Why Coke at McDonald's Tastes Different

If you're one of those people who thinks the Coca-Cola served at McDonald's tastes different than the Coke served at other places

good news! You're not crazy. The Coke at McDonald's actually does have a unique flavor, and we know why

So, today we're going to take a look at why Coke at McDonald's tastes so different

Most people don't realize it, but how and when the ingredients of soda are combined can make a difference in how the final product tastes

And unlike soda that comes in a bottle or can, fountain sodas are mixed the moment they start pouring from the tap

This makes the taste of fountain drinks, in general, different from the taste of pre-mixed sodas

and many believe it results in a fresher flavor. McDonald's aims to make it so that no matter which location you're visiting

the Coke they serve will taste identical to the Coke at every other McDonald's in the world

Interestingly, McDonald's actually puts less syrup in their drinks than many other chains

A small Coke from McDonald's contains 40 grams of sugar. But over at a place like Panera Bread, you'll be served a Coke with as much as 67 grams of sugar in it

That's a fairly significant difference. Mixing the ingredients of a soda is a lot more complicated than it seems

Even slight differences in syrup ratio, drink temperature, or carbonation levels can drastically affect the taste of fountain Coke

But McDonald ain having that Over the years they gone to great lengths to ensure their Coke meets a certain standard They even account for the effect that melting ice can have on flavor The chain also pre its syrup before it mixed into your drink This is critical not only to prevent

dilution, but also to keep the soda carbonated longer. A big part of the alchemy behind making

good Coke is simply in making sure the syrup doesn't spoil. To keep the syrup from going bad

you need to keep it as chilled as possible. To accomplish this, McDonald's actually developed

its own fairly clever system of transporting, storing, and dispensing Coca-Cola. While most restaurants store their syrup in plastic bags

McDonald's uses special steel storage tanks designed to keep their contents cool

As if all that space-age soda fountain technology wasn't enough, McDonald's actually filters

the water in its drinks before it is used in the fountain dispensers. Because they have restaurants all over the globe

McDonald's has to make sure that local water sources do not affect the taste of their drinks

The best way to do that is to have a uniform filtration system that pumps out consistent results no matter which water source is being used

Ever stop to consider whether the straw you're using changes the taste of the drink you're drinking

Well, McDonald's has that straws are a little bit wider than the industry standard

so that customers can enjoy bigger sips. They claim this embiggened straw ensures that Coke can wash over your taste buds more efficiently

So there you have it. All of the intricate science and technology behind the uniquely fresh flavor of McDonald's Coke