DrinkMate OmniFizz
What We Like & Don't Like
✓ Pros
- Carbonates anything — juice, wine, cocktails, tea, flat soda
- Fizz Infuser prevents overflow — patented pressure-release system
- Uses standard CO2 cylinders — cheaper refills than quick-connect
- Two bottle sizes — 1L and 500ml included
- Reasonable price — only $20 more than Terra
- Fun for experimenting — sparkling cocktails, fizzy lemonade, etc.
✗ Cons
- More complex operation — extra step to release pressure
- Basic plastic build — doesn't look premium
- Bottles need thorough cleaning — sticky residue from sugary drinks
- Screw-in cylinders — slightly less convenient than quick-connect
- Less mainstream — fewer accessories and support options
In This Review
How It Works (And Why Others Can't)
SodaStream machines are designed for water only. Why? When you carbonate a sugary or acidic liquid, it foams up violently — think Mentos in Diet Coke. Without a way to release that pressure safely, you'd have a sticky explosion.
DrinkMate solves this with their patented Fizz Infuser system. Here's how it differs:
SodaStream (Water Only)
- Insert bottle
- Press to carbonate
- Remove bottle immediately
DrinkMate (Any Beverage)
- Insert bottle with Fizz Infuser cap
- Press to carbonate
- Remove bottle WITH machine attached
- Slowly release pressure via Fizz Infuser
- Remove cap when pressure equalized
The extra step takes about 20-30 seconds. It's not complicated, but it is slower than a SodaStream. For water-only users, it's an unnecessary step. For cocktail enthusiasts, it's what makes the magic possible.
⚠️ Can You Carbonate Beverages in a SodaStream?
Technically yes, but don't. Carbonating juice or wine in a SodaStream can cause overflow, damage the machine, and voids your warranty. The DrinkMate is specifically designed for this — SodaStream is not.
Key Specifications
What Can You Actually Carbonate?
We tested a bunch of beverages. Here's what works:
✓ Works Great
- Water — obviously, works perfectly
- Juice — sparkling orange juice is excellent
- Wine — instant "champagne" (sort of)
- Iced tea — sparkling iced tea is refreshing
- Lemonade — homemade sparkling lemonade
- Cocktail mixers — mojitos, spritzes, etc.
⚠️ Works But Be Careful
- Flat soda — yes, you can re-fizz flat Coke
- Beer — can revive flat beer, but results vary
- Milk — technically possible, but why would you
✗ Don't Try
- Hot beverages — CO2 doesn't dissolve well in warm liquids
- Thick liquids — smoothies, pulpy juice = mess
- Alcohol over 15% — spirits don't carbonate well and waste CO2
🍸 Best Use Case: Cocktails
The DrinkMate shines for homemade sparkling cocktails. Make a batch of sangria or mojito mix, carbonate it, and serve. It's a genuine party trick that impresses guests.
Carbonation Performance
For water, the DrinkMate performs identically to SodaStream. Same carbonation quality, same fizz levels.
For other beverages, performance depends on:
- Temperature — colder = better. Refrigerate before carbonating.
- Sugar content — sugary drinks foam more, need more careful pressure release
- Existing carbonation — fully flat drinks carbonate better than partially flat
In our testing, juice and wine carbonated beautifully. The result isn't quite as fine-bubbled as professionally carbonated beverages, but it's genuinely good.
DrinkMate vs SodaStream
| Feature | DrinkMate OmniFizz | SodaStream Terra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.99 | $89.99 |
| Can Carbonate | Any beverage | Water only |
| CO2 System | Screw-in | Quick-connect |
| Ease of Use | Extra pressure-release step | Simpler |
| Build Quality | Basic plastic | Basic plastic |
| Bottle Cleaning | More important | Less critical |
| Best For | Cocktail enthusiasts | Sparkling water drinkers |
The decision is simple: If you only want sparkling water, get the SodaStream Terra. It's $20 cheaper and easier to use. If you want to carbonate cocktails, juice, or wine, the DrinkMate is your only real option.
Who Should Buy the DrinkMate
✓ Buy the DrinkMate if you:
- Want to carbonate cocktails, juice, or wine
- Host parties and want a conversation piece
- Like experimenting with beverages
- Don't mind the extra pressure-release step
- Want standard CO2 cylinders (cheaper refills)
✗ Skip the DrinkMate if you:
Final Verdict
DrinkMate OmniFizz
Best for cocktails & versatility
The DrinkMate OmniFizz fills a niche that no other mainstream soda maker addresses. If you've ever wanted sparkling orange juice, fizzy wine, or carbonated cocktails at home, this is literally your only option.
It's not as polished as SodaStream and requires an extra step, but for the right user — someone who hosts, experiments, or just wants more than sparkling water — it's genuinely useful and fun.
Includes 1L + 500ml bottles
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See also: Is a Soda Maker Worth It? · CO2 Refill Guide