When the water came into the bottle, it was flat, it tasted like boring old tap water. When it comes out of the water bottle, it glows. Not in the overly carbonated, almost spicy way that a fresh can of seltzer tastes, but more of a mild sizzle, like the same can after you've been sipping from it for 10 minutes. And here's the most interesting part: The change happened in the bottle, not in a big one countertop soda machine.
The Roam SodaTop is like a handheld SodaStream. The cover is where the magic happens. A tight seal and a small CO2 cartridge are the key elements in turning boring water into something a little more exciting. You can screw the top onto a water bottle sold by Roam itself, or onto a compatible bottle (say, a HydroFlask).
Roam expects to begin selling SodaTop directly from its website in the first quarter of 2025, for $50. CO2 cartridges are expected to cost about 70 cents each.
Handheld carbonation
The process is simple. You insert a CO2 cartridge into the special SodaTop lid, release that carbon dioxide into the bottle, release the excess gas inside and drink. Each cartridge is good for one liter of water.
Roam says its stainless steel water bottles are designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours. If you already have a SodaStream, Roam also has an adapter cap, retailing for $13, that lets you carbonate your drinks from your countertop machine.
Flavor is in the air
The only thing you should carbonate in the bottle is water, but that doesn't mean you can't add flavor. Flavored syrups or other drink mixes can be added after the CO2 if you want something that tastes like, well, something. But Roam is also creating its own ways to add variety.
CEO Sunjay Guleria said the company is working on flavored CO2 cartridges, which contain the essence of a flavor and will allow you to make your own zero-calorie sparkling water using just plain water and the cartridge. Think ginger, lemon, yuzu, grapefruit or white peach flavors — natural sparkling water or flavored sparkling fresh in your own bottle. It's refreshing.
