Soda Stream with Large Tank Adapter

My dad bought two sodastream machines at a garage sale for $1 because he knew I wanted to try making my own soda flavors. He didn't realize all the accessories that I would need to go with them. Each machine came with a standard soda stream tank, but no bottles. So first we needed to buy a set of soda stream bottles (Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/445Rx3m ). 

I knew I would eventually need more CO2. Refilling the sodastream brand tanks is cheaper than buying sparkling water, but still expensive. Purchasing new tanks is $30 and exchanging them for full tanks is $15. Each tank is supposed to make up to 60 liters. 

I saw online that many sodastream users have found a way to add an adapter to use non-sodastream brand tanks, including larger tanks. This seemed like a more economical way to buy CO2. In my research, I found that there's a difference between welding-grade CO2, food-grade CO2, and beverage-grade CO2, and that it is sold through different types of businesses including home brew suppliers, welding supply stores, and industrial gas companies. I purchased a 5 pound tank of food-grade CO2 from a local welding supply store. The cost of this new filled tank was more than I expected (about 8 times more than the small sodastream tank), but the cost per tank of the refills isn't much more than filling the small ones. I also purchased  an adapter hose (Amazon Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3qV1YYy ) to connect the taank to the machine.

The next thing I needed was flavorings. SodaStream sells some, including ones designed to taste like specific brand-name sodas. Other options are flavor extracts (root beer, vanilla, orange), juice concentrates, or powdered drink mixes. For the flavorings that don't have any sweeteners or sugars in them, I usually add or pre-mix with simple syrup because it dissolves more easily with less stirring so I don't lose as many bubbles. I tried root beer extract, but it was missing something. For the next batch, I added molasses and vanilla. I have been experimenting with making my own flavor extracts like lemon, lime, orange, and cinnamon.