SodaStream TERRA Sparkling Water Maker, Starter Kit, CQC CO2 System, Includes 1 Quick Connect 60L CO2 Cylinder, 1 Dishwasher Safe BPA Free Bottle, 1 bubly Lime Drop, Make your own Pepsi, Black

Why it's worth it

The Terra is a no-frills manual carbonator that snaps a bottle in place and fizzes it with a button press. It's the narrowest machine here, needs no outlet, and uses the same widely stocked slim cylinders as the rest of the SodaStream line.

It does one thing, and it does it without any learning curve. Snap the bottle in, press the button once for light fizz, a few times for aggressive. That's the whole operation, and it takes well under a minute. Owners routinely describe getting it running within minutes of opening the box. If you've never owned a soda maker and don't want to think about one, this is the easiest possible entry point.

The footprint is genuinely small, and that matters more than you'd think. It's tall and narrow rather than wide, so it eats about as much counter as a coffee grinder. Several owners with cramped kitchens say that shape is what won them over — it tucks against a backsplash instead of sprawling. There's no power cord either, so you can put it anywhere, including a shelf or a cabinet between uses.

From our review of 5 soda makers and sparkling water machines, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +It does one thing, and it does it without any learning curve
• +The footprint is genuinely small, and that matters more than you'd think
• +Ongoing costs are as low as this category gets
• +It's the most proven machine in the lineup

What to know

• –Strong fizz takes technique, not a setting
• –The bottles need hand washing, and the body feels cheap
• –Some buyers expect fountain soda and don't get it