Let’s get this out of the way. I purchased and paid for my Soda Stream Starter Kit.

This adorable soda-making contraption was not a gift from the manufacturer. I just want to be clear: this is not a cheap product endorsement but rather a love letter to my now never-ending supply of fresh fabulous fizzy water at home.

And you, too, can kick the San Benedetto habit and live a more bubbly life.

First, let’s take a quick look at a few of the problems my new Soda Stream solves: lugging bottles, storing bottles, recycling bottles, guilt about using bottles, shame about using bottles, silly amounts of spending on bottles, and not drinking enough water.

I’m not sure when my fondness for fizzy water started, but about two years ago we started stocking bottles of the stuff at home. I was one of those people who could never get myself to drink enough water during the day. I just don’t enjoy drinking plain water. Suddenly, it was 4 o’clock and there I was, pretty much dehydrated. So I justified the [insert list of problems above] because at least it got me to drink water. It is also so refreshing after an espresso — just ask the Italians.

It’s a bit of an up-front investment, but it pays off quickly. My model — the least expensive — cost under $100. It comes with two reusable bottles (pay almost three times the price and you can have glass bottles) and a CO2 cylinder that carbonates 60 litres of water. Once the cylinder runs out, I can swap it for a new one (the store sends it back to Soda Stream, which refills them) and pay $20 for the new one instead of the $35 without the swap.

Here’s how Soda Stream works: you simply fill up the bottle with water from your tap, screw it into the dock, press a button a couple of times, and Bob’s Your Uncle: you’ve got sparkling water. Replace the water with tea, booze, lemonade or toss in flavoured syrup or fruit juice and in seconds you’ve got an effervescent, eco-friendly beverage that makes the daily task of hydration a lot more palatable.

Available locally at Sears, The Chef’s Paradise, and Bed Bath & Beyond.