Here’s Why Coke Tastes Better at McDonald’s

Apparently, we can thank science for Coca-Cola always tasting better at McDonald’s.

A food scientist told Parade Magazine that there is a reason why Coke has a better flavor at the golden arches. It all has to do with the water.

Food scientist, science writer, and YouTuber Abbey The Food Scientist claims that “soft drink producers will usually have their own water supplier or a filtration system to increase the quality of water. Most often, chlorine is removed as it can result in a ‘disinfectant’ taste, the water hardness will be adjusted since it affects the acidity of the drink, and iron will be removed to limit color and flavor defects.” Abbey says that if any of these steps are missed, the resulting soft drink will have “off-flavors.”

However, even with all those steps in place, there are other parts to the formula that help the company achieve the taste its customers love. The formula is detailed on McDonald’s website.

McDonald’s claims the water and syrup are pre-chilled before entering the store’s fountain dispensers. It also keeps the system cold to ensure the drink remains perfectly chilled, and it has the syrup delivered in stainless steel tanks rather than plastic bags in boxes, like most fast-food restaurants.

There is also a specific ratio of syrup to water to allow ice to melt without completely diluting the drink. Add to that a wider straw, allowing a maximum ratio of the product to hit one’s taste buds, and the McDonald’s fountain drink formula is complete.

But how does McDonald’s keep its carbonation in a perfect ratio so the drinks don’t fall flat? Simple, it carbonates drinks on-site.

Abbey reveals that most restaurant soft drinks are prepared as a syrup and water mix. She believes they use one part syrup to between three and six parts water.

This allows a batch of syrup to be made and later proportioned with water to complete the drink. To achieve that fizzy taste, the beverage is fed through a machine “pressurized with carbon dioxide gas.” In the end, McDonald’s simply follows the “guidelines set by Coca-Cola” to ensure its soft drinks are high quality for each and every customer.