Cold, colder, coldest

Carbonating at 1°C, and what it does to the fizz.

Water holds more carbon dioxide when it's cold. That is the whole secret, and it's why our carbonation tanks run at one degree above freezing, with frost on the outside and a maintenance bill we'd rather not discuss.

At that temperature we can dissolve more gas into the same volume, which means smaller bubbles and a sharper first sip. It also means the fizz holds longer after opening, which matters when the can sits on a desk for an hour.

The downside is time. Cold water carbonates slowly, so each batch takes about twice as long as an industry-standard line. We decided early that a can of Fizzara should feel like the first sip every time, and a slow tank was the price.