# Cola Wars - Coke or Pepsi (USA Only) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921 "2011-12-03T03:10:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/41 "2011-12-03T23:25:40Z")
Coke is an inferior substitute when Dr. Pepper is unavailable, but Pepsi is an inferior substitute for Coke. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/42 "2011-12-03T23:28:34Z")
They taste exactly the same to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cara\_mel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@Cara\_mel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cara_mel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/43 "2011-12-03T23:34:50Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > They taste exactly the same to me. They don’t care what you think - USA ONLY 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/44 "2011-12-04T00:56:50Z")
I heard somewhere that the bottom-note flavor in Coke is lime, while it’s vanilla in Pepsi. That explains why Coke is more acidic and Pepsi is sweeter. I prefer Coke, but I never drink it. On the rare occasions that I drink something other than water, I drink Coke Zero. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/45 "2011-12-04T01:48:18Z")
Coca-Cola mixes well with rum and whiskey - so Coke. It’s the better cola on its own too, but the mixing aspect clinches it. Very few bars even have Pepsi. Does anyone else here drink? Sometimes the smdb feels drier than MADD meeting. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/46 "2011-12-04T02:28:28Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Coca-Cola mixes well with rum and whiskey - so Coke. It’s the better cola on its own too, but the mixing aspect clinches it. Very few bars even have Pepsi… I was once at a bar/restaurant when a friend ordered a Jack & Coke, and the waitress said, in what sounded like a VERY scripted, rehearsed phrase, “I am sorry sir, but we here at Bedwetters only serve Pepsi brand products, but I will be more than glad to bring you a delicious Jack Daniels & PEPSI brand cola, if that will be all right with you.” She strongly emphasized the word Pepsi, and her phrasing made it sound like she was repeating this little spiel verbatim, as if she had said those exact words 10,000 times before. I’ll always remember how odd it sounded to me. (For what it’s worth, the place was a local, higher-end version of places like Applebees of Chilis, with a handful of locations in the Salt Lake City area.) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/47 "2011-12-04T02:35:53Z")
Anyone else notice the Coke bar is red and the Pepsi bar is blue? It’s like the polling software is brand-aware. I’m scared. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/48 "2011-12-04T02:37:40Z")
I’d rather pay to drink Coke than drink Pepsi for free. StG ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/49 "2011-12-04T02:43:38Z")
Voted Coke because Pepsi is a little too sweet for me these days. But if you broadened the voting, I’d go: Mexican Pepsi Throwback Pepsi Mexican Coke Coke RC Cola Pepsi Any diet/cherry/vanilla/store brand soda. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/50 "2011-12-04T03:01:47Z")
Coke. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/51 "2011-12-04T03:19:00Z")
I’m not sure I can tell the difference, so I didn’t vote. Interesting to see that so many folks have a strong preference. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/52 "2011-12-04T15:47:50Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > They taste exactly the same to me. Thank you, you’re not the only one. If I really cared, I’d do a side-by-side taste test, but I really don’t care that much. Since I’m not into straight cola of any kind, I get the diet cherry variety of whichever one’s on sale. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/53 "2011-12-04T15:56:17Z")
I voted Coke. Pepsi’s alright in small doses, but after a while leaves a slightly soapy aftertase in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/54 "2011-12-04T16:10:58Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Pepsi is sublime and perfect for all-day pop sipping and consumption. > > Besides, Coke is just too Cokey, and Pepsi is more Pepsier, need I say more? Could not have said it better! ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/55 "2011-12-04T17:36:34Z")
Coke \> Pepsi. Coke is spicier and not as sweet. But I don’t drink sugar sweetened sodas anymore, so Coke Zero\> Diet Pepsi\>Diet Coke\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>Tab. Leaving out every other straight diet cola known to man. Before the advent of Coke Zero I preferred Diet Pepsi simply because it was sweeter ( now more important since I was craving sweet, when before I wasn’t ) and Diet Coke tastes kinda off to me. Drinkable, but not good. Coke Zero was a huge upgrade and now I no longer touch Diet Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/56 "2011-12-04T18:40:15Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Coca-Cola mixes well with rum and whiskey - so Coke. It’s the better cola on its own too, but the mixing aspect clinches it. Very few bars even have Pepsi. > > Does anyone else here drink? Sometimes the smdb feels drier than MADD meeting. See post #35 🙂 Btw, I think Coke is overcarbonated and it hurts my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/57 "2011-12-04T18:45:58Z")
I suppose it’s true, if you’re making a mixer, it seems Coke tastes better than Pepsi. But for cola drinking alone, Pepsi… hands down! (And yes, **drastic\_quench,** there are quite a few drinkers on this board.) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/58 "2011-12-04T19:15:40Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > See post #35 🙂 > > Btw, I think Coke is overcarbonated and it hurts my mouth. And let this be a cautionary tale, Despite the word “Pop” in its name, DO NOT mix any cola with Pop-Rocks™! It could completely destroy your epiglottis. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/59 "2011-12-04T21:03:24Z")
Coke for me. Seems like most of the restaurants around here only serve Pepsi stuff, so I’m glad I can tolerate Sierra Mist. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921/60 "2011-12-04T22:18:41Z")
Coke. Pepsi is too sweet - I won’t drink it at all. And I wipe my feet on your USA Only welcome mat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cola-wars-coke-or-pepsi-usa-only/604921.md?page=4)