Have you ever had the feeling that the taste of Coca-Cola you drink at McDonald’s tastes different from the one you drink anywhere else? Well, it’s not just your imagination. In fact, the Huffington Post published a study in which they consulted specialists in engineering and fluid physics, former employees of the chain, and Roberto Zenit, a professor at Brown University and one of the leading experts in carbonation, who explained why this happens.
It is based on the phenomenon of Henry’s Law, which explains that the colder the water, the better carbon dioxide dissolves, and the drink will have more bubbles. It is also crucial that at McDonald’s the syrup is received in stainless steel tanks, which helps preserve freshness and makes the flavor more intense.
Mc Donald´s
Founded in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, McDonald’s is one of the best known brands worldwide. It is a fast food restaurant franchise that offers mainly hamburgers, fries and soft drinks. Its establishments are present all over the world. More than 40,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. Its menu includes numerous menus consisting of hamburgers, fries and soft drinks, with a choice of sizes. It also offers children’s menus and sweet breakfast options.
Taste of Coca-Cola at McDonald’s
If you have ever felt that the Coca-Cola served at McDonald’s has a different taste than at any other restaurant, store, or even the one you drink at home, you are not imagining it. The truth is that there is a reason why Coca-Cola tastes different at McDonald’s establishments. To explain this, it is necessary to consult experts in fluid physics, who explain that this is a reality and not just a perception. For this reason, The Washington Post conducted an investigation, consulting specialists in engineering, employees of the McDonald’s food chain, and one of the leading experts in carbonation, Roberto Zenit, from Brown University.
What does McDonald’s do to make the taste different?
One of the main factors that determine why the taste is different at McDonald’s establishments has to do with the water used to mix the syrup. At the chain, the water is pre-filtered and chilled. How does this affect the taste of Coca-Cola? Well, to understand this, we need to explain the phenomenon of Henry’s law, which states that the solubility of a gas is inversely proportional to the temperature of the liquid.
This means that carbon dioxide will dissolve better the colder the water is, making the drink even more fizzy. Another difference between McDonald’s and other establishments is that the latter receive the syrup in plastic bags, whereas McDonald’s receives it in stainless steel tanks. This difference helps keep the syrup fresh, protecting it from air and oxygen, allowing the flavor to be much more intense and consistent.
Other details that affect the taste
The two mentioned above are the main factors that determine the flavor, consistency, and amount of bubbles in Coca-Cola drinks at McDonald’s. However, the chain also makes a difference by adjusting the syrup ratio to compensate for the illusion that occurs when the ice melts. Additionally, they use wider straws than the rest, being 0.02 inches wider than standard. Although it may seem trivial, this detail improves the perception of the taste because you get more liquid with each sip.