askchapo

My parents got an adapter from Amazon that allows them to attach an actual standard CO2 tank, purchased at a local gas company, to the soda machine, which they get refilled every so often. The gas company also refills used SodaStream canisters, so they also get those recharged to use as backups when the standard tank runs low.

It looks like you can buy some kind of adapter for generic CO2 canisters: https://www.theverge.com/23631306/sodastream-bad-deal-west-carbonator-alternative-diy-seltzer-hacks

All carbonated drinks are sinful

I got alternatives at home hardware. It's some Quebec company. The cartridges are way cheaper than sodastream too. However, I've only seen them in the one place, everywhere else only has sodastream cans.

There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. Unless you’re truly going to lead a boycott movement, this isn’t going to make a difference. Anything else was probably made in a sweatshop by the hands of heavily exploited workers. Enjoy your life.

I have a homemade wine supplies shop near me that fills the bottles I already had and gives them back for less than half a replacement. I would assume many such places are equipped to fill CO2 canisters all around the world. I think they also do it at the hardware store.

you can buy CO2 at welding supply shops. much cheaper than soda stream, of course you need to pay the $100 dollar deposit for the cylinder. most shops also have "beverage grade" CO2, which is probably less pure if anything than the regular labeled CO2, both are fine, and will likely give you a tank with a siphon if you ask, which you'll want. If your cylinder doesn't have a siphon, you'll need to hold it above your tank, upside down, which is a minor inconvenience with a 10lb or larger tank..

from there, either get a hose and adapter which connects directly to your soda stream from the cylinder, or some hoses and adapters for filling your existing CO2 tanks. paintball gun tanks can also be used with an adapter, though they'll be wider than the sodastream ones, and might not have the clearance for your machine, or wont let the plastic cover go back on.

Most Soda-stream tanks have an anti-backflow valve, which requires going slowly and carefully to fill up, or replacing the valve and then you can fill it up normally. freeze your tanks before filling, and you'll be able to fill them up more. weigh them while you do it, the cylinders will have a rated weight and tare engraved on the neck.

also, the route with the fewest tools, is to unscrew the valve, and funnel in the appropriate weight of crushed dry ice, and then screw the valve back on. sounds more expensive in the long run, and potentially dangerous.

Nobody asked but for syrup i use snow cone syrup instead.