Wed 11 Feb 2009
Pepsi or Coke? The experiment.
Category: Unicorn Queen
For years, I’d been a staunch Pepsi fan. The taste of Coca Cola, which I found to be slightly metallic, turned me off so much that at times I’d rather drink nothing if I can’t have Pepsi. I knew there were people who could unmistakeably tell the two apart and was convinced I was one of them.
But the seed of doubt had been planted. Some things, you can live with not knowing – like, what happens if you stick dirty socks in a microwave for 30 seconds or what does it really feel like to eat a Mentos and wash it down with Sprite. But this, my friends, I could no longer live without knowing. Is there really a difference between Pepsi and Coke or is it all in my head?!
I was blindfolded and given two cups: one with Pepsi, one with Coke (both Classic). I were to do 5 tastings total, drinking water in between, to determine which one was which. Mark was responsible for taking notes and shuffling the cups (to throw me off).
Pepsi or Coke
The first time I knew Coke right away – I recognized that ‘metallic’ taste I dislike so much. Same for the second; I was fairly certain. By the third round, however, confusion had set in – they tasted shockingly alike and it took several sips before I could make the decision. Fourth and fifth takes were simple guesses – they liquid tasted exactly the same.
the results
RESULTS: I got 3 out of 5 correct – that’s slightly above chance. We could keep going, but I doubt I would’ve fared better. So there you have it: after the third sip your taste buds refuse to register any difference, which is negligible at best and a myth at most. I am not a big soda drinker – maybe once a month I’ll have a sip – but from now on I will not discriminate between the blue and the red. Most importantly, now I know the answer to possibly the stupidest question on Earth, & you have no idea how foolishly happy that makes me feel!
Deerlings: if you had to choose, would you go with Pepsi or Coke? Why?
97 Responses to “ Pepsi or Coke? The experiment. ”
Comments:
Leave a Reply
Related posts:
Loading ...
February 11th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I drink neither– I’m a Dr. Pepper girl ALL the way. (And even after several sips back and forth can still taste the differences. Coke makes me absolutely nauseous!)
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
hahaha!! i’ve always wondered about that…i like Pepsi better but i wont say no to coca cola if i cant have a pepsi… my favorite though (and sth i cant find in the coca cola brand)is pepsi twist…with a twist of lemon!!!
yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Coke, hands down. Diet Coke, to be exact. That’s what we grew up drinking…and by “we”, I mean, my family was so poor that my parents would occasionally splurge and buy a 12-pack for themselves. Then we, the four kids, were told it was an “adult” beverage, and be allowed to have tiny, tiny sips from my mom’s cup (she always had to have three–count ‘em!–three ice cubes). I think I always felt like it was such a treat then, that I still do now, too.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Coke, sometimes I find Pepsi too sweet. But I’m not picky either way. I prefer Coke but I’m not going to throw a hissy if someone only has Pepsi to offer.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
When I still drank soda, I was a Pepsi girl all the way – more sugar! :D
Weirder is my ex, who waters down his soda.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
If I had to choose I would pick Coke (I HATE Pepsi) but I hardly ever drink soda. It’s unhealthy and full of empty calories.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I would say pepsi simply beacause I find to taste softer than coke. but i particulary like coke when its from a glass bottle because it has that same soft pepsi taste.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
You’re hilarious.
I did South Beach for a couple of years and, in the aftermath, can’t drink full sugar soda. As bad for me as it is, I’m a Diet Coke girl all the way.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I never liked cola. Even when I was a kid and drank soda whenever I could get it, I would choose root beer.
I don’t drink soda anymore, but I just read a book called The History of the World in Six Glasses, which is about how beer, wine, spirits, tea, coffee and Coca-Cola changed the world. The Coca-Cola story was so intriguing it made me want to try the drink again. I did, and I still don’t like it :-). But based on its history, I like Coke better than Pepsi.
I also think the red and white Coke logo is prettier.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I prefer Coke, when I drink pop. I like the metallic taste; Pepsi seems too sweet.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
In my lj post on Malcolm Gladwell, here is what I wrote:
“After Pepsi conducted the Pepsi Challenge, which showed that more people preferred the taste of Pepsi (due to its sweeter and limier taste), Coca Cola changed its secret formula to develop the New Coke, which tasted more like Pepsi. To everyone surprise, Coke fans protested against the New Coke and demanded the original product. Coke had to release Coke Classic and sales of New Coke plummeted. This turn of events can be explained by the fact that many people may prefer a sweeter limier taste in a sip test, but they prefer a calmer vanilla flavor when they are drinking a whole can.
- Most people can tell the difference between 3 drinks at a time; but then they start getting confused. It will be hard to keep all tastes in their memory. Professional food tasters have developed a way to document all tastes and textures on a scale of 0-9, like acidity, sweetness, crunchiness, etc.”
http://diaboluscat.livejournal.com/68763.html
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
haha love the post. I drink neither…I was one of those weird kids at birthday parties who requested water when everyone else was drinking colas. My family is split down the middle as to who likes coke and who likes pepsi.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Neither, I don’t drink pop at all!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
You must have a keen sense of taste, because I honestly can not taste the difference between the two at all! So for me it doesn’t really matter, I’ll take either (although I don’t drink pop very often).
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
if it were just between pepsi and coca, i would definately choose pepsi. coke, to me, is not as flavorful as pepsi. it tastes more watered down. however, i love dark sodas and will go for either just the same.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
If I had to pick I would drink coke. But I, like Ashe Mischief, prefer Dr Pepper above all other sodas…unless I’m treating myself to a Strawberry Fanta
*shifty eyes*
Don’t judge!
^_^
Miranda
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Coke. For sure. Pepsi tastes much sweeter to me.
You should try a different test though! One with canned sodas, one with plastic bottles, one with glass bottles, and fountain sodas.
That’ll give you the best results too I believe. :]
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Coke. It has a more richer “gingery” taste which compliments spiced rum(totally addicting around the holidays).
I don’t really like Pepsi, tastes too plan, kinda watered down and goes flat to fast.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Haha, I can’t believe you posted this! I am an AVID Coke supporter.. You really need to distinguish between cans, bottles, and fountain though for a true read of each. Pepsi to me has this disgusting GOOPY texture that always leaves me needing something else to drink and terrible taste in my mouth after. Also it actually makes my throat hurt sometimes! I actually had people in my house who preferred pepsi growing up so I was not raised to like Coke better.. I just opened my mouth and listened to my taste buds. Coke in a can, bottle and ESPECIALLY fountain, all way outshine Pepsi. Yuck bluck. Always Coca-Cola yeahhhh.. do doo doo dooo doooo.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Like Ashe Mischief and Miranda, I’m a Dr.Pepper girl! It’s the Nectar of the Gods! I can’t really describe why but I just love it. It flows through my veins…
Anyways, Coke is an okay sub as long as its cherry flavored but all coke products leave that nasty film all over my teeth and a slight metallic taste, which is off putting. But Pepsi seriously makes me nauseas. There is something in its smell and taste that my body rejects instantly.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I’ve never liked Pepsi for some reason. It just tastes watery reminds me of how pee smells for some reason (Weird, huh?!). Coke however I’ve always loved, just because I really love the strong cola taste and the yummy cane sugar x3 But I can’t drink alot of sugar soda anymore (Bad for zee kidneys), so I only get one luscious coke a week )=
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I prefer Coke (which, apparently, uses a number of essential oils in their flavouring process), but I only drink Pepsi (I’m not sure what the situation is now, but a few years ago there were a lot of problems with Coca Cola allowing paramilitary groups into their bottling plants in Colombia to shoot union leaders and workers… makes sense, seeing as non-union labourers accept lower wages than union labourers). I think Pepsi is a bit sweeter than Coke (I kind of miss Coke’s “bite” – probably what you find to be the metallic taste).
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I prefer Pepsi, even if in the end they taste the same.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
coke all the way!! (though dr pepper is a close second). pepsi seems far too sweet and ’shallow’ for me. though i would absolutely LOVE if coke made the regular coke w/ lime again – all i can find now is diet, which always tastes slightly dusty to me. oh well, whenever i eat at chipotle, i can add my own limes!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Mmmm coke all the way! Pepsi tastes like Diet Coke to me (bleh!) Although I prefer Cherry Pepsi over Cherry Coke… :)
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
cola. it’s a more caramel based drink and less carbonated than pepsi.
I like the way the bottle looks too :D
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Coca Cola. At my best friend’s, they always have Pepsi, and I think I really taste a difference haha.
I also think Pepsi has way more carbon dioxide, and I don’t like it so.. bubbly.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Coke light, for sure.
Pepsi is slightly water-ish, IMO
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I am both a Pepsi and a Coke girl. It doesnt really matter which one it is. If I want a soda and the vending machine is Pepsi, I get Pepsi. If the restaurant only has Coke, well I am drinking Coke.
But my weird preference is I like Coke more in the winter and Pepsi in the summer. Pepsi has a lighter taste, and is more refreshing to me. Coke is thicker and sweeter and suits winter.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Coke, definitely, but diet !
Somehow it’s just the one that tastes better for me =)
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I don’t drink soda often. But I actually prefer the taste of Coke, except I find it too fizzy which might just be the metallic taste you talked about; it hurts my tongue. :P So I’d pick Pepsi over Coke, but I think they’ve both changed formulas since I last drank them, since other commenters say Pepsi is more fizzy. Hmm. I like Mountain Dew, which is probably the most unhealthy thing out there. XD
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
COKE!!!
Weird story. back in the 70’s my father worked for pepsi and there was an evil little man working at the plant with him. He was the manager and deciged that he didn’t like immigrants (my father, born in Cuba). My Mother was pregnant with me at the time, and my father put up with evil little pepsi hitler for the health insurance. The man would make my dad sweep the factory on his lunch break instead of letting him eat…..stuff like that. Well, eventually dad had had enough, and got into a fight, thus losing his job and health insurance. Goes without saying my crazy old dad never allowed pepsi in the house….lol Crazy story huh?
Love your bog…you’re fantastic!!!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Soft drinks all taste the same, like Alka seltzer stomach medicine. Don’t they? That sizzling in the back of my throat….like something is cooking back there. I know I’m weird, I really just wanted to comment sense I love visiting this blog.
Ice Tea…Hot Tea..Chai… choice for me.
:)
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
It might all be in my head, but if I feel groggy and I need a sugar rush, I drink a can of pepsi. If I’m lacking in energy and I need a caffiene rush, it’s coke all the way.
I can drink copious amounts of coke, full fat always, but Pepsi I can only have a can and then it starts to hurt my throat…
@Aether; I wonder why that is? I know exactly what you mean!
x
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I like coke better, to me it’s a little sweeter/less carbonated which I prefer.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
lmfao- awesome experiment doe. ive always wondered. however, i am still a firm pepsi girl. not that i drink that much soda to begin with. i go that first round of soda drinking and im done. so if i ever do get to my third round where i cant tell the difference anymore, i wont discriminate. but until then.. pepsi all the wayyy =)
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I’m allergic to most dark drink :( i’m not really sure why, so I love Gingerbeer. its always so spicy, but i love it!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
In my opinion,NOTHING can beat coke out of a glass bottle.So delicious it always makes me think of Coca Cola world in las vegas
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I know where I live they taste sightly different, but I used to like coke better ’cause it was less sweet and a little bit sour….
But a few years ago it got sweeter and now I dislike both.
I dislike soda, actually. For me it’s either juice, coconut water or water….
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
By the way… I thought of something…
I don’t go much to McDonalds but I’ve heard that it tastes better in Brazil than in the USA…
At least every person I know that tasted both said that to me… o.õ’
But when I eat there I think: “can it get ANY worse?”
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I don’t like drink much soda either, but if I had to choose which one I preferred, I’d choose Coca Cola. Pepsi is way too carbonated for me – which is one of the main reasons why I don’t like sodas.
On a totally superficial note, I love classic Coke bottles!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Pepsi all the way! it’s sort of a family thing, actually. my grandpa drank it sometimes when he was a kid back in the 30s, and it was like a real treat for him. so my mom’s family grew up on pepsi, and now i have a good pepsi cola upbringing. yes, it gets little religious there. we have it at all the parties and there’s always some in the fridge. the only gripe i have about it is that there’s no grapefruit like coke has fresca.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
For me they’re quite the same. Maybe pepsi is a bit sweeter, but I usully chose coke. Simply because pepsi here is much more rare. But I don’t discriminate them. If they’re both on the table.. I’d drink both. :)
Tho Coke zero has some artificial taste…
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I prefer Dr Pepper over any other soda. But I think RC Cola is better than Coke and Pepsi both. It’s the perefect middle ground between the two flavors. It’s best straight from the can.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I usually choose Pepsi if I can because I find that it’s less carbonated than Coke and doesn’t make my throat feel as if it’s burning as badly as it’s competitor does. However, I think the taste is so close that I don’t really care which one I drink~.
I water them both down, anyway.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I’m not really a fan of Pepsi or Coke, although I would pick Pepsi over Coke. Coke has too much of a syrupy taste, and Pepsi is more crisp. I had a bottle of Coke the other day, and it was weird–really foamy. Although, Coke from a glass bottle is actually pretty decent. My soda of choice is Dr. Pepper.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I’m with Doe on this one. If I have a choice, I prefer Pepsi. My problem with Coke is that the ‘classic’ version is too sweet for me, but the Diet version (which, admittedly, I drank for ages and still often do) doesn’t taste of anything!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
COKE. I absolutely don”t know if I’m right, but my taste buds tell me there is more sugar in coke :P Pepsi tastes more fizzy and less sweet… Furthermore to me Coke is like THE star of the sodas. When I drink it, it feels so classic in an awsome way! And I just love that red design, and the shape of the glass bottles! Coca-Cola is great! :)
(sorry for my english, I’m a frenchy… ;) )
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Agree about pepsi for the taste, but I actually now a days drink neither, so many chemicals.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Neither. It’s just… too strong for me. I prefer Mountain Dew. When I do drink Coke or Pepsi my eyes water. XD
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
NEITHER! i haate how cola’s taste. dr pepper too. the only dark soda i’ll drink is root beer. i pretty much only drink lemonlime soda (sprite, sierra mist, and mountain dew).
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
You guys should give Iron Beer a shot, it’s my absolute favorite soft drink. Basically the only one I do drink actually. Despite the name it has no alcohol.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
It’s really fantastic that you actually did that post. However, I don’t find myself able to stomach either. They make my teeth hurt, and my stomach always gets upset. I really mostly just drink water and tea. :)
But now I’ll have at least some “scientific proof,” to throw down when people claim to be able to tell the difference.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Pepsi. Really fizzy drinks burn my through and I find that Pepsi doesn’t hurt my throat while Coke makes me feel like I just downed poison.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
i like both, but i prefer pepsi, its sweeter.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I don’t think it’s about the taste. (They both taste the same to me) I think it’s more about the brand image
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
re: Kat
haha! I wanted to mention that section of Blink too. Such a good book.
Everybody go read Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. It is fantastic and will change you. Actually.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
coke. especially since the pepsi brand redesign.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
i like both. But my favorites are the jones and izze sodas. theyre REALLY good, and don’t have a ton of horrible ingredients.
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Claire: I’ve had the coke with lime too! It was awesome, but you’re right, I haven’t seen it in AGES!
[Reply]
February 11th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
I hate to say it, but I really don’t think your experiment can be trusted. Because you tested them repeatedly and in succession, the taste of each lingered in your mouth, thus creating the indistinguishable flavor towards the end.
I do drink a lot of soda. I have recently switched to natural cane sugar brands, but I still vividly remember the difference in taste between brands and even packaging.
Pepsi has a bit of a rough taste, while Coke is very sweet. I’m not big on sweet tasting things, and I much, much prefer Pepsi to Coke. If it’s fountain soda at a restaurant that only has Coke, or if it’s a can of Coke, I’ll go ahead and drink it, though I always feel let down by the lack of rough Pepsi taste. Coke from a bottle, I won’t touch. It’s disgusting.
The bottle/fountain/can difference is noticeable to me with brands I like, as well. Pepsi & Mountain Dew are my favorites, but the packaging determines which I choose. Mountain Dew tastes best from a bottle (it’s sweeter from a can), while Pepsi tastes best from a can (bottles give it a flat taste).
Fountain drinks, I can go either way with (Mountain Dew or Pepsi), because really, those are often less than great and very inconsistent in taste, due to employees who mix them wrong.
I’m happy to drink natural sodas knowing I’m not taking in all that high-fructose corn syrup, but I do miss my Pepsi!
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I read a book called “Blink” by Malcom Gladwell, and he discusses the Pepsi vs. Coke thing that happened in the 80’s. xD To me, Coke seems to be a bit “sweeter” and more syrupy, while Pepsi has a milder taste. But in reality, I probably just like the Coca Cola logo better… I totally wanted a Pepsi when I saw the new, logo… it’s cute!! xD
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:36 am
I try not to drink too much soda all around, but if I do end up drinking it I really don’t have a preference either way. I do like cherry coke (or pepsi) better than regular soda though. =) I found this picture and I wanted to share it with you guys, I thought it was kinda funny. =)
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/pinksky86/pepsiLogoBlowatlife.jpg
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Maybe it’s all in my head, but I can taste a difference between soda from a can, a bottle and a fountain. I hate Coke from a can, don’t mind it from a bottle, and love it from a fountain. Pepsi is ok from a can, quite tasty from a bottle, and again best from a fountain.
But I think they all taste the same once poured in a glass!
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Pepsi over Coke any day! Coke tastes kind of heavy to me…
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 3:56 am
OMG..COKE..i am a coke head i collect it, and i disagree that they taste alike, as a coke fan, i can be blind folded and know right away the difference even in smell, coke is more richer and has a hint of lemon when u smell it, pepsi is so dull and flat, YUCK i would never have that thing in my frige,..i’m a die hard COKE fan, and the best thing about coke is having that ice cold can in ur hand and when u open it, u hear that CRISP “PSSSSSSSSSSS” awwww and then u smell that hint of lemon, i know they don’t add lemon, but u smell lime, so yummy, and so rich and did i say YUMMY, LOLOL!!! sry pep sucks, so flat..ewwwwwwwwwwwww
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 7:29 am
Doe deere,
A bit off on the subject but THANK YOU for your links! I ordered two pair of heels for my unusual big feet and I love them, can’t wait for them to come in! Thank you! <3
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Haha I can’t believe even this post got so many comments! My boyfriend loves Pepsi and it was one of his childhood dreams to do the Pepsi Challenge. We did our own one too, on holiday last year. I think I beat him :D
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 9:24 am
I’m not much of a soda person, but I’m very much not a fan of coke or pepsi. I prefer Dr. Pepper, and sometimes I can manage a rootbeer =)
But, I rarely drink pop anymore. Lately I’ve been on the Izze soda and Naked Juice kick. The sparkling blackberry and the green machine rock my world!
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 9:52 am
When I do drink soda I guess I would usually choose diet coke over diet pepsi at a restaurant ..but on the occasion when I do buy soda for home , I usually go for cherry vanilla Dr Pepper :)
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Diet Dr. Pepper all the way. But between Pepsi and Coke I prefer Diet Coke. I’ll drink Diet Pepsi as a last resort though.
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
COKE is by far the best. I don’t drink it any more, I drink Diet, and between Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke I don’t care. But with regular, Coke all the way! Pepsi is too syrupy.
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Pepsi everytime, preferably Pepsi Max, and I can tell the difference everytime between all the different types of Pepsi even
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I only drink diet coke, unless there’s alcohol involved. And I know I can tell the difference. When I was younger, I took the coke challenge and picked coke out no problem. Also, diet coke v. diet pepsi are very different.
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I’m an original Cokette =] I like Pepsi, but it’s just what I drink when I can’t have Coke =s Coca~Cola tastes like Sunshine in a bottle =P
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
My daddy is an avid Coke drinker, and when we were little, my siblings and I used to fight over who got to bring him his drink when he was watching TV or mowing the lawn. A huge tall glass, with ice cubes ALL the way to the tippy-top, with Coke poured over. And he would drink it before the ice melted, and give you the glass to put in the sink. I would take all the Coke-flavored ice cubes out and crunch on them.
That was one of my favorite treats as a kid, along with frozen peas (while they’re still frozen! they taste like candy).
So Coke. Coke is also much better as part of a mixed alcoholic drink (who would ever drink Rum & Pepsi?) But I also really like the Sierra Mist Cranberry soda that only comes out during the holidays. It’s like Malomars. I should fill a room with that so I can sip it year round. It’s amazing.
[Reply]
February 12th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Diet coke (my best friend in secondary school had a diabetic brother) – but I doubt I actually can tell the difference. Purely habit.
[Reply]
February 13th, 2009 at 4:37 am
Coke. Vanilla coke is the best soft drink, yummers!
[Reply]
February 13th, 2009 at 6:02 am
It sounds stupid, but it makes a HUGE difference whether or not the Pepsi and Coke are in aluminum cans or not!
Pepsi tastes better from plastic bottles or aluminum cans, and Coke tastes really really good out of glass bottles ,or the soda fountain.
I totally know what you mean about the metallic taste though. I can’t drink canned coke often because of it.
[Reply]
February 13th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I took a marketing course in high school and we did the same sort of testing over people with no previous preference (I don’t drink soda, so…). Apparently, people initially prefer the flavour, if I’m not mistaken (it’s been a few years =P), of Pepsi because it is slightly sweeter within the first few sips- yours was actually more accurate than those, because these people tested only had one sip or so of the beverage. It turned out that people preferred Coke if they were going to drink the whole beverage, but Pepsi if they were going to drink the initial sip- I guess your experiment was kind of the beginning of your results. ;-P Omg I’m such a nerd for posting this! =P
[Reply]
February 13th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Oh Doe I think you just confused your taste buds after round 3 *Laughs*!~
I honestly don’t really like any brand of cola because I’m not a fan of that type of soda but between the 2 I’m sooo a Pepsi person!
Coke is way too sweet for me and always had something slightly funny about it (maybe the metallic taste you refer to, who knows!)Pepsi is more of a simple pure tasting cola.
The soda I drink is: Rootbeer, Sasparilla, Squirt, anything made by Jones or Stewarts and my all time favourite is: I fresh made hazelnut Italian soda made with a bit of cream. Oh and oddly i like sprite only with spicy orange or sweet and sour chicken.
[Reply]
February 14th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
If I had to drink the regular classic of each, I’d certainly pick Coke. I think Pepsi is too sweet, but I find it has that metallic taste you attribute to Coke, so that’s weird.
But, normally I drink diet pop, so I would probably go with Diet Pepsi over Diet Coke. But lately I’ve been drinking Coke Zero. Diet Coke is based off the “New Coke” recipe (which from the above comment you’ll see they no longer make in the regular variety) while Coke Zero is based off the classic coke recipe. So it’s better and I think maybe wins out over Diet Pepsi, but I’m not sure yet. I should do a taste test.
[Reply]
February 14th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
i cant drink pepsi, I only drink coke! ever since i was little.. theres something tooo sweet and syrupy about pepsi for my liking! i can tell the difference.. even the colour looks different.. if you hold a glass of coke or a bottle up to a light it gives off a red tinge!
people think im nuts cos i refuse to drink pepsi if its the only thing available.. i would rather not drink anything.
[Reply]
February 16th, 2009 at 12:54 am
This is hilarious! I’ve always thought I could tell the difference – I will NOT drink pepsi, I’m a coke girl all the way – but maybe I’ll have to try and see if I can tell the difference for real. Or when I only have pepsi, just gulp down the first three sips so I can’t tell anymore!
[Reply]
February 16th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Have you ever travelled to a third world country where they have old school bottled coca cola? There is absolutely nothing like it. I can’t drink either pepsi or coke these days because of how good it has been on my past travels. Now it’s the only time I consume coke. It’s simply delicious!
[Reply]
February 16th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Coco Coala! It just tastes like an actual soda pop and its more bubbly and flavorful than Pepsi. :)
[Reply]
February 17th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
The thing about the pespi-cola challenge, which I was taught in an intermediate microeconomics class is that pespi always wins the one sip pesi-cola challenge because it is sweeter, which more often than not appeals to the taste buds in the short run. In the long run however, coke turns out to be more favorable after the sweetness of pepsi turns from sweet to sickeningly sweet. Personally, I don’t drink either or any soda as I did a third grade experiment and left a tooth in a bottle of coke and watched it dissolve over a week. Gross.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2009 at 12:16 am
I choose diet Coke over diet Pepsi. (Haven’t had regular soda in years, so I can’t say which I’d prefer.) Diet Pepsi just has a chemical-cleaner taste to me. Yech.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Personally I’m not totally sure anymore. I grew up on Pesi, that’s all my Dad would buy. But then my best friend in junior and High school always drank Coke, and so I drank Coke with her. Now, I’ve been mainly drinking Coke for the past 8+ years.
Ironically, I’m sipping a Pepsi right now.
I guess I’ve started to like Pepsi more, I guess it’s sweeter…but I can’t really put my finger on what the difference is between the two.
But I’ll tell you this, when at home, Coke or Pepsi, I always add a healthy amount of Grenadine for a delish Cherry-Coke/Pepsi.:D
[Reply]
February 18th, 2009 at 4:02 am
err…I meant to say Coke, I’m more of a Coke fan now. Forgot to mention that I’ve been drinking mainly Coke with my fiance for the past 8+ years now.
Need to proof-read before posting more often.:D
[Reply]
February 21st, 2009 at 3:25 pm
numerous studies have been conducted about the pepsi vs. coke rally. so many people are sure that they have a preferance, when in actuality there is no main difference in ingredients between coke or pepsi. i read of a research experiment conducted (double blind, i believe) and most, if not all, guessed in correctly. i find it kind of funny, but i too myself, would swear i could tell the difference. you can read about the study in elephants on acid by alex boese. its a good read.
[Reply]
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:11 am
i heard once that people like pepsi better initially because its sweeter, but over time your taste buds get tiered, and people tend to like coke more over the long run.
who knows if thats true for most people or just the person who told me this… haha
oh and i added your blog to my list! i really do adore it
[Reply]
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
pepsi > coke … coke burns my mouth
[Reply]
March 14th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
To get the full effects of a “taste test”, you’ll need to use the bottled drinks. Seriously, every single drink in a bottle tastes at least 10 times better than it does in plastic or can. Plastic and cans impart their taste on the cola and fountain is just too watered down on all drinks for an accurate test.
A little known fact. Remember the Pepsi Challenge? Pepsi vs Coke? Wrong. It was Pepsi vs Coke vs Brand x. Pepsi did indeed beat coke, but Brand X beat them both. What was Brand X? RC Cola.
I know it’s more expensive to buy bottled drinks IF you’re lucky enough to have a store still selling them, but if a person hasn’t tried them, they’ve never truly tried a cola. I prefer Pepsi to Coke, but not in the bottled form. In that, since it removes the metallic taste from it, coke tastes better than Pepsi bottled.
In the Midwest it’s Pop, In the Northeast it’s soda, In the West, I hear, it’s drinks. In the south, where I live, it’s a coke, no matter what drink you get, including a fruit tasting one.
[Reply]
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:06 am
I am definitely more of a Coca-Cola fan; it has more of a “bite” to it that I prefer. I drink Pepsi as well, but I prefer Coke.
But as long as it’s not a generic soft drink….I hate the generic brands. They just taste so…blah.
[Reply]
April 4th, 2009 at 6:22 am
I can tell which is white immediately then again Xenia I am very sensitive to such things.
Coke takes like it has more syrup in it and more sugar. I think maybe even more caffeine.
It tastes like Pepsi has more carbonation and more acid.
I like Pepsi more.
Diet pops are horrible to me. I can taste the unnatural stuff in it. I can taste Aspartame in soda. It tastes “inedible” and like poison. I don’t like it and I don’t like it and I think diet pops are worse for your health then regular soda.
[Reply]
April 4th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Typo
White = Which
[Reply]