Traditionally, Diet Coke contains aspartame, though some versions contain Splenda … And it makes my day that the order taker asks, "Did you say CHOCOLATE Diet Coke!!!???" Tanks or boxes depends on how busy the restaurant is as well. Sure, other chains used filtering, but not the same way McDonald’s does. yep, I thought so too. The most noticeable difference of all is the taste. Does anyone else know if this is true, McDonald's having their own blend? Thanks for that information. Can tell the difference, and, these are the deep, important things I think about all day. No. I always wondered about the straws. I remember the tanks from when I worked at McD's years ago. Hi JC, Exactly my friend :), dolla gets you the diet coke. three, I worked at a brand spanking new McDonald's for 6 years and we didn't have any of that. The soda with an apostrophe, "a lot" opposed to "a lot". I freakin LOVE Starbucks. McD's doesn't have this problem with their high volume turn over. I have always thought the Coke from McDonalds tastes the best around. This is from the aspartame breaking down. Thanks again Gap4. It has a "bold" flavor, not overly sweet like McDonald's. Where is Coke banned? Almost half of Americans drink diet soda every day, according to a Gallup poll (via Fox News).These days, Americans are also more health-conscious.With the rise of wellness drinks like celery juice and kombucha plus a multitude of boutique fitness studios and far too many health blogs to even try to keep track of, it's no wonder that people are taking notice of what they put in their bodies. The ratio of ingredients and the mix of ingredients is controlled by the fountain machine and that is set by Coca-Cola. An ice water cup costs $.27 at McDonald's! The stuff in cans and bottles is pre-mixed, the faucet stuff is blended on the premises, a mix of syrup, water and carbon dioxide. Cool to know why too! Can't compare to a can or 2 liter, and its all about the extra effort that McDonald's puts into their fountain sodas. Window Pain, I'm from Aurora, IL and those of us from that area call it "pop"...so it's not just Canadians...and it depends on where you are in the states as to what they call it, each region has a different name for it!!! Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on January 27, 2014: @tutta, awesome!! I call it the Naked Mac...just think, you still get "two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a big fresh lettuce type bun...yippy.. Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on January 28, 2016: Great to hear feedback from someone in the 'biz'! @Victoria Lynn, awesome, so you remember the tanks as well? Not all McDonald's use the steel tanks, only those with high enough volume to warrant the cost associated with using the tanks. I believe the information about the water, but yes, they do have their own blend specific to McDs. Yes I agree, to stay competitive, they have to. I have noticed though that the McDonald's around Chicago suburbs are not filling them up all the way......looks like someone had a few sips first before handing it to me! The McDonald's in the Detroit airport serves Pepsi products eeeeek. Oh, not at ALL of them of course, but at the large majority of them (especially in stand-alone restaurants), the Diet Coke tastes like crap. I try to balance my diet out. I think as far as the cups go their the standard, nothing special, grade that one right down the middle. "One of the things that is helpful and why we have such a great-tasting Coke product is because of … That would account for the consistency in taste from different areas. So good. Thanks for keeping me engaged. Now think about this: Why would you pay for bottled water when you now know that there is a good chance the water coming from the soda fountain may be as good if not better? Is it bad to drink out of aluminum cans? Most McDonald's sell so much in fact, that their syrup does not come in boxes like most franchises. Keeping this water chilled is necessary to maintain superior CO2 levels. I love McDonald's Sodas. They literally ultra-filter their water twice before mixing it with anything. When coke produces syrup, it can be almost two months old before it's mixed to become the bottled stuff you buy in the store. McDonald's Coke: 1. I used to work for NutraSweet (maker of aspartame), and fountain Diet Coke contains a blend of saccharine and aspartame. Uhm. Wake up to PEPPERIDGE FARM® Swirl Bread French Toast. The soda water is always between "33 to 38 degrees. Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on June 12, 2014: Hi Paul, aha! I don't McDonald's has the best Coke. I'm not surprised that they triple filter their water. As you know, a lot of times the receptacle can change the taste. Some Diet Coke products may also contain sucralose or acesulfame. Diet Coke has the artificial sweetener aspartame in it, which is known for its bad after taste. Very interesting hub! Hi Mandination, I've literally held on to this question since I was a kid. The two things McDonald’s can control are their water and the freshness of the syrup. Employees and customers complained about how hard it was to drink the shakes, and when he saw it first-hand, he proposed the wider straw. Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on December 01, 2014: Ooooooh, very interesting. Read more: Diet sodas may be more harmful than you realize, study finds. Customers can c… Doesn't filter out the chlorine in cities where it is really strong. I will definitely pay attention the next time I buy fast food. From Knoxville, to San Antonio, to Atlanta, to Minneapolis, this seemingly holds true. They clean their spouts each and every day and change out the tubing that stays cold. Makes me want to go to McDonalds right now and get a coke, only I don't drink cola. Some say (conspiracy theorists) claim that's to make you drink more soda faster, I don't know, but very good question. I kept telling him it just tastes better. Just saying... All you would have had to do was to ask any coca cola service man and he would have told you about how and why McDonalds cokes are the best. If its true I'll have to rewrite this article! Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on April 17, 2014: Hi barbat79 :), soda does definitely vary from place to place, agree with you there. Do some research and read other comments first. The bottom line as to why McDonald's Diet Coke—and, for that matter, the rest of their sodas, their coffee, and even their tap water—tastes better is because of the extra attention paid to the beverage systems. Meanwhile though, if you are a regular fan of all those foods I think you'd better read up on Type 2 Diabetes.. :P. Victoria Lynn from Arkansas, USA on January 08, 2014: Very interesting! The soda water is constantly recirculated through this frigid tubing system so that it can remain between 33–38 degrees at all times. It might catch on internationally - especially if you do the marketing! Is Coke better in a can or bottle? McDonald’s reveals soft drink secret. Have you ever sipped on a half-empty bottle of Diet Coke in your car, then grabbed lunch at a McDonald's drive-through? The reason the straws have a larger diameter is because of their shakes and smoothies. BuzzFeed Staff. We get it. Finally We Know Why Coke And Diet Coke Taste So Much Better At McDonald's. Freakin Genius. Hey Gap4 , that's a very good question. Thisis accepted medical fact, not a cranky theory. We had everything in tanks with coke itself pumped into three huge permanent tanks in the basement. The most noticeable difference of all is the taste. Diet Pepsi is still my go to beverage, though! Daddy Paul from Michigan on January 15, 2014: Yea their pop is good. You're too critical. i used to work at a McDonald's. Melanie Shebel from Midwest, USA on January 08, 2014: Wow! "Also the water is not filtered better at the Coca Cola Plant"...awesome. They sound great ... as a birthday treat but I'm not sure how your body would react to them too often. I used to laugh at the dates stamped on diet soda cans. Thanks for sharing. Even the syrup lines are bundled with the soda lines to chill the syrup! While most places use plastic bags, McDonald’s uses stainless steel containers. Check out the sweetening system in each. Conspiracy theorists have proclaimed that they were bigger so you would drink your soda faster, the shakes and smoothies answer makes more sense. It comes down to temperature control, water filtration and storage: I really done like any diet coke even in a can. I think the main key is that McDonald's invests more than their competitors in maintaining their systems. Pretty awesome idea for an article! @Joyzie, willing to bet that your favorite McDonalds have superior drink systems in place ....(your not crazy :) , I can def tell the difference too :) , thanks for stopping by. Why does McDonalds' taste so bad ?? B A Tobin from Connnecticut on April 17, 2014: Yes I think you are correct about McD's now that I recall...Good read! If so, your boss should give you a pay rise and promote you to marketing. ; I stopped drinking Diet Coke for a month to see how it affected me, and I realized I wasn't as reliant on it as I thought. Thanks for the good read! Keep up the good work! These syrup tanks keep the product cooler and a bit fresher. My previous theory was that they put actual sugar in … The water is also filtered with a 5 in one water filter, sometimes bigger. Thanks so much for stopping by! Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on February 04, 2014: Hi Steve O, thanks for chiming in, glad to hear info directly from a tech who has worked on this equipment. Tastes the best. My dear, diet coke doesn't just taste bad to you, it tastes bad to many people. No matter where we are in the world, McDonald's is our go-to for all things fatty, fried, and delicious. We ensure our Coke® products are fresh and always tasting the way they should by following the guidelines set by Coca-Cola®, using a ratio of syrup that allows ice to melt, and pre chilling the Coca-Cola® syrup and water before they enter our soda fountain! If only they put as much quality into their food as they do their drinks. My family thinks I'm crazy. If so then I totally agree, seems I only drink those on rare occasions, and nothing tastes like that on a hot summer day. 75 gallons ey? Cold water can hold more CO2, which means that it can become more carbonated. Thanks so much for the feedback, nice to hear from a 25 year veteran!Awesome.Thanks for stopping by. In essence, water is filtered twice through a very high-end filtration system. Coke drinkers.... you can keep your soda. We’ll be sticking to a plain old Coca-Cola at Mickey D’s from now on, thank you very much. (they don't hurt), and as much soda as they sell, would be cost ineffective to use anything other than. restaurant or fast food joints, I worked for Coca cola in the eighty's, saw a lot of changes in those years, transition form returnable bottles to plastic and cans, even the NEW coke that the nation just loved, but I just wanted to put it out there that the best tasting coca cola is a 38 degree 6 1/2 oz returnable bottled coca cola. Best wishes to you! I agree. I was a McDonald's employee for almost 40 years. So be it, the tanks play a smaller role when it comes to soda quality anyway. Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on March 01, 2017: I think the "Naked Mac" is a brilliant idea...all the good stuff wrapped in lettuce..yum. we're gonna have to send them a letter :). The best Coke is always from Chinese restaurants for some reason. That’s all there is to it. My husband would always say we have Coke at home why do you always ask me to get a fountain Coke when we get take home, I tell him it taste better the can Coke, he always tells me I am crazy a Coke is a Coke. Why do things taste better out of glass? When my kids were sick I would ALWAYS get them a Coke from M.D. Later on, Coca-Cola also helped McDonald’s develop its smoothies. So, if you’re craving a Diet Coke but only from McDonald’s, just know that you’re not the only one out there who can taste a difference. Oh, not at ALL of them of course, but at the large majority of them (especially in stand-alone restaurants), the Diet Coke tastes like crap. Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on January 16, 2014: Hi Daddy Paul , Always good to hear from another McDonalds fan :), Hive Five Bro. Carrie Lee Night from Northeast United States on July 22, 2014: Interesting explanation that makes perfect sense :). “It’s a break from the obligations of life. Howlermunkey is a part-time writer who got to the bottom of why fountain Diet Coke tastes better at McDonald's. McDonalds uses a Multiplex cooling system for fountain drinks, it circulates the soda water and keeps it at 34 degrees at all times. Now I can tell him why it taste better from the fountain. I can smell the breakfast menu right now...thanks for stopping by! Jeff Boettner (author) from Tampa, FL on February 07, 2014: Hi Ellie Shay :), yep, I probably drink WAY too much soda, always have lol, so I picked up on McDonalds sodas at an early age. Thanks for stopping by, gonna read your starbucks articles today :). George Patterson from Charleston, WV on January 28, 2014: Do the cups and straws have anything to do with it? Wow you really took the time to research this topic, and I find this hub very useful. The Coke (not sure about diet) actually has a touch of cinnamon in it. @LongTimeMother, where do you live? To begin, it's all about that fizz. Amanda W from Pittsburgh on January 16, 2015: I never would have thought to ask this question before, but once I saw the title of your hub, I absolutely had to know the answer. Yeah what's up with that? Second, insulated tubing is run from the back refrigeration unit all the way to the front and drive through units. thanks. LOL! And ya gotta love a place that still gives free water! good to know, thanks for stopping by! What if we added Kale? nice try? Too bad they don't sell diet caffeine free anymore those of us that are diabetic and caffeine intolerant lose out. Diet Coke has the artificial sweetener aspartame in it, which … The syrup is also chilled. Starbucks triple filters their water. Why does the Diet Coke at McDonalds taste like crap? Snacks That Will Have the Whole Family Cheering on Game Day Thanks to Goldfish® x So Yummy, Get Your Snack On With Goldfish® Crackers, Start the New Year off on a Healthy Note With ShopRite x So Yummy, Try an Exciting New Take On Your Favorite Savory Snacks With Goldfish® x So Yummy, Stay in and Snack Well With Goldfish® x So Yummy. They use sweet and low in the formula. Agreed, the straws ROCK. Coca-Cola has been working with McDonald's since 1955. When she took a sip of the soda I'd thoughtfully kept for her, she exclaimed and looked at the date. 1. The Coca-Cola from McDonald’s manages to taste crisper, sharper, even fresher than the same drink from other fast-food restaurants. Coke does n't filter out the tubing that stays cold hate Diet Coke in your car, then grabbed at. 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