I’ve noticed Cokes are better at McDonald’s. The other fast food places that sell Coke are ok. But there is a difference.
I don’t order soda at restaurants that only sell Pepsi. It’s too sweet.
Turns out McDonald’s does prepare Coke differently. They filter their water, the syrup is delivered inside stainless steel cylinders and it’s fresher because they sell more Coke.
I’ve always thought McDonald’s Coke was more highly carbonated? Other restaurant Cokes seem a little flat.
Mexican Coke in a bottle made with real sugar is still the best. McDonald’s has the best Coke made in a soda fountain machine.
Since all ingredients are exactly the same, at point of manufacture, the difference in quality would depend on the attention to the detail of assembling the recipe, and any ingredients that are commodities not supplied by Coca Cola, namely, water. It’s a sealed container of syrup meeting Coca Cola’s quality control standards, local tapwater, and a calibrated infusion of gas to carbonate it. I don’t know if the carbonation chemicals are provided by Coca Cola, or purchased by the restaurant from other sources. All done mechanically in a machine that is subject to local maintenance to assure that it is not contaminated by foreign substances. And can also be miscalculated to mix the ingredients incorrectly, or subject to clogged or loose ingredient fittings.
So there are a lot of ways that the end product can vary, either intentionally, neglectfully, or accidentally, outside the control of Coca Cola. I’ve dispensed fountain drinks in fast food restaurants that were faulty, and I had to pour t hem out and bring the misbehaving dispenser to management’s attention.
I guess cleaning the machine is very important? I’ve heard mold can get into dirty lines.
Is there an adjustment on the machine for carbonation? Too little and it’s a bit flat. Like a canned Coke you opened 2 hours ago. Too much and it stings my throat.
I have seen the truck delivering Co2 to the restaurant. There’s a wall socket that the trucks hose connects to. I’ve wondered just how big the restaurant’s Co2 tank must be.
It’s because you’re drinking it alongside terrible food so anything will taste better.
Huh, I always thought Coke was more sugary than Pepsi to my taste. I don’t have a strong preference, except that Diet Coke is way better because Pepsi bought into the “aspartame is evil” thing and use nasty sucralose.
As far as mold, it’s better not to think about it…
The process of adjusting the water/syrup/carbonation ratio is called “brixing” and is an aquired skill. McDonalds is all about consistency, and they make sure the product they deliver meets corporate standards, everywhere. Say what you will about them, they make sure that any McDonalds you visit will deliver the same product, and that includes the soft drinks.
Interesting. I’d say the best Coke (non-Mexican category) comes from either McDonald’s or the aluminum cans. Out of plastic bottles or other places it tends to not be the same. Those 80+ soda machines at Burger King and Jack in the Box definitely have an inferior taste. Though I’ve also been at plenty of McD’s where the Coke doesn’t have nearly the same carbonation, or its going flat, or near the end of the syrup, or something.
The first hit of Coke is more sugary compared to the first hit of Pepsi, but Pepsi has this weird sickeningly sweet aftertaste. I can never finish a whole can of it, whereas I can keep guzzling down Coke (though I prefer to dilute it with Diet… 50/50 Diet/regular Coke is my drink of choice by far).
I agree with you that Diet Pepsi is awful, though.
I agree with magnusblitz that the container makes a difference. Other burger places, such as Whataburger here in Texas, use styrofoam cups. McDonald’s has those paper cups with wax lining. The paper cup with wax lining seems to have a better flavor. In general, I would rank them as glass bottles > aluminum cans > plastic bottles.
Other than the the quantity==freshness factors, I always thought McCoke was mixed a just a trifle light on the syrup, leading to a fresher, crisper taste than others with a heavier hand on the goo.