Perrier, sorry! Anyone who has ever had a taco al pastor will know that Topo Chico reigns supreme in sparkling water. This bubbly, bubbly gem is more expensive than La Croix due to the thick glass bottles and Mexican shipping fees.After years of eating Mission burritos around San Francisco Bay Area, my brother, a finance-minded man, did some mental math and sent me a message on Facebook: $3,800. He claimed that eight bottles of Topo Chico cost him $1 each. San Francisco Whole Foods prices were also a factor.I was a homebrewer for many years and had a keg and kegerator and CO 2 tank. Also, I had access to minerals that make my hoppy beers crisp, and my malty ales silky. This made me laugh out loud. Since years, I have been making sparkling water.I realized that I wasn't just a fancy pants person who had spent too much on beer gear. He was able to make sparkling water for the same price. My brother could make sparkling water for less than $3800 with the right equipment, although it was a significant upfront cost.We may be compensated if you make a purchase using the links in our stories. This supports our journalism. Find out more.The MathLet's begin with the kegerator. It costs around $1,000 up-front. This setup can be used for beer, cider and wine as well as other kegged beverages. They are all significantly less expensive than kegs.Additionally, there is an environmental benefit. Glass and cans can be recycled, but many end up in landfills. My homemade Topo Chico is poured into a reusable, insulated mug. I rarely touch a single bottle or can.Flavors are also extremely affordable. Online, you can purchase lime and grapefruit extract powders by the 500-pack online for as low as $50. Like hard seltzer? The flavoring can be purchased online. Simply add it to a keg sparkling water and then add some clear grain alcohol. Voila!While Sodastreams can make sparkling water at home, they are not as cost-effective and as versatile as other devices. Everybody knows someone who tried to carbonate wine or juice in a Sodastream, and it broke. You can carbonate any item you like with a CO2 tank and a keg.If you have the space and are not wasting a lot of bottles and cans per week, it might be worth considering making your own bulk. I don't drink any non-sparkling drinks and my recycling bin is much fuller than when it was premade.The KegeratorI've spent a lot of time pondering the topic of kegerators. Although I've built my fair share mini-fridges, chest freezers, and upright fridge-based Kegerators using hoses and fittings over the years, it's easier to purchase something that is designed for the job. It's not much more expensive when you consider the cost of taps, connectors, hoses and hoses.Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace regularly feature used kegerators. I prefer these EdgeStar basic kegerators ($559). They have enough space to hold two 5-gallon Kegs at once. One keg can be used for water to carbonate and the other can be stored on draft. For an additional hundred dollars, you can save your trouble and buy a two-tap version ($659). You'll need two taps if you've read this far.
