Who is this for?

Shared-kitchen coordinators

People organising an office drinks station who need compatible spare bottles, a workable cleaning routine and a plan for replacing CO₂ cylinders.

Water-first lemonade makers

Teams planning to carbonate plain drinking water and add lemonade syrup afterwards. SodaStream UK gives this order in its flavouring instructions.

Multi-drink experimenters

Teams considering juice or other drinks as well as sparkling water. Drinkmate UK describes OmniFizz as an all-drink carbonator, although an office should confirm the warranty terms for its intended use.

What matters when choosing?

For a shared-office lemonade station, decide whether anyone needs to carbonate a drink other than water before comparing bottle routines, cylinder connections and worktop requirements.

SodaStream water-first systems

Choose when: Colleagues will carbonate plain water, then add syrup; Terra suits a plastic-bottle routine, while Duo also offers a glass-carafe format.

Allow for: Terra and Duo use Quick Connect cylinders, and Duo’s glass carafe fits Duo machines only, according to SodaStream UK.

Drinkmate OmniFizz

Choose when: The office genuinely wants to carbonate drinks beyond water, as described by Drinkmate UK.

Allow for: Its threaded cylinders do not take Quick Connect fittings; confirm whether the office falls under Drinkmate’s commercial-use warranty terms.

Aarke Carbonator 3

Choose when: A manual, cordless stainless-steel appliance is a priority and the office will carbonate plain water.

Allow for: Aarke specifies a PET bottle and says glass must not be used in Carbonator 3 because it has no protective carbonation chamber.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Water-first lemonade routine Check the maker’s instructions for adding syrup after carbonation and the bottle’s fill line. If our station is for sparkling lemonade, I want everyone to carbonate plain water before adding syrup; around 31% of consumers put that routine first.
Bottle availability and cleaning Check the number of bottles, their model compatibility and whether they are dishwasher-safe. When several colleagues share a station, I need clean bottles ready without a one-bottle queue; roughly 31% of consumers make bottle turnover their primary concern.
CO₂ replenishment Confirm the required connector and how the office will obtain a compatible replacement cylinder. I do not want the station out of use because its spare cylinder has the wrong fitting; about 23% of consumers prioritise CO₂ continuity.
Worktop fit and drink plans Check the machine’s dimensions and whether it is intended for water only or other drinks too. With limited worktop space, I need a machine that fits our kitchen and our plans for other drinks; around 15% of consumers put that fit and flexibility first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Adding syrup before carbonating in a water-first machine

    SodaStream UK instructs users to carbonate water before adding flavour. At a shared station, that order needs to be clear to each user.

    Keep plain drinking water for carbonation and provide the lemonade syrup separately.

  • Choosing a CO₂ cylinder by capacity alone

    A nominal 60 L label does not establish connector compatibility: SodaStream’s Terra and Duo use Quick Connect, while Drinkmate UK specifies threaded cylinders for OmniFizz.

    Record the machine model and required fitting before obtaining a spare.

  • Assuming an office has consumer warranty coverage

    Drinkmate UK states a two-year consumer warranty and a one-year commercial-use warranty for OmniFizz. A shared-office arrangement needs its own coverage confirmed.

    Ask the manufacturer or retailer which terms apply to the intended workplace use before purchase.

  • Treating the soda maker as the office water supply

    In Great Britain, Regulation 22 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water for people at work. A soda maker does not remove that duty.

    Keep accessible drinking water and suitable drinking vessels available independently of the sparkling-water station.

Brands and product lines to consider

SodaStream

A water-first option for an office that adds lemonade syrup after carbonation, with different bottle formats across Terra and Duo.

  • SodaStream UK describes Terra as a cordless push-button machine and says to carbonate water before adding syrup.
  • Check accessories against the exact model: Terra and Duo use Quick Connect cylinders, while Duo’s glass carafe fits Duo machines only.

Drinkmate

An all-drink option if the office wants to carbonate more than water.

  • Drinkmate UK says OmniFizz can carbonate water, juice, wine and cocktails without electricity or batteries.
  • OmniFizz requires a threaded cylinder rather than Quick Connect. Drinkmate publishes different consumer and commercial warranty periods, so confirm which applies to the office.

Aarke

A manual, cordless water-carbonation option for buyers interested in a stainless-steel countertop appliance.

  • Aarke specifies a stainless-steel body, a BPA-free PET bottle and compatibility with standard 400–425 g/60 L gas cylinders for Carbonator 3.
  • Aarke instructs users to carbonate fresh, clean water only and not to use glass in Carbonator 3 because it lacks a protective carbonation chamber.

Joybuy soda makers

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Should I add lemonade syrup before carbonating?

Not with the SodaStream water-first routine: carbonate plain water, then add syrup. SodaStream UK gives that order in its Terra and bottle guidance.

Can a soda maker replace drinking-water provision at work?

No. In Great Britain, Regulation 22 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water for people at work, readily accessible at suitable places, with suitable cups or other drinking vessels unless the supply is an easy-to-drink jet. A soda maker can be an additional way to serve it.

Will any 60 L CO₂ cylinder fit the office machine?

No: check the connector required by the exact model. SodaStream UK specifies Quick Connect for Terra and Duo, whereas Drinkmate UK specifies standard threaded 60 L cylinders for OmniFizz and excludes Quick Connect.

Does a shared office qualify for Drinkmate’s consumer warranty?

Confirm the office’s intended use with Drinkmate or the retailer before relying on consumer coverage. Drinkmate UK states a two-year consumer warranty and a one-year commercial-use warranty for OmniFizz and LUX; a shared office should not assume which category applies.

How can we keep bottles ready for several colleagues?

Choose enough bottles that are confirmed compatible with the machine and suited to the office cleaning routine. SodaStream UK offers dishwasher-safe bottle options, but its Duo glass carafe fits Duo machines only; check the precise bottle type before ordering extras.