difference between pepsi and coke
Difference between Pepsi and Coke
In his book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, published in 2005, Gladwell wrote that Pepsi is a sweeter beverage than Coke and had that initial advantage during taste tests. He also explained that Pepsi has a bit of a citrus flavor, which is quite different from Coke's vanilla-raisin flavor notes. However, he also noted that the citrus burst of flavor doesn't stick around over an entire serving of Pepsi, so it tends to excel in taste tests.
How does that claim hold up with the ingredient lists for the two drinks?
The ingredients for Coke are carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, caffeine, and natural flavors. Pepsi's makeup is similar but there are clear differences if you look closely. The ingredients for Pepsi are carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, caffeine, citric acid, and natural flavor (via TipHero). The key difference? Pepsi contains citric acid (Coke does not), which creates that "citrusy flavor burst" Gladwell mentioned.
Gladwell's assertion that Pepsi is sweeter than Coke parallels the nutritional info from both brands too. A 12 ounce can of Coke has 39g added sugars and 45mg sodium (via Coca-Cola). A Pepsi in the same size can contains 41g added sugars and 30mg sodium (via Pepsi). Since Pepsi has two more grams of sugar and Coke has 15 more milligrams of sodium, that's why the former makes for a sweeter sip while the latter is a bit more toned-down in terms of sweetness .
It can also be assumed that Coke's "natural flavors" and Pepsi's "natural flavor" lend differences in the flavor profiles for the two drinks, but those are trade secrets that are not publicly known. Otherwise, we would know exactly what makes these sodas taste different.
But even without the exact recipes, it's clear that if you prefer Pepsi, then you probably like a drink that is sweeter with some tartness. On the other hand, if you enjoy Coke more, then you're probably a fan of its raisin-vanilla-like flavor that goes down a bit smoother and is a little less sweet.
The flagship soft drinks for Coca-Cola and Pepsi are so ubiquitous you can get their products in Portland or in Paris, and you'd never imagine they could ever be discontinued. Coke and Pepsi or definitely here to stay, right?
But what about the soft drinks who hang out in the background until they slowly fade away? Most of the time, they disappear so quietly you never even realize they're gone. Then one morning you wake up from a dream craving a Squeezit — something you haven't had since second grade — and you realize you haven't seen them around for quite a while. This is a tribute to all of those soft drinks that might have tasted pretty good, but were forgotten about, not only when they left the store shelves, but when they were on them as well.


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