Coke vs. Pepsi

According to the Independent, researchers have proven that the difference between Coke and Pepsi really is all in your head. Apparently the popularity of Coke's brand image causes people to think Coca-Cola itself tastes better, even though it really doesn't taste very different from Pepsi. As the article says: "When asked to taste blind, they showed no preference. However, when the participants were shown company logos before they drank, the Coke label, the more famous of the two, had a dramatic impact: three-quarters of the tasters declared they preferred Coke." I've long suspected this. Personally I can't taste any difference between Coke and Pepsi, but I have a friend who swears passionately that there's a huge difference. Now I can show him this research to prove that he's simply been brainwashed by advertising. Oh, and the Pepsi Taste Test also turns out to be nothing but hot air: "The findings suggest there is no scientific basis for claims made during the Pepsi ad campaign in which testers purportedly chose Pepsi over Coke when they were not told what they were drinking."

Advertising Food

Posted on Tue Oct 19, 2004



Comments

There is an obvious difference in taste and mouth feel. Pepsi is more minty and sweet while Coke is more caramel and fizzy. I don't really prefer one over the other though. Maybe Pepsi just slightly more. Coke has this kind of dry aftertaste.
Posted by Shamus  on  Wed Nov 24, 2004  at  03:48 AM
Once I tried a "Pepsi One" and ended up involuntarily spraying it out of my mouth because it was so awful. I can't *stand* Pepsi in any form.

Mr. Pibb does an excellent Dr. Pepper imitation, though.
Posted by Daniel McLaury  on  Tue Nov 30, 2004  at  01:33 AM
pepsi is lolly water and coke tastes best from a can...COKE RULES...
Posted by Mark Ashton  on  Tue Nov 30, 2004  at  06:00 AM
No matter what your preference is or what you're drinking... it all tasted better, and seemed colder for longer, when it was in GLASS recyclable containers. Does anyone else remember the 16-ounce returnable bottles that came in cartons of eight? Those were the BEST ever but as usual were done away with in the name of profits. They also encouraged recycling whereas their plastic counterparts encourage just the opposite. We were in Canada on vacation in 1996 and they still had the Pepsi in 16 ounce returnables long after they were no longer available in the states... are they still out there anywhere?
Posted by Mark-n-Jen  on  Mon Jan 17, 2005  at  01:38 PM
I was just in Israel a few weeks ago, and although alot of the coke comes in the plastic bottles, they still sell some of the coke in the glass bottles. Pepsi too. Of course those bottles have coca cola and pepsi written in hebrew on one side, but it was definitly nice getting to drink coke out of glass bottles again.
Posted by Razela  on  Mon Jan 17, 2005  at  05:17 PM
I can taste the difference. Coke is fizzier
Posted by Cat  on  Mon Feb 28, 2005  at  03:32 PM
hi every one..i am in the seenth graade and i'm doing a science fair project..please write back to tell me thw resulta straight out of what you got in the coke v.s. pepsi. I need this for my science project by April 16th..please!!!!! A.S.A.P. if possible!! thank you
Posted by Brenda  on  Fri Apr 08, 2005  at  07:11 PM
Brenda, none of us here actually did the coke vs. pepsi experiment. We are just discussing what we think would happen. You should conduct the coke/pepsi blind taste test yourself for your science fair project. Good Luck!!
Posted by Razela  on  Sat Apr 09, 2005  at  02:36 AM
i know..i've already started my experiment by testing 3 people but they all said they preferred pepsi..but when they actually tasted it, they preferred coke..this makes me contemplate a lot because when i've researched, the interent sites such as this one, they have told me that pepsi has more sugar and that it tastes sweeter. Now i'm going crazy🐛 becuase i have my facts all mixed up. and the reason why i needed some one to help me by telling me what they got was that i needed it for me research part of the 6 steps(hypothesis, experiment, data, research..ect.) Thank you for your concern, please write back and if anyone knows any interent site that would help, please if you will, give me some of them...
-Brenda 😊
Posted by Brenda  on  Mon Apr 11, 2005  at  06:14 PM
Brenda, try this website: http://home.judson.edu/academic/spinner/tastetest/tastetest.htm

In their experiment people prefered coke over pepsi and rc. I don't think you are going crazy at all with the sweeter thing. Pepsi is most definitely sweeter than coke, but that's also the reason that I personally like coke better than pepsi, though I'm not a fan of either. Coke being less sweet probably accounts for alot of people liking it more.

On another note, I think it would be cool if someone ever did an experiment comparing whether people like coke or pepsi to how many taste buds they have. I bet people with more tastebuds would like coke more while those with less would prefer pepsi.
Posted by Razela  on  Mon Apr 11, 2005  at  09:17 PM
thanks Razela..you've been a big help..i'll tell you my results when i'm fully done!
Posted by Brenda  on  Wed Apr 13, 2005  at  05:22 PM
Pepsi is better than Coke because...
1)It has way less sugar, the sugar in coke mattes your teeth and gives you this disgusting feeling

2) Coke goes flat faster than Pepsi.

3) Pepsi has more carbonation.
Posted by Austin Sims  on  Sat Apr 30, 2005  at  11:59 AM
omg coke rules pepsi copied as is such a stupid company
Posted by rachel  on  Mon May 09, 2005  at  12:25 PM
I have a little bit of input on this particular subject. I have been an employee of the Coca Cola Company for 7 years now, and would like to weigh in with my two cents. First of all, anyone who is claiming to know recipe differences between coke and pepsi really needs to note the sources of this information. Both of those formulas are closely guarded secrets(there are only a handful of people in the world who know exactly how much of what goes into coke) The product arrives in a premade syrup form at nearly every production facility in the U.S. outside of Atlana. Secondly, Pepsi nearly fell off the face of the planet, and was getting absolutely killed by Coke in sales until Pepsi picked up the mountain dew product. Had they not, we would be talking about them now with the distant fondness that my grandparents talked about Moxy cola with. Yes, I believe there is a discernable difference in flavor between the two. Here is the real bottom line in the flavor difference between Pepsi and Coke(and the reason I work for the company). Coke simply cuts through the flavor of a hard liquor much better than Pepsi does. People may not be able to tell the diffence between Coke and Pepsi, but they can definately tell the difference between a rum and Coke, and a rum and Pepsi. That may be a little more than two cents, but you guys can keep the change.
Posted by Matt  on  Thu Jun 16, 2005  at  12:48 AM
I can pick out coke and pepsi in a blind taste test among 4 colas. The other two are RC cola and Faygo cola. The latter two are very similar for me wich I only got right about half the time. However out of the 15-20 times I have done this i have only confused coke for pepsi twice and never the other way around. Still i beleive that the general public is just ignorant and subject to advertising. By the way am a Pepsi drinker. (this was out of the can or bottle. it is much harder to do by fountain.)
Posted by Mike  on  Fri Aug 12, 2005  at  10:57 PM
I actually took the original Pepsi Challenge in the late 1970's, and I noticed they switched the glass bottles so it would look like a Coke drinker actually preferred Pepsi. The problem with this is that anyone who is familiar with both tastes will recognize which is which and realize there was a switch.

Anyway, what about the people who loved Coke but hated New Coke? If the difference was in people's heads they wouldn't have even known the formula had changed.

I prefer Dr. Pepper myself, to avoid being a part of this tumultuous turmoil.
Posted by eriC draveS  on  Fri Aug 26, 2005  at  02:07 AM
i know that pepsi is my favorit,anyways my class did this experaments and less than half of the class didnt know the difference between Coke and Pepsi, of coures I got it right.My class mates said that Pepsi is sweeter and Coke is more frizzier. 😊 :shut: oh and some people say that the drink a certain brand because they like the polar bear or the singer or actor that spunser it. you know Britney Spears with Pepsi 😉, but hay write me up if you find out some thing. SEEYA
ITS ALL ABOUT EAST L.A. YEEEAAAH
Posted by cristina .c  on  Fri Aug 26, 2005  at  12:01 PM
coke has more phosphoric acid than pepsi, and it will eat away rust. if it eats away rust, just imagine what itll do to your stomach. thats why i will now drink no coke.
Posted by Amanda  on  Tue Sep 06, 2005  at  06:29 PM
You are aware that your stomach naturally contains hydrochloric acid, aren't you? It's in much higher concentrations and amounts than what you find in Coke.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Wed Sep 07, 2005  at  08:23 AM
coke is truly better than pepsi because it is sweeter and pepsi goes flat way too quickly.
Posted by bt  on  Sat Sep 10, 2005  at  03:16 PM
Hell, I'D drink coke if I was dying of thirst!
Posted by Alex  on  Wed Sep 14, 2005  at  08:06 PM
IF you can not tell the differnce between Coke and pepsi than YOU SUCK!!!!


COKE is way FREAKING BETTER DUMB ASS
Posted by JJ  on  Wed Sep 28, 2005  at  10:21 AM
I like them both. JUST GIVE ME COLA!!!! Colaaaaaaaa! Actually, I will take an RC whenever possible, 'cuz it's cool to root for the underdog. Yo.
Posted by Jer  on  Thu Sep 29, 2005  at  05:45 PM
COKE is way better than PEPSI...pepsi is way flatter and more watery...COKE RULES
Posted by KK  on  Wed Oct 12, 2005  at  12:15 PM
I have to agree with some of the commenters here. I -can- taste the difference between Pepsi and Coca Cola. For me, I prefer Pepsi. Coca Cola has always tasted disgusting.

In one such situation, I was at a cookout when a friend handed me soda. It was disgusting! She told me it was Coca Cola after.
Posted by Sebastian Nickler  on  Wed Oct 19, 2005  at  10:31 PM
I love Pepsi more that any other soda and im like obsesed with it because its just the greatest thing Coke is Discusting because of that Rotten tast it gives after Drinking it BLAH i love pepsi that i drink one Every Day and My friends and i will go around the school asking people what they pefere but i almost all the time Get the word Pepsi sometimes Coke but the people that say that i guess like it better i love Pepsi and all pepsi Products and i always will PEPSI FOREVER!!!!!!
Posted by Don Stapelfeld  on  Thu Oct 20, 2005  at  08:01 AM
Anyone with a taste bud that functions should be able to tell the difference between the two drinks. Not only that but, as other people have mentioned, formulas do taste different in different countries. Coke from most of the USA does taste different than Coke almost anywhere else in the world. Even the diet versions taste vastly different. As far as being brain washed by advertising, how about not believing everything you ever see in print? Any good researcher can make the results do whatever they want them to do!
Posted by Colin  on  Fri Oct 28, 2005  at  05:52 PM
i just hate the way pepsi makes fun of coke in there commercials. Those commercials are so stupid, they would never happen in real life. Coke doesn't need to dis pepsi in there comercial because i think coke makes more money jus in macdonalds then all of pepsi sales. coke should dis pepsi in there comercials because pepsi does it to them but coke doesn't need to they make good comercial that get there point across.When pepsi disses coke i think it shows that there desperate. Coke should dis pepsi so they can get a taste of there own medicine.
Posted by joe  on  Sun Nov 06, 2005  at  01:56 PM
Pepsi sucks 'cause everything Coke comes out with, Pepsi has to do the EXACT same thing I mean EXACTLY the SAME. And them fuckin Pepsi commercials always are like the Coke worker guy stealing Pepsi. Coke should sue fuckin Pepsi. Yes coke does go flat quicker but Pepsi has a weird taste.
Posted by pepsi sucks  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  06:02 PM
I'm a Pepsi girl myself, mainly for the fact that Pepsi is sweeter with less carbonation... Coke has a bad aftertaste and the bubbles annoy me.

However I honestly think it's just in the head. I may like it only because it says Pepsi... since I have prefered it for so long.
Posted by Nicole  on  Sun Nov 13, 2005  at  11:17 PM
we are starting our project and ours is who could taste soda better boys or girls?between coke & pepsi,we are doing about 5 boys & girls, but the problem is that pepsi tastes just like coke.
brenda angulo
Posted by brenda  on  Thu Dec 01, 2005  at  08:17 AM
I perfer pepsi but i dont even drink soda any more. My mom cant live without her daily pepsi thought, but now it is Vinilla Pepsi. I am a water girl myself.
Posted by Lindsey  on  Sun Dec 04, 2005  at  01:33 PM
Pepsi is good and so is coke but RC RULZ!! lol :lol:
Posted by Libs  on  Wed Dec 14, 2005  at  10:33 AM
Every person who prefers coke over pepsi is an idiot and full of shit. Pepsi is way better
Posted by Jordan "The Great"  on  Fri Dec 16, 2005  at  08:19 AM
I personally think that coke and pepsi taste the same, I used to have a favorite but I dont now, cuz come to think of it it tastes the same. Im doing my science project on whether or not you CAN tell the difference between coke and pepsi. Some people say coke has more fizz or some people say that pepsi tastes way more better and coke is flat. I think its all a matter of whats going on in your head. I think there is no difference.

~Sammie, I love Khlab~
Posted by Samantha Hatt  on  Mon Dec 19, 2005  at  11:31 AM
I have drank both coke and pepsi and have other friends the real difference is that for those people who get migrains or sever headachs seem to get them more often if they drink pepsi but less often with coke. Now before you try to say it is the package you should know i am blind and dont "see" any difference they are both round cans one no more distinct than the other
Posted by virginia smith  on  Fri Dec 23, 2005  at  07:51 AM
The acid in your stomache is a lot stonger than coke or pepsi i have heard oh coke will eat through raw hamberger and rust but i am still alive after 35yrs and i almost unfortunitly because it is more expensive go through a case a week
Posted by virginia smith  on  Fri Dec 23, 2005  at  08:14 AM
I totally agree with this article. Those of you who think that it's incorrect should really try a blind taste test. I'm convinced that most cannot tell the difference between the two sodas.. heck even the generic sodas taste the same. There are such things as 'SUPERTASTERS'... most of us are not.. there are those who can.. Out of my class of 40 only 2 could tell the difference in a blind taste test.
Posted by Jessika  on  Sun Dec 25, 2005  at  12:11 AM
Coke rules!!!!Even tho i still drink pepsi from time to time I would say that coke is way better.Pepsi is a copy cat copying every little thig that coke does and then goes and makes fun of them.Hello pepsi if you make fun or dis the company that you copy all of your ideas from it is like you are dising your self.And I was talkin to one of my friends and he said that he drank pepsi once and he thew up.
Posted by Coke girl 4 ever  on  Tue Dec 27, 2005  at  11:15 AM
man there is a huge difference. pepsi sucks and coke rules! and i've asked for coke in restaurants and they sometimes give me pepsi and i notice right away. and when i ask them what it is they will say pepsi. 😠
Posted by me  on  Tue Jan 10, 2006  at  01:23 PM
Everyone should be able to tell the differnce...because Pepsi is smoother and taste much better....Coke is to corse and taste like crap..all of my friends and my boyfriend and family can tell the diff.
<3britt..
Posted by Briitany  on  Fri Jan 13, 2006  at  12:08 PM
Pepsi tastes like water. Coke has more fiz, and a more distinctive taste. Some people say the only reason Coke is popular is its ad's, but no matter how great the ad, if the product sucks...no one is gonna buy it. Pepsi relies on making Coke look stupid in their ads...Pepsi...you suck cola ass.
Posted by Coke guy  on  Sat Jan 14, 2006  at  01:18 PM
Hey Coke guy. Wanna throw it down, biatch? Just kidding. But obviously I am a pepsi fan. I use to consider my self a Pepsiholic. But I disagree about the water thing. I think Coke tastes like water and shit. Pepsi has a much better taste. But it's all personal choice. So I guess there really isn't a "better" one.

But to the person who said RC is good.....WHERE THE HELL DO YOU COME FROM? RC sucks! It tastes like medicine and dog poop. YES, I have tried it, and it's gross.
Posted by Mr. Pep  on  Sat Jan 14, 2006  at  03:40 PM
My unit is gorrila if u familya go away befo milya
Posted by hehe  on  Mon Jan 16, 2006  at  04:12 PM
PEPSI TASTES WAYYYYYYY BETTER THAN COKE.cOKE SUCKS, PEPSI RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Deja  on  Mon Jan 23, 2006  at  05:45 PM
coke is okay but i would say that i like pepsi better.....coke after a while starts to taste like shit and i hate it......anyway that is all i have ttyl..
<3 Guess
Posted by Guess  on  Wed Jan 25, 2006  at  02:48 PM
I prefer diet pepsi over diet coke. It seems to me that when I drink coke it seems harsher going down. Pepsi goes down smoother. I also think Pepsi is smoother - I have taken the test and I was able to decifer the two.
Posted by Jill Junker  on  Tue Feb 14, 2006  at  01:44 PM
well i think that coke does taste better. i have to say that pepsi has a little too much sugar.i rather drink cokr than pepsi. i would rather have a coke in a glass bottle, u know one of those old ones. i think that coke in a plastic bottle and in a can can give it a different taste. b/c of the particles in each bottle. so it really depends on what kind of bottle or can u drink from. like i said i prefer in a glass bottle b/c of the freshness.
Posted by giselle  on  Mon Feb 20, 2006  at  06:53 PM
I have this school assignment about a persausive paragraph.It is about Coca Cola V.S. Pepsi....i need to know more about it!!!IT'S DUE TOMORROW!!HELP!!
Posted by Nicolette  on  Mon Feb 27, 2006  at  04:44 PM
PEPSI ROX MY SOX!! 😉

l8er ,hommies!peace!
Posted by Nicolette  on  Mon Feb 27, 2006  at  04:50 PM
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