The bubbles: they burn my throat

[Spork]

I hesitate to call this badassity... but I think it saves me money...

In this thread

My fiancée got me hooked on the LaCroix water. They are $3.80 for 12 cans. It taste so much better than tap water and it got me off the sodas addiction. I used to be on a 1 soda a day (25cents) at work but now I drink LaCroix because it's so convenient and fizzy. I don't know how to stop even though I know it's so antimustachian. I told the fiancée that she's enabling me because she's the one that buys them most of the time and it's always there in the fridge when I need one. And she gets all the flavors! We have zero debt and saving for FI but I don't know how to beat this addiction.

I was exactly there.  Now, I'm not going to say the solution is true mustacianism.  It's probably still throwing a bit of money at something silly... but... your payback is about a year.

I, too, was addicted to Cocacola.  I easily drank 6 a day... 2 before breakfast.    And let's face it: that much sugar (or HFCS) is just not a good path for anyone.  My solution was the same: LaCroix water.  It delivers a powerful CO2 burn like Coke and satisfies quite a bit of the craving.  But at $3.80 for a 12 pack, even with my cutting way back, I drank at least 2 a day -- $230 a year for feaking water.

Enter the Sodastream.  Carbonating water is childs play.  Bubble some CO2 through cold water.  Done.  Sodastream does it well, but with a catch.  They hook you for flavor syrups (which I don't care about) and a specialized tiny CO2 cannister.

Enter CO2 doctor.  Genius.  If you had the metal milling skills, you could do this on your own, but: he's built an adapter that takes the Sodastream cannister straight to a normal CO2 cannister that you'd get at your local welding supply store.

Let's tally it up, shall we?

Sodastream Jet: $80
CO2 Doctor: $100*
15lb CO2 tank at your local welding supply: about $80

Total: $260 for all the damn bubbly water you want forever**.

I've been using mine for well over 6 months on one fill... and it's still going.

*price varies depending on if you add a gauge and how long the hose is
**Refills of CO2 tank run about $20.

[Ozstache]

Very good, but you could be even more badass and drink tap water. Bubbles are so First World... ;-)

[Spork]

Very good, but you could be even more badass and drink tap water. Bubbles are so First World... ;-)

You are so correct.  (And I do mostly drink tap.... But I do drink probably a quart or more of bubbly water a day as well.

[footenote]

Love! Thanks for sharing - we love Soda Stream, but hate being dependent on their high priced, inconvenient CO2 cartridges.

[lithy]

Switch to beer.

*I'm a brewer.

**Not serious advice. 

[arebelspy]

I used to drink a ton of soda too (half dozen or more cans a day of Mountain Dew).

Then I transitioned to "juice" (you know, the fake juice at the store that is like 15% real juice and mostly sugar) then juice cut with water.

Now I drink a ton of tap water.

It's delicious.  I still enjoy the rare soda, but have trouble picturing having one every day.

None of it was a conscious choice, just gradual shift over time due to meeting the wife and moving in with her over that time period.

I hated water growing up. It was milk at mealtimes, soda any other time.  Water did not taste good.

Now I enjoy water quite a bit.

Those of you that are meh on water, switch to it for awhile.  You may find that you don't really care about going back.  Would soda be good?  Sure.  But is it really that good?  Nah.

[PantsOnFire]

I just fill one of the kegs in my kegerator with water and it carbonates at serving pressure within a week.  5 gallons of fizzy water for about $0.10 worth of CO2. 

[N]

I used to drink a ton of soda also, and then switched to soda stream.
I made my own syrups or mixed the carbonated water with juice.

Then I got some water kefir "grains"
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/water-kefir-frequently-asked-questions-faq

Now I drink that everyday, probably a half gallon every other day. I can flavor it with juice or dried fruits, or a little bit of homemade syrup as well. Plus, its actually good for your gut! :) And very inexpensive. the kefir can live forever, if you take care of it.

I bought mine from an online friend
http://www.starfire-studio.com/waterkefir.html

but you can get them from lots of different places, or from someone you know.

Now I hardly ever use my soda stream anymore (kefir is fizzy)

[George_PA]

Spork how can you drink that bubbly stuff ughh; I remember when I was a kid my grandparents would buy that bubbly stuff and force me to drink it over and over again;  now it just seems so nasty;  you may call it LaCroix, but LaCrap would be a better name;

also I used to drink lots of diet pepsi at one point then one day about 6 months ago, I forgot to buy it at grocery store as part of my usual list of things to get and then went a week without it; after that I asked myself why the hell was i drinking that garbage anyway, I didn't miss it at all; my wife would never drink soda either; i am like arebelspy now and just drink tons of tap water;

the soda is so ingrained into our culture; just look at how much money coca-cola spends on advertising; I bet that the stuff really does not taste good at all on its own, it is just that the companies tell you its supposed to taste good over and over again and eventually you believe them; plus all the restaurants and fastfood places push it on the customers, so they pick it up that way as well;

its like what MMM says, when you unplug yourself from the matrix of TV advertising, you look around at you and suddenly its like a completely different world

so maybe to try and kick the habit throw down a challenge with yourself and whoever else drinks it in your house and make a pact to go at least week without it, and drink something else instead; after that time, if you miss it that much, go back to it, however, you both may realize after that you don't really miss it all that much after about 7-8 days.

[Tempe]

 I love drinking carbonated water over anything else. Carbonation was the only reason I ever liked pop.  Drinking it helped me realize I never need to drink carbonated sugary crap anymore, sugar wasn't the lure.

[Spork]

Spork how can you drink that bubbly stuff ughh; I remember when I was a kid my grandparents would buy that bubbly stuff and force me to drink it over and over again;  now it just seems so nasty;  you may call it LaCroix, but LaCrap would be a better name;

also I used to drink lots of diet pepsi at one point then one day about 6 months ago, I forgot to buy it at grocery store as part of my usual list of things to get and then went a week without it; after that I asked myself why the hell was i drinking that garbage anyway, I didn't miss it at all; my wife would never drink soda either; i am like arebelspy now and just drink tons of tap water;

the soda is so ingrained into our culture; just look at how much money coca-cola spends on advertising; I bet that the stuff really does not taste good at all on its own, it is just that the companies tell you its supposed to taste good over and over again and eventually you believe them; plus all the restaurants and fastfood places push it on the customers, so they pick it up that way as well;

its like what MMM says, when you unplug yourself from the matrix of TV advertising, you look around at you and suddenly its like a completely different world

so maybe to try and kick the habit throw down a challenge with yourself and whoever else drinks it in your house and make a pact to go at least week without it, and drink something else instead; after that time, if you miss it that much, go back to it, however, you both may realize after that you don't really miss it all that much after about 7-8 days.

It's water and carbon dioxide.  I am not really sure what advertising supports it.  And at less than 20 cents a gallon (after the equipment is paid for) I can't see it costs much -- and I usually drink it instead of more expensive alcohol... so... win-win.

I think you're confusing the soft drink industry with carbonated water.

[George_PA]

yeah except that people drink carbonated water to mimic their old soft drinks habits.

[Megatron]

Spork, thanks for the tips. I looked into soda stream before but the CO tanks sound expensive. I will check out that CO2 Doctor. Although I might just start cutting up lemon and cucumber slices and put them in tap water instead. I really want to keep a minimalist home without any more extra appliances.

[PantsOnFire]

yeah except that people drink carbonated water to mimic their old soft drinks habits.

Some people do, but I think you are projecting a little bit.  I think most people that drink carbonated water do so because they like carbonated water, not because it's their soda methadone. 

[Fawn]

A reason to give up the carbonation is that over time it leaches the calcium from your bones.

Which is why osteoporosis is a first world problem.

[Scottma]

Nice - it's amazing how saving money also tends to increase health...

You could also try brewing non-alcoholic beverages, such as ginger and root beer, for an occasional sugary treat (although neither have to be too sugary to be good). See this article:

http://www.defalcos.com/homemade-soft-drinks.html

[Spork]

Nice - it's amazing how saving money also tends to increase health...

You could also try brewing non-alcoholic beverages, such as ginger and root beer, for an occasional sugary treat (although neither have to be too sugary to be good). See this article:

http://www.defalcos.com/homemade-soft-drinks.html

Interesting.... might be fun to try.  I love ginger (but have never tried ginger beer.)   ...And we have TONS of sassafras that grows like weeds around here.  (Yeah, I know: sassafras is deprecated due to liver toxicity.)

[PantsOnFire]

A reason to give up the carbonation is that over time it leaches the calcium from your bones.

Which is why osteoporosis is a first world problem.

That's not true. 

not only has carbonated water been shown to have no effect on weakening bones, there seems almost no conceivable means by which it could.

Source:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/feb/02/water.food

[Mynameisnotfluffydude]

A reason to give up the carbonation is that over time it leaches the calcium from your bones.

Which is why osteoporosis is a first world problem.

That's not true. 

not only has carbonated water been shown to have no effect on weakening bones, there seems almost no conceivable means by which it could.

Source:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/feb/02/water.food

Second what Pants on Fire says.  I've done some research on this and it appears that the osteoporosis is not related to the co2 in sodas but the other nasties.

DH is also a home brewer (I guess they're calling it 'craft brewing' now), and I convinced him to change one of his 8 beer taps to sparkly water.  All that beer was wreaking havoc on my waistline.  And do we really need another double IPA? 

I LOVE the taste of our sparkly water, the co2 changes the ph balance and makes it slightly acidic.  Yum!  And cheap too.  And NO plastic bottles, which is the worst part IMO.  Also, as a benefit in So Cal, we keep 40 gallons in 5 gallon soda kegs 'up to bat' which doubles as earthquake emergency water.  Sparkly, of course :)

[Spork]

The keg idea is a good one, too... And I'd like to eventually brew some amount of beer.  (I've dabbled in wines a little).  I don't know that I'd commit to a monster 8-tap monster kegger.  ;)

I think if I dabble in beers, I'll probably bottle them in small batches.   ...like you say: the waistline.

[Rebecca Stapler]

I would really like to find another option to the canister refills. The lowest I can get the price to is $10 a pop, and they only last us about 3 months. But the 15lb canister is too big for our tiny kitchen.

Any other solutions out there? Is there any way to just get my current canister refilled through a normally-priced channel?

[Spork]

I would really like to find another option to the canister refills. The lowest I can get the price to is $10 a pop, and they only last us about 3 months. But the 15lb canister is too big for our tiny kitchen.

Any other solutions out there? Is there any way to just get my current canister refilled through a normally-priced channel?

Actually... maybe.  The same company makes an adapter for hooking up a standard paintball tank instead of the canister.
http://co2doctor.com/freedomo.htm

I have my 20lb canister (I bought a 15, but they were out when I refilled it and they replaced it with a 20) in the pantry.   We don't really have the space for it in the kitchen either.

[Rebecca Stapler]

I would really like to find another option to the canister refills. The lowest I can get the price to is $10 a pop, and they only last us about 3 months. But the 15lb canister is too big for our tiny kitchen.

Any other solutions out there? Is there any way to just get my current canister refilled through a normally-priced channel?

Actually... maybe.  The same company makes an adapter for hooking up a standard paintball tank instead of the canister.
http://co2doctor.com/freedomo.htm

I have my 20lb canister (I bought a 15, but they were out when I refilled it and they replaced it with a 20) in the pantry.   We don't really have the space for it in the kitchen either.

That doesn't quite get me there -- it's $50 for the adaptor, and still approximately $5 to refill the canisters. I won't reap a savings benefit for 2.5 years.

Ideally, I would like to get the refill price WAY down. A friend told me that bars / restaurants getting their tanks refilled would pay very little for 33oz. I wish I had a hook-up somehow to get in on that pricing.

[Spork]

That doesn't quite get me there -- it's $50 for the adaptor, and still approximately $5 to refill the canisters. I won't reap a savings benefit for 2.5 years.

Ideally, I would like to get the refill price WAY down. A friend told me that bars / restaurants getting their tanks refilled would pay very little for 33oz. I wish I had a hook-up somehow to get in on that pricing.

I understand.  Bars/restaurants are using 20lb (or probably larger) tanks and are filling them at the welding supply stores -- like I do.  (Actually beverage companies deliver the CO2... but they're filling them at the welding supply store.)

The issue is the proprietary nozzle threads.  All the fixes are workarounds to get to a standardized bottle of some kind that is fillable at a welding supply store.

[Rebecca Stapler]

That doesn't quite get me there -- it's $50 for the adaptor, and still approximately $5 to refill the canisters. I won't reap a savings benefit for 2.5 years.

Ideally, I would like to get the refill price WAY down. A friend told me that bars / restaurants getting their tanks refilled would pay very little for 33oz. I wish I had a hook-up somehow to get in on that pricing.

I understand.  Bars/restaurants are using 20lb (or probably larger) tanks and are filling them at the welding supply stores -- like I do.  (Actually beverage companies deliver the CO2... but they're filling them at the welding supply store.)

The issue is the proprietary nozzle threads.  All the fixes are workarounds to get to a standardized bottle of some kind that is fillable at a welding supply store.

Gotcha. So, if I get the nozzle fix, then I could get the small paintball cans filled at a welding supply store for pennies on the ounce? The $5 estimate on the CO2 Doctor site is if I were to take the paintball canister to the paintball store?

How much does it cost to get your 20 lb canister refilled?

[Spork]

Gotcha. So, if I get the nozzle fix, then I could get the small paintball cans filled at a welding supply store for pennies on the ounce? The $5 estimate on the CO2 Doctor site is if I were to take the paintball canister to the paintball store?

How much does it cost to get your 20 lb canister refilled?

I am assuming a welding supply store will refill a paintball canister.  I've never tried.

I pay about $20 for a 20lb canister.  It lasts me 9-12 months.  They actually don't re-fill it as much as just "exchange my empty one for a full one".  It's a pretty fast transaction.

[Rebecca Stapler]

I pay about $20 for a 20lb canister.  It lasts me 9-12 months.  They actually don't re-fill it as much as just "exchange my empty one for a full one".  It's a pretty fast transaction.

At $1/lb, that's a refill cost I can manage! Now to find a welding supply store (and then find the nozzle doodad for cheaper, hopefully).

[PantsOnFire]

At one point I used to track my usage pretty closely and I estimated the cost of CO2 per gallon of carbonated beverage to be around four cents.  That's running a 20# tank and being conscientious about waste* and leaks. 

*One of the keys to reducing CO2 usage in a keg system is to shut off the gas to the keg when it gets low on product.  When the keg is say 10% full, there's usually more than enough compressed gas in the headspace to keep the product carbonated and push it out of the keg.  You can just remove the gas in QD or shut off the gas valve to that keg (if your setup is so-equipped). 

When you leave the gas hooked up, invariably it's a guest who pulls that last half pint out of the keg, and in addition to the copious amount of CO2 that rifles through the system for that second or two before they close the tap, the "empty" keg continues to refill with CO2 until serving pressure is achieved in the keg.  And then someone else comes and tries to pull another pint, and the process repeats until you swap the keg or shut off the gas. 

[docah]

I may be a little off the main thread topic but the SodaStream is only one carbonator and isn't the most cost effective.  Primo sells a "Flavorstation" that costs $29 at Big Lots and uses standard 20oz paintball canisters.  Cheaper to buy, cheaper to refill.  Just a thought.

[Rebecca Stapler]

I may be a little off the main thread topic but the SodaStream is only one carbonator and isn't the most cost effective.  Primo sells a "Flavorstation" that costs $29 at Big Lots and uses standard 20oz paintball canisters.  Cheaper to buy, cheaper to refill.  Just a thought.

Thanks! That's cheaper than buying the sodastream fixit nozzle.

[Spork]

There you go: the good idea just got better.

I'd suspect if it uses paintball canisters from the start, that it would also be moderately simple to find fittings to fit a 20lb tank to it.  It might be as simple as a trip to Home Depot.

[Rebecca Stapler]

Spork, thank you for the post in the first place!

[Mr. Minsc]

I used to drink a lot of pop back in the day.  Around the time I was finishing high school for some reason I made the decision to cut back and started drinking more tap water.  Fortunately we have a private well so I never had to worry about a chlorine taste.  Over time I even cut out those fruit drinks.  Now I can count on one hand the glasses of pop I have in the course of a year, two if you add other sugary drinks.

It's kind of same with things like salads.  There was a time the only way I would want to eat lettuce was with some sort of dressing.  Now if I choose I can take a leaf of lettuce and eat it plain without it it tasting bland.  I say this shows a lot of our dislikes are simply things made up in our heads. :)

[DocCyane]

Spork, thanks for the tips. I looked into soda stream before but the CO tanks sound expensive. I will check out that CO2 Doctor. Although I might just start cutting up lemon and cucumber slices and put them in tap water instead. I really want to keep a minimalist home without any more extra appliances.

This.

I don't want anymore gadgets or stuff either. I'm content with tap water. My partner likes a little lime in her glass. We're content.

[Quark]

The beer guy was close, but switch to making kombucha instead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those exclamations are how I feel about how you still pay for making bubbly water.

Water, tea, sugar, and a SCOBY. Then you double-ferment in glass bottles and it gets super bubbly, and its good for you! Make the initial SCOBY by pouring in a commercial bottle of kombucha ($4).Then you have a SCOBY 4 life!!

[abhe8]

Sodastream Jet: $80
CO2 Doctor: $100*
15lb CO2 tank at your local welding supply: about $80

Total: $260 for all the damn bubbly water you want forever**.

I've been using mine for well over 6 months on one fill... and it's still going.

*price varies depending on if you add a gauge and how long the hose is
**Refills of CO2 tank run about $20.

ok...so help me out here. is that CO2 tank the big one, maybe 3ft tall, that would sit on the floor?

I really want to make this work. dh and I need to quit the soda habit and we love CO2 water. (no face punches on this one, pls).

i also noticed CO2 doctor sells just an adaptor for the sodastream, so a "regular paintball CO2 tank" can be used. that seems like a better deal, since i dont' have room for the very large CO2 tank in my kitchen.

but i know nothing about paintball. how to do i find a local place to get the thing refilled? and check on the cost.

[abhe8]

I may be a little off the main thread topic but the SodaStream is only one carbonator and isn't the most cost effective.  Primo sells a "Flavorstation" that costs $29 at Big Lots and uses standard 20oz paintball canisters.  Cheaper to buy, cheaper to refill.  Just a thought.

awesome! help me make this happen. i have a big lots, so i can buy the flavorstation.

where and how do I go about getting a 20oz paintball canister, both to buy it initially, and to get ti refilled?

thanks so much!!

[Spork]

ok...so help me out here. is that CO2 tank the big one, maybe 3ft tall, that would sit on the floor?

Mine is "about knee height" at the valve.  It sits on the floor.  I actually built a little shelf in the pantry for it.  Sodastream sits at about counter height with a hose that drops through a hole to the tank on the floor.

I really want to make this work. dh and I need to quit the soda habit and we love CO2 water. (no face punches on this one, pls).

i also noticed CO2 doctor sells just an adaptor for the sodastream, so a "regular paintball CO2 tank" can be used. that seems like a better deal, since i dont' have room for the very large CO2 tank in my kitchen.

but i know nothing about paintball. how to do i find a local place to get the thing refilled? and check on the cost.

While the paintball tank is "cheaper than the sodastream CO2" ... it is still small.   I think they're about 20oz of CO2 if my google-fu is working.  I don't know how much it costs to refill.  My 20lb tank is about $20 and lasts me more than a year.

[acroy]

Club soda! it's just carbonated water. $0.59 per 2 liter as I recall. No investment in gizmos & gadgets.

And I don't know if the welding supply CO2 is 'food grade'. Not sure what all is in there. probably nothing of concern though.

I've gotten hooked on Badass DIY Gatorade Propel:
-tap water
-squirt of "Drink Enhancer" - WallyWorld has Lemon, Sweet Tea, all kinds of flavors
-dash of Morton's Lite Salt

For a few cents you have an imitation $2 Gatorade Propel complete with sodium and potassium.

[Spork]

Club soda! it's just carbonated water. $0.59 per 2 liter as I recall. No investment in gizmos & gadgets.

Lets see... doing math, I get about 20 cents a gallon.  (It actually costs less than that.  The math was based on a quart a day for a year.  I get more than a year out of a tank).  And it's fresh and not flat.  A 2 liter will be slightly flat on the second day. 

At $0.59 per 2 liter... that's over $100 a year (at the rate I drink the stuff).  2 years and change and you've paid for the gizmo. 

I'm sure the payback depends on your consumption rate.  I drink a lot of it.

And I don't know if the welding supply CO2 is 'food grade'. Not sure what all is in there. probably nothing of concern though.

I can't speak for all localities, but around here: that's who supplies the restaurants.  It's also who supplies hospitals with oxygen.  They're generally full service gas suppliers.

[acroy]

Spork I should have amended that I don't go through much - maybe a 2 liter a week at most. Yep it sure does start to go flat...  For heavy club soda drinkers yes indeed the gizmos make sense.

Interesting on the gas supply. I've often been curious just how clean it is.

[dantownehall]

Iced tea (unsweetened of course) is what got me to give up Coke.

Super cheap if you make it yourself!

[annaraven]

Club soda! it's just carbonated water. $0.59 per 2 liter as I recall. No investment in gizmos & gadgets.

Lets see... doing math, I get about 20 cents a gallon.  (It actually costs less than that.  The math was based on a quart a day for a year.  I get more than a year out of a tank).  And it's fresh and not flat.  A 2 liter will be slightly flat on the second day. 

At $0.59 per 2 liter... that's over $100 a year (at the rate I drink the stuff).  2 years and change and you've paid for the gizmo. 

I'm sure the payback depends on your consumption rate.  I drink a lot of it.

And I don't know if the welding supply CO2 is 'food grade'. Not sure what all is in there. probably nothing of concern though.

I can't speak for all localities, but around here: that's who supplies the restaurants.  It's also who supplies hospitals with oxygen.  They're generally full service gas suppliers.

We go through a couple liters of sodastream sparkling water a day. Sometimes more. And that's saving us a lot compared to buying the flats of fizzy water I used to buy.

I'll have to check out the option of adapting it though. Nice idea. Thanks!

[Thegoblinchief]

At our consumption levels, we use up the $15 Sodastream canister in 2-3 months, which requires an annoying clown car trip to the nearest exchange location. That said, it's a fraction of what premade stuff costs. Our consumption isn't high enough to warrant investing in extra CO2 stuff to save money on refills.

I'm trying to stick to the "water only" challenge (mixed results), but I've been soda free (sugary and diet) for close to six months. I hated plain seltzer at first, and now willingly drink it. It's actually quite tasty. When I allow myself something other than water, it's typically seltzer+splash of Montmorency (sour) cherry juice with some lemon or lime juice. DW likes the same thing, plus some vodka ;) She's been soda free for a few months now.

[Grateful Stache]

I used to drink a ton of soda too (half dozen or more cans a day of Mountain Dew).

Holy crap!