Sparkling Water Dispensing

Carbonating water at home takes three things: cold water, a CO2 cylinder and a regulator to control the pressure. This collection has every part of that, from a $9 carbonation cap that fizzes a soda bottle in your fridge to plumbed-in taps that pour chilled sparkling water at the sink. If you want a soda water maker or a SodaStream alternative that doesn't tie you to one brand's refills, start here.

How water carbonation works

CO2 dissolves into water under pressure, and cold water holds far more of it than warm water. Every setup below does the same job: chill the water, push CO2 in at a set pressure, then give it time or a shake to absorb. Because you set the regulator, you choose how fizzy it gets, from a soft spritz to something properly sharp. A sealed countertop soda water machine makes that choice for you.

Setups, from simple to plumbed-in

Carbonation cap and PET bottle. The cheapest way in. A carbonation cap screws onto a standard PCO1881 soft drink bottle and clicks onto a ball lock gas disconnect. Fill with cold water, squeeze out the air, connect the gas and shake. The DIY Budget Soda Water Kit bundles a full 2.6kg CO2 cylinder, MK4 regulator, gas line, disconnect and a red carbonation cap, and its instructions use about 30psi. Only use bottles made for fizzy drinks, never still water bottles.

Keg-based soda water. Swap a ball lock keg lid for the Carbonator Reactor and the keg becomes a continuous carbonator: water and CO2 go in, soda water comes out of a tap. The Sparkling Water Starter Kit packages it with a 19L keg, regulator, water line and fittings for a fridge, kegerator or chest freezer you already own.

Under-bench and benchtop carbonators. Benchy Sparkling units chill and carbonate mains water in a 3.2L reservoir and feed a dual-outlet sparkling water tap or a 4-in-1 mixer that runs hot, cold, chilled and sparkling. That's carbonated water on tap with no bottles to refill.

SodaStream-compatible cylinders and adaptors

Already own a countertop machine? FreedomOne adapter hoses connect a screw-in SodaStream-style machine to a 2.6kg or 6kg CO2 cylinder, and quick-disconnect versions suit Terra, Art and Duo models. We also stock a 450g SodaStream-compatible refillable cylinder (G1/2 thread, not for quick-connect machines), adaptors that let a small cylinder run a regulator, and a cylinder filling adaptor for topping small cylinders up from a bigger bottle. SodaStream is a trademark of its owner. We're not affiliated with it, and "compatible" only describes the thread or fitting.

What the gas costs

The Benchy Sparkling Zero product page puts a 2.6kg cylinder at roughly 200 litres of soda water and a 6kg at around 500 litres. Using our current refill prices:

• 2.6kg refill: $56 ÷ ~200L ≈ 28c per litre
• 6kg fill or swap: $109 ÷ ~500L ≈ 22c per litre

That's gas only, after you've bought the cylinder once (full cylinders start at $169 for 2.6kg and $189 for 6kg). Real yields move with how fizzy you like it and how gas-tight your fittings are. We haven't compared this with branded refills because we don't sell them and won't guess their prices.

Filter first, then flavour

Carbonation makes chlorine taste more obvious, not less, so a carbon filter on the inlet is worth it on any plumbed-in setup. See water filtration for WaterMark certified housings and cartridges. For flavour, each Prestige sparkling water essence flavours up to 16 litres of soda water. Regulators and spare gas gear are in gas tanks and regulators.

FAQ

Can I carbonate water without a SodaStream?

Yes. A CO2 cylinder, a regulator, a ball lock gas disconnect and a carbonation cap on a PET soda bottle is all it takes. That's exactly what the DIY Budget Soda Water Kit contains.

What size CO2 cylinder should I get for soda water?

A 2.6kg cylinder is compact and fits inside a standard kegerator. A 6kg costs less per litre to refill, but at 71cm tall it won't fit inside a standard kegerator, so it usually lives in a cupboard. Both are supplied full.

How fizzy can I make it?

You set the pressure. With a carbonation cap, shake in short bursts and taste as you go. Adding CO2 is easy; getting it back out isn't.

Does a sparkling water tap need a plumber?

Yes. In Australia anything connected to mains drinking water must be installed by a licensed plumber, and that includes a keg reactor fed from a mains line. Bottle setups don't touch the mains.