Who is each type for?

Water-then-syrup cottage hosts

If guests will make lemonade by fizzing plain drinking water and adding syrup afterwards, a water-only machine covers that routine. SodaStream UK gives this sequence for its flavour syrups.

Hosts serving mixed sparkling drinks

If guests are likely to carbonate cold juice, tea or cocktails as well as water, look for a machine explicitly intended for those drinks. Drinkmate UK describes that broader use for its machines; follow the chosen model’s filling and pressure-release instructions.

Buyers focused on table service and bottle care

If a glass serving bottle and straightforward cleaning matter at the cottage, compare the bottle supplied with each model. Aarke UK lists a dishwasher-safe glass bottle for the Carbonator Pro, but bottle compatibility must be checked by model.

What matters when choosing?

Water-only carbonator

Choose it when: The cottage routine is sparkling drinking water with lemonade syrup added afterwards.

Accept the limit: Do not carbonate syrup or other mixed drinks in a model whose instructions specify water only. SodaStream UK and Aarke UK both direct users to add flavour after carbonating water.

Cold-drink carbonator

Choose it when: Guests will also want to carbonate cold drinks other than plain water; Drinkmate UK describes this use for its machines.

Accept the limit: That extra capability is not needed for water-first lemonade, and non-water drinks require the chosen model’s filling and pressure-release procedure.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Drink-making routine Check whether the model is for water only or explicitly permits other cold drinks. For a water-only machine, follow its instructions for adding syrup after carbonation. When guests make lemonade from syrup, I want a machine that fits the water-first routine rather than a capability I will not use; around 45% of consumers put that routine first.
Cylinder and refills Confirm the exact cylinder connection and whether the selected bundle includes a cylinder. Check how you would obtain a compatible refill or return an empty cylinder near the cottage. Between cottage stays, I need a refill arrangement I can actually manage, without buying a cylinder that will not fit; for around 33% of consumers, compatibility and refills are the primary concern.
Bottle and upkeep Check the supplied bottle’s material, cleaning instructions and compatibility with the exact machine model. If the bottle will be served at the table and cleaned after guest use, I care most about how it handles and how it can be washed; around 22% of consumers prioritise bottle format and care.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Adding syrup before using a water-only machine

    SodaStream UK instructs users to carbonate before adding its flavour syrups, while Aarke UK specifies pure water for carbonation. Pre-mixing lemonade would conflict with those directions.

    Carbonate plain drinking water to the bottle’s specified fill line, release pressure as the model instructs, then add syrup and mix gently.

  • Assuming CO₂ cylinders are interchangeable

    SodaStream Terra uses Quick Connect cylinders, while Drinkmate uses threaded cylinders. Aarke UK also excludes Quick Connect for the Carbonator 3, so a cylinder chosen for one model should not be assumed to fit another.

    Match the cylinder to the exact machine and check the selected bundle’s contents before arranging refills for the cottage.

  • Overlooking bundle return terms

    A machine name alone does not tell you what a particular bundle includes or whether its cylinders have return conditions.

    Read the terms for the exact bundle, including any cylinder exchange or return obligations, before choosing it.

  • Putting a pressurised cylinder in household recycling

    The London Borough of Bromley warns against putting gas cylinders in household waste or recycling containers because they can pose risks during collection and processing.

    Check the supplier’s exchange or return route and the council guidance for the cottage’s location. SodaStream UK’s stated direct-purchase return options apply to cylinders bought directly from SodaStream.

Relevant brands to consider

SodaStream

SodaStream UK’s water-carbonator range suits the plain-water-then-syrup routine. Terra is a manual model using Quick Connect cylinders.

  • SodaStream UK explicitly tells users to carbonate water before adding its flavour syrup.
  • The stated routine does not permit syrup to be carbonated in a water-only machine; check the exact bundle’s cylinder terms and refill options.

Drinkmate

Drinkmate UK positions its machines for carbonating cold drinks beyond water, which is relevant if the cottage will serve mixed sparkling beverages.

  • Drinkmate UK describes its Fizz Infuser as suitable for carbonating a range of cold drinks and specifies threaded CO₂ cylinders.
  • For non-water drinks, use the selected model’s filling and pressure-release instructions; the broader drink range is unnecessary for water-first lemonade alone.

Aarke

Aarke UK’s Carbonator Pro is a water-carbonator option for buyers who want a glass bottle for table service.

  • Aarke UK lists the Carbonator Pro with a dishwasher-safe glass bottle used within a protective enclosure during carbonation.
  • Aarke says to carbonate pure water only and add flavour afterwards. Check bottle and cylinder compatibility for the exact model rather than assuming accessories work across the range.

Joybuy product choices

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Can I carbonate lemonade syrup in a water-only soda maker?

No: add syrup after carbonating plain water in a machine whose instructions specify water-only use. SodaStream UK gives that order for its flavour syrups, and Aarke UK says to carbonate pure water only. To carbonate a cold pre-mixed drink instead, choose a model explicitly intended for it and follow that model’s instructions.

Which CO₂ cylinder will fit my cottage soda maker?

Choose the cylinder specified for the exact machine model. SodaStream Terra uses Quick Connect cylinders, whereas Drinkmate uses threaded cylinders; Aarke UK specifies standard threaded cylinders for the Carbonator 3 and excludes Quick Connect. Check the connection and the contents of your chosen bundle before buying a refill.

Can I use a glass bottle with any soda maker?

No: glass-bottle compatibility is model-specific. Aarke UK identifies its Carbonator Pro as a glass-bottle model with a protective enclosure; do not assume that its bottle fits another Aarke machine or a different brand. Check the exact model’s bottle instructions before buying replacements.

What should I do with an empty CO₂ cylinder?

Start with the supplier’s exchange or return instructions and check the council guidance for the cottage’s location. SodaStream UK describes return options for cylinders purchased directly from it. The London Borough of Bromley advises returning gas cylinders to a supplier or retailer where possible and warns against placing pressurised cylinders in household waste or recycling; local arrangements may differ.