# How to outsmart the fountain drink machine.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024 "2005-04-06T12:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/21 "2005-04-06T18:33:58Z")
> [@Joools](#): > > On top of which, I don’t have a cite for this, but I’m fairly sure the proprietor’s primary expense (excluding labor) for a soft drink is actually the _cup_. Jibes with what I learned in the restaurant biz. Circa 1993, 12 oz. of fountain Coke (syrup + carbonated water) cost the restaurant about 3 cents. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/22 "2005-04-06T18:44:30Z")
> [@chefIL11](#): > > I’m allowed to hijack my own thread dammit! > > So are these machines factory predetermined as to how much water/coke ratio that it will dispense? Or is this up to the convienience store? > > Further, how does this compare to the ratio that you get when you buy a prepackaged bottle or can? Any ideas? [Here’s all you could wanna know about Brix calibration and mixing (with pix of the brix)](http://www.boneville.net/soda/brix.htm) (it does look like my memory was correct about the syrup coming straight down.) ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/23 "2005-04-06T19:19:59Z")
When I was a kid, my mom’s work place had a countertop soda machine that had it’s canisters off to the side in a seperate container. It was always breaking down. One day I got a drink, only to find it was almost pure syrup. It thought I would sufficate. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/24 "2005-04-06T19:39:01Z")
> [@Joools](#): > > On top of which, I don’t have a cite for this, but I’m fairly sure the proprietor’s primary expense (excluding labor) for a soft drink is actually the _cup_. Sounds about right. A normal bag of post-mix syrup will run about $50, but you sell way more than that in soda. The cup itself is the most expensive, but even that is not all that expensive, and I’ve never worked for anyone that kept really close inventory on the physical cups. Basically, once in a while inventory would be taken to square it with the computer inventory and any missing cups were just written off as an expense. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/25 "2005-04-07T15:34:02Z")
> [@Joools](#): > > On top of which, I don’t have a cite for this, but I’m fairly sure the proprietor’s primary expense (excluding labor) for a soft drink is actually the _cup_. Actually, in most places, the major expense is their investment in buying the dispenser machine itself, the accompanying ice machine, and the labor costs to install & maintain them. They have to depreciate this investment over several years, but then it’s usually time to upgrade or replace the machines. After that investment cost, the operating costs are (in approximate order): - cup (and cover) – about 1-2¢ - syrup – about 0.75 to 1¢ - straw - ice (water, and electricity to freeze it) - electricity to operate the dispenser machine - rent for the floor space used by the machine - water bill for the city water used - labor costs for employee time to add more syrup, refill the cups/covers/straws, and to clean around the machine. Most of these costs are well under a penny per drink. But the employee costs (wages, benefits, taxes & unemployment) are much higher than these supply costs. So by having the customer do the work of dispensing their own drinks, the owners savings on reduced employee cost more than covers the costs of people refilling their drink multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/26 "2005-04-07T16:03:56Z")
You don’t want pure syrup- it’s is just that- _syrup_, and very strong and as **Joe K** said- tastes medicinal. What you likely want is changing the mixture to about 4-1 instead of 5-1. Some cheap small time stores will try and change the mix to 6-1 to skimp on a few pennies, too! ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/27 "2005-04-07T16:18:39Z")
There’s a deli in the town I moved from a few years back that has an old-fashioned soda dispenser. They squirt in syrup & carbonated water separately, one at a time, and they’ll mix your drink to your specs if you ask. Plus, the Dr. Pepper syrup they use comes from the bottler that still uses 100% cane sugar for sweetener. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm … ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/28 "2005-04-07T18:02:11Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > You can _try_ to go to an industrial food service supplier [like US Foodservice] and talk them into selling you a 5 gallon pony of syrup and try to figure out how to tap into it and still keep it ‘fresh’ without a mixing machine. Most food service companies wont sell to individuals though, but you might get lucky=) Does anyone know where I can get the components AND the machine? I want to get this for someone as a gift. Can individuals get Coke machines in their houses? Can I form a shell corporation whose sole mission is to provide us Coke? It’s funny, but I’m serious. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/29 "2005-04-07T18:06:32Z")
Remember the table top model I mention in post 23? Well, here you go. [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67115&item=7506699198&rd=1](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=67115&item=7506699198&rd=1) [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=57075&item=7506363867&rd=1](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=57075&item=7506363867&rd=1) [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38&item=7147570704&rd=1](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38&item=7147570704&rd=1) ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/30 "2005-04-07T18:13:43Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > As per **aruvqan** ’s suggestion, I’ve seen boxes of syrup for sale at Sam’s Club, fwiw. The problem being that, in Texas at least, Sam’s Club will not sell you the syrup unless you have a certificate proving you’re in food service. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/31 "2005-04-07T18:19:50Z")
I am sure that there are entrepreneurial dopers who own food related businesses. Own of my relatives does, they simply made a employee card saying I saw staff, and then it isn’t a problem, at least for me. Sure, it isn’t a “certificate”, but is close enough for the local restaurant wholesaler. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/32 "2005-04-07T20:10:36Z")
That picture doesn’t quite match up with my experiences at McDonald’s, but I never analyzed them that closely. We had a red thing that we put on the fountain (after removing the nozzle) that had a spigot off to the side. (sorry, no picture.) Anyway, the coke guys calibrated it for us usually. I just used the little red thing to get syrup out of the machines. (If you want to drink pure syrup, the only 2 tolerable ones are Sprite and Hi-C Orange, but they’re both really sweet and really tart.) Oh yeah, remember those Arctic Orange shakes a few years back? They were made with Hi-C syrup, so now I can use that cute nozzle to make them for myself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/33 "2005-04-07T20:18:25Z")
> [@racinchikki](#): > > The problem being that, in Texas at least, Sam’s Club will not sell you the syrup unless you have a certificate proving you’re in food service. Ahh, I never tried to buy it while I was there. I guess that also throws out the idea for nekkid wrestling in a pool with it. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/34 "2005-04-07T21:35:03Z")
Oddly. I’m the opposite: I enjoy moreso the cabonated water without the syrup. ---
**Author:** ![adric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@adric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adric)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/35 "2014-09-26T16:04:37Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Oddly. I’m the opposite: I enjoy moreso the cabonated water without the syrup. Yeah Me too, i always thank the workers (and owner if available) when the soda machines have a Soda Water button… wish they all did, 25% soda water to the normal coke, makes it a nice less sweet (lower calorie) refreshing beverage. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/36 "2014-09-26T16:18:37Z")
The syrup is mostly sugar. So if your drink has too much carbonated water, pick up a pack of sugar from the condimeht bar, and add that to your drink. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/37 "2014-09-26T16:32:33Z")
I want to know how to prevent zombies from messing with my fountain drink machine! ---
**Author:** ![HipGnosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/38 "2014-09-26T16:47:43Z")
> [@Jake4](#): > > Does anyone know where I can get the components AND the machine? I want to get this for someone as a gift. Can individuals get Coke machines in their houses? Can I form a shell corporation whose sole mission is to provide us Coke? > > It’s funny, but I’m serious. You can buy the machines and the syrups. And they are in consumer sizes. It’s called SodaStream. And I believe it has competitors now. Then you can adjust the ratio of syrup/water/carbonation to your guts content and distention. Coke is going to sell a consumer machine (and syrup) of their own, but that isn’t on the market yet. I looked into a soda machine; I want less syrup and carbonation - the SodaStream is made so you HAVE to buy the bottles and CO2 (carbonation) from them at prices that don’t make it worthwhile. Tweaking a self-serve dispenser would be vandalism and theft. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/39 "2014-09-27T04:00:47Z")
I don’t have many fountain sodas any more, having moved on to prefer seltzer/Soda Stream/sparkling water. But there is a noticeable difference to me in Cokes bought at McDonald’s and those from other places. Does McDonald’s have their own special additive, like the sugar coating they put on fries, or are they just much more attentive to the brix mixture than the barbecue place down the street? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024/40 "2014-09-27T04:26:33Z")
I want to know the difference between fountain sodas and the bottled kind. Bottled soda is okay. Canned is better. But fountain sodas are awesome and cheaper than the bottled kind. I suspect it has more to do with the cups and the ice than the beverage mixture itself, though I also suspect there’s less syrup and more carbonated water in fountain soda, which I think I prefer. Also, I read (maybe here on the Dope) that you can make a better, more durable version of a Sodastream machine with ~$15 worth of stuff from Lowe’s. Anybody got a link to instructions? I’m sure I can make my own syrup easily. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-outsmart-the-fountain-drink-machine/298024.md?page=1)