonators for 44.99 and get 180 liters of seltzer out of them, you’ll save $44.11 over the cost of buying the same amount of store-brand seltzer.
The real hurdle is the initial start-up cost. Remember, we analyzed the cheapest model of home soda maker, and didn’t buy any of the flavored syrups for homemade soda drinks. If you add those additional costs into the mix, your savings will be significantly lower.
Well done, Kat! I think if one drinks seltzer or other soda drinks regularly, the soda maker is worth the money. Not only is there a cost-benefit factor in the soda drinks themselves, but also in the labor of lugging it from the store, as well as the environmental impact which you mentioned.