Beyond the Seltzer: The Science and Sorcery of Carbonating Anything with the Drinkmate OmniFizz

Introduction: The Universal Allure of the Bubble

There is a primal satisfaction in a carbonated drink. It is a multi-sensory experience that begins before the first sip: the hiss of a container being opened, the visual dance of bubbles rising through liquid, the crisp crackle as they break the surface. Then comes the taste—a unique, zesty tingle on the tongue that cuts through sweetness and quenches thirst with an intensity that still water cannot match. For decades, scientists have explored this allure, discovering that the sensation is more complex than a simple mechanical popping of bubbles. The carbon dioxide (CO2​) dissolved in the beverage reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which in turn interacts with specific enzymes and pain receptors on the tongue, sending a signal to the brain that we interpret as a pleasant, invigorating “bite”. It is a sensation so universally appealing that it has built a global industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

For much of recent history, the ability to create this experience at home was dominated by a single name: SodaStream. The company carved out a significant market by offering consumers a simple proposition: turn your tap water into sparkling water with the press of a button. It was a revolution in convenience, but one built on a fundamental limitation. The technology was designed, and its users explicitly warned, to carbonate water and water alone. This created a market defined by a single function, leaving a vast landscape of other beverages—juices, teas, wines, cocktails—tantalizingly out of reach. The paradigm was set: home carbonation meant seltzer.

Into this established market enters a disruptor, the Drinkmate OmniFizz, armed with a deceptively simple yet transformative claim: it can “carbonate ANY drink”. This promise represents a fundamental shift, moving the home carbonator from a single-purpose utility to a versatile platform for creativity. It suggests a world where flat white wine can be resurrected into a sparkling aperitif, where fresh-squeezed orange juice can be given the effervescence of a premium soda, and where home mixologists can add a new dimension to their cocktails. But with such a bold claim come critical questions. How does this technology actually work where others have failed? Is the underlying science sound, and is the engineering robust? How does the OmniFizz truly stack up against its well-entrenched competitors? And, perhaps most importantly, what are the broader implications of such a device for our kitchens, our health, and our planet? This report will dissect the science, technology, and impact of the Drinkmate OmniFizz to provide a definitive answer.

Section 1: The Physics and Chemistry of Fizz: A Primer

To understand the innovation of the Drinkmate OmniFizz, one must first grasp the fundamental science that governs every bubble in every fizzy drink. The process of carbonation is a delicate interplay of physics and chemistry, and its principles dictate the engineering constraints of any device that seeks to master it.

The Science of Dissolving Gas

At its core, carbonation is the process of dissolving carbon dioxide gas into a liquid. This is primarily governed by a scientific principle known as Henry’s Law, which states that the amount of a gas that can be dissolved in a liquid is directly proportional to the pressure of that gas above the liquid’s surface. Home carbonators like the OmniFizz exploit this law by using a canister of compressed

CO2​ to create a high-pressure environment inside a sealed beverage bottle. This intense pressure forces the CO2​ molecules out of their gaseous state and into solution within the liquid. When the pressure is released by opening the bottle, the equilibrium is broken, and the dissolved gas begins to escape, forming the characteristic bubbles we see and taste.

However, pressure is only half of the equation. The other critical variable is temperature. The solubility of CO2​ in water is inversely related to temperature; in simpler terms, colder liquids can hold significantly more dissolved gas. At a temperature of about 45°F (around 8°C), a liter of water can absorb about 3 grams of

CO2​. At a typical room temperature of 60°F (about 15°C), that capacity drops to just over 2 grams. This physical reality is why the user manuals for the Drinkmate OmniFizz are unequivocal in their recommendation to use very cold beverages, ideally between 33°F and 42°F (0.5°C to 5.5°C), for optimal results. Attempting to carbonate a lukewarm drink is a recipe for disappointment, as the liquid simply cannot absorb and retain enough gas to produce a satisfying fizz.

Once the CO2​ is dissolved, a chemical transformation occurs. The carbon dioxide molecules (CO2​) react with water molecules (H2​O) to form carbonic acid (H2​CO3​), a weak acid. The chemical equation is as follows:

CO2​+H2​O⇌H2​CO3​

This carbonic acid is responsible for more than just the bubbles; it gives carbonated beverages their signature sharp, slightly tangy “bite”. This acidity enhances other flavors and contributes to the refreshing quality of the drink. It also has a mild antibiotic effect, which helps prevent bacterial growth in the beverage. The tingling sensation itself is a fascinating piece of neurological science. It is not caused by the physical popping of bubbles on the tongue, but by the carbonic acid. An enzyme present on our taste buds, carbonic anhydrase 4, accelerates the conversion of the acid back into

CO2​ and water. This process activates specific pain-sensing nerve cells (those incorporating the TRPA1 protein), which our brain interprets not as pain, but as a unique and pleasant tingling or zinging sensation.

These foundational scientific principles are not merely academic. They directly inform the engineering challenges and design choices of any carbonation system. The necessity of high pressure means that the beverage bottles must be robust, specially designed, and pressure-rated, with expiration dates to ensure their integrity. The critical dependence on temperature explains why pre-chilling the liquid is a non-negotiable step for achieving a quality result. Most importantly, the physical and chemical properties of the liquid itself create the single greatest barrier to universal carbonation. Liquids containing sugars, alcohols, proteins, or other solutes have different surface tensions and foaming characteristics than plain water. Injecting high-pressure

CO2​ into a sugary juice or a complex wine will cause a far more violent foaming reaction than it does in water. A system designed only for water, like a traditional SodaStream, has no mechanism to manage this explosive foam. This is precisely why a new engineering approach was required to carbonate “anything,” and it provides the perfect bridge to understanding the core innovation at the heart of the Drinkmate OmniFizz.

Section 2: The Ingenuity of the Fizz Infuser: A Deep Dive into the Technology

For years, the home carbonation market operated under a strict rule: water only. Competitors like SodaStream explicitly warn users against attempting to carbonate any other liquid, as doing so can void the warranty and, more critically, lead to catastrophic failure. The reasons for this limitation are rooted in the engineering challenges established by the science of carbonation.

The Problem with Carbonating More Than Water

The primary obstacle is uncontrolled foaming. The sugars, syrups, and other dissolved solids in beverages like juice, tea, or wine act as nucleation sites—points where CO2​ bubbles can form more easily. These ingredients also increase the liquid’s viscosity, leading to a rapid, explosive, and often unmanageable foam when high-pressure gas is injected. In a machine with a fixed, integrated carbonation nozzle, this foam can surge upwards and back into the machine’s internal mechanism. This creates two problems: an immediate, sticky mess, and the long-term contamination of parts that are impossible to clean, leading to clogs, mold growth, and eventual malfunction.

The Drinkmate Solution: A Patented Detachable System

The Drinkmate OmniFizz overcomes these challenges with a clever and elegant piece of engineering: the patented Fizz Infuser. Rather than building the carbonation and pressure-release mechanism into the machine itself, Drinkmate integrated it into a detachable, washable cap. This single design choice is what unlocks the machine’s unprecedented versatility.

The operational process, detailed across user manuals and instructional videos, is a deliberate, multi-step procedure designed for control and safety :

1. Fill & Attach: The user fills the proprietary PET bottle with any cold, pulp-free beverage. Crucially, the bottle has multiple fill lines; for high-foaming drinks like juice or wine, a lower fill line is used to leave more headspace for foam to expand. The Fizz Infuser is then screwed securely onto the bottle.
2. Lock & Carbonate: The entire bottle-and-infuser assembly is slid into the machine’s adapter at a 45-degree angle and then tilted into a locked, vertical position. The user then presses the button on top of the machine to inject CO2​. The manual stresses the importance of using short, controlled bursts—around 0.25 seconds each for highly foamy liquids—allowing the bubbles to settle between presses. Carbonation continues until a distinct hissing sound is heard, indicating the bottle has reached maximum pressure and the safety valve is releasing excess gas.
3. Shake & Infuse: After detaching the pressurized assembly from the machine, the user is encouraged to gently shake or swirl the bottle. This agitation increases the surface contact between the pressurized gas in the headspace and the liquid, helping more of the
   CO2​ to dissolve completely and ensuring a fizzier final product.

While these steps are important, the true genius of the system is revealed in the depressurization process. This is where the two-stage pressure release—the “secret sauce” of the technology—comes into play.

• Stage 1: Slow Release Valve: On top of the Fizz Infuser is a small, chrome-colored tab. When lifted, it opens a tiny valve that allows the high-pressure gas to bleed off slowly. This gives the user precise control. If the beverage begins to foam up dangerously close to the cap, the user can simply push the tab back down, closing the valve and stopping the release. They can then wait a few moments for the foam to subside before lifting the tab again to continue releasing pressure. This iterative, manually controlled depressurization is the patented process that makes it possible to safely carbonate even the foamiest of liquids without mess or overflow.
• Stage 2: Fast Release Button: Once the foam is stable and most of the pressure has been gently bled off, a larger blue button on the infuser can be pressed. This opens a wider valve, releasing the remaining low-level pressure quickly and safely, finalizing the process before the cap is removed.

Finally, the design solves the cleaning problem. Because the entire carbonation and release process happens within the Fizz Infuser, the main machine body never comes into contact with the beverage. After use, the infuser is simply unscrewed from the bottle and rinsed thoroughly under warm running water, ready for the next creation.

This elegant design, however, reveals a classic engineering trade-off: versatility comes at the price of simplicity. A traditional SodaStream offers a brutally simple workflow: insert bottle, press button, remove bottle. It is hyper-optimized for a single task. The OmniFizz process is inherently more complex and hands-on, requiring the user to attach a cap, lock an assembly, carbonate with controlled bursts, shake, and then manage a two-stage pressure release. This added complexity is not a design flaw; it is the necessary cost of achieving the machine’s core value proposition. This explains the bifurcation in user experiences. Those who see themselves as creative experimenters praise the system’s control and ingenuity. Those seeking maximum, thought-free convenience may find the process “more time consuming” or messy if they rush the steps and ignore the foam. It also sheds light on concerns about build quality. The Fizz Infuser, with its multiple valves and seals, is a far more intricate component than a simple, fixed nozzle. It is the part of the system subjected to the most mechanical stress and is the most likely point of failure. The design cleverly mitigates this by making the infuser an affordable, separately sold accessory, so a broken infuser does not require replacing the entire machine.

Section 3: The Showdown: OmniFizz vs. The Market

With a clear understanding of its underlying technology, the Drinkmate OmniFizz can be placed in a head-to-head comparison with its primary competitors. The analysis reveals a device with a distinct, and in some cases, decisive, set of advantages and disadvantages.

1. Versatility: The Knockout Punch

This is the most straightforward comparison and the OmniFizz’s greatest strength. It is the only mainstream countertop machine designed to carbonate virtually any cold, pulp-free liquid. User reviews and expert tests alike celebrate the ability to create sparkling juices, fizzy iced tea, carbonated cocktails, and even rejuvenate flat beer or soda.

• SodaStream (Terra, Art models): These devices are officially restricted to carbonating water only. Flavoring is a post-carbonation step, where syrups are mixed into already-fizzy water.
• Aarke and SMEG: These competitors focus on aesthetics and premium design but function like SodaStream, carbonating only water.
• Ninja Thirsti: This machine offers a different path to versatility. It carbonates water and then automatically mixes in proprietary flavor pods, allowing for flavor combinations and intensity control. However, it cannot carbonate a pre-existing liquid like wine or fresh juice.

The verdict in this category is a clear and decisive victory for the Drinkmate OmniFizz. For any consumer whose primary interest extends beyond plain seltzer, it stands alone in the market.

2. CO2 Efficiency: The Contradiction

The efficiency with which a machine uses its CO2 canister is a critical factor in its long-term operating cost. Here, the evidence surrounding the OmniFizz is surprisingly contradictory. A significant contingent of users, particularly on enthusiast forums like Reddit, passionately argue that the OmniFizz is far more CO2-efficient than SodaStream models. The prevailing theory is that SodaStream’s design, which injects gas into the headspace above the water, wastes a considerable amount of CO2 simply pressurizing this empty space before the gas begins to effectively dissolve. Drinkmate’s method of injecting gas directly into the liquid is perceived as being less wasteful, with some users reporting their CO2 canisters lasting “WAY longer”.

Conversely, at least one detailed video review comes to the opposite conclusion, claiming the OmniFizz “sips CO2 like a Hummer” and is “incredibly inefficient”. Some customer reviews echo this, reporting that they have burned through canisters much faster than expected.

This paradox suggests that CO2 efficiency is not a fixed attribute of the machine itself, but rather a variable outcome dependent on three key factors:

1. User Technique: The OmniFizz’s manual operation is a double-edged sword. The user manual and expert tips emphasize using short, one-second bursts until the pressure-release valve hisses. A user who simply presses and holds the button will force the valve to vent large quantities of unused CO2 directly into the atmosphere, resulting in extreme inefficiency. Automated or lever-based systems like SodaStream’s may offer more consistent, if not always optimal, results for novices.
2. The Liquid Being Carbonated: As the science shows, liquids with high sugar or alcohol content impede the absorption of CO2. To achieve the same perceived level of fizziness in apple juice as in plain water, a user
   must inject more CO2 gas into the bottle. Therefore, a user who frequently carbonates juices or makes cocktails will naturally consume CO2 at a much faster rate and perceive the machine as less “efficient,” even though it is performing as designed.
3. The Definition of “Waste”: Both systems have inherent inefficiencies. Is the gas used to pressurize the headspace in a SodaStream “waste”? Or is the gas that must be vented during the Drinkmate’s depressurization process “waste”? The Drinkmate’s design, which allows the user to shake the sealed bottle to dissolve more of the pressurized gas before venting, could theoretically make it more efficient, but only if used correctly.

The verdict on efficiency is therefore inconclusive and highly dependent on the user and the application. For a skilled user carbonating only water, the OmniFizz may indeed be more efficient. For a user carbonating a wide variety of sugary drinks, it will necessarily use more gas.

3. Carbonation Quality: The Fizz Factor

A consistent theme across numerous reviews is that the Drinkmate OmniFizz can achieve a superior level of carbonation compared to its competitors. Users frequently describe the fizz as more intense, with finer bubbles, creating a “nose-burning” sensation akin to commercially canned seltzer or premium mineral water. The ability to gently shake the sealed, pressurized bottle is a likely contributor to this outcome, as it maximizes the dissolution of CO2 into the liquid before any pressure is released. For consumers who prioritize a powerful, lasting fizz, the Drinkmate holds a distinct advantage.

4. Build Quality and Durability: The Achilles’ Heel?

The OmniFizz is constructed primarily from plastic, which leads to mixed perceptions of its quality. Many users find its design to be sleek, compact, and perfectly adequate for kitchen use, rating its quality highly. However, a vocal minority of users describe the feel as “cheap” or “flimsy”. In contrast, competitors like Aarke are lauded for their premium, all-metal stainless steel construction, albeit at more than double the price.

The most significant durability concern centers on the Fizz Infuser. While many users report years of trouble-free operation , there are credible reports of severe quality control issues, with some users experiencing multiple infusers breaking, leaking, or failing after only a handful of uses. This suggests a potential for inconsistency in the manufacturing of this critical component. Interestingly, some long-time SodaStream users who switched to Drinkmate did so after experiencing multiple SodaStream machine failures, which they attributed to “cheap plastic parts,” and found the Drinkmate to be a better-made alternative. The OmniFizz’s design smartly makes the most complex and failure-prone part—the Fizz Infuser—an easily replaceable component, a notable advantage over integrated designs.

5. Ecosystem and Long-Term Cost: The Open vs. Closed Garden

For long-term ownership, the CO2 supply chain is paramount. Here, the Drinkmate OmniFizz offers a significant advantage through its adoption of an open-ecosystem model. It uses the industry-standard threaded 60L CO2 cylinder. This makes it compatible not only with SodaStream’s older, widely available blue-cap cylinders but also with a host of third-party CO2 exchange services. This flexibility is a major boon for enthusiasts, as it allows for the use of adapters to connect the machine to large, far more economical bulk CO2 tanks.

In contrast, SodaStream has increasingly moved toward a “walled garden” approach. Its newer machines, including the popular Terra and Art models, use a proprietary pink-cap “Quick Connect” (QC) cylinder. This system, while potentially more convenient to install, locks consumers into SodaStream’s specific supply chain, limiting choice and making it more difficult to use third-party or bulk CO2 options.

Both companies offer mail-in exchange programs. However, SodaStream’s longer tenure in the market gives it a much larger physical retail footprint for in-person exchanges at major stores like Target, Kohl’s, and Walmart. The verdict here favors the Drinkmate for consumers who prioritize choice, flexibility, and the potential for significant long-term savings. SodaStream offers greater convenience for those who prefer simple in-store exchanges.

Table 1: Comparative Analysis: Home Carbonation Systems

Section 4: The Bigger Picture: Health, Environmental, and Economic Impacts

Beyond its technical specifications and market standing, the true significance of a device like the Drinkmate OmniFizz lies in its potential to influence consumer behavior. It arrives at a cultural moment of heightened awareness around personal health, environmental sustainability, and household economics, positioning itself as a tool to address all three.

The Health Dividend: Engineering a Healthier Habit

The public health case against sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is overwhelming. Decades of research have forged a clear link between the frequent consumption of sodas, sweetened juices, and energy drinks and a host of chronic conditions, including weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, and non-alcoholic liver disease. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, individuals who drink one to two cans of sugary drinks per day have a 26% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A single 12-ounce can of soda contains about 140 calories and 32 grams of sugar, exceeding the American Heart Association’s entire recommended daily sugar intake for women and approaching the limit for men. Even diet sodas, while free of sugar, are associated with an increased risk of stroke, dementia, and cardiovascular problems.

The Drinkmate OmniFizz positions itself as an instrument of empowerment in this context. By giving users complete control over their ingredients, it facilitates a shift away from commercially produced, chemical-laden beverages. Users consistently report purchasing the device specifically to create “healthier alternatives,” such as sparkling water infused with fresh fruit slices, carbonated unsweetened iced tea, or fizzy drinks made from 100% juice with no added sugars. This ability to satisfy the craving for a “fun,” fizzy beverage without the massive sugar load directly addresses the core recommendations of public health bodies worldwide.

This functionality is amplified by a powerful psychological component. The device is not just a gadget; for many, it represents a tangible investment in a healthier lifestyle. The purchase itself is a proactive step toward a wellness goal, a behavioral nudge that makes the appliance more “sticky” and integrated into a daily routine than a simple kitchen tool. This “halo effect” helps justify its presence on the counter and the recurring cost of CO2, framing it not as an expense, but as part of a commitment to better health.

The Environmental Footprint: Decimating Plastic Waste, One Bottle at a Time

The environmental toll of our reliance on single-use plastic bottles is staggering. Globally, more than one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute. In the United States, the average person uses 167 disposable bottles per year, but the national recycling rate for these PET bottles is abysmal, with the majority ending up in landfills. Once in the environment, a plastic bottle can take 450 to 1,000 years to decompose, breaking down not into benign material but into harmful microplastics that now contaminate every ecosystem on Earth, from the deepest oceans to our own bodies. Furthermore, the production of these bottles is an energy- and carbon-intensive process, relying on fossil fuels and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

Home carbonation systems offer a direct and highly effective solution to this problem. A single reusable carbonating bottle, used over its multi-year lifespan, can prevent thousands of single-use plastic bottles from ever being manufactured or discarded. For the average American, switching to a system like the Drinkmate could eliminate the waste from 167 plastic bottles annually, per person. This aligns perfectly with a growing consumer demand for more sustainable products and lifestyles, a purchasing driver that is particularly strong among younger generations.

The Household Economy: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

While the initial purchase price of a home carbonation system may seem substantial, a long-term analysis reveals a compelling economic argument. The initial investment in a Drinkmate OmniFizz bundle, which includes the machine, bottles, and a starting CO2 cylinder, is typically around $133. The primary recurring cost is for CO2 refills. Through Drinkmate’s mail-in exchange program, the net cost of a 60L refill cylinder is approximately $20. Each cylinder carbonates

up to 60 liters of beverage, putting the per-liter cost of carbonation at around 33 cents.

This cost stands in stark contrast to the price of store-bought beverages. A liter of generic store-brand seltzer can easily cost $1.50, while brand-name sodas can be $2.00 per liter or more. For a household that consumes a moderate amount of carbonated beverages, the savings accumulate rapidly.

Table 2: Long-Term Cost of Ownership vs. Store-Bought Beverages (3-Year Projection)

As the table demonstrates, the initial investment is recouped quickly, leading to substantial savings of over $900 compared to generic seltzer and nearly $1,400 compared to brand-name soda over a three-year period.

Conclusion: The Verdict on Versatility

The Drinkmate OmniFizz is more than just another kitchen appliance; it is a genuinely revolutionary device in the home beverage category. It successfully challenges the long-standing paradigm of the water-only carbonator, delivering on its promise to fizz almost any cold liquid. Its core strength lies in the elegant engineering of its patented Fizz Infuser, a detachable, two-stage pressure-release system that grants users the control needed to safely manage the foam from complex liquids like juice and wine. This unmatched versatility, combined with its ability to produce a high-quality, intense carbonation and its adherence to an open-ecosystem model for CO2 cylinders, makes it a formidable and compelling product.

However, this versatility comes with inherent trade-offs that cannot be ignored. The OmniFizz demands more from its user than its simpler competitors. Its multi-step process has a learning curve, and achieving optimal results—both in fizz quality and CO2 efficiency—requires a degree of skill and patience. The debate over its gas efficiency underscores that outcomes are highly dependent on user technique and the type of beverage being carbonated. Furthermore, while many users report flawless performance, the recurring concerns about the build quality and long-term durability of the plastic Fizz Infuser component are valid and represent the machine’s most significant potential weakness.

Ultimately, the Drinkmate OmniFizz is not a universal replacement for every consumer. It is the ideal machine for a specific and growing user profile: the creative home mixologist eager to experiment with carbonated cocktails; the health-conscious family looking to craft customized, low-sugar alternatives to commercial soda; and the tech-savvy enthusiast who values flexibility and enjoys mastering a new tool. It is less suited for the individual who prioritizes absolute, one-button simplicity and has no desire to carbonate anything beyond plain water.

In the final analysis, the Drinkmate OmniFizz successfully elevates the home carbonator from a mere utility to a platform for creation. It empowers users to move beyond consumption and become architects of their own beverage experiences, transforming the contents of their refrigerators with the simple, satisfying magic of the bubble. In a world increasingly focused on personalization, health, and sustainability, it is a device that is not just innovative, but truly relevant. The only limitation, as the company itself suggests, is the user’s imagination.