Why is McDonald’s cola so delicious? Popular food scientist abby teale It brings back our memories.
McDonald’s Coca-Cola’s special formula has been in the news for a long time. conspiracy theorythe international burger chain is trying to quell speculation. in 2021 He revealed that one of the reasons the cola has a soda flavor is because every drop of water is filtered before entering the soda fountain.
“Soft drink manufacturers usually have their own water supply or filtration systems to improve water quality.” Thiel explained to Parade last week..
“In most cases, chlorine is removed because it can taste like a ‘disinfectant,’ water hardness is adjusted because it affects the acidity of the beverage, and iron is added to reduce color and flavor defects. will be removed,” she continued. “Without this treatment, you end up with a cola that has off-flavors and off-flavors due to poor quality and inconsistent water.”
early this yeara Reddit post titled “Does McDonald’s Coke really taste the best?” sparked a debate over whether you can get the best Coke at McDonald’s or Walt Disney World.
One fan joked that McDonald’s is “definitely my favorite place to get a Coke.”
“It’s the straw that makes it. I used to stop at McDonald’s on my way to the pizza shop I owned,” said another follower. “Even after refilling the cola, the taste was the same. I also bought a mcd, but forgot the straw, so I used a thin straw. It doesn’t taste like mcd cola. Sound [weird] But give it a try. It needs to be a big straw. ”
McDonald’s executives agree, explaining in a 2021 post that the company’s straws are “slightly wider than a typical straw, allowing all of the cola flavor to reach your taste buds.”
Another key difference is that McDonald’s pre-chills the water and cola syrup in a special ratio that takes into account the melting of the ice before putting it into the fountain machine.
“Most products are traditionally prepared as a syrup and water mixture, at a ratio of approximately 1 part (by volume) syrup to 3 to 6 parts (by volume) water,” Thiel told Parade. “This allows us to create concentrated batch syrups and add water to form the final product.”
McDonald’s also notes that the dispenser stays cold, which Thiel says helps maintain carbonation levels and fully foam the soda.
And in 2014The New York Times reported that when Coke delivers syrup to McDonald’s, it ships it in stainless steel tanks rather than plastic bags, like other restaurants, to ensure freshness.
“The fact is, McDonald’s Fountain Coke hits differently,” one Redditor concluded.
