SodaStream sparkling water maker ART

If you want sparkling water on demand, the SodaStream ART gives you a hands-on way to make it at home. Its signature lever also makes it more of a visible countertop appliance than a machine meant to disappear.

The bundle includes two Quick Connect CO2 cylinders, two reusable bottles, and two bubly Flavor Drops. That gives you the basics for making fizzy water and adding flavor without starting with a separate shopping list.

If you prioritize adjusting the fizz yourself, the lever-based approach has appeal, if you prefer preset carbonation levels, a more automated style may be a better fit. The ART's carbonation strength is controlled by how many times you press the lever.

Where it shines

The main draw is flexibility. Start with tap water, carbonate it, and drink it plain, add a bubly Flavor Drop, or finish it with citrus. For example, you can make a bottle of sparkling water before dinner, pour a glass, then flavor the rest differently rather than committing the whole batch to one taste.

The retro-inspired design and prominent lever give the ART a distinct look on the counter. That may matter if you plan to use it often and want it within reach, rather than storing it away between uses. The product description says it fits under most upper cabinets, though it does not give exact dimensions.

What matters most

This is a manual carbonation system, so the amount of fizz is something you shape with lever presses: one press for a lighter result, more for livelier bubbles. That hands-on control is useful when household preferences differ, but it also means the result depends on how you use the lever rather than a stated preset selection.

The bundle includes two 60L Quick Connect CO2 cylinders, each cylinder is described as making up to 60 liters of sparkling water. When a cylinder runs low, SodaStream says it can be returned and exchanged for a refill through participating retailers. The two included bottles are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, which makes cleanup more straightforward than hand-washing a reusable bottle after each round. The two bubly Flavor Drops add another option beyond plain water.

Worth considering if you want a reusable countertop soda maker that can handle plain fizz and flavored drinks, and you like choosing the carbonation strength as you go. Without having tried it, the practical tradeoff is clear: this approach gives you manual control, but not the convenience of selecting a fixed fizz setting and walking away.

Maintenance

The included bottles are dishwasher-safe, so routine bottle cleaning does not have to mean washing by hand. CO2 is the ongoing part to plan for: the cylinders are reusable through SodaStream's exchange process at participating retailers. The listing also describes a mail-in refill subscription, but that is a separate service rather than a reason to assume refills are included indefinitely.

The product description does not specify a cleaning routine for the machine itself. It is sensible to distinguish bottle care from appliance care rather than assume the whole unit can be washed the same way. It may not suit you if you want a drink maker with no cylinder exchange to manage or prefer buying ready-to-drink sparkling water without countertop equipment.

Buying verdict

The ART makes the most sense for someone who expects to carbonate water regularly and values having control over the fizz, with bottles and flavor drops included to get started. It offers a different kind of convenience from stocking cans or bottles: you make sparkling water when you want it, then choose whether to keep it plain or add flavor.

Choose another approach if you rarely drink sparkling water, do not want to keep track of CO2 exchanges, or need exact machine dimensions before deciding where it will sit. For a household that will use the lever and reusable bottles often, the bundle's two cylinders and two bottles give the purchase a practical starting point, the main commitment is accepting manual carbonation and ongoing cylinder refills.