Is fresh Coca Cola really better than the stuff in a bottle or a can?

Question

One of my friends visited a Coca Cola factory for a tour a little while back. He said that at the end of the tour, they gave them free samples of Coke, right off the production line, and that it tasted way better than the Coke he's had in cans or bottles purchased from the supermarket. Can anyone else verify that fresh Coke is better-tasting than Coke that's been in transit and on the shelf for a couple of weeks? I think he's pulling my leg - with all the chemistry Coke puts into their products, I would think they'd want the Coke people buy at the store to be just as good as it is when they make it... but I want to know for sure from someone who has had both (besides my friend, who is prone to exaggeration).

Answer 1

Yes. I knew someone who was a chemist for Coca-Cola. He also worked as a taster. He said when it is first made, it has a much different flavor. After about 2 days, it stabilizes and does not change. He said he preferred the fresh taste.

Answer 2

Yes I would agree with your friend. I lived down in Antarctica for awhile, and there is only one shipment of soda per year. While down there, we drink "old" sodas, usually almost a year old, as the winter-over people drink the soda straight off the ship. When we return to New Zealand and the USA, and we taste a coke, WOW!!! The taste is amazing, it tastes so fresh, and clean, and crisp!

A way for you to test this without going to a factory, is to leave a can of coke in your fridge for 6 months to a year. Taste it. Now, open a freshly bought can from a store that rotates stock frequently. You will taste the difference.

Answer 3

Fountain Coke is mixed on the spot--syrup and carbonated water. The taste can be adjusted by tweaking the ratio of syrup to water (called "brixing") and by the amount of carbonation--have you ever had Coke in a restaurant that tasted either too syrupy or flat? The Coke factory has their brixing down to a science, and also probably serve it at the optimum temperature, something that doesn't always happen with a can or bottle!

Answer 4

Well, actually at the end of the visit of the Coca Cola factory in Atlanta, there are fountains with the Coca Cola products. They don't really taste different! The point is just that you can fill bottles for free.

Answer 5

yes, because in a can or plastic bottle the plastic/aluminum causes the taste of the actual coke to change. Therefore, the coke will seem different than when tasted at the factory.

Answer 6

I've never had "fresh" coke, but it would make sense that it tastes better.

I can, however, say that Coke sold in the glass bottle (as opposed to the plastic bottle or can) beats the other ones, hands down!

Answer 7

i dont like coke from a can or bottle but you get coke from the fountain..that's the good stuff
so i would have to assume that since the taste is different in the can , the bottle, and the fountain, that it must taste different coming right the production line.

Answer 8

The old glass bottles were the BEST way to get coke and yes, coke ages over time so you might want to check the dates on when it was made.

Answer 9

I dont know but I know coke in different places is a lot better like mexico coke is sooooo good

Answer 10

I suggest contacting either Coke directly to see the dates and areas that they make the product with sugar and / or look in the online yellow pages for Coke distributors near you that may have the info. Another possibility is finding a market near you that carries the sugar Coke and order a quantity thru them - with enough notice, they should be able to order extra from their distributor