Simanaitis Says
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MICKEY D’S COKE
DOES A COKE FROM MCDONALD’S taste better than others? It should. And the allrecipes website tells why.
Ray Kroc and Coke. Coca-Cola and the founder of McDonald’s go ’way back: In 1955, allrecipes notes, “Ray Kroc, the man behind the Golden Arches food giant, asked Coca-Cola to partner with him. Coca-Cola agreed, and the rest is history.”
Syrup and Water. As noted by Wikipedia, “Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia…. The drink’s name refers to two of its original ingredients: coca leaves and kola nuts (a source of caffeine).”
“The current formula of Coca-Cola,” Wikipedia notes, “remains a closely guarded trade secret; however, a variety of reported recipes and experimental recreations have been published. The secrecy around the formula has been used by Coca-Cola in its marketing as only a handful of anonymous employees know the formula.”
Not Just Any Syrup, Delivered Any Way. “While most fast food restaurants have their Coca-Cola syrup delivered to them in plastic bags,” allrecipes notes, “McDonald’s gets their syrup specially delivered in stainless steel tanks. The special tanks keep the syrup fresh and protect it from light, temperature, air, and anything else that might take away from its delicious flavor. Sadly, the plastic bags do no such thing.”
Chilled Syrup. The allrecipes website continued, “McDonald’s pre-chills their syrup before placing it in the machine. So while other fast food restaurants are leaving their soda syrup bags out in the kitchen, McDonald’s syrup is getting chilly and ready for your cup.”
Filtration of Water, Pre-chilled. The website also notes that McDonald’s has top-tier water filtration—even if the water started with isn’t of great quality. What’s more, “Not only does McDonald’s pre-chill the soda syrup, but they also pre-chill the filtered water that is going into the machine. There is an insulated tube that runs from the fridge in the back to the soda fountain in the front that constantly keeps the water at a temperature just above freezing.”
More Pop to the Pop: “These cold temperatures,” allrecipes says, “also lend to achieving high carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. With more CO2, your pop will stay crisp and bubbly and keep its carbonation for longer, so you shouldn’t have to worry about a flat Coke.”
The Right Syrup-to-Water Ratio. “Plus, McDonald’s sets their machines for a syrup-to-water ratio that accounts for melting ice. Which means there’s a little more syrup than most other fast-food restaurants. This ensures that your Coke won’t water down and that it’s just as good on sip number one as it is on sip number 21.
“So, pro tip:” allrecipes says, “Never order your Coke at McDonald’s without ice because it will totally screw up their already perfect ratio.”
In conclusion, allrecipes observes, “It may seem like a lot of work just for one beverage, but since you’re probably craving a McDonald’s Coke right now, you know it’s worth it.”
Yep. I’m having mine with some peanuts. ds
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2023
Simanaitis Says 
Not sure about the syrup-to-water ratio. The Coke (Diet, admittedly) we’ve had recently from California McD’s has been pretty watery. The stuff in the cans seems to be better, or at least more consistent.
Bad as inner city drug dealers are, they come from hell and see no other way out. But the suits selling McDonald’s, Burger King, Coke, Pepsi and the rest of it are educated, advanced degrees at that, affluent, with career choices, while purveying products that kill far more every year.
According to TIME, Newsweek, US News & World Report, sugar is eight (8) times more addicting than cocaine. The corn syrup used since the end of last century is still more vile. Consider soaring obesity rates and that fully a third of Americans are not just overweight or fat, but clinically morbidly obese.
Well into a new millenium, be nice to see us weaned from a late 19th century patent medicine.
Vintage cars and planes, enduring architecture, civil engineering, music, prose, si hable. Poison nostalgia?
Voy a pasar.
I suspect we differ on lots of things. (For example, I am one of your “clinically morbidly obese.”) You’re welcome to an opinion, but why not start your own website for your strongly felt feelings?
Truly sorry, Monsignor Simanaitis, if my perspective on the sugar plantation taken other than as the intended warning it is, as you’re the l a s t soul on this vale of tears i’d wish to insult. My take aimed at the general population, your site attracting the best and brightest, clearly. Tho’ a history major, I take the Hippocratic oath to heart in all endeavors. Recent studies show Alzheimer’s might also be termed class 3 diabetes.
I’ve seen too many fine minds so succumbing to what is entirely preventable to stay silent on this destroyer of bodies a n d perspicacity, simply because it is, again, eight-fold more addictive than cocaine.
What use is our knowledge if not to save a few lives and reason now and then?
Please pardon any imagined slight.
Profound respect.
Thanks for your kind words, Mike.