我是一個喜歡喝汽水的人，可能是因為我不喜歡喝淡而無味的白開水。特別在天氣熱的時候，我喝得可是很凶的。近年因為體重的問題我只喝零度可樂，但太太依然覺得不妥。為了我的健康着想，她買了一部汽泡水製造機給我。
I like soft drinks, probably because I don't like the taste of plain water. I drink a lot of soda when the weather is hot. In recent years, I drink only Coke Zero because of body weight issue. But my wife thought that's not enough, so her bought me a SodaStream Sparkling Water Maker.
這東西在外國很流行，在香港卻不是主流，要花點時間才買得到。還記得第一次到歐洲時，發現當地人喝的都是汽泡水，沒有汽泡的普通水反而很難買，而且貴。曾問過歐洲人為什麼他們都喝汽泡水而不是普通水，他們的說法是習慣了，也沒有特別的理由，如果有見多識廣的朋友知道為什麼，也請告知。基於這個原因，當近年到歐洲出差，見到辦公室的水龍頭有直接可以飲用的汽泡水流出時，亦不再有大鄉里出城那種驚訝了。
This machine is common overseas but not in mainstream of Hong Kong household, you need to spend some time to find it. I remember when I traveled to Europe for the first time, I found that people there drank only sparkling water. It was difficult to find plain water and was very expensive. I tried to figure out why but even my European friends told me they got used to it but didn't know why. If any of you know why Europeans drink only sparkling water, please let me know. Anyway, because of the experiences, I didn't feel surprise when I found that the tap in our offices in Europe gave out drinkable sparkling water!
我家那台汽泡水機只是很簡單的一個黑色長方柱體，前面最上方的部分是可以向下按的。上面有三個水滴形的燈，由一滴，三滴到五滴。這些燈就是汽泡水完成的程度，當五滴水燈號亮起就代表汽泡水已經完成。
The machine I had in home was simply a black rectangular box. There were 3 indicator lights at the front panel with the shape of water drops, from 1 to 5 drops. They show the progress of carbonating of water. The process is completed when 5 water drops indicator lights up.
要製造汽泡水，只需要一種原材料，就是壓縮二氧化碳。把一樽壓縮二氧化碳安裝在這部機的背後，把後面蓋好，就可以用了。這部機是不用電的。因為它其實只是將壓縮了的二氧化碳注入水中，其實是沒有什麼特別功能的。
The only ingredient needed is compressed carbon dioxide in a bottle. Put the compressed air bottle in the back of the machine, cover it up, then you're ready to go. The machine doesn't need any power as what it does is to release compressed carbon dioxide into water, not magical at all.
只需將白開水注入專用的水樽。在機器的前面放入水樽。記得要把水樽放好，鎖定。之後只需用力在機頂向下按。二氧化碳就會從前面的白色膠管注入水中。因為壓縮空氣被釋放出來的關係，你會聽到尖銳的聲音，而機頂前方的燈亦會由一滴水開始亮起來。到五滴水那燈亮起，就代表注入二氧化碳的步驟完成了。只要把水樽取出即可。
Pour water into the water bottle come with the machine, lock it up at the front of the machine. Press from the top of the front panel. You will hear screaming sound when the compressed carbon dioxide is being released to the water. The indicator lights up too. Take the water bottle out and sparkling water is done!
這裏有段影片給大家看看整個程序。
Here is a video showing the whole process.
既然可以做出汽泡水，當然可以再進一步將它變成汽水。只要在汽泡水中加入不同味道的調味料，就可以有不同味道的汽水。我們在美國買了這些調味料。
There are favours you can add to the sparkling water to make the water fits your own taste. I bought the following favours to try out.
選擇當然不只那麼少，市面上有大量的味道可供選擇。
There are plenty other choices available.
但的還是最喜歡普通的汽泡水。你呢？
Plain Sparkling water is still my preference. What about you?
