Like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola also offers a retro version of their cola soft drink product, called Coca-Cola Original Formula Soft Drink, although unlike Pepsi, the original formula Coke is also the current formula Coke. As many may recall, Coca-Cola experimented with a New Coke formula back in the mid 1980s, an experiment which flopped terribly, costing the company some reputation and customers for a time, until they returned to their original cola taste with their Classic Coke soda pop. Since then, Coca-Cola has understandably been reluctant to tamper much with their original recipe, and thus, that classic Coca-Cola taste survives to this day in this modern-day but nonetheless original formula cola drink. Now Coke did switch from sugar to high fructose corn syrup a while back. But in my view, this has not significantly changed the original Coca-Cola taste much.
Coke invented a super-tasting sweet drink way back in 1886; a soda for people in my generation, as quenched our thirsts for our entire lives, from cradle to grave. In my case, that instantly-identifiable Coke taste brings back to mind, memories of the glass returnable bottles of the 1970s, and the 64-ounce bottles a few years later. Then, there came the 2-liter plastic bottles, which still occupy store shelves today. There was that hit on the radio they made from that popular Coke commercial, where folks sang “I’d like to buy the world a Coke, and keep it company.” A Coke pop machine first appeared at school in the early 1970s, and we could buy it for ten cents a 12-ounce can, and students and staff did buy it constantly. I often carried a chilled can to class, and would buy cans of Coke for the girls I liked. Fond memories indeed.
Now, a I drink a chilled 20-ounce plastic bottle of Coca-Cola, that magical Coke flavor is re surfacing all those good times in my memory. The aroma and taste have reopened many doors to my past; doors that I thought were closed forever. So I’m glad that Coke is mostly unchanged and that that flavor that accompanied me on so many of life’s journeys while growing up, is still around today to remind me of those days gone down. While I did like New Coke, I didn’t mind giving it up to get back the original flavor in Coca-Cola Classic.
Benefits, Pros, Features, And Advantages
- That original cola flavor that has pleased many generations, is still alive and well in today’s Coca-Cola.
- The flavor is nostalgic. So folks who were raised with Coke as an occasional 1960s and 1970s treat will be transported back to those long-ago but simpler and perhaps happier times.
- Coca-Cola original formula is low sodium, at just 75 milligrams per 20-ounce serving.
- The red and white label makes Coca-Cola easy to find amid the hoards of other soft drinks at the store.
- The Coke taste is smooth, fizzy, and moderately sweet, although not as sweet as Pepsi Cola. To me, Coca-Cola has more of a cola flavor than does Pepsi, which draws me to it.
Disadvantages, Cons, Concerns, and Problems
- I noticed a slight and sour aftertaste several minutes after a swig of original formula Coke. I do not experience this with any of the Diet Coke sodas including Coke Zero. So I’m guessing that it’s the sugar in the original formula that’s to blame.
- This is a sugary soft drink indeed, that contains 240 calories per 20-ounce bottle. So diabetics should avoid this beverage except for under monitored circumstances, and they should always have their insulin in the ready. But really, there’s less reason to regularly drink a sugary pop these days with the advent of Coke Zero and the improved versions of Diet Coke out there (Diet Lime Coke for example).
- This cola contains 57 milligrams of caffeine in a 20-ounce bottle, which is a moderate amount for a caffeine-laden cola soft drink, and a few milligrams less than Pepsi Throwback which I’ve reviewed previously. A caffeine-free version of Coca-Cola Original Formula is available.
- The best-if-used-by date was three months out from the date I bought this bottle. So, Coca-Cola can be stored six months anyhow without degradation in taste. I’ve stored it for longer periods than this, for years in fact, and it still tastes great. But given today’s concerns about plastic bottles and the chemicals from the bottle getting into the contained beverage, I avoid drinking “old Coke” when I can.
Ingredients List
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine.
Product Rating
The time-tested flavor of Coca-Cola original formula soda pop is perhaps my favorite of all the colas with the possible exception of Pepsi. But the sugar in this non diet drink is a bit off-putting. While I’d recommend this beverage for healthy humans, I’d caution my elders with prehypertension or high blood pressure to be careful consuming this version of Pepsi because of the caffeine, and diabetics not to gluttonously overindulge due to the high fructose sugar content. I’d therefore rate this product at 90 of 100.
Where To Buy Coca-Cola Original Formula Soft Drink
Look for the red and white bottles, cans, and cartons of Coke at your favorite grocery stores, convenience shops, and wholesale outlets. They sport the old-style red and white Coca-Cola scripted logo. I purchased mine at Sheetz here in Altoona.
References
Revision History
- : Moved this post to the Tom’s Diet Quest blog, added whitespace, adjusted ad placement, revised content, and rearranged category and tag assignments.
- 2012-04-30: Originally published.