The Atlas Obscura Podcast The Last Seltzer Factory in Brooklyn
Dec 3, 2025
Guests Barry Joseph, a seltzer expert and author of Seltzertopia, and Alex Gumberg, a fourth-generation seltzer businessman, dive into the fascinating world of seltzer production. They discuss the history of seltzer men in NYC and share stories about the Gumberg family’s legacy in the business. Listeners will learn about the meticulous process of making seltzer, the importance of glass siphons, and the challenges of maintaining a traditional operation. Join them for a bubbly journey through Brooklyn's last seltzer factory!
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How A SodaStream Review Sparked A Career
- Barry Joseph began researching seltzer after writing a SodaStream review and changed careers to document its history.
- He hunted down industry veterans and family stories because no formal history existed.
Four Generations Of Seltzer Delivery
- Alex Gumberg traces his family's seltzer delivery back to his great-grandfather Mo in the 1940s.
- His family started Gumberg Seltzer Works in 1953 and the tradition continued through generations.
From Horses To Trucks On New York Streets
- New York once had hundreds of seltzermen who delivered siphons by horse and then truck.
- They carried heavy wooden crates up multi‑story stairs, a labor-intensive route culture.
