Sodastream saves on pop

Making pop at home is fast, fun and economical with Sodastream. The device is to pop what Keurig is to coffee.

Sodastream requires a good amount of trial and error. To use the device, you press a button to carbonate a bottle of water with carbon dioxide, and then you mix in the syrup. It takes a few attempts before you figure out the right amounts of carbon dioxide and syrup.

It's also a process of discovering which flavors work for you. Many of the flavors claim to compare to well-known brands. Fountain Mist doesn't hold a candle to Mountain Dew, but Pete's Choice is a tasty take on Dr. Pepper. Energy tastes just like Red Bull, which is not necessarily a good thing.

Some of the standards such as root beer are great while others like cherry cola fall short. There are several random flavors worth trying, like my current favorite green tea pomegranate peach. Some of the diet flavors don't taste right, but the regular versions are already healthier than most pop since they use Splenda and don't use high-fructose corn syrup.

If you commit to using it for an extended period of time, Sodastream can save you money. The standard device retails for $80 and each container of syrup costs $5, so the initial cost is high. However, each container of syrup makes the equivalent of 33 cans. With 24 packs going for around $8 these days, the savings add up quickly.

The device is also environmentally conscious by eliminating the waste of cans and bottles.

You have to gamble on whether you will enjoy the flavors, but Sodastream is worth the money and quickly pays for itself.