Homemade Soda Machine

[mikedealer]

So im looking to make my own soda machine..

obviously they make this thing out there
http://www.sodastreamusa.com/product_info.aspx

but i dont feel like investing in their Co2 cartridges...

anyone have any experience with making Co2 systems?

i was thinking about buying one of their systems and jigrigging a industrial co2 tank to it lol...

i would also invest in a regular countertop unit that dispenses too, but dont want to spend more than like $250 on the whole thing minus co2, any suggestions?

[jwscab]

you should look into beer meister systems. The tanks and regulators and associated hoses can't be too expensive, and you can probably adapt that to their injection system, or build something that does the same thing. They use something like a 3L co2 tank, that's about the size of it, but i don't know how they classify them.

[Halgar]

Here's a link to residential soda guns built similarly to commercial units that you'd see in restaurants and bars. It will give you an overview of the parts of the system.

http://www.sodabarsystem.com/index_Soda_Dispenser_IC.htm

You could probably adapt beer carbonation systems to a soda system, don't know what that would entail though.

Keep in mind that the liquid must be cold to keep the CO2 gas in suspension. That is why a warm soda will foam and be flat, even if poured over ice. The way it works in a bar is there is a chiller plate in the bottom of the ice bin. After the liquid is carbonated, it's run through the chiller plate and flash chilled. The actual mixing of the syrup and sparkling water happens at the gun tip.

You could mix and keg the soda, then use CO2 to push the soda through the dispenser (just as beer is done ), but you'd still need a kegorator OR set up a chiller plate system.

[budhatrain]

Here's a link to residential soda guns built similarly to commercial units that you'd see in restaurants and bars. It will give you an overview of the parts of the system.

http://www.sodabarsystem.com/index_Soda_Dispenser_IC.htm

You could probably adapt beer carbonation systems to a soda system, don't know what that would entail though.

Keep in mind that the liquid must be cold to keep the CO2 gas in suspension. That is why a warm soda will foam and be flat, even if poured over ice. The way it works in a bar is there is a chiller plate in the bottom of the ice bin. After the liquid is carbonated, it's run through the chiller plate and flash chilled. The actual mixing of the syrup and sparkling water happens at the gun tip.

You could mix and keg the soda, then use CO2 to push the soda through the dispenser (just as beer is done ), but you'd still need a kegorator OR set up a chiller plate system.

it just blows me away that you know a little about everything...

[tizeye]

Here's a link to residential soda guns built similarly to commercial units that you'd see in restaurants and bars. It will give you an overview of the parts of the system.

http://www.sodabarsystem.com/index_Soda_Dispenser_IC.htm

You could probably adapt beer carbonation systems to a soda system, don't know what that would entail though.

Keep in mind that the liquid must be cold to keep the CO2 gas in suspension. That is why a warm soda will foam and be flat, even if poured over ice. The way it works in a bar is there is a chiller plate in the bottom of the ice bin. After the liquid is carbonated, it's run through the chiller plate and flash chilled. The actual mixing of the syrup and sparkling water happens at the gun tip.

You could mix and keg the soda, then use CO2 to push the soda through the dispenser (just as beer is done ), but you'd still need a kegorator OR set up a chiller plate system.

it just blows me away that you know a little about everything...

Can you spell "Google"

[Halgar]

it just blows me away that you know a little about everything...

I know a little about everything, but little about anything ... Being a home brewer, I'm familiar gas in liquids (besides blowing bubbles in the bathtub ).

Can you spell "Google"

Gooble ... Goolge ... Googel ... Apparently not!

[markt311]

I know a little bit about this, I work for a soda company. What is it you're wanting to build? we call "premix", where the soda is in a keg and just needs to be dispensed. If you're making a "postmix" (where syrup and carb h20 are mixed on demand), you will need a lot more epuipment but the product will taste better, as it hasn't been sitting in a keg.

The local restaurant supply places will have a lot of this type of stuff.

The basic components of a post mix system are:
bargun or soda fountain
syrup pumps, CO2 operated
carbonator, just a tank and pump where the water and CO2 are mixed to make carbonated water
CO2 tank
and of course all your lines and regulators


A basic premix is much simpler
premix bargun or tavern head tower
keg
co2 tank and regulator

[mrlexan]

So im looking to make my own soda machine..

obviously they make this thing out there
http://www.sodastreamusa.com/product_info.aspx

but i dont feel like investing in their Co2 cartridges...

anyone have any experience with making Co2 systems?

i was thinking about buying one of their systems and jigrigging a industrial co2 tank to it lol...

i would also invest in a regular countertop unit that dispenses too, but dont want to spend more than like $250 on the whole thing minus co2, any suggestions?

You do have WAY too much time on your hands.

[mikedealer]

hey soda is important stuff lol. damn ice tea or water or juices dont do it for me anymore

[scr8p]

hey soda is important stuff lol.

AMEN !!!!

[Halgar]

hey soda is important stuff lol.

Yes it is, as long as it's Pepsi and it's cut with liberal amounts of quality rum!

[Kerry]

Wow, I'm buds with Scott (melvinsarmy) from a different board I'm an administrator on and never thought this would be my first post on an Rc fourum.

I own a beverage distribution company in the Rhode Island/ Mass area. We set up, maintain and sell bag in box soda/juice/energy drink (red bull etc) soda guns,fountains and table top machines. Pre mix is becoming a thing of the past as concentrates is the savings.

Halgar is right on point. If you enjoy soda and drink slot, it is super cost effective. Restaurants and bars make around 900+% on soda hence free refills. Soda is becoming a newer age too. We have 400 flavors and use real sugar (getting away from hfcs (trying to anyway).

Also, nothing tastes better than fountain, that's a fact.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me.

This site is very cool, I've been lurking and reading alot. I was just bewildered that a discussion in a very niche profession came along.

Nice to meet everyone!

[Kerry]

Oh, I also build insane beer systems too (besides my own)

I just built a 64 tap micro brew system through 20 feet of wall in a 800 square foot walk in refer. State of the art and if you think retail soda makes money in bars... boy, believe me when I tell you how much draught beer brings in!

[mrlexan]

hey soda is important stuff lol.

AMEN !!!!

Blah!

[mikedealer]

hey kerry, i will be asking you some questions, eager to get one of these running, i agree nothing is better than fountain

Wow, I'm buds with Scott (melvinsarmy) from a different board I'm an administrator on and never thought this would be my first post on an Rc fourum.

I own a beverage distribution company in the Rhode Island/ Mass area. We set up, maintain and sell bag in box soda/juice/energy drink (red bull etc) soda guns,fountains and table top machines. Pre mix is becoming a thing of the past as concentrates is the savings.

Halgar is right on point. If you enjoy soda and drink slot, it is super cost effective. Restaurants and bars make around 900+% on soda hence free refills. Soda is becoming a newer age too. We have 400 flavors and use real sugar (getting away from hfcs (trying to anyway).

Also, nothing tastes better than fountain, that's a fact.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me.

This site is very cool, I've been lurking and reading alot. I was just bewildered that a discussion in a very niche profession came along.

Nice to meet everyone!