What Didja Get For Christmas?

[auntiehill]

^Thanks! I've toyed with getting one for awhile, but they're a bit too pricey for me to buy on a whim.

 

[trekkiedane]

^Back when I was a kid and lived with my parents (more than thirty years ago), mum and I bought a Soda Stream together -they have always been a bit on the pricey side

I found (back then) that using non-Soda Stream syrups was the way to make good sodas

 

[auntiehill]

At last night's party, I picked up some gifts from friends I haven't seen in awhile--I got some new pjs and a book, along with some lovely, blue ceramic bake-ware. Score!

 

[Venardhi]

^Back when I was a kid and lived with my parents (more than thirty years ago), mum and I bought a Soda Stream together -they have always been a bit on the pricey side

I found (back then) that using non-Soda Stream syrups was the way to make good sodas

I really wanted one and was on the lookout for a good deal the last few months, but doing the math I found that even just using it to make seltzer water it would probably never pay itself off due to the insane cost of the refills. Having a proprietary non-refillable cartridge is bullshit.

 

[Amaris]

Soda streams sound nice. I'd try to carbonate everything, though. I wonder what carbonated chocolate milk tastes like?

 

[Venardhi]

I suspect that milk is not recommended for use in such a thing. It is why you generally mix the syrup in after you add the carbonation. Keeps it from just turning into a foamy mess.

 

[cooleddie74]

I've never owned nor even used one of those machines but I've heard some good things about them. Can't say that I'd ever buy one but I do wonder what homemade soda would taste like.

 

[trekkiedane]

/.../ I do wonder what homemade soda would taste like.

That's the point: homemade soda'll taste like anything you'd like it to taste like

 

[cooleddie74]

I meant would it be just as good as or superior to store-bought brands. Some say it's not but that could just mean that those persons didn't use the mixtures and combinations necessary. I'm sure I could come up with some wild flavors, but would they be comparable to what I could buy in a supermarket?

Interesting technology.

 

[trekkiedane]

I meant would it be just as good as or superior to store-bought brands. Some say it's not but that could just mean that those persons didn't use the mixtures and combinations necessary. I'm sure I could come up with some wild flavors, but would they be comparable to what I could buy in a supermarket?

Interesting technology.

I find it difficult to find blackcurrant soda in the stores... and the raspberry sodas you can find around here are either very pricey or have a distinctive 'chemical' tang to them. - But it's simple to make or find quite good syrups to pour into any kind of "bubbly water"

 

[Sephiroth]

I meant would it be just as good as or superior to store-bought brands. Some say it's not but that could just mean that those persons didn't use the mixtures and combinations necessary. I'm sure I could come up with some wild flavors, but would they be comparable to what I could buy in a supermarket?

Interesting technology.

Their colas taste like generic store brands, they do have a few name brands, which taste great (Fizzy ocean spray cranberry is the tits). Haven't tried their fruit flavored drinks yet, but I'm gonna look into making my own syrups.

 

[cooleddie74]

Guess I'm going to have to get my hands on one of these and experiment with it. Pure sugar sodas are generally a thing of the past here in the States (except for the "Throwback" Pepsis, Dr. Peppers and Mountain Dews, but those are a tiny minority of the market at the moment) and I prefer the way colas and other sodas tasted when I was a kid and teenager. Cleaner, crisper and not as heavy.

 

[Sephiroth]

^Back when I was a kid and lived with my parents (more than thirty years ago), mum and I bought a Soda Stream together -they have always been a bit on the pricey side

I found (back then) that using non-Soda Stream syrups was the way to make good sodas

I really wanted one and was on the lookout for a good deal the last few months, but doing the math I found that even just using it to make seltzer water it would probably never pay itself off due to the insane cost of the refills. Having a proprietary non-refillable cartridge is bullshit.

you can refill them at certain stores

 

[auntiehill]

Guess I'm going to have to get my hands on one of these and experiment with it. Pure sugar sodas are generally a thing of the past here in the States (except for the "Throwback" Pepsis, Dr. Peppers and Mountain Dews, but those are a tiny minority of the market at the moment) and I prefer the way colas and other sodas tasted when I was a kid and teenager. Cleaner, crisper and not as heavy.

You should try to get the Mexican Coke; they still use the pure cane sugar, and not the corn syrup. It's really nice. All our local grocery stores carry it, but it's on the "International" food aisles.

 

[Captain Ice]

Guess I'm going to have to get my hands on one of these and experiment with it. Pure sugar sodas are generally a thing of the past here in the States (except for the "Throwback" Pepsis, Dr. Peppers and Mountain Dews, but those are a tiny minority of the market at the moment) and I prefer the way colas and other sodas tasted when I was a kid and teenager. Cleaner, crisper and not as heavy.

You should try to get the Mexican Coke; they still use the pure cane sugar, and not the corn syrup. It's really nice. All our local grocery stores carry it, but it's on the "International" food aisles.

Same with Fanta and Sprite here. Strangely enough, you can buy them at any non-Lowe's/Home Depot hardware store here.

As for Christmas:

Received:

$100 check
Burger King giftcard
Barnes and Noble giftcard
Dutch Bros giftcard
2 trek books from my TrekBBS Secret Santa
Foodsaver machine
Several books
Star Trek The Next Generation Trivia, Exploration, and Discovery game
Star Trek PS3 game
VCR/DVD Recorder

Gave:

Pandora charm for my girlfriend
TARDIS 50th anniversary ornament for my middle brother
The Big Bang Theory Season 6 for my sister in law
A Star Wars Lego A-Wing for my nephew
Barbie Fashionista and a Barbie movie for my niece
A leather purse with a Western motif and an angel ornament for my Mom
Harkins' Theaters Souvenir t-shirt and cup for my girlfriend's son (free popcorn and $1.50 sodas at the movies for a year)
The Big Bang Theory Seasons 5 and 6 for my other brother
A CD and fingerless gloves for my Secret Santa recipient
Several tins of homemade cookies, candied walnuts, and Peppermint bark for my coworkers
Cannister of Godiva hot cocoa for my boss

 

[Venardhi]

^Back when I was a kid and lived with my parents (more than thirty years ago), mum and I bought a Soda Stream together -they have always been a bit on the pricey side

I found (back then) that using non-Soda Stream syrups was the way to make good sodas

I really wanted one and was on the lookout for a good deal the last few months, but doing the math I found that even just using it to make seltzer water it would probably never pay itself off due to the insane cost of the refills. Having a proprietary non-refillable cartridge is bullshit.

you can refill them at certain stores

Aren't those just trade-in locations? From what I've seen, the cartridges are specifically designed not to be refillable. Otherwise people would just get adapters and refill them for pennies on the dollar. Online, I've actually found a few "alternative" methods for refilling like getting an adapter to use with non-official cartridges or manually opening the cartridges to fill with equivalent amounts of dry ice(which then sublimates and condenses and hopefully doesn't blow out in the process). Seems like someone would have figured out by now to make one without the proprietary cartridges and undercut sodastream. The syrups are still practically pure profit after all, and I would personally pay more knowing my refills would be cheaper.