The Aarke Carbonator 3 is proof that a simple product can become something special through great design. It's a sparkling water maker — that's all it does — but it does it beautifully. Full stainless steel construction, a satisfying lever mechanism, no electricity needed, and 7 gorgeous finishes to match any kitchen. At ~$229, it's about 2x the price of a SodaStream, but the build quality and aesthetics are in a completely different league. I use mine multiple times a day and it saves me over $500 a year compared to buying bottled sparkling water. It paid for itself in under 6 months.
Why I Ditched Bottled Sparkling Water
I was spending an absurd amount of money on sparkling water. Like, embarrassing amounts. Cases of Topo Chico, San Pellegrino, Perrier — I was going through 2-3 bottles a day. That's roughly $3-4 per day, which adds up to over $1,000 a year. On water. Bubbly water.
And beyond the cost, the waste was bothering me. Hundreds of glass and plastic bottles per year, just for carbonated water that I could theoretically make at home. So I started looking at sparkling water makers. The SodaStream was the obvious choice, but every model I looked at was made of plastic and honestly kind of ugly. I didn't want another plastic gadget on my counter.
Then I found Aarke.
Design That Actually Matters
The Aarke Carbonator 3 is Swedish-designed with a full stainless steel body. Not plastic with a little metal accent — the entire thing is metal. It's heavy, solid, and honestly feels more like a piece of art than a kitchen gadget. Think Scandinavian design museum, not "shove it in a cabinet."
It comes in 7 finishes: Steel, Matte Black, Sand, Copper, Matte Grey, Matte White, and Burgundy. I went with Steel because it matches my kitchen, but every single finish looks incredible. The Copper is *chef's kiss* if you've got warm-toned decor.
Here's the thing — sparkling water makers sit on your counter. You use them multiple times a day. If it looks cheap, you'll shove it in a cabinet and forget about it. The Aarke? People literally walk into my kitchen and ask about it. It's a conversation piece.
How It Works
The Carbonator 3 is beautifully simple. No electricity, no batteries, no app, no WiFi. It's purely mechanical:
- Fill the included BPA-free PET bottle with cold water
- Screw the bottle into the top of the Carbonator
- Push the stainless steel lever down to inject CO2
- One push = light fizz, two-three pushes = heavy carbonation
- Unscrew and enjoy
The lever mechanism is genuinely satisfying. There's a tactile click and a hiss of CO2 that just feels right. The whole process takes about 10 seconds. And because there's no electricity involved, you can put it anywhere — no outlet needed.
CO2 Cylinders & Cost Savings
The Aarke uses standard 60L CO2 cylinders — the same ones SodaStream uses. You can buy them at Target, Walmart, most grocery stores, or exchange empties at SodaStream retail locations. A refill/exchange costs about $15 and carbonates approximately 60 liters of water.
Let me do the math I love doing:
- Cost per liter with Aarke: ~$0.25 (CO2 cost only, since you're using tap water)
- Cost per liter of Topo Chico: ~$2.50-$3.00
- My daily consumption: ~1.5 liters
- Annual savings: over $500
The $229 machine paid for itself in under 6 months. Everything after that is pure savings — plus way less waste.
Carbonation Quality
The carbonation is the same as what you'd get from a SodaStream. They use the same CO2 cylinders and the same basic mechanism. The fizz is crisp, adjustable (more lever pushes = more bubbles), and consistent.
One tip: always use cold water. Cold water absorbs CO2 better, giving you stronger, longer-lasting carbonation. Room temperature water will carbonate but the fizz dissipates faster. I keep a dedicated pitcher of water in the fridge so it's always ready.
What I Love
- Stunning full stainless steel design — 7 finishes
- No electricity needed — purely mechanical
- Uses standard 60L CO2 cylinders (same as SodaStream)
- Saves $500+/year vs buying bottled sparkling water
- Satisfying lever mechanism
- Compact footprint — doesn't hog counter space
- Eliminates hundreds of bottles per year
- Pays for itself in under 6 months
Worth Noting
- ~$229 is 2x the price of a basic SodaStream
- CO2 cylinder not included — add ~$30 for starter cylinder
- Can only carbonate water (not juice or other drinks)
- PET bottle needs replacing every ~2 years for safety
Who Should Buy This
If you drink sparkling water even a few times a week, a sparkling water maker pays for itself fast. And if you care about your kitchen looking good (I mean, you're here, so you probably do), the Aarke Carbonator 3 is hands-down the prettiest one out there.
Yeah, a SodaStream does the same thing for less money. But the Aarke is the difference between a plastic gadget you hide in a cabinet and a stainless steel piece of art you're proud to show off. My husband thought I was crazy spending $229 on a sparkling water maker... until he saw how much we were blowing on Topo Chico. Now he uses it more than I do. 😂
At $229, it's actually one of the more affordable things I recommend — and the ongoing savings make it one of the smartest. If you're spending more than $15/month on sparkling water, just get this. You'll thank me.