Some people swear by a specific type of soda. I know people who love caffeine-free diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Pepsi, or even regular Pepsi Cola. But when it comes to caffeine-free soda, specifically caffeine-free Coke, does it taste the same as the regular stuff? With Coke Zero (zero calories), caffeine free Coke, and other varieties of carbonation-filled beverages so easy to find at Walmart, it's an important question to ask. Let's take a look.
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What's in Regular Coke?
Regular Coke, or Coca-Cola Original, has carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine.
According to the nutrition facts on the soft drink's website, a bottle of Coke has 240 calories, 65g total carbohydrates, and 65g added sugars. So if you're looking for something without artificial sweeteners or with no sugar, picking up the drink from the Coca-Cola company, grocery store, or Amazon is maybe not the best choice.
What's in Caffeine-Free Coke?
Caffeine-free Coca-Cola has all the same ingredients as regular Coke, but without caffeine. It's also low in sodium and has GMOs, if that's something you care about when buying a soda soft drink. It has zero grams of total fat, and 140 calories compared to normal Coke. It also has lower carbs and sugars.
Does It Taste the Same as Regular Soda?
The consensus is that caffeine has its own flavor, and some people definitely notice that caffeine-free Coke may not have the same great taste as regular Coke. Generally, people who notice a difference agree that caffeine has a slight bitterness to it. "The process of removing caffeine may impart or remove flavors," Thought Co reports.
What Other Coke Flavors Are There?
The Coca-Cola Company has brands like Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Schweppes, Appletiser, Fresca, and Barq's. While Barq's pretty much sticks to root beer and creme soda, and Sprite is tried and true with its lemon-lime flavor, Coke has a few more varieties.
The company website for Coke lists regular Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Coca-Cola Energy, and flavors like Cherry Vanilla, Orange Vanilla, Vanilla Zero Sugar, and more. Rest assured, any soda lover can find the flavor that's right for them.
If you had to choose between regular Coke and Caffeine-free Coke right now, which would you pick?
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