Why Does Soda Taste Differently When It Comes From The Tap In Bars?

Question

I'm addicted to Coca-Cola lol and even when I go out drinking I have to have a coke.

Why is it that when the cola comes from the tap it doesn't quite taste like the soda in the bottle? Is it their own mixture coming from the tap?

Answer 1

In cans, they are stored airtight until you open them, in bars they are already slightly exposed to oxygen and have reacted with it so there is a slight change in flavor and intensity.

Answer 2

There are 2 reasons:

First, most bars very rarely care to keep their equipment (especially the non alcoholic stuff) in proper working order, which means, the CO2 tank, the stuff that mixes with the soda syrup to make it fizzy, is usually low, or there could be a leak in the line that goes unnoticed. Most bars don't care because they figure no one will notice, as it will most likely be mixed with alcohol.

Second, the syrup sits in the line until use, which means, if no one orders coke, it'll sit there for a while. A lot of bars store their soda bibs (the box that holds the syrup) in a far away store room, and the lines connecting said bibs to the tap can range in length from 20-50 feet, which is a long way for soda to travel. Also, bars, unless belonging to a very upscale hotel or corporation and sometimes not even then, don't clean their soda lines very often, which means over night, when the soda isn't in use, some of the stuff can crystallize and get stuck in the lines. Some bars require the opening bartenders to run the soda to clear the lines, but not very many, and there is still stuff stuck in there.

I personally stick to alcohol or water when I go to a bar, for that reason.

Answer 3

Any soda from tap is the original soda mixed with water, which saves the restaurant that distributes it a LOT of money. So the coca-cola from tap is probably like 20% water. It doesn't taste as good but it saves you on calories :).

Answer 4

Yeah, this question has been pretty much answered but when you are at home and have a can or a bottle of Coke get a big cup and fill it with ice and pour the soda in. Its SOO much better then drinking it straight from the can, even if it is cold.

Answer 5

I share your enthusiasm toward Coca-Cola. I think from the tap it's more watered down. I like it from a 12 oz. aluminum can the best.

Answer 6

I'm not quite sure of the name of the stuff, but I know that when soda is in a tap it is usually diluted with stuff to preserve the carbonation and to save the place money.

Answer 7

the mix between carbonated water and syrup is different in a fountain soda than it is in a can.

the factory-made stuff has a consistant ratio of syrup to carbonation. but what you get from a tap at a restaurant or convenience store is never going to be exactly to factory specifications. It's pretty much a human error/its-close-enough-the-real-thing to-work kind of deal

Answer 8

How clean the delivery system is can make a difference. The mix of carbonated water an sodamix can be tweaked, as well. In cans and bottles, it's all pretty standard.

Answer 9

Because they can add more syrup or less gas. the can is just the orginal mix of part syrup and gas.

When you get it from the fountain, syrup comes by boxes and through a feed line. gas comes from a tank. with different parts makes different taste

Answer 10

I don;t know but it does taste the best from the tap bars.