How to Make Water Kefir at Home (Easy 2-Step Guide)
Learn how to brew delicious, sparkling water kefir at home. This dairy-free, probiotic soda is easy to make using just sugar water and live kefir grains. Follow our simple guide below.
A Naturally Fizzy Probiotic Soda
Water kefir (also known as Tibicos, Japanese water crystals, or California bees) is a fermented, effervescent drink made from sugar water. It’s similar to kombucha but ferments much faster and has a milder, sweeter, and less vinegary taste that many people prefer.
The magic lies in the water kefir grains—translucent, gelatinous structures that look like crushed ice or crystals. They are a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) that consumes sugar to create probiotics, enzymes, and natural carbonation.
What You Need (The Checklist)
🍋 Ingredients:
- 💧 Water (1 Liter / 1 Quart): Filtered water is best.
- 🍚 Sugar (1/4 Cup / 60g): Organic cane sugar is ideal.
- 🧊 Live Water Kefir Grains (2-3 Tbsp): Do not use a powdered starter.
- (Optional for F2: Fruit juice or fresh fruit for flavoring)
🥣 Equipment:
- 🏺 Glass Fermentation Jar (1L+)
- 💨 Breathable Cover: Cloth or coffee filter with a rubber band.
- 🥄 Plastic/Nylon Sieve & Spoon: Avoid reactive metals.
- 🍾 Pressure-Safe Bottles: Flip-top bottles for carbonation (F2).
Where to Buy Water Kefir Grains?
You need fresh, living grains to start. Do not use dehydrated ones as they often fail to revive. We recommend buying certified organic, active grains from a specialized supplier.
The 2-Stage Brewing Process
The best water kefir is made in two stages: the first fermentation (F1) to create the probiotic base, and the second fermentation (F2) to add flavor and fizz.
1
First Fermentation (The Brew)
- Dissolve Sugar: In your glass jar, dissolve the 1/4 cup of sugar in a little hot water. Add cool water to fill the jar, leaving some headspace. Make sure the water is at room temperature (20-25°C / 68-77°F) before proceeding.
- Add Grains: Gently add your water kefir grains to the sugar water.
- Cover & Ferment: Cover the jar with a breathable cloth secured with a rubber band. Place it in a quiet spot out of direct sunlight for 24-48 hours. Taste it after 24 hours; it’s done when it’s less sweet and slightly tangy.
- Strain: Place a plastic sieve over a bowl or pitcher and pour the finished liquid through it, catching the grains.
Tip: Immediately start your next batch by putting the grains back into a fresh jar of sugar water.
2
Second Fermentation (Flavor & Fizz)
The liquid you just strained is flat but full of probiotics. To make it fizzy soda:
- Flavor: Pour the strained liquid into pressure-safe flip-top bottles. Add flavorings of your choice (e.g., 1/4 cup fruit juice per liter, fresh berries, ginger slices, or lemon juice).
- Seal & Sit: Seal the bottles tightly. Leave them at room temperature for another 1-3 days. The yeast will eat the sugars in the fruit, creating natural carbonation that is trapped inside the bottle.
- Chill & Enjoy: Once the bottles feel firm to the touch (indicating pressure), move them to the fridge to stop fermentation and lock in the fizz. Chill completely before opening to avoid a geyser!
Watch the Process (Basic Brew)
Click to watch a basic water kefir tutorial.
Get Everything You Need to Start
Don’t have grains or bottles? Get a complete Water Kefir Starter Kit, delivered fresh to your door.
