Every year around this time, one product is heralded as The Hottest Gift of the Year. Recent years we have seen the iPad and the eReader and the Keurig coffee maker come out on top. These items become hot commodities around Christmas time, and suddenly everyone has one. Receivers of these gifts feel spoiled while givers of these gifts feel the pride of knowing they gave something awesome. My final addition to my 2012 Holiday Gift Guide is a product that I am sure will be among the top gifts for this year. I say this as someone who has witnessed multiple friends and acquaintances purchase this product either for themselves or as a gift recently. We first noticed the SodaStream a couple of years ago while perusing a local organic market. On display was this small, funky, kitchen appliance that made pop! We were initially interested and impressed. I have never been a big soda pop drinker. I enjoyed the occasionally fizzy drink, but could not finish a 2L bottle before it went flat. My husband was addicted to Coca-Cola however. We would buy flats of the stuff and Dan would quickly work his way thorough the cans. Eventually, I began to really enjoy sparkling water, and our trips the the wearhouse retail store meant we filled up the back of our car with countless bottles of Perrier along with our Coca-Cola. We were interested in learning if the SodaSteam could replace the our love for these products. Could the SodaStream save us on space? Money? Could we enjoy it as much as our usual fare? So, under the guise of being environmentally and fiscally responsible, we got our very own SodaStream. We are entirely smitten with it. It is probably one of the coolest appliances we own. My husband likes to make pop for friends so he can show them how it works. Our fridge always has a few SodaStream bottles with water in the fridge, just chilling. And every night before dinner, I wait for that familiar buzz buzz buzz sound that means the water has been carbonated. For anyone who purchases and drinks soda on a regular basis, it can be easy to see how investing in a SodaStream is an environmentally sound choice. With SodaStream, there are fewer bottles and cans floating around our world. And less energy is wasted in transporting all the fizzy drinks to our local stores. It is even easy to make the argument that having a SodaStream will save money on pop in the long run, or at least not be more expensive. But let’s be honest here. The main question everyone has is whether they will like SodaStream pop when so many people are already set in their soda choices.  Here’s what my husband has to say about that: I’m a somalier of cola.  An aficionado of carbonation.  When I was 10, I took the “Pepsi Challenge” and gave Pepsi such a thumping that the following year they released clear Crystal Pepsi just to hide from me.  I know my soda.  Soda Stream’s cola is great.  Just don’t approach it thinking it’ll mimic one of the other brands out there.  Meet it on its own terms, and it’ll refresh, caffienate and sugar buzz you all day long. He took to SodaStream Cola remarkably well. And so too have many of our friends and family whom we have given SodaStream Cola to. As for me, the only drink I haven’t been able to find replicated is Dr. Pepper, but since that is just an occasional indulgence for me anyway, it isn’t such a big deal. Otherwise, I am pretty much in love with all the syrup options. Since that first day when we were introduced to SodaStream, they have become easier to find. Machines and syrups and CO2 canisters are no longer only sold at a select few, hip locales. Large chains like Walmart, Sears, and Future Shop now carry them. There are many machine options and even more flavour variations. The most surprising difference in our lives since having our SodaStream is our health. Truthfully, we make sparkling water with it more often than anything else. Not having 40 cans of Coke in our house means that Dan no longer has a Coke with every meal. And with the help of the SodaStream, he has cut out his cola intake almost entirely. It has left him noticeably healthier. He still loves cola, (including SodaStream Cola) but instead of buying a case of pop whenever he is craving a Coke, he can make a small amount of Cola from our SodaStream so he isn’t tempted later. I hope everyone who opens a SodaStream on Christmas morning is happy with their gift (this goes double for those people in my life who I know are getting one!). If you’re still looking for that perfect gift for your spouse or parent or close friend, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the SodaStream. You can purchase a starter kit in time for Christmas at any participating retailer, or, you can order the SodaStream Fizz Green Starter Kit up until December 20th and receive 50% (though it won’t be delivered in time for Christmas). Don’t forget to Like SodaStream on Facebook and follow @Sodastream_ca on Twitter  to keep up with deals. The Small Print: SodaStream Canada sent me a SodaStream Fizz Digital so I could review it, but the truth is, I’ve been loving on SodaStream for a long time. All opinions are my own and never bought. Is your holiday shopping still not done? Click this button to see what other gifts I think are worthy to be under your tree! ...