As a company, Coca Cola is one of the world’s most successful and recognisable drinks manufacturers. Their flagship product is Coca Cola, a fizzy drink which contains the stimulant, caffeine. The signature taste is achieved with a blend of natural flavourings, but the brand closely guards the actual cola formula as a trade secret.
The origins of Coca Cola date back to 1886 when the US pharmacist, Dr John S. Pemberton, developed a sweet drink for sale in cafes and bars. His bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson enjoyed the drink and provided a name, as well as designing the distinctive branding which is still in use.
By the 1970s Coca Cola was being marketed as a fun drink that for good times and enjoyed higher sales than ever before. Since this time, new ranges of diet and flavoured versions of the original have been launched and the brand remains globally dominant.
Coca-Cola has a total of twenty brands which it makes available to UK shoppers. Under those, there are 80 different drinks which include their three key colas, Coke Classic, Coke Zero and Diet Coke. Within these categories, a proportion of the drinks are free from sugar and caffeine, whilst others include alternative flavours to enhance the drink.
Coca Cola – Now available in 200 countries across the world, the original version of Coca Cola comes in a range of sizes from small 250ml cans to a big 1.75 ml bottle for keeping in the fridge or sharing. Like all cola beverages it is ready to drink on its own, but also makes a great mixer in cocktails.
Coca-Cola Cherry – Just like the original but with a cherry twist, Cherry Coke was first launched in 1985. Before this time many cafes and bars were using cherry syrups and liquors to enhance plain colas.
Coca-Cola Vanilla – Generally known as Vanilla Coke, this cola has more vanilla than the original recipe does. Coca Cola Vanilla was sold in the UK from 2005 before being discontinued. Since that time it has occasionally been marketed as a limited-edition product.
Coca Cola Energy – The only Coca Cola flavoured energy drink on the market, Coke Energy is an enhanced version of the original that provides even higher levels of stimulation. The caffeine is naturally sourced and joined by a vitamin B complex with guarana extracts.
While Coca-Cola historically only offered variants of its classic Coke range, it started offering variants of its Diet Coke range in order to give consumers of its sugarless drinks more variety.
Here’s the range that it currently has available:
Diet Coke – Providing just one calorie per can, Diet Coke was launched in 1983 in response to consumer interest in lower sugar drinks. It was the second-ever Coca Cola branded drink and to maintain the well-loved taste it uses two sweeteners, aspartame and acesulfame K. There is a new selection of one calorie fruity flavours to try out along with the caffeine-free version.
Caffeine-free – Developed for people who want to avoid sugar and caffeine, this caffeine-free drink tastes very much like the original Diet Coke and includes the same sweeteners. It was launched a year after Diet Coke in 1983, to compete with Pepsi Free, their main competitor’s caffeine-free drink.
Exotic Mango – One of the first of a new crop of fruity variants on the original taste, Exotic Mango delivers a subtle hint of mango whilst retaining the same cola taste. It’s a nice alternative for those looking for a bit more sweetness than you find with regular diet coke.
Twisted Strawberry – Another fresh product, Twisted Strawberry has been available since 2019 and caters for those who want a fruity element in their cola drink. It gives people who prefer drinking cola an alternative to the many fruit-flavoured water drinks which are currently popular.
It’s not just Coke and Diet Coke drinkers who can enjoy a range of different flavours. Coca-Cola has also developed a range of new flavours for its Coke Zero range. Let’s have a look:
Coke Zero – Coca-Cola rebranded its second sugar-free range as Coke Zero Sugar in 2017, but it still has the exact same formula. The brand claims that this version of their sugar-free drink offers an alternative blend of flavours, which keep the taste light in the mouth and more akin to the original version.
Zero Sugar Cherry – For people who want a fruity diet drink but prefer the Zero flavour, Sugar Cherry was launched in 2007 and marketed at the New York Fashion Week. It did not appear on UK shelves until 2014.
Zero Sugar Raspberry – Another of the 2018 variants which contain a fruit element, Zero Sugar Raspberry is more tart than other Coca Cola flavours but remains very refreshing.
Zero Sugar Peach – An additional 2018 launch, Zero Sugar Peach is marketed as a summer drink that tastes more fruity than standard diet cola but is still free from calories. It serves as a nice alternative to Diet Coke Mango for those who are strictly anti Diet Coke.
Zero Sugar Vanilla – The relaunched Vanilla Coke contains more vanilla than original Zero Coke but other than that it tastes very similar. It was launched in the UK during 2017.
Zero Sugar Cinnamon – Marketed as a Christmas drink in the UK and Europe, Zero Sugar Cinnamon was first available in 2018. It is infused with cinnamon flavour to reflect the season and is a good mixer drink.
Coca Cola Energy Zero Sugar – Made from the same natural ingredients as the original version, Coca Cola Energy Zero Sugar has just one calorie per 330 ml can. It also contains caffeine, B vitamins and guarana extract, but is free from taurine.
It is unlikely that the Coca Cola & Pepsi rivalry will ever be won, as most of us choose a favourite and then stick with that one most of the time. Your favourite could have been established early if you grew up with either Coca Cola or Pepsi in the house. If you haven’t taken the time to try the other brand, it is likely to have stayed the same. A favourite can also be discovered by trying both and preferring the taste of one in particular.
Aside from being amber coloured fizzy drinks, Pepsi and Coca Cola do have a huge amount in common. The ingredients of both include sugar (or sweetener), caffeine and carbonated water, along with colourings and natural flavours. However, it is the manufacturing process and amount of each ingredient which could make a difference to the taste.
When it comes to the standard versions of each drink, many people consider Coca Cola to have stronger notes of vanilla, whilst Pepsi tends to taste sweeter. The sweetness gives Pepsi a more piquant finish, whilst Coca Cola is a smoother drink. This means that like a lot of food and drink-related debates, the Coca Cola vs Pepsi war essentially comes down to personal taste.
According to the Coca Cola website, most of the drinks which are part of their brand are vegetarian and vegan-friendly - this includes Coca Cola. Drinks which do not contain any ingredients derived from animals can be classed as vegan products. Coca Cola is also gluten and dairy-free.
In 1891 Coca Cola began a publicity campaign to draw attention to their ‘secret’ formula, the actual composition of which is still discussed over 100 years later. From time to time recipes have popped up in the press and online, but the company still insist the precise details are only known to a few key employees – all of whom remain nameless. What we can be sure of is the general list of ingredients that is printed on each can or bottle:
Water – Coca-Cola is made up of 90% carbonated water. The bubbles are provided by carbon dioxide which is purified before being infused into the water to produce that familiar fizz.
Sugar – The addition of sugar in Coca-Cola has a twofold purpose. On the one hand, it produces a pleasurable sensation in the mouth, on the other, it creates the sweetness that cola is known for. As you would expect, sugar is left out of the Diet and Zero Sugar varieties.
Colours – The caramel hue is a colour produced just for the brand to use in Coca Cola.
Phosphoric acid – A colourless and odourless ingredient, phosphoric acid gives Coca Cola a tangy finish and an element of tartness. It can also act as a preservative.
Caffeine – Bitter and stimulating, caffeine is used to enhance the taste according to the manufacturers. There is 32mg of caffeine in every 330ml can, about a third of that found in an equivalent sized cup of coffee.
Natural flavourings – This part of the ingredient list remains sketchy as Coca Cola are unwilling to provide the details of their special formula. Based on historical accounts, it is likely the original recipe contained vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and orange.
Zero Sugar Coke has always been marketed on the premise that it tastes more like real coke, with none of the calories. While it would seem to be healthier than sugar-rich drinks, some of the ingredients used may have negative effects on the body. Research carried out by Harvard University suggests that sweeteners can encourage weight gain in the long term. This is because the brain responds to sweet tastes by signalling us to eat more. They also found evidence of an increase in type 2 diabetes.
However, it is worth remembering that these studies were carried out on people who drink a lot of Zero Coke and the odd can or glass is unlikely to have any significant effects on your health.
We all know that it’s important to lower our intake of sugary drinks, but sometimes a glass of coke with ice is incredibly tempting. It is not all bad for fans of the drink however as there are ways it can also be of benefit to your body and wellbeing.
Pros
Stimulates the mind – Coca Cola works in the same way as other drinks which contain caffeine. Both tea, coffee and coke can leave you feeling more awake and focused in the morning and throughout the day, in part that is down to the caffeine content. When you ingest caffeine, it increases your feelings of alertness and concentration.
Energy booster – Although it won’t last longer than an hour, the ingredients in the original coke will deliver a sugar rush of pure energy very soon after being consumed. It might not be the ideal way of getting your body to respond, but it can give you the motivation to get going.
A digestive aid – Some people find that the high levels of acidity in fizzy drinks like Coca Cola work like the body’s gastric acids. It may be able to clear indigestion and ease the problem of abdominal pains. Back in 2013, it was recommended to treat gastric phytobezoar, a form of blockage which occurs in the stomach.
Cons
A high sugar content – Like the majority of non-diet fizzy drinks, Coca Cola contains vast amounts of sugar compared to many other soft drinks. In one 330ml can there is 35g of sugar. That is especially surprising when you consider the NHS recommends just 30g per day for people over 11!
It has diuretic properties – Due to the caffeine content, coke can act as a diuretic. This means that although it tastes deliciously refreshing, it is not a great rehydrating drink because it can make you urinate more. As part of this process, your body will also expel nutrients like zinc and calcium which it really should be holding on to.
Coke may be addictive – Coca Cola has always denied that their drinks are addictive, but it’s known that caffeine withdrawal can give you a headache. Of course, you can easily solve this particular problem by choosing caffeine-free varieties.
Cheap Coca Cola is available at every major UK supermarket and the majority of online grocers. You can shop for Coca Cola deals at Ocado, Amazon, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and eBay, where the various flavours and types are all readily available. If you are looking for branded clothing or accessories, the official store has everything from varsity jackets to wall signs and cruet sets.
Many drinks tend to be reduced over the Christmas period to encourage shoppers to buy more, so this is a good time to stock up on original or Diet Coke offers. Throughout the rest of the year, you can also find seasonal sales which include Coca Cola products, so if you drink lots of it you can certainly cut your costs by stocking up. At the end of November, each year on Black Friday, supermarkets and online retailers often cut the cost of Coca Cola multipacks as part of the wider sale. At this time reductions of up to 50% can be found, making it a good opportunity to buy more for less.
To locate the most generous Coke Zero offers as well as reductions in other products from Coca Cola, you’re best bet is right here on the hotukdeals Coca Cola listings. We bring together killer deals from across the high street and online.
