Easy Homemade Water Kefir: Delicious Fermented Probiotic Soda in 2 Days
If you’re looking for a refreshing, gut-friendly drink that’s easy to make at home, water kefir is a perfect choice. This naturally fermented beverage is lightly fizzy, slightly sweet, and packed with probiotics that support a healthy digestive system. Unlike dairy kefir, water kefir is 100% dairy-free and vegan, making it a great option for anyone looking to boost their gut health without using milk. In this post, you’ll learn exactly how to make homemade water kefir with just a few simple ingredients—no fancy equipment or experience needed!
Homemade Water Kefir: My New Favorite Summer Beverage
What is Water Kefir?
Water kefir is a fermented and fizzy beverage that is rich in gut-healing probiotics. It is made by combining water, sugar, and water kefir grains and allowing it to ferment over a period of time. This creates a bubbly and refreshing drink that is not only delicious in flavor but incredibly beneficial to your overall health and wellbeing.
Why It Is A Great Alternative To Soda and Store Bought Probiotics
Unlike store bought sodas that usually contain very little nutrients and are very high in sugar, water kefir offers a pleasant taste and texture but is much lower in sugar and has a rich nutrient profile, especially antibiotics. In fact, water kefir is better than taking a store bought probiotic due to its diverse amount of bacterial strains that heal the gut and improve your overall health and wellness.
Benefits of Homemade Water Kefir
- You have better control over the ingredients (fruits you add in, the amount of sweetness, type of sweetener, etc)
- You can create the amount of carbonation you prefer simply by adjusting the fermenting time
- Has a greater variety of probiotic strains than commercially produced water kefir ( can contain over 40 different strains of bacteria and yeasts- creates a more complete gut microbiome
- It is very inexpensive to make and one batch of water kefir grains can last you a lifetime if properly stored and cared for
- Making your own water kefir is great for sustainability as it cuts down on waste as normally produced by plastic bottles from the store.
- Making your water kefir at home makes it more customizable to your individual taste. Have fun with it! Add in your favorite fruits and create unique flavor combinations. Utilize fresh herbs from the garden…the sky is the limit!
- The probiotics in water kefir can help aid in metabolism and weight management, heal gut issues, help lower inflammation, improve energy levels and mood, and protect from certain diseases by improving your immunity. It really is natures wonder beverage!
How To Find Water Kefir Grains
One of the easiest ways to start water kefir is by purchasing already active grains from friends, family, or someone local. I bought mine off a delightful Amish lady so they were ready to go immediately. Check Facebook marketplace or your local farmer’s markets to see if you can find some. If not, you can actually purchase dried water kefir grains online!
Amazon is a great place to source them. Make sure you are getting water kefir grains and not milk kefir grains. They are different and require different care. I highly recommend water kefir grains from this brand on Amazon. This is very important: MAKE SURE YOU ARE BUYING WATER KEFIR GRAINS AND NOT STARTER. Before I found some already activated on Facebook, I had purchased water kefir starter. I was so excited however once I looked at it, saw it was a powder, I knew I had made a mistake. Water kefir starter is not the same as water kefir grains. You can use the starter but it is only able to make a few batches whereas water kefir grains can continually make batches of delicious probiotic rich water kefir for years and years to come. Make sure you read carefully before purchasing.
What You Need To Make Water Kefir
The Essential Ingredients
- Water Kefir Grains- These are different than milk kefir grains
- Filtered Water
- Organic Sugar
- Optional Flavorings: Favorite Fruits, herbs, and juice (my favorite way to make water kefir at home)
Helpful Tools To Make Water Kefir At Home
Luckily, water kefir is so easy to make at home. You do not need any fancy equipment. Chances are you have everything you need to get started making this flavorful and delightfully fizzy beverage, minus the water kefir grains.
Helpful tools are:
- Strainer
- Large jar or glass container with a lid- I like to use half gallon Ball jars
- Swing top glass bottles
- Funnel for narrow openings like this one
Step-By-Step Instructions: First Ferment
Instructions for Activating or Hydrating Grains (If Dried)
To activate dried water kefir grains, rehydrate them in a sugar water solution for 3-4 days, then discard the liquid. After rehydration, the grains should be plump and translucent, ready to ferment fresh batches of water kefir. If you purchased already activated water kefir grains, skip this step.
Follow these steps to be on your way to enjoying your own batch of delicious water kefir:
- Pour the dehydrated kefir grains in a glass jar and add in 3-4 cups of water (not hot!).
- Add in 1/4 cup of organic sugar and stir until it dissolves.
- Cover with a coffee filter or cloth and secure with a rubber band. Place in the dark in a warmer spot in your house. Ideal temperature should be between 68 and 85 degrees. Allow to sit for 3 or 4 days.
- Once this is complete, the grains should be plump and translucent. If you notice the water is cloudy, that is okay and completely normal for this process. The water kefir might have a distinctive smell and begin to bubble.
- Once activated, strain out the sugar water and discard. Now your water kefir is ready to use!
Step-By-Step Instructions for First Ferment: 24-48 Hours
- First, boil one cup of water and add in half a cup of sugar and dissolve. Allow to cool completely.
- After the sugar water is cooled, add in 1/2 cup water kefir grains to a half gallon Ball Mason Jar.
- Fill with filtered water, leaving a little space at the top.
- Pour in the sugar water mixture and gently stir.
- Place the lid on loosely. Allow to ferment on the counter.
Tips for Temperature and Time
Fermenting time of water kefir depends on the strength of your kefir and the temperature of your home. If warmer, you might only ferment for 24 hours. If your home is cooler, allow to sit for 36 to 48 hours. With time, you will find your sweet spot!
Optional: Second Ferment For Flavor and Fizz
How To Add Flavor to Your Water Kefir (Fruit, Herbs, Ginger, Etc)
Once the first ferment is complete, you may enjoy it as is. It is complete and ready to consume. If you want a more flavorful water kefir, a second ferment with fruit, herbs, or juice will be needed. Simply add in 1/4 cup of juice, fruits, or herbs and add in the liquid water kefir. Place the top on and allow to ferment a second time for 24-48 hours.
How to Bottle For Carbonation
For maximum carbonation and fizz in your homemade water kefir, I highly recommend using swing top fermentation bottles. These bottles are ideal because they help naturally build carbonation while safely allowing carbon dioxide to escape, reducing the risk of pressure buildup. Unlike Ball Mason jars, which require you to manually “burp” the lid to release gasses and prevent potential explosions, swing top bottles are designed to handle fermentation pressure safely. Always take proper precautions during fermentation to avoid injury or damage from glass breakage. Adding water kefir grains to these bottles sometimes is difficult due to the thinner necks, this is why I prefer to use them during the second ferment and not the first.
Helpful Quick Fermentation Method (My Go-To)
Here’s a game-changing secret for making homemade water kefir—one that I use every single time. Instead of combining water and sugar, simply use your favorite fruit juice. Juice naturally contains water, fruit sugars, and nutrients—everything your water kefir grains need to thrive. This one-step fermentation method creates a delicious, fizzy water kefir your whole family will love—without the need for a second ferment.
To make one-step juice water kefir, just add your water kefir grains to a half-gallon Mason jar. Fill the jar with your favorite juice (and herbs if you’d like), then secure the lid. Let it ferment at room temperature for 24–48 hours. Be sure to “burp” the jar occasionally to release built-up gasses and prevent pressure. When you notice natural bubbles and fizz, your juice kefir is ready! Strain out the grains to start your next batch, then pour the fermented kefir into swing top bottles using a funnel. Chill and enjoy your refreshing, naturally carbonated probiotic drink!
How To Store and Care For Your Kefir Grains
Storing Grains Between Batches
Once you bottle your water kefir, you can immediately start with a new batch right away. This is a great way to change up flavors! However if not, you may choose to store your grains. You can simply place them in a little glass container-lid on- with sugar water and keep them in the fridge. 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of sugar should be sufficient. I recommend changing out the sugar water weekly if not in use.
FAQs About Water Kefir
Can I Use Tap Water?
I recommend using filtered water as tap water can potentially harm the grains due to chlorine and other contaminants. Pure, filtered water is always best.
How Much Sugar is Left After Fermentation?
Kefir grains will metabolize a lot of the sugar however a small amount of sugar remains, primarily fructose and glucose. This gives it a slightly sweet flavor. The amount of sugar left depends on the fermentation time. It you ferment longer, your water kefir will have a lower sugar content. Additionally, the sugar content can be further reduced by using a second fermentation with fruit or fruit juice.
Is Kefir Water Safe For Children?
Yes! This can be greatly beneficial for their immune system. I recommend waiting until they are at least 2 years old and gradually introducing it to them over a period of time.
Water Kefir vs Kombucha
In terms of probiotic strains, water kefir is a healthier option than kombucha in the fact that it contains more cultures. Some find that water kefir is also easier to tolerate that kombucha, myself included! Both are great for your health but I prefer water kefir.
Time to Make Your Own!
Making water kefir at home is a simple, rewarding way to enjoy a naturally fizzy, probiotic-rich drink that supports gut health and tastes amazing. Whether you’re just getting started or experimenting with different flavors and methods, the process is flexible and fun. With just a few basic ingredients and a little patience, you’ll be sipping on your own homemade water kefir in no time. Don’t forget to share your favorite flavor combos in the comments—I’d love to hear how your fermentation journey is going!
If you are on a homestead journey of your own, check out some of these related blog posts:
Building A New Chicken Coop From Salvaged Materials
How To Make Butter with Raw Milk
