I enjoy carbonated water. I used to buy bottles every few days and lug them up the stairs to the condo. It’s cheap, but it’s a hassle. And I don’t like having so many bottles to dispose of all the time.
I’d considered a SodaStream machine, but for the amount of water I drink, it’d be too expensive.
So I started making it at home.
Resources
There are quite a few articles out there, but they’re mostly rewrites or summaries of the Richard Kinch page, listed below. Read that first.
My Setup
The Parts
- CO2 tank. I went to a local Airgas shop to get this. I left a deposit for the tank, then had it filled, and took it home. When I need refills, I trade the empty tank for a full one and pay for a refill. (Don’t forget to remove your regulator before trading in.)
- CO2 regulator. Pictured above is the Kegco KC LH-542 Premium Pro Series Dual Gauge. (Amazon)
- Ball lock. Pictured above is the Beverage Factory 40 27-1100-77 Ball Lock 1/4” MFL Becker Home Brew Beer Coupler Keg Tap. (Amazon)
- Hose. Pictured above KegWorks Air Line Jumper 5’ with Screw Clamps. (Amazon)
- Carbonation cap. I started with the plastic CarbaCap, but I don’t recommend it. It will fail eventually if you use it a lot. I replaced it with the All Brew Supplies 325 Stainless Carbonation Cap. I like that this is stainless steel, not plastic, so it should last. (Amazon)
- O-rings. Eventually, the O-ring stretches out and you need to replace it. (Amazon)
Tips
- Read the Kinch article linked above. Again.
- Use very cold water. I would fill a bottle 1/4 and freeze it. Then whack it on the counter top to break the ice. Then fill it with water. Then carbonate it.
- You can buy an empty tank on Amazon or eBay, then bring that in and get it filled and refilled.
- Try flavoring the water with Mio or similar products.