Sometimes, there’s just something really satisfying about having a tall, frosty glass of Coke or Pepsi with a burger and fries. But, what if the taste of your soda is “off,” and ends up not being very satisfying at all? What if the disappointment with your favorite caffeinated soda isn’t an isolated incident?
Recently, I have been rather surprised and disgruntled with the inconsistencies in the taste of my Coke, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper. Why does it taste so good at some restaurants but not at others? Why does the taste vary from one area/locale to another? What causes caffeinated sodas to taste different depending on how they're packaged and/or dispensed? I’ve definitely noticed that my Coke, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper taste entirely different if they come in a bottle (glass or plastic), aluminum can, or from a soda fountain.
Usually, I personally grade the deliciousness of my soda according to the following order, from best to not-the-best:
- Soda fountain
- Glass bottle
- Plastic bottle
- Aluminum can
My last choice of a can is due to the metallic aftertaste left behind. Soda fountain drinks seem to taste the freshest and most bubbly, generally speaking.
In trying to figure out why the soda tastes different from restaurant to restaurant and from fountain to bottle to can, I reached out to Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. However, I was told that my inquiry was inappropriate because their recipes were “proprietary” and not eligible for disclosure to the public. Hmm. Okay. I think they misunderstood my question. But moving on . . .
I had to do some digging to find a few answers to most of my questions. Here’s what I found.
About fountain drinks:
- The water should be pre-chilled
- The syrup should also be pre-chilled
- The carbonation level should be just right
- The ratio of syrup to carbonated water should also be just right
- The soda fountain parts, filters, etc. should be serviced or replaced regularly
About that last item: One day, while grabbing lunch at a local restaurant, we remarked to the owner that their Pepsi was especially good. He said that several other patrons had told him the same thing ever since he had the soda fountain equipment serviced. To restaurant owners and managers: Keeping up on maintenance is important for this reason. You know, to keep customers happy.
I’ll even go so far as to choose to dine at certain restaurants—or to avoid some restaurants—based on how good their colas are. Seriously, I kid you not. I want my caffeinated soda to be cold, bubbly, and tasty. Flat, bitter soda is a no-go.
As for my complaint about soda from cans: I don’t know what’s going on there, but soda in cans just doesn’t taste right. Is it because the canning process causes a reaction between cola ingredients and aluminum? Heck if I know what’s going on there, but it’s a theory, unproven as it is.
Worse than soda in a can, though, is when restaurants serve it in wax-coated paper cups. Maybe it’s a cost issue. Maybe it’s a concern about the environment. Perhaps it’s both. No matter the reason, I despise those wax-coated paper cups because the chemicals leach into my soda, rendering it undrinkable after about 20 minutes. If bringing home takeout food, I’ll immediately pour my soda into a glass in order to prevent the leaching into my otherwise perfect diet Coke. Yep. I take my cola consumption seriously.
Now, I want to touch on my reference to inconsistencies in taste depending on locale. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but Pepsi, Coke, etc. taste better in California and Hawaii than they do in Utah. There’s such a noticeable difference that I’ve commented on it to family and friends. Recently, Brian and I took a road trip down to Nevada so that we could attend a concert. When we stopped at a casino in Mesquite to grab lunch at the buffet, we paused while eating and looked up at the same time. Simultaneously, we exclaimed, "Wow, this diet Pepsi is really good!"
Believing this was an anomoly, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that no matter what restaurant we visited in Nevada, the Coke, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper tasted great. Then, boom! When we crossed the border a day later to return to Utah, and ate at a restaurant in St. George, the colas we ordered tasted terrible. What gives? It turns out that I wasn't imagining that cola drinks in Utah generally don't taste as delicious as sodas elsewhere.
I maintain that colas are better in places such as Hawaii, California, and (now) Nevada. What's their secret? Whatever it is, I wish they'd spill their secret to the bottlers and restauranteurs in Utah, or else I'll just need to return to Nevada for my diet Dr. Pepper fix. 😜
Here's a thought: Is it a difference in the quality of the water (Utah’s water is hard, heavy with minerals, for example) or could it be the altitude (carbonation should dissolve more easily at lower altitudes)? Personally, I think those are credible factors.
With all of this in mind, I really wish that something could be done about trying to make the various colas taste more consistent across the board. It would be nice if my glass of Pepsi in Florida, New York, Utah, and Hawaii were the same. Reliable. Recognizable.
Coca-Cola thanked me for being a loyal customer despite being unwilling to answer my questions. No grudges. I’ll continue being a fan. I just wish that my Coke at every restaurant would taste the same as at McDonald’s, or anywhere else, for that matter.
Surely, something could be done about this.