In order to keep things as fair as possible, all three types of Coke were poured into identical paper cups. Fountain soda was not in the mix, as each company that sells soda from a fountain may use a different amount of syrup or carbonation.

All of the soda sampled in the taste test was regular American Coca-Cola, no diet or Mexican Coca-Cola included. The three sodas were all refrigerated overnight and served cold during the taste test. The containers were all opened and served at the same time (shortly after opening), to ensure carbonation wasn’t lost.

What Our Editors Thought

After tasting each cup, the editors wrote down any tasting observations they had, comparing sweetness, carbonation, and flavor for each.

The Can

Six out of eight editors felt this product was more carbonated. “It tastes like what I think Coke should taste like,” said one editor. Two other editors disagreed, finding it flatter and sweeter. “Tastes like it’s been sitting in ice for a bit,” one editor wrote.

Two editors described this Coca-Cola as having a metallic flavor, despite being from a plastic bottle. Many editors also felt it had more bite or fizz than the other two, with one editor thinking it tasted more “spiced” than sweet. Another editor described it as having an “almost lemony” flavor.

The Glass Bottle

The syrupy flavor was most noted about this version. “I almost thought this one was Coke Zero because of how strong it is,” wrote one editor. Another loved how sweet and syrupy it was, saying she would want to drink it with rum.