Imbibe will be closed on October 3, 4, 17, 18, 25, and 26. Please expect delays in responses during this time.

The 4 best soda makers we tested in 2021

In the last few years, seltzer has become more than just a beverage — it’s become a way of life. From fan-favorite La Croix to Sanzo, which was founded by a Filipino-American entrepreneur and focuses on Asian flavors like calamansi, to the well-hyped Travis Scott-endorsed hard seltzer, we just love the fizzy stuff. But keeping a fridge stocked with seltzer can both add up in cost and take up a lot of space, so investing in a soda maker might be the solution.

Soda makers work by injecting CO2 into a liquid. Some machines want you to stick to plain water and add flavorings after the fact, while others allow you to carbonate beverages like juice, tea, and wine.

How does carbonation work?

I spoke with beverage scientist Adam Johnson of Imbibe, and he explained that carbonation is simply the suspension of carbon dioxide gas in a liquid. A soda maker forces a concentrated stream of gas into water to create soda.

Johnson explained that we find carbonated beverages so appealing because it actually causes us a very low-level pain. Think of it like enjoying a hot sauce or spicy food. “You get a little bit of a body response to the spicy food, but people like it,” he said. “It might just be kind of that, um, you know, people like pushing their body to certain limits. This is just a very, very low-end pain that people enjoy.”

Read the full article on Business Insider.

Keep Reading:

A First Look at What’s on Deck at SupplySide 2026 Booth 2045

SupplySide Global will be here before you know it, and we're putting the finishing touches on what you'll get to taste, see, and dig into at Booth 2045.
READ MORE

From the Bench to the Brief: Imbibe’s Lauren Senne on the Science Behind Great-Tasting Beverages

The conversation goes deep on the technical realities most founders don't encounter until they're already mid-formulation, like how taste modulation works at the receptor level and why sugar reduction changes more than sweetness.
READ MORE

#TrendSpotting: The Cloud Effect

Consumers are chasing a particular kind of texture: light, airy, whipped. The word "cloud" just happens to be what the culture reached for to describe it.
READ MORE

Notice: Holiday Closure

Imbibe will be closed April 2, 3, 8, and 9. Please expect some delays in our response during these dates.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.