Coca-Cola is a remarkably consistent product , one that tastes basically the same wherever in the world you might buy it.
There is one exception, however: for some reason , Coke from a soda fountain, particularly at McDonald’s, somehow tastes better.
Why is that? It’s a great question, and we’ve got the answers.
Nothing beats a tasty McDonald’s Coke.
From the exquisite fizz to the bright, in-your-face flavor, many of us would rather drink McDonald’s Coke, fresh from the fountain, than Coke from a can or bottle purchased at the corner store.
It’s different from regular Coke.
The Coke/McDonald’s partnership actually goes all the way back to Ray Kroc, the man who turned McDonald’s into a global juggernaut. According to Better Homes & Gardens , Kroc initially reached out to Coca-Cola to stock their drink at his restaurants. Decades later, the partnership is rock solid.
Is McDonald’s Coke better than Coke from other soda fountains?
In a word, yes. While other restaurants get soda syrup delivered in plastic bags, apparently, McDonald’s get its syrup delivered in stainless steel tanks. This helps keep things tasting better by shielding the syrup from outside factors.
The water plays a role as well.
Some places, Starbucks in particular, have really, really good filtered water. McDonald’s is another such restaurant that takes water filtration seriously, filtering its water many times over to ensure that it tastes clean, pure and consistent.
The syrup is chilled.
Most soda fountains actually store their ingredients at room temperature before rapidly cooling them as they exit the spigot. McDonald’s soda fountains, on the other hand, pre-chills syrup.
Additionally, the mix is calculated to account for ice melt, ensuring that Coke will taste good even after all the ice has melted.
The water is also chilled.
The tanks that hold the soda water for McDonald’s are kept cold, just above the freezing threshold.
Additionally, this temperature helps ensure that carbon dioxide levels are optimal, which means your soda will be perfectly bubbly when it’s poured into your cup.
Even the straw is optimized.
Here’s how it works, straight from the source:
“[Our straws are] slightly wider than a typical straw so all that Coke® taste can hit your taste buds,” reads an FAW on the McDonald’s website. In short, those straws get the Coke in your mouth very quickly.
It isn’t a myth, and it never was.
A glass of Coca-Cola is refreshing under any circumstances, but many of us would rather have the McDonald’s version than a canned, bottled or (other) soda fountain version. As we’ve found out, there’s good reason for this.
It’s a lesson in quality control.
Keeping things consistent across tens of thousands of restaurants worldwide is a major logistical challenge. Keeping things consistent in a way that ensures your version of the world’s most popular soft drink is the best version…well, that takes things to another level.
BRB, I’m going to McD’s.
