Drinkmate vs. Traditional Soda Makers: Why "Carbonates Any Drink" Actually Matters
Home carbonation machines have exploded in popularity over the last decade, but most of them share one big limitation: they only carbonate plain water. Drinkmate takes a different approach. Its soda makers are built to fizz up almost any cold beverage — from sparkling water to wine, iced coffee, juice, and even flat soda that's lost its bubbles. If you've been searching for a countertop carbonator that does more than the standard machines on the market, here's what you need to know about how Drinkmate works, what makes it different, and how to get the most out of one at home.
What Makes Drinkmate Different
Most soda makers on the market are designed around a single use case: turning still water into sparkling water. Drinkmate's core design choice is a removable carbonating valve (the brand calls it the Fizz Infuser) that separates the CO2 injection process from the bottle itself. That separation is what allows the machine to safely carbonate beverages with sugar, pulp, or fat — things that would clog or gum up a typical carbonation nozzle.
In practice, that means you can use a Drinkmate machine to:
- Make traditional sparkling water
- Add fizz to juice, lemonade, or iced tea
- Carbonate wine for a sparkling twist
- Revive flat soda or beer
- Create sparkling cold brew coffee
How Drinkmate Machines Work
Drinkmate machines run entirely on CO2 cartridges — there's no electricity, batteries, or charging involved. The basic process looks like this:
- Fill the reusable bottle with your chosen drink, leaving headspace at the top.
- Attach the bottle to the machine and lock in the Fizz Infuser.
- Press the carbonation button in short bursts until you reach your preferred level of fizz.
- Release the pressure valve before removing the bottle.
- Pour, serve, and enjoy.
Because the machine doesn't rely on a locked-in nozzle design the way many competitors do, cleanup is straightforward — the Fizz Infuser and bottle are hand-washable, and there's no risk of sticky residue building up inside a fixed carbonation head.
Drinkmate vs. SodaStream: The Key Difference
This comparison comes up constantly for anyone shopping for a home carbonator. The short version: SodaStream machines are engineered — and explicitly marketed — for carbonating water only. Drinkmate's detachable infuser design is built to handle a wider range of liquids, which is the main reason people switch. On the CO2 side, the two brands are largely interchangeable — standard 60-liter threaded CO2 cartridges used in North America, including SodaStream-branded ones, are compatible with Drinkmate machines, so switching brands doesn't mean starting your CO2 supply over from scratch.
Popular Ways to Use a Drinkmate
If you're new to home carbonation, a few drink ideas can help you get the most out of the machine beyond basic sparkling water:
- Sparkling iced coffee: Carbonate cold brew for an espresso-tonic-style drink.
- Homemade sparkling lemonade: Skip the store-bought soda and carbonate your own juice blend to control sugar content.
- Sparkling wine spritzers: Add a light fizz to still wine for a refreshing summer pour.
- Flat soda rescue: Bring lost carbonation back to soda or beer that's gone flat.
- Mocktails and cocktails: Carbonate mixers directly instead of relying on bottled club soda.
Is a Drinkmate Worth It?
For households that only ever want plain sparkling water, a basic water-only carbonator will do the job. But if you're drawn to the idea of cutting down on bottled soda, juice, or flavored sparkling water purchases — and you want the flexibility to experiment with different drinks — the ability to carbonate beyond water is the main value proposition. It also fits a broader shift toward reducing single-use plastic bottles at home, since one reusable bottle and a CO2 cartridge can replace dozens of store-bought cans and bottles over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Drinkmate need electricity or batteries? No. Drinkmate machines are entirely mechanical and powered by CO2 cartridges, so there's no cord or charging required.
Can I use SodaStream CO2 cartridges in a Drinkmate machine? Yes. Standard 60-liter threaded CO2 cartridges sold in North America, including SodaStream's, are compatible with Drinkmate machines.
What drinks can I carbonate with Drinkmate? Beyond plain water, you can carbonate juice, iced tea, iced coffee, wine, cocktails, and flat soda or beer.
Is Drinkmate easy to clean? The Fizz Infuser and carbonating bottle are designed to be hand-washed, and because the infuser detaches from the bottle, there's less risk of buildup compared to fixed carbonation nozzles.
Whether you're trying to cut back on bottled drinks, experiment with sparkling cocktails, or just want more flexibility than a water-only machine offers, Drinkmate's core pitch — carbonate almost anything, not just water — is a genuinely different approach in the home carbonation category. If versatility matters more to you than simplicity, it's worth a closer look.
