The Secret Behind Why McDonald’s Coke Tastes Better Than Anywhere Else

By Syakir Roslan  •  20 Mar 2023 in News

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If you’ve ever had a coke from McDonald’s, you might’ve noticed a distinct difference in taste compared to cokes served in cans or bottles.

It’s worth noting that the partnership between McDonald’s and Coca-Cola began way back in the 1950s. Since then, the two companies have developed ten different unique processes that explain why the coke at the Golden Arches just hits different.

Unlike canned drinks, the coke served at McDonald’s isn’t pre-mixed. Typically, fountain coke (coke dispensed from machines at fast-food chains) is mixed once they start flowing from the tap.

Moreover, the carbonated water and syrup used by McDonald’s are both stored and dispensed separately, only mixing together in the stream that pours into your cup.

According to LADbible, McDonald’s adheres strictly to “40 grams of sugar per every small coke”, standardising their syrup level measurements.

McDonald’s also ensures that their syrup-to-water ratio accounts for melting ice and won’t affect the overall flavour. Additionally, the syrup they use is pre-chilled which helps with slowing down the dilution process, keeping the drink’s fizz for longer.

Steel storage tanks are used to keep their syrup, allowing the product to stay fresh for as long as possible to ensure flavour consistency across all of their locations.

McDonald’s even keeps the water used to mix the syrup at a chilled temperature by keeping their fountains within a constant range of 0.5 to 3.3 degrees Celsius.

Carbon dioxide levels are kept high to fully optimise bubble levels, adding the slightly crisper sensation that many attribute to McDonald’s coke.

Did you also know that McDonald’s uses wider straws than any other fast-food restaurant? This allows customers to have bigger sips to let their beverage clear their taste buds efficiently.

Last of all, McDonald’s plastic drinks cups are able to sustain carbonation levels better than aluminium cans or glass containers, as it does a better job of trapping the gas of the carbonated beverage.

From pre-chilling the syrup to using steel storage tanks, each part of the journey has a reason, leading to a fresher, crisper, and tastier beverage.

(*Featured image taken from The Daily Meal)