# Coke or Pepsi? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [December 13, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445 "2017-12-13T23:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/81 "2017-12-18T02:10:49Z")
Pepsi forever! Tastes better in Thailand than it does here though, but then so does Coke, so it’s relative. I never, and I mean NEVER, drink diet colas. If I want diet, I’ll drink water. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/82 "2017-12-18T02:26:54Z")
Pepsi is better when it comes to taste and overall refreshment. Coke is better at brainwashing feeble-minded Americans. Seriously, Coke tastes so awful that I can only drink it on ice, which drowns out some of the nastiness. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/83 "2017-12-18T02:43:50Z")
I always preferred Coke. I’ve drank Pepsi at restaurants thar didn’t offer Coke. It didn’t convince me to switch. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/84 "2017-12-18T03:33:20Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > They both taste like malted battery acid, frankly Heh. I recall that exact line whenever I drink one. Still, Coke is what pays the bills in the Buzz household, so they’re my choice. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/85 "2017-12-18T03:38:57Z")
Coke. Pepsi is too sugary for my taste. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/86 "2017-12-18T03:47:57Z")
Coke. But that’s only because McDonald’s treats their Coke like it’s a fine wine. Other than that, I don’t think I have a preference. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/87 "2017-12-18T03:53:38Z")
Hey, howzabout Coke or Heroin? ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/88 "2017-12-18T05:16:13Z")
> [@Annoying\_Buzz](#): > > Still, Coke is what pays the bills in the Buzz household, so they’re my choice. One job I had, my Pepsi delivery guy would only drink Coke products. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/89 "2017-12-18T17:20:29Z")
I’ll admit, I’m surprised that Coke is winning by such a landslide; I expected the results to be closer to even. I’m a long-time Diet Pepsi fan. I’ve learned to be OK with Coke Zero Sugar, and have even tolerated a Diet Coke or two (desperate times). The Coke stuff isn’t bad, just…different. But I definitely prefer Diet Pepsi. And I’ll take a Sprite Zero over a Coke Zero Sugar. I can’t drink regular Coke \*or \* regular Pepsi. Most non-diet sodas are way too sweet for my taste. If I’m really jonesing for soda and there are no acceptable diet versions available, I’ll drink a regular Sprite. I also enjoy the occasional Diet Dr Pepper or Diet A&W Root Beer with lunch during the week. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/90 "2017-12-18T17:31:11Z")
I couldn’t vote for just Coke, so I didn’t vote at all. Lumping Diet Coke together with Coke is a sin as bad as thinking Pepsi is equivalent to Coke. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/91 "2017-12-18T18:31:15Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I’ll admit, I’m surprised that Coke is winning by such a landslide; I expected the results to be closer to even. You’d get near 50:50 polling the general public. People here, being above the mean wrt intelligence, are going to naturally skew toward Coke. [del]Apologies to any Pepsi drinkers who took offense[/del] heh, it’ll go right over their heads. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/92 "2017-12-18T19:17:03Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Diet Coke is the nectar of the gods. Dude…disgusting. Coca-cola Zero Sugar(and the now retired Coke Zero) are the vastly superior diet Coke product. Diet Coke only exists because people started drinking it and got used to it. I can not stand it now. > [@Srsly\_Dad](#): > > Diet Pepsi, unless I am in China then Coke Light because the DP in China does not taste right at all The only thing worse than Diet Coke is Diet Pepsi, though Pepsi Max(Zero Sugar) is excellent. Note: I also lived in China and the regular Pepsi was disgusting. It wasn’t the same formula at all and it wasn’t just a “cane sugar” difference. It was totally disgusting. Coca-cola was identical. This was 2003-2005, though. Maybe it has changed. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/93 "2017-12-18T19:28:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > People here, being above the mean wrt intelligence, are going to naturally skew toward Coke. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/94 "2017-12-18T22:23:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > People here, being above the mean wrt intelligence, are going to naturally skew toward Coke. Me like Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/95 "2017-12-20T03:09:03Z")
I was always a Pepsi person but recently switched to Coke. As stated previously Coke goes better with rum. > [@AngryBlonde](#): > > When I was young my drink of choice was Bacardi and Coke but these days I find it far too sweet. That’s because of the Bacardi. They add sugar during the bottling process to sweeten it up. If it’s available in your area try Montanya Platino or Bayou Silver rum. If you’re budget conscious try Cruzan. Much better than Bacardi! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/96 "2017-12-20T09:35:07Z")
I can very clearly tell a difference, but I have no preference for the original sodas. I’m just getting a bit tired of Pepsi (since it’s easier to find caffeine free) and would appreciate some Coke now. However, with diet sodas, Diet Pepsi is the clear winner. There’s still an actual Pepsi taste in it, and it was only improved by removing the aspartame. Diet Coke is just this bland, generic soda. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/97 "2017-12-20T18:18:20Z")
Coke of course! Coke has a bite in its flavor and carbonation that Pepsi just comes across as a bad pepper taste. Diet anything is disgusting. Dr. Pepper (ironically, given my statement) is better than either! ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/98 "2017-12-20T19:59:00Z")
Diet Coke. Grew up with Pepsi, but the fam switched to Coke sometime in the 60s and never looked back. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/99 "2017-12-20T20:15:56Z")
When I was a kid, Pepsi made me barf one day. Coke only for me. And no diet stuff. But I have nothing against the Pepsi Company - I sure like Mountain Dew. Even if it does look like piss. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445/100 "2017-12-20T20:32:59Z")
Most people, especially Coke drinkers, really can’t tell the difference. Many blind taste tests have shown this. Oddly, when a preference is made in a blind test, it is usually Pepsi. We has a diehard Coke drinker that swore Pepsi was undrinkable swill. We filled a 2 Liter bootle with Pepsi and he drank it right down, with no complaints. _Afterwards_, of course, when we pointed it out, he said “it tasted funny”. > **[How Coke Won the Cola Wars](https://slate.com/business/2013/08/pepsi-paradox-why-people-prefer-coke-even-though-pepsi-wins-in-taste-tests.html)** > > This is part of a special series about great rivalries: between tech titans, sports franchises, and even dinosaur hunters. Read about the series here. > **[How the Brain Reveals Why We Buy](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/neuromarketing-brain/)** > > Advances in neuroscience are changing the way some companies position their products, giving birth to the new field of neuromarketing > **[Here's The Real Difference Between Coke And Pepsi](https://www.businessinsider.com/the-difference-between-coke-and-pepsi-2012-12)** **Despite these differences, most people can’t tell the difference, according to a study by Samuel McClure and Read Montague: “Coke and Pepsi are special in that, while they have very similar chemical composition, people maintain strong behavioral preferences for one over the other. We initially measured these behavioral preferences objectively, by administering double-blind taste tests. We found that subjects split equally in their preferences for Coke and Pepsi in the absence of brand information.”** Here’s a peer reviewed article that proves it: > **[Neural Correlates of Behavioral Preference for Culturally Familiar Drinks](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627304006129)** > > Coca-Cola® (Coke®) and Pepsi® are nearly identical in chemical composition, yet humans routinely display strong subjective preferences for one or the … Note, I \*slightly \*prefer Diet Pepsi as I like the citrus note, but a slice of lime or lemon makes Diet Coke very nice also. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-or-pepsi/804445.md?page=6)