AIBU to think shop-bought sparkling water tastes better than SodaStream?

[Noshadowsinthedarkness]

Does anyone else find shop bought sparkling water tastes better than soda stream fizzy?

I am missing something obvious as to why…. maybe I over or under fizz?

Got to add I do really like the soda stream machine. Best 30th gift ever and it’s still going strong.

Totally agree - think there's more sodium in shop sparkling water than in regular tap water.

My friend has a soda stream and the Pepsi max is revolting - I’m not sure if she’s making it properly but I wouldn’t be rushing out to get one myself!

I like pellegrino
And Lidls version

That would make sense that it’s the water rather than the bubbles.

I don’t think you can recreate pop in it really.

I do like things like elderflower and other cordials though, they don’t need the caffeine and sugar to taste really good.

British tap water is horrible. You can smell the chlorine. The soda stream will make it more noticeable. If you filter it, then leave it on the fridge to degas before fizzing, it will taste better.

@TheVeryAngryBanana My Scottish tap water is gorgeous! 😃

Is it hard or soft ?
Soft tastes much better imo.

I can’t smell any chlorine in my water….

My tap water is great. Soda steam for fizzy water, lime/elderflower/posh cordial and soda

If you live outside the uk, you really notice it when you visit. I never noticed when I lived there. The flip side is that the UK has some of the safest tap water in the world, even compared to mainland Europe.

It’s the added stuff in bottled water that makes it taste better. Babies aren’t allowed bottled water due to maybe sodium and other minerals.

I'm so disappointed with my soda stream. I don't like any of the syrups ,in spite of loving fizzy drinks like coke normally

My soda stream doesn't get the water as fizzy as I like, no matter how many pumps I use. It also then doesn't stay fizzy for long

I really wanted to love it and stop buying the big bottles of fizzy water but it just isn't anywhere near the same

I drink a lot of sparkling water and had been considering a soda stream, but you have all put me off a bit now!

I use a jug filter for water in my soda stream and add monin strawberry syrups to it (I’m allergic to aspartame and some form of sweetener is in every one of their syrups), works well for me. I also pick up things like grape and butterscotch syrups in the European shops which work well.

I love my soda stream! But I have lovely soft tap water that tastes amazing anyway.

Because you can control the fizz you can make it as fizzy or as not fizzy as you like.

I also sometime add a couple of flakes of really high quality sea salt to the glass before adding the gently fizzed water for that premium sparkling water taste. The rest of the time I super fizz it sonit makes my eyes water when I drink it.

I don't like post mix syrup generally even when out so I only use my soda stream for water.

Flakes of salt is interesting, I’ll give that a go.

The water here is pretty good. I notice the chlorine when in other parts of the UK. Not long since I had to buy bottled water when in Wales as the chlorine smell was just too much.

Love my soda stream, so much better than having endless empty plastic bottles.

But our water here is gorgeous 😍 straight from the Lake District.

Maybe we’re nose blind to it? Like Americans don’t think their bread is sweet.

It is definitely saltier. But I don’t think adding flakes of salt to your water is a good plan in the long term, sounds unhealthy and bad for your kidneys.

My tap water (also Scotland) is bloody gorgeous. Really fresh and clean tasting. Fizzes up a treat too.