Best cola

[NWI_Irish96]

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar

[kphoger]

Circling back to Jarritos, my father in law introduced me to them.  I've only ever seen them come in glass bottles.  I particularly like the lime flavor but all of them are good:

https://jarritos.com/flavors/

They have them in plastic bottles in Mexico.  I've never tried their cola, but I really like their tamarind flavor.

[Scott5114]

I despise Freestyle Coke

The problem with the Freestyle machines is that, since they only have the one nozzle, you get a little bit of every soda the machine offers mixed in with whatever you actually select. Running a little bit of plain water through the machine first sometimes helps, but not always.

[Rothman]

I like freestyle machines, but the stuff does taste watered down.

[Road Hog]

There is no period in Dr Pepper, thank you very much.

I almost never order a soda anymore. Either coffee or bottled water for me. Most places, a fountain drink tastes like medicine.

[dlsterner]

No Coke Zero as an option?  IMHO it is what Diet Coke should have been.  To me, Diet Coke has a taste that is a little off-putting.

Personally I like regular Coke best, but mostly drink Coke Zero to cut down on the sugar.  I also like the Zevia brand (I guess that falls under "other") but it can be hard to find and rarely on sale.

Pepsi just seems too sweet for my taste.  (Your taste buds may vary)

[CtrlAltDel]

The original recipe for Pemberton's French Wine Coca (Coca-Cola's precursor) included both red wine and cocaine.  But they had to change the recipe because it was illegal in the state of Georgia to sell————surprise!————wine.

Interesting. When I was living in France, some of the Spanish friends I had liked a cocktail composed of red wine and Coke. I thought they were nuts, but maybe there's something to it.

[kphoger]

There is no period in Dr Pepper, thank you very much.

Or pepper...

I also like the Zevia brand (I guess that falls under "other") but it can be hard to find and rarely on sale.

Carrie drinks Zevia, and she's a huge fan of their cherry cola.  She used to buy Dr Zevia exclusively (their version of Dr Pepper), but they were out of it at the store one day and she decided to try cherry cola instead.  Now that's all she buys.

[elsmere241]

My wife and I generally prefer Coca-Cola, but she hates Pepsi and I can tolerate it.

When I was in Italy, Coke was usually the only thing available, but some grocery stores carried Pepsi.  Those stores placed a premium on Coke prices vs. Pepsi, so I often got Pepsi if it was available.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I despise Freestyle Coke

The problem with the Freestyle machines is that, since they only have the one nozzle, you get a little bit of every soda the machine offers mixed in with whatever you actually select. Running a little bit of plain water through the machine first sometimes helps, but not always.

While that doesn't help (and maintenance/cleaning of the machine is obviously going to vary with every store), I think it's the Coke syrup itself that is the problem with Freestyle.

[ClassicHasClass]

Out of the ones on the list, Mexican Coke, though I also do like RC.

But as far as the beverage in my fridge (other than Mexi-Coke), it's Mr Pibb.

[Scott5114]

I despise Freestyle Coke

The problem with the Freestyle machines is that, since they only have the one nozzle, you get a little bit of every soda the machine offers mixed in with whatever you actually select. Running a little bit of plain water through the machine first sometimes helps, but not always.

While that doesn't help (and maintenance/cleaning of the machine is obviously going to vary with every store), I think it's the Coke syrup itself that is the problem with Freestyle.

That sounded wrong to me, but I did a little reading around and you're right. A traditional fountain like the one I worked with has a bag-in-box system containing concentrated drink syrup, which is mixed with carbonated water at dispense time. The Freestyle machines, on the other hand, have what are essentially ink cartridges in the bottom of the machine. The cartridges have the sweeteners removed to allow them to be even more condensed so they can cram in all the extra options, and high fructose corn syrup is added along with carbonated water at dispense time.

[kalvado]

I despise Freestyle Coke

The problem with the Freestyle machines is that, since they only have the one nozzle, you get a little bit of every soda the machine offers mixed in with whatever you actually select. Running a little bit of plain water through the machine first sometimes helps, but not always.

While that doesn't help (and maintenance/cleaning of the machine is obviously going to vary with every store), I think it's the Coke syrup itself that is the problem with Freestyle.

That sounded wrong to me, but I did a little reading around and you're right. A traditional fountain like the one I worked with has a bag-in-box system containing concentrated drink syrup, which is mixed with carbonated water at dispense time. The Freestyle machines, on the other hand, have what are essentially ink cartridges in the bottom of the machine. The cartridges have the sweeteners removed to allow them to be even more condensed so they can cram in all the extra options, and high fructose corn syrup is added along with carbonated water at dispense time.

Given that the definition of "hazardous material" - including hazmat placards on trucks - is tweaked to allow cola to go without warnings, I wonder how those cartridges look from DOT and OSHA perspective..

[Scott5114]

I despise Freestyle Coke

The problem with the Freestyle machines is that, since they only have the one nozzle, you get a little bit of every soda the machine offers mixed in with whatever you actually select. Running a little bit of plain water through the machine first sometimes helps, but not always.

While that doesn't help (and maintenance/cleaning of the machine is obviously going to vary with every store), I think it's the Coke syrup itself that is the problem with Freestyle.

That sounded wrong to me, but I did a little reading around and you're right. A traditional fountain like the one I worked with has a bag-in-box system containing concentrated drink syrup, which is mixed with carbonated water at dispense time. The Freestyle machines, on the other hand, have what are essentially ink cartridges in the bottom of the machine. The cartridges have the sweeteners removed to allow them to be even more condensed so they can cram in all the extra options, and high fructose corn syrup is added along with carbonated water at dispense time.

Given that the definition of "hazardous material" - including hazmat placards on trucks - is tweaked to allow cola to go without warnings, I wonder how those cartridges look from DOT and OSHA perspective..

One of the comments I read claimed that the ultra-condensed flavoring in the cartridges is caustic enough to eat away at skin.

[jgb191]

Pepsi Zero Wild Cherry is my favorite!

[kalvado]

I despise Freestyle Coke

The problem with the Freestyle machines is that, since they only have the one nozzle, you get a little bit of every soda the machine offers mixed in with whatever you actually select. Running a little bit of plain water through the machine first sometimes helps, but not always.

While that doesn't help (and maintenance/cleaning of the machine is obviously going to vary with every store), I think it's the Coke syrup itself that is the problem with Freestyle.

That sounded wrong to me, but I did a little reading around and you're right. A traditional fountain like the one I worked with has a bag-in-box system containing concentrated drink syrup, which is mixed with carbonated water at dispense time. The Freestyle machines, on the other hand, have what are essentially ink cartridges in the bottom of the machine. The cartridges have the sweeteners removed to allow them to be even more condensed so they can cram in all the extra options, and high fructose corn syrup is added along with carbonated water at dispense time.

Given that the definition of "hazardous material" - including hazmat placards on trucks - is tweaked to allow cola to go without warnings, I wonder how those cartridges look from DOT and OSHA perspective..

One of the comments I read claimed that the ultra-condensed flavoring in the cartridges is caustic enough to eat away at skin.

Acidic. 0.1% of phosphoric acid in coke must translate into quite a bit higher in a cartridge.

[gonealookin]

Carrie drinks Zevia, and she's a huge fan of their cherry cola.  She used to buy Dr Zevia exclusively (their version of Dr Pepper), but they were out of it at the store one day and she decided to try cherry cola instead.  Now that's all she buys.

Pepsi Zero Wild Cherry is my favorite!

I mostly like the cherry-flavored colas.  I'm not a big fan of regular Coke Zero, but the Cherry Coke Zero is in my regular rotation.

The vanilla-flavored colas, on the other hand, I find gruesome.

[Rothman]

Like a chicken cherry cola...

[ModernDayWarrior]

I have always had a strong preference for Pepsi and will only order a Coke if I'm at a restaurant that only serves Coke products. And I can't stand "flavored" colas--cherry is tolerable, I guess, but vanilla is awful.

Then again, I'm not a huge cola fan anyway. If I do drink a soda it is typically Mountain Dew (my favorite) or Dr Pepper.

[DandyDan]

I voted RC, but I'm also fully aware that nobody else will.

For the record, the cola that I actually keep at the house is Coca-Cola.  Not because that's what I prefer, but because sometimes one of the boys has one, and they prefer Coke.

RC is better than Coke or Pepsi.  The trouble is finding it outside of grocery stores.

In my area, whoever locally distributes RC Cola has done a good job of putting it in the local convenience stores and liquor stores, or at least the ones that aren't Casey's or Kwik Star (Kwik Trip).

I voted for Pepsi, but generally prefer anything flavored over the regular cola. But currently, I have Coke, only because it was on sale cheap. Which seems to be my real preference.

[jgb191]

I also like cherry Dr Pepper because it kind of taste like cough syrup.

Speaking of Dr Pepper, true story when I had lunch at a Braum's in Oklahoma City:

Worker: "What would you like to drink with your order?"
Me: "Do you have Dr Pepper?"
Worker: "We sure do!"

After I got my drink:

Me:  ":Gags:  What is this??!!"
Worker:  "It's Mr. Pibb."
Me:  "I asked for Dr Pepper!"
Worker:  "Same thing!"
Me:  "No it is NOT!"

In the end, I ended settling for water with my fast food.

[Scott5114]

That must have been a long time ago. Braum's has had name-brand Dr. Pepper for as long as I can remember.

That being said, I genuinely cannot tell the difference between Dr. Pepper and Mr. Pibb.

[Max Rockatansky]

That must have been a long time ago. Braum's has had name-brand Dr. Pepper for as long as I can remember.

That being said, I genuinely cannot tell the difference between Dr. Pepper and Mr. Pibb.

The new Mr. Pibb formula basically is Dr. Pepper. 

[akt85]

Mr. Pibb is my favorite soda. I do wonder if part of the reason I like Mr. Pibb is from when I used to watch American Dad regularly.

[GaryV]

I also like cherry Dr Pepper because it kind of taste like cough syrup.

That's a reason to like it? Personally I can't stand almost any cherry flavored anything because of the cough medicine taste.