8g CO2 Chargers

8g CO2 chargers are small steel cartridges filled with food-grade carbon dioxide, used to turn flat drinks into fresh, fizzy ones in seconds. We stock genuine iSi, Mosa, Pro Fizz and Liss cartridges in packs of 10 and bulk boxes of 120, so there’s a size for a home kitchen and for a busy bar. Pick your brand and pack size below, or read on for help choosing.

ISi CO2 Cartridges 10 X 8 4g

What Are 8g CO2 Chargers?

An 8g CO2 charger is a single-use steel bulb filled with about 8 grams of pure carbon dioxide. You drop one into a soda siphon or carbonator and release the gas, which dissolves into your drink to make bubbles. Each charger works once. Once it's empty, you recycle the steel and load a fresh one.

CO2 is the same gas that puts the fizz in shop-bought soda. It's odourless, colourless and non-flammable, with a light sour taste. It has no minerals or solids in it, which is why it gives a clean fizz without changing the flavour of your drink. In food and drink it's known as E290.

CO2 chargers are not the same as cream chargers. CO2 adds fizz to drinks, while cream chargers use nitrous oxide (N2O) to whip cream and make foams. If you're after whipped cream, our cream chargers are the ones you want instead.

Buying Guide: How to Choose Your 8g CO2 Chargers

Check the fit first. Most 8g CO2 chargers are non-threaded, meaning they have a smooth top with no screw thread, and drop straight into the holder on a standard soda siphon. Nearly all modern siphons use this universal 8g system. If your siphon is old or vintage, check the holder size before ordering, as some older models take a different bulb.

Match the pack size to how often you use them. A pack of 10 suits home or light use. A bulk box of 120 works out cheaper per charger and suits cafés, bars and caterers going through a lot. Either way, keep a spare pack so you're never caught short mid-service.

Pick a brand you trust. All our chargers hold food-grade CO2, so any of them will do the job. iSi is the premium choice and holds slightly more gas per bulb. Mosa, Pro Fizz and Liss give great fizz at a lower price. More detail on each brand is further down the page.

Think about your main use. For sparkling water and fizzy cocktails, any 8g soda charger works well. For pressurising a home brew barrel, check your barrel has the right adapter for a small CO2 bulb first.

Key Features

  • Food-grade CO2 (E290). No oil, no additives, no off taste.
  • 8g and 8.4g sizes. Mosa, Pro Fizz and Liss hold 8g. iSi holds a slightly larger 8.4g for a bit more fizz.
  • Universal fit. Non-threaded bulbs that work with standard 1 litre soda siphons.
  • Recyclable steel. Made from steel you can recycle once empty.
  • Single-use and sealed. Each charger has a long shelf life and is not refillable.
  • Packs of 10 or 120. Small packs for home, bulk boxes for trade.

What Can You Make With 8g CO2 Chargers?

Sparkling water. Fill your siphon with cold water, charge it, shake, and you've got fresh soda water on tap. Cheaper and greener than buying bottles.

Fizzy soft drinks. Add a splash of cordial, syrup or fruit juice after carbonating for homemade lemonade, fruit soda or a coffee soda.

Carbonated cocktails. Add real sparkle to a drink without watering it down. Good for spritzers, a French 75, or a fizzy twist on a normally still cocktail. Strain out any pulp first and keep the drink cold.

Home brew. Widely used to pressurise plastic home brew beer barrels and kegs, including King Keg style barrels. Keeping the barrel pressurised as it empties keeps air out, helping your beer stay fresh and fizzy to the last pint. Check your barrel has the correct adapter for an 8g bulb before you buy.

How to Use 8g CO2 Chargers

  1. Chill your liquid. Cold liquid holds CO2 far better than warm, so put your water or drink in the fridge first.
  2. Fill the siphon. Pour in your liquid, leaving the space the manufacturer recommends. Don't overfill.
  3. Close it up. Screw the head on firmly so no gas can escape.
  4. Load the charger. Put one 8g CO2 charger into the holder and screw it onto the siphon until you hear the gas hiss in.
  5. Shake well. Give the siphon a good shake for a few seconds to help the gas dissolve.
  6. Dispense. Press the lever and pour your fresh, fizzy drink.
  7. Recycle the bulb. Unscrew the empty charger and put the steel out for recycling.

Tips for the Best Fizz

  • Colder is better. The colder your liquid, the more fizz it holds and the less it foams.
  • Add flavour last. Carbonate plain water first, then stir in syrup or juice, for better control and less mess.
  • Strain first. For juices and cocktails, strain out pulp so the siphon doesn't clog.
  • Use a fresh charger each time. One charger carbonates roughly one bottle, so keep a spare pack handy.

Our 8g CO2 Charger Brands

iSi

Made in Austria. Each iSi charger is electronically weighed and sealed, holding 8.4g of gas, a little more than a standard bulb, and is gold-coloured. Fits the iSi Soda Siphon, Classic Sodamaker and Twist'n Sparkle. See all iSi products.

Mosa

A trusted name used in kitchens worldwide. Mosa CO2 chargers are non-refillable and fit the universal system used by most standard siphons. See all Mosa products.

Pro Fizz

Great value cartridges that fit any universal-system soda siphon, including iSi, Mosa and Liss machines, for a clean fizz at a lower price.

Liss

Cartridges filled with 100% pure, natural CO2. Popular for both soda siphons and home brew pressure barrels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 8g CO2 chargers the same as cream chargers?

No. CO2 chargers add fizz to drinks. Cream chargers hold nitrous oxide and whip cream. They look similar but aren't swappable.

Is the CO2 food grade?

Yes. Every charger holds pure, food-grade carbon dioxide (E290), safe for food and drink, with no taste of its own.

How much can one 8g CO2 charger carbonate?

As a rough guide, one charger carbonates about one litre of water, or one siphon fill. The exact fizz depends on how cold your liquid is and how hard you shake. For a stronger sparkle, some people use a second charger.

Will these chargers fit my soda siphon?

Almost certainly, if your siphon is modern. These non-threaded bulbs fit the universal system used by most standard 1 litre siphons. Very old or vintage models may use a different holder, so check yours first.

Do they work with a SodaStream?

No. SodaStream machines use a large refillable cylinder, not small disposable bulbs. These 8g chargers are for soda siphons and carbonators.

Can I use them for home brew?

Yes, to pressurise plastic beer barrels and kegs. Just check your barrel has the right adapter for a small CO2 cartridge.

Do I need to be 18 to buy CO2 chargers?

UK retailers sell CO2 products to over-18s only, and some deliveries need age checks on arrival. Please order responsibly and follow the safety notes on the pack.

How long do they last?

Sealed chargers have a long shelf life. Store them somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight and away from heat.