How to Make Water Kefir

Learn how to make water kefir, a fermented, vegan probiotic drink!  It’s easy to make at home, and is a delicious, light, and flavorful alternative to milk kefir or kombucha.

Where are my kombucha fans?

For those of you who buy store-bought kombucha, you may have noticed another type of bottled drink appearing right next to it on the shelves.

A lighter, less vinegary drink that tastes faintly like sparkling juice or sparkling lemonade.  A drink that is perfect for summer heat.

Water kefir.

Not sure if you’ve seen it?

It isn’t always labeled clearly– sometimes it’s marked “vegan probiotic drink.”

The easiest brand to find right now is Kevita. 

It’s almost always flavored– my favorites are lemon cayenne and lemon ginger.

Just like kombucha, water kefir tends to cost about $4 a bottle– a price tag that’s fine for once in awhile, but can really start to add up if you drink it often. 

The good news is, making water kefir is EASY. 

This post will walk you through how to make water kefir at home!

Water Kefir vs. Kombucha: What’s the Difference?

Both water kefir and kombucha are lightly fermented, probiotic-packed drinks. 

Both are made with sugar water, both are typically sold carbonated, and both are often sold flavored.

Kombucha is made from black tea and sugar (and it’s caffeinated).

Water kefir is made from sugar water— no tea, no caffeine. 

Water kefir is also quicker and simpler to make than kombucha.

Both use a starter culture– or a colony of yeast and bacteria– which helps transform the unfermented beverage safely into a fermented one. 

Kombucha uses a the starter culture called a SCOBY.

Water kefir uses a starter culture called water kefir grains.

Interested in kombucha?  First, learn how to make a kombucha SCOBY + then how to make kombucha.

Water Kefir vs. Milk Kefir: What’s the Difference?

Another drink you might have seen is milk kefir. 

Milk kefir is a thick, probiotic milk drink that’s generally found in the dairy section near the milk and cream.

Both water kefir and milk kefir are made with kefir grains— but they’re slightly different strains of bacteria. 

And as the names suggest– milk kefir grains ferment milk into milk kefir, and water kefir grains ferment sugar water into water kefir.

Learn more: Here’s how to make milk kefir.  

Can I Use Milk Kefir Grains to Make Water Kefir?

Maybe. 

You can try using your milk kefir grains to make water kefir, but it might not work, and the grains may not live. 

If the grains DO live, they might not continue to reproduce.

Keep in mind that if you do successfully convert milk kefir grains into water kefir grains, you can’t use them for milk again.

I recommend using water kefir grains, not milk kefir grains, for this drink.

Where Can I Buy Water Kefir Grains?

If you have a friend who makes water kefir, check with them first! 

Kefir grains multiply quickly, and they probably have extra to share.

If you need to buy kefir grains, try checking in local health food stores, or buy them online. 

I bought these water kefir grains on Amazon, and I highly recommend them– they worked perfectly and multiplied beautifully.

Kefir shopping tip: I always recommend buying live, active kefir grains instead of dehydrated kefir grains.

Do I Need Special Equipment?

Other than the grains, the only “special” equipment you might want are pressure-resistant bottles for carbonating the water kefir.

You can use plastic soda bottles, reuse store-bought kombucha or water kefir bottles, or use pressure-resistant, swing-top bottles or growlers intended for brewing beer or other carbonated drinks. 

I use pressure-resistant swing-top bottles that I bought on Amazon.

Avoid using decorative bottles to carbonate water kefir– they might explode.

Don’t want to find the right bottles?  You can also skip the carbonation phase.

You might also want a funnel to help pour the water kefir into the bottles.

I use this Squish mini funnel because I can easily fit it into a kitchen drawer.

How to Make Water Kefir with Flavors

Just like with kombucha, you can either add flavored juice or lemonade directly to your water kefir, or do a second fermentation with diced fruit and herbs.

Keep in mind that using juice will usually give you a sweeter water kefir, and fruit a slightly less sweet kefir.

How to Make Water Kefir: Flavoring Ideas

• Lemon-Ginger:  Use a combination of both flavoring techniques. 
  Do a second fermentation with sliced ginger for 1-2 days. 
  Add lemonade when bottling.
• Lemon-Cayenne:  Use a combination of both flavoring techniques. 
  Do a short second fermentation with one dried cayenne pepper.  Taste the water kefir after 2 hours, and ferment longer if desired. 
  Add lemonade when bottling.
• Coconut Water + Herbs: Use a combination of both flavoring techniques. 
  Do a second fermentation with fresh mint and/or basil for 1-2 days.  Add coconut water when bottling.
• Fruit Juice: Add your favorite fruit juice when bottling
• Apple + Spices:  Do a second fermentation with diced apple, cinnamon, and clove for 2 days. 
  Taste, and add more sweetener (juice, simple syrup, stevia etc.) if desired when bottling.

Additional Water Kefir Resource:  True Brews: How to Craft Fermented Cider, Beer, Wine, Sake, Soda, Mead, Kefir, and Kombucha at Home