Fountain sodas vs. bottled/canned

[lewsterr]

Does anyone know what the difference is between the fountain diet sodas and those in the can/bottle. I have no problem with drinking those in the can/bottle, but I just cannot stomach diet soda from a soda fountain. To me, it has an awful bitterness and after-taste, and just can't tolerate the stuff. I usually drink water in restaurants; however, I keep a couple of packs of canned soda in the car and take a can in with me when I can't stomach water anymore. Are the sweetners used in fountain sodas different?

[princesslinda]

I'm the opposite...I PREFER diet fountain drinks...seems the drink doesn't seem as strong...course I like a lot of ice. It may be that the syrup/carbonation ratio was off when you've tried it...or maybe it's been off when i've tried it, as I usually just stick with tea.

[Doug]

soda from a fountain is completely based on the mix being right

They take concentrate syrup and co2 and water and in the mix head they make the soda... If the lines arent clean - it takes like ****, if the co2 is wrong it tastes like ****, etc etc -

You will find that every fountain is different.

It wouldn't surprise me that the recipes are different as well

[TenderVittleS]

You have to be careful because some kid might put Regular Coke on the Diet Coke line when the Diet Syrup runs out. That's why it can taste like **** sometimes and also may have regular syrup in the lines.

[lewsterr]

Doug, so you are saying that, if mixed properly, it should taste like the canned version? If so, I have never been to a restaurant/fast food place that mixed it properly.

[v3xtr0n]

I think the main difference is the water that is used.

The water from the bottled/canned cola will pretty much all be using the same water at the factory it was bottled/canned in, whereas the fountains will use your local water supply, OK some have a water filter attached to make the water as pure as possible, but that is most likely why they taste different.

[JediSkipdogg]

The reason is because of the carbonation. Without proper carbonation coke goes flat. That's why cans have expiration dates on them. I spent 5 years working at McDonalds and the coke boxes (bag in a box as it's called) had far out expiration dates. That was the syrup only.

That's one reason a 6 month old can may taste different than a 6 day old can.

[Doug]

Doug, so you are saying that, if mixed properly, it should taste like the canned version? If so, I have never been to a restaurant/fast food place that mixed it properly.

I have had good diet coke from a fountain - but its rare - plus - I like it staight from an ice cold can .. The cans seem to maintain the ZING better than bottles or fountains... Its the carbonation...

You have to expect that the coca cola company thinks that fountain is a good representation of the brand or they would do something about it

As was mentioned the water quality makes a big difference as does the condition of the water filter if any and the lines etc. As I understand it, at 7-11 the cup costs more than the contents..

[lewsterr]

Then it must be the water around here. I must admit that the Washington, DC area has the worst tasting water. I suppose whatever is in our water combined with the coke syrup causes a nasty chemical reaction :eek: Also, our water leaves a lot of sediment in pipes, so that must be what's happening in the machines.

[mzizgayle]

Lewsterr I grew up in the DC area and never drank the water if I could get away from it....it was nasty and I remember my mother having major hissy fits because I would not drink more water.....

Fountain sodas taste different because of the mix and the major is water.

[ladytaz]

Also, they may need to clean their fountains!! Sometimes fountain soda will taste rancid/moldy like .. eW. Gotta watch that at restraunts with Iced Tea too ... alot of places don't clean out their tea containers and it'll have that same rancid/moldy taste ... eW! For the most part tho, soda from a fountain should taste the same as in a can. Most common probs I've had are not enough syrup or carbonation.

[sweetcheeks]

the only time i ever have a problem with fountain is if it tastes flat, when that happens i tell them about it, but since they usually only serve one diet drink, I'll would tell them 1. i want my money back cause they dont have a 2nd diet drink available, i just cant stomach water with my meal. If it drink water it has to be just to sip around on or afte excercise.


other than that, i do prefer can to fountain, but fountain doesnt bother me to drink it either

[Jenn80Mc]

I much prefer fountain pop, then canned!

[JungleJim]

I agree with those that say the water is the thing. The water in my town is pretty good, but if I drive about 30 miles to the town where my g-ma used to live, the water is HORRIBLE! Just the same, fountain drinks are ok where I live, horrible in the other town.

TenderVittles is so right about getting a fountain drink at a drive through or ect. If you don't see them putting diet in the cup, you are taking a chance. If I don't see it happen I ask them to make sure, and about 25% of the time I get a confused look and they pour it out and make another. I can't tell the difference in taste between regular and diet, so I am extra careful if I don't have my taste-testing wife with me.

[condensr]

I love fountain soda.. I like to add just a little splash of regular coke/pepsi on top of the diet. Since I usually am eating a meal when I get a fountain soda, I just factor that in to my bolus. (maybe a half a unit.)

Some of the fountains out there definitely need to be cleaned though, it can get nasty!

Some of you may notice a difference in canned soda from one location to another, too. The stuff is usually bottled/canned locally, using the local water supply. I'd guess the filtering is better in a bottling facility, but I know I can taste the difference in canned soda from here or from eastern WA, where I was raised.

[Imperatrix]

As a cost-cutting measure, fountain diet sodas are sweetened with a mix of aspartame and saccharin---they aren't sweetened with straight-up aspartame as are many canned/bottled diet sodas.