I'm going to suppose that if you have arrived on this hub, you like soda.  That is very cool, in my opinion, because I too like soda.  When I go shopping and arrive at the soda aisle, I sometimes feel guilty.  It's not the sugar, nor the calories, for me. No, something else makes me feel guilty about soda. It's the cost.  The major brands run a couple dollars for a two-liter bottle.  The off-brands save you money, but go flat faster.  It makes me wish I could have my own soda fountain in my home.  Well, a soda fountain won't work in my kitchen, but there is something much more practical available -- a soda maker.  Mmm....  Yummy, yummy.

If you like soda, your own home soda maker may be a sound purchase.

So what are we talking about here, when we talk about a soda maker.  First off, it's not a soda fountain, like you find in fast food restaurants.  If you have the space and money for one of those, excellent!  Color me ever so jealous.

What we're talking about is a system with which you can turn your tap water into soda.  It is a very cool type of appliance that won't take up much space in your kitchen at all.  There are a couple of different soda makers available.  These appliances go by brand names like Soda-Club and Sodastream. 

The systems are sleek and cool, and enable you to infuse your kitchen's tap water with carbonation.  You can stop right there and have a nice sparkling water, or you can add flavoring for a genuine soda.  Sodastream sells a package with a dozen flavors.

If you are trying to save money, this type of appliance outdoes store-bought soda on cost.  Buy a six-pack of a major soda, and even on special, you will pay more than fifty cents per 12 ounces.  With your own soda maker, you will be paying less than 30 cents for 12 ounces.  That is a big savings!

On flavor and the more aesthetic fizz-factor, soda makers also win.  With this type of machine, you control the amount of fizz.  If you want to make your own Italian sodas (which are lighter in carbonation than your average can of pop), with a home soda maker, you can do it.  Now, if mega-fizz appeals to you, then you can dial the carbonation in that direction, too.

Another big plus for buying one of these soda makers is how owning one may help the environment.  If green living means something to you, take this into account.  If you're making your own soda from tap water, you are arguably helping the environment in two ways.  One, with the reduction in bottles and cans to contain the soda you would buy in the store.  (Reducing is better than recycling any day of the week.)  Two, with the reduction in fossil fuels burned (and pollutants put into the atmosphere) to transport store-bought soda to the store.

Between flavor, savings, and helping the environment, a home soda maker may make you feel good in more ways than one.