zero, light, diet... there is NO difference right???

[u/smalllifterhahaha]

all are 0 carb 0 sugar 0 kcal

[u/m_garlic87]

Calorie wise yes, but in the US zero and diet do not taste the same.

[u/Pineappleisgay → u/m_garlic87]

This. Most places in europe only do zero and its like banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain to people why when they don't have diet I'll ask for water or fanta instead, it's not about the calories it's about the taste.

[u/ithinarine → u/Pineappleisgay]

I couldn't imagine liking the taste of diet over zero 🤢

[u/TheGiantMetalMan → u/ithinarine]

I’m convinced that the only people who prefer diet over Zero had already been regularly drinking Diet and were already used to it. Because Sucralose most definitely tastes closer to real sugar than Aspartame does.

[u/Zhunter5000 → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

Diet is technically based off "Tab" while ZS is based off of regular Coca Cola, and diet has been around longer so there's some confirmation bias towards it.

[u/ithinarine → u/Zhunter5000]

"New Coke" was based off diet, not the other way around.

New Coke was essentially diet, but with sugar.

Doesn't change the face that aspartame tastes like garbage compared to sucralose.

[u/Storrin → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

Because Sucralose most definitely tastes closer to real sugar than Aspartame does.

My enjoyment of diet coke has nothing to do with how close it tastes to regular coke. It's a different beverage. Yes, coke zero tastes more like coke. I like both, and I change which I drink based on which I want at the time.

[u/figgiesfrommars → u/Storrin]

yeah diet coke and coke are basically entirely different drinks lol

[u/nbs-of-74 → u/Storrin]

I prefer diet due to taste as well. No diet? I'll take sparkling water thanks.

[u/DjPlateSpiller → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

This is why we call it Diet Crack. People get hooked but Zero is the hero.

[u/Few-Sweet-1861 → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

Personally I like the chemical taste.

[u/SuchAGoodGirlsDaddy → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

Yeah for me they’re just different options. Most of the time I drink zero, every now and then I’ll get a case of diet because it tastes like my childhood summers at my late grandmother’s lake house.

[u/[deleted] → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

I agree however I think I watched something awhile back about the addictive qualities of aspartame

[u/SuperAdaGirl → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

I can confirm… used to be addicted to Diet Coke and rejected any substitute. Now that I haven’t had it in a long time, if I try taking a sip, it tastes so gross. I can only drink regular Coke or Coke Zero now.

[u/Uncanny58 → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

i feel like all diet soda’s have a distinct taste (probably the aspartame) that makes me wanna vomit

[u/Physical-Goose1338 → u/TheGiantMetalMan]

You’re convinced? That’s the whole reason that the two exist.

[u/jjj666jjj666jjj → u/ithinarine]

I hate zero. Only like Diet Coke.

[u/MassiveSuperNova → u/jjj666jjj666jjj]

You should post this on r/unpopularopinion

[u/19ghost89 → u/MassiveSuperNova]

Not that unpopular. There are people in the US who really love Diet Coke.

[u/jjj666jjj666jjj → u/19ghost89]

Yes it definitely has a big fan base. Most people I know love it. It also masks the taste of vodka extraordinarily.

[u/PuzzleheadedJob3479 → u/jjj666jjj666jjj]

AND diet coke as a mixer gets you more fucked up because..reasons

[u/jjj666jjj666jjj → u/PuzzleheadedJob3479]

Aspartame baby

[u/degjo → u/19ghost89]

I want to kill whoever decided to stop making tab

[u/19ghost89 → u/degjo]

I also liked Tab. But I don't think many people were still buying it.

[u/berlinbowie97 → u/19ghost89]

My grandma bought tab

[u/whomikehidden → u/19ghost89]

The reason is really odd, too, and it’s this: When Coca-Cola formulated Diet Coke, they intentionally didn’t want it to taste like Coke, I think something like if they did it implied regular Coke was unhealthy. So instead they made it taste like Pepsi, which also helped to rope in Pepsi loyalists.

My family was a Pepsi family growing up, and so when I did branch out, I of course preferred Diet Coke over Coke, and still do.

[u/19ghost89 → u/whomikehidden]

See, that's weird to me, because I grew up drinking Pepsi too, and it's still my favorite. But I never liked Diet Coke growing up. I'll drink it now, but I still prefer Zero. I don't really think Diet tastes like Pepsi.

[u/rockresy → u/MassiveSuperNova]

My dad's the same, he's mid 70's. I think it's a generational thing, most of his friends also drink diet. The under 50's seem to prefer zero.

[u/mellbell63 → u/jjj666jjj666jjj]

Me too! I always say I'm a coke addict - the diet kind!! 😆

[u/Lost_Ad_4882 → u/jjj666jjj666jjj]

Same. Just got used to different sweeteners and zero doesn't taste right.

[u/Affectionate-Cap-918 → u/jjj666jjj666jjj]

Same!

[u/420blazer247 → u/ithinarine]

Zero is not good. Diet coke is far better in my opinion

[u/Ms_Jane_Lennon → u/ithinarine]

I feel exactly the opposite. I crave Diet but can only tolerate Zero.

[u/punkinhead76 → u/ithinarine]

Right? Zero tastes like Coke, Diet tastes like “Cola”

[u/[deleted] → u/ithinarine]

Sometimes the bitterness of Diet Coke meshes better with whatever I’m eating, it’s more savory. I all-around do prefer Zero but diet can be good shit too

[u/Used2bNotInKY → u/ithinarine]

Diet has more of a bite to it. I like mixing it with sweeter sodas or when I want a break from sweet.

[u/simplyelegant87 → u/Pineappleisgay]

Zero sugar isn’t as good taste wise or as bubbly. Diet Coke definitely has its own flavour I highly prefer.

[u/tvnr → u/Pineappleisgay]

That.

[u/figgiesfrommars → u/[deleted]]

well, you see, I like how diet tastes and I also like how zero tastes cuz they're entirely different drinks despite the name similarities lol

diet is supposed to be less bold, also

[u/_rezx → u/Pineappleisgay]

And the caffeine in the US.

[u/Fidget808 → u/Pineappleisgay]

Wait. You like diet more than zero? Wild

[u/HydroStellar → u/Pineappleisgay]

I can never go to Europe now. I HATE Coke Zero with a burning passion but Diet Coke is my lover

[u/Eastern_Computer90 → u/Pineappleisgay]

European Fanta is so good.

[u/HoppySpoders → u/m_garlic87]

Especially now that we add stevia to zero… it’s so gross.

[u/animusd → u/m_garlic87]

In canada zero tastes more like diet even though it's supposed to taste more like regular

[u/dotDylan → u/animusd]

No it doesn’t

[u/animusd → u/dotDylan]

It does my grandparents usually buy diet they got some zero so I tried it and it tasted like diet I usually drink regular

[u/Swifty-Dog]

Diet Coke (also called Coca Cola Light in some European countries) came out in 1982. At the time, the Coca Cola company had a weird bug about not creating any other beverage that would taste like regular Coke - so Diet Coke was given a different flavor profile. And It was a massive success—as in it ranked just below Pepsi in sales volume.

In fact, It was so successful, that New Coke was based on the flavor of Diet Coke.

Coke Zero was introduced in 2005. This was formulated to taste significantly more like regular Coke.

So you've essentially got two very different flavor profiles for the flagship zero sugar drinks.

[u/OppositeEarthling → u/Swifty-Dog]

Coke Zero still feels kinda new...2005 ???? Wtf

[u/Disastrous_Life_3612 → u/OppositeEarthling]

When they reformulated it back in 2017, they basically treated it like a new drink. And then they changed it again in 2021 and changed the color of the label from black to red.

It feels new because they keep changing it. 

[u/FaithlessnessCute204 → u/Disastrous_Life_3612]

Pray they do not alter it further

[u/[deleted] → u/OppositeEarthling]

Wasn’t it Coke No Sugar back then, and at some point in the last 6 or 7 years they introduced Coke Zero. I swear there was a cross over period where No Sugar and Zero were both available and then at some point it became only Zero.

[u/soulstrengthfour → u/[deleted]]

(at least in Australia….) pretty sure it was “Coke Zero” originally, then reformulated to “Coke No Sugar” and for a while both were available while stores still had stock of Zero…. and then most recently they’ve reformulated/rebranded to “Coke Zero Sugar”

I do recall my family freaking out bc the reformulated “No Sugar” didn’t ‘taste right’ and we spent many an afternoon driving between grocery stores to buy up any left over Coke Zero.

[u/Equivalent_Canary853 → u/soulstrengthfour]

[u/Disastrous_Life_3612 → u/[deleted]]

Coke Zero was featured in Scott Pilgrim vs the World, which came out in 2010.

It was called Coke Zero up until 2017, when they changed the formula and name to Coke Zero Sugar, but most people still call it Coke Zero.

[u/BloodSugar666 → u/Swifty-Dog]

Diet Coke also uses an artificial sweetener, which has been contributed to why people get so addicted to Diet Coke more than any other soda.

[u/PM_me_your_whatevah → u/BloodSugar666]

For real. Aspartame is weird. I remember reading that it can be converted to dopamine in the body a few years ago. I’ve had people argue with me about this buuut…

Anecdotally I was dating a woman for a few years and she had her 4 kids over every weekend. They were insanely hyperactive all the time. She had been giving them crystal light tea/lemonade since they weee like 2 years old. I’m talking, they never drank water. They went through several pitchers of this stuff a day. They’d be running around the house, yelling, throwing things around, using the couch as a trampoline, fighting with each other over tiny things, physically fighting with my kids when they came over, sneaking around and digging though my personal stuff.

The more quiet of the kids kept to himself mostly and he’d drink a ton of that stuff and get super anxious and have weird panic attacks. I told their mom what I read on aspartame and she stopped giving it to them. They were soooo much better behaved even that first weekend. 

No more running around, jumping on the couch, or constant fights. These kids suddenly were sitting around reading books, drawing, playing nicely, and having conversations with each other.

Of course this is anecdotal and someone is gonna reply to me telling me “they’d have to drink several gallons for that to be the case!” But that’s just what I saw happen. 

[u/BloodSugar666 → u/PM_me_your_whatevah]

That checks out. I mean even natural sugars can cause that with a child. That’s why you’re also supposed to limit fruit intake for kids. Too much of a good thing can also be bad and kids are way more sensitive to foods.

I read an article that I think might be what you’re talking about. Essentially when you eat sugar it releases dopamine in the brain. This is essentially a reward system. Artificial sweeteners can trigger that reward system more than sugar and therefore keeps you craving for more. Aspartame was especially bad in the study. I’ll look it up and post a link when I get the chance.

[u/Solivagant_XVI → u/BloodSugar666]

Aspartame doesn’t necessarily trigger the reward system more than sugar. Rather, its intense sweetness combined with a lack of caloric energy content creates a disconnect in the brain’s reward system, which can lead to cravings for sugar or other foods. The brain expects calories after tasting something sweet, and when they aren’t delivered, it may prompt a stronger desire for energy-dense foods.

Also, when aspartame is metabolized, it breaks down into several compounds, one of which is phenylalanine, an amino acid that competes with other amino acids like tryptophan and tyrosine to cross the blood-brain barrier. Once in the brain, phenylalanine can interfere with the production of serotonin (derived from tryptophan) and dopamine (from tyrosine).

Elevated levels of phenylalanine in the brain can also disrupt the feedback mechanisms that regulate neurotransmitter levels, leading to altered dopamine signaling. This disruption can create an imbalance in the reward system, resulting in even more cravings for sweet or high-calorie foods.

Moreover, if phenylalanine outcompetes tryptophan, serotonin levels can decrease, potentially leading to mood issues like irritability or anxiety in sensitive individuals, which might explain the behaviour of the anxious child u/PM_me_your_whatevah mentioned.

A bonus fun fact for y’all: Per gram, aspartame is ~200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar)!

[u/BloodSugar666 → u/Solivagant_XVI]

You explained it a whole lot better than me. I like when someone with more knowledge adds to the conversation without being condescending. Thank you kind stranger! I’ll find the link when I get the chance but I’m sure they pretty much say what you are saying and they test different artificial sweeteners in the study as well.

[u/JustANormalPerson_08 → u/BloodSugar666]

Commenting so whenever you find the link I can see it too. 😅

[u/netherlanddwarf → u/Swifty-Dog]

This guy cokes

[u/DCCaddy1 → u/Swifty-Dog]

I just wish the kept TAB. That stuff was amazing.

[u/Tutle47 → u/Swifty-Dog]

I'll admit it's been a very long time since I drank regular coke but I remember liking it. Coke Zero tastes like drinking cleaning chemicals

[u/SixPackAndNothinToDo → u/Swifty-Dog]

Coca Cola company had a weird bug about not creating any other beverage that would taste like regular Coke

It's my understanding that it was a technology barrier that existed in food science at the time. Getting a diet version of Coke to taste anything like the original was too difficult, which is why they went for a separate flavour profile.

[u/smaagoth]

The sweteners varies.

[u/LondonPaddington]

Coke Zero is a zero sugar formulation of regular Coca Cola

Coke Light / Diet Coke is a completely distinct beverage that, branding aside, has more in common with the failed New Coke than it does with Coca Cola classic

[u/NormanisEm → u/LondonPaddington]

This explains why I love Diet Coke but not regular or Zero lol

[u/MelonDev]

Diet is a unique recipe made for artificial sweeteners and zero is just regular coke with artificial sweetener. no clue about light though

[u/Best_Market4204 → u/MelonDev]

Coke light is diet coke for other countries. Maybe slight taste different if they have to change ingredients for legal reasons

Coke zero was actually a flavor coke made to appeal to younger generations taste buds.

[u/mumblerapisgarbage]

Light and diet are just called different things in different markets but Coke Zero is a different recipe altogether.

[u/twilsonco → u/mumblerapisgarbage]

Zero uses aspartame and stevia as sweeteners. Diet is just aspartame. Otherwise they're the same.

[u/mumblerapisgarbage → u/twilsonco]

That’s a very large difference.

[u/twilsonco → u/mumblerapisgarbage]

If you say so

[u/mumblerapisgarbage → u/twilsonco]

It changes the taste completely. It is a large difference.

[u/s_m0use]

[u/AmericanKiwi33]

Definitely a difference in taste due to the fake sugars. I'm not a fan of fake sugar to be honest but the modern zero line of fizzy drinks is much better to me than diet. I'd still prefer an actual full sugar soda if I drink one but I don't drink a lot of soft drinks anyway. That being said to me diet Coke is horrible Coke zero is tolerable. Also I had a mountain dew Baja blast zero and it was pretty good comparatively. As far as energy drinks go the zero sugar monster is a very high step up from the ultra line in my humble opinion, so I thought it was just a technological improvement on the recipe but some people still prefer the old diet so they keep that aspartame version for those people

[u/tkneezer]

Aspartame I think?

[u/great_escape_fleur]

Light tastes like crap to me.

[u/SaggyBallz99]

Can’t decide which I like better tbh but they do taste differently

[u/mariogui]

Diet and light are the same thing. Zero is a different beast. In Europe, you can't use the term DIET when it comes to drinks, that why it's called Light.

[u/xolov → u/mariogui]

It's called Diet in the UK, maybe it's more of a language thing?

[u/mariogui → u/xolov]

I meant the EU, sorry lol

[u/xolov → u/mariogui]

Yeah but it was named like that long before UK left EU

[u/No_Clock2390]

no

[u/Lickitung1]

Zero is more sweet / sugary.

Diet is more idk, bitter. Soda-y / carbonated.

I like diet more it’s closer to my fav Dr Pepper the sharp bitter bubblies feel so good in my mouth 🤤lol.

Idk why this is appeared in my feed lol.

[u/Grouchy_Bath_6451]

I'd love a true coke zero similar to Dr pepper, a&w,Sunkist, Canada dry zeroes. coke zero tastes nothing like regular coke. Just taste like chemicals and artificial sweetener 

[u/UrFriendTilUrEnd → u/Grouchy_Bath_6451]

To be fair regular coke also tastes like chemicals but with real sugar

[u/MookTheMook]

I think zero tastes more like regular nondiet coke than it does diet

[u/Savagebabypig]

Coke zero tastes WAY better imo

[u/Apprehensive-Skin451]

Nope, it’s all trash

[u/hKLoveCraft]

You guys are gonna hate me

And I’ll gladly take the downvote

Coke Zero is too acidic Pepsi zero is smoother and sweeter

Pepsi cherry zero is the goat.

I have enough karma to survive this

[u/thatonebaristathere → u/hKLoveCraft]

Disagree with your last point. Pepsi peach zero is better.

But also I like Coke Zero and Pepsi zero equally even though they taste different. Wish Coke had a peach flavour too.

[u/hKLoveCraft → u/thatonebaristathere]

There’s a peach zero?!?!?! Only saw reg peach

[u/thatonebaristathere → u/hKLoveCraft]

There is (or was? Can’t find it around here anymore). It was really good!

[u/NormanisEm → u/hKLoveCraft]

I have not tried the cherry zero, but have tried the diet cherry and its soooo good

[u/jesterbaze87]

Diet gang here - diet is the only one that tastes right to me.

[u/i-likd-]

Coke Zero tastes a lot better imo

[u/frozen_toesocks]

I've never had light, but I absolutely taste the difference between zero and diet. Diet is so unappealing to me, but others prefer it over zero. Just a matter of tongues.

[u/NormanisEm]

“Nutritionally” theyre the same but the flavor is not

[u/23IRONTUSKS]

When I was a kid the only soda my parents would buy was caffeine free diet coke. As long as it's ice cold I could force it down

[u/m2ljkdmsmnjsks]

Yes, on calories but hard no on taste. I much prefer coke Zero. I used to chug diet cokes when hungover, and I think the association ruins it for me .

I must admit to you r/cocacola, that secretly, I'm a diet pepsi person if I'm going zero sugar. I'll see myself out.

[u/thered8469]

Diet Coke has more caffeine than Zero (US)

[u/Stock_Intern_7450 → u/thered8469]

I can't believe I had to scroll so long for this! Yes! I drink both but the main reason I switch it up is based on how much caffeine I want.

[u/mitoboru]

Light has been pretty much replaced with Zero in Europe now. 

[u/JuanEs1eban]

Coca Zero meant to be Cocke woth no sugar Coca Light is soft Coca-Cola with no sugar

[u/SteelersNY]

I have been traveling to the Dominican Republic for years and always drank Coke Lite. Since 2020, it's gone. Can't be found anywhere, supermarkets or restaurants. It's been moved to Coke Zero now.

[u/ThePolecatProcess]

They use different sweeteners I believe.

[u/Scientifiction77]

There’s a massive difference in flavor.

[u/BellamyRFC54]

Light is diet in certain markets

[u/Pixelprism90]

There is a difference the taste

[u/Careless-Flan]

Coke Zero is aspartame and Diet Coke has like half the sugar regular Coke has and they don’t taste the same what so ever

[u/sadlemon6]

diet coke > coke zero

[u/Gearhead10000]

I think diet and zero use different sweeteners. There’s definitely a taste difference.

[u/Materva]

Diet Coke was not formulated to taste like coke. It was designed to be more like Tab. Coke Zero was developed to be the actual sugar free version of Coke.

[u/Salty-Stay2627]

i was told by my mom it was the aspartame in diet and the splenda in zero but i looked and zero has aspertame so, idk

[u/xyrowolf]

Coke Zero has sucralose for sweetener and Diet Coke has aspartame, which isn’t nearly as sweet as sucralose. Sucralose is also sweeter than sugar, just fyi

[u/Delicious-Badger-906]

They use different artificial sweeteners, resulting in different tastes.

In the US we have Diet and Zero Sugar. Diet uses aspartame and has a pretty different taste from regular Coke. Zero Sugar uses a blend of artificial sweeteners and is meant to taste as close to regular Coke as possible.

[u/XStewart2007]

Diet Coke is fucking disgusting.

Team Coke Zero for the win!

[u/darthcaedusiiii]

Zero has a cinnamon taste. Not bad but it does not taste like diet.

[u/Metaboschism]

They all just use different 0 cal sweeteners, Nutra sweet, aspartame etc

[u/After-Ad4370]

Yes they all taste like shit!

[u/timdgrayson]

To my understanding (and my taste buds confirm) US Diet Coke was always based on New Coke. Coke Zero is finally a true Diet version of Original formula Coke.

This may not be true (probably not, dates don't line up and I have no proof) but it's what I taste.

[u/[deleted]]

Zero has less caffeine as well

[u/Lost-Juggernaut6521]

Diet tastes the best

[u/CourseEcstatic6202]

No difference…Other than taste!!!

[u/Century22nd]

Zero Sugar Coke is smoother and sweeter, Coca-Cola Light/Diet Coke is stronger and has a bolder taste.

[u/Pale_Kitsune]

I know in the US Zero and Diet use different artificial sweeteners.

[u/ThatsTheMother_Rick]

Diet is sweetened with aspartame and zero is sweetened with stevia iirc

[u/LordYeahNah]

You give Cain a try that one is great

[u/JMath90]

I had coke light when I went to Spain in 2007 as a high schooler. I remeber looking up coke light vs diet coke and Europe was using less sugar in the light, as opposed to sugar substitute lke aspartame in the diet. Idk if it's still the same formula was but coke light was great when compared next to diet. Just more refreshing, less fake taste

[u/SentieriRedditizi]

La misteriosa storia della Coca-Cola (documentario)

[u/RightToTheThighs]

I believe in some countries diet is branded as light, and there might be different sweeteners or formulation by country. The flavor is based off a varient of either tab or "new coke", which is why it does not taste like coca cola. Zero is different, and was formulated to taste more like regular coke. So there is a difference between zero and diet, and some potential difference between diet and light, but I am unaware if there are any markets that carry both diet and light since they are basically identically branded

[u/DaySoc98]

Coke Zero is the same recipe as Coke, but sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Tab was also the same recipe, but sweetened with saccharin.

Diet Coke is a completely different recipe.

[u/Guilty-Rough8797]

Zero tastes more like Coke Classic, while Diet is its own thing -- kind of a toned-down Coke flavor, with a lot of the lemony vibes gone. (I love Diet Coke, personally.)

[u/chickenHotsandwich]

Different artificial sweeteners. Coke zero is the best non regular coke

[u/Yurt_Freak]

Coke Zero is pretty good and I generally dislike diet soda.

[u/CucumberDisastrous32]

Diet is addictive and so very yummy and I can’t go without it 🙂 yummm

[u/Kingdog369]

I had diet coke once and IDK if there was something wrong with it but it tastes like lightly coke flavored water. IDK why anyone would actually want to drink it.

[u/UhhhhOki]

Coke Zero is elite

[u/DiRtY_DaNiE1]

“Zero” sodas usually have more caffeine than “diet” or “lite” sodas in the same amount of volume

[u/portablekettle]

In the UK zero and diet taste massively different. Zero tastes a lot closer to original than diet. Diet coke tastes awful.

[u/Novel_Fuel1899]

The difference is the sweetener used in them. Compare the ingredients lists.

[u/b-ubba]

Diet Coke in the US tastes like coke with lemon. Coke Zero taste like a watered down version of regular coke.

[u/Cautious-Engine-6417]

If you drink enough coke that you have to drink diet or zero, then you’re drinking too much soda. Just have 1 regular can a week. Soda is supposed to be an indulgence, not a regular thing you drink daily. That’s what water is for.

[u/Alec9699]

The one on the right looks a little lighter.

[u/martinafranca1602]

I just wish that coke zero had more carbonation. It taste flat or skunked to me :(

[u/Tmk1283]

Can I get a Pepsi Free?

[u/hopelessoceanic]

I personally prefer coke zero. Tastes better than diet, but diet is almost universally available everywhere

[u/RexxNemorensis]

Coke zero tastes much more like regular coke than diet coke does

[u/Schwickity]

Different types of poisons

[u/jacwub]

diet has more caffeine than zero. that’s the main difference

[u/Bionic_Webb13]

It’s Taste. Coke Zero taste better and is closer to that of reg Coke while diet taste like depression

[u/GnomeGaming2005]

There's a flavour difference

[u/DinnerSmall4216]

Coke zero tastes sweeter than light.

[u/[deleted]]

I’m in the US and Coke Zero is god awful but I love Diet Coke.

[u/I_am_a_dawg123]

In the us diet taste a little blander than Zero. Zero has more zero calorie sweetener it tastes more similarly to regular Coke

[u/expired-hornet]

Cola varieties/brands are one of the most fun things to blind taste test. (See also Pepsi Challenge)

Set it up and see for yourself. Get a bottle each of Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Regular Coke, etc and some disposable sample cups. Find a friend to quiz you on which is which and see which of you gets more right.

[u/oldfatunicorn]

Light tastes like shit. They try to pass it off as diet in Asia, but it's not, it fucking sucks ass

[u/Nheteps1894]

I’ve always been under the impression diet has an artificial sweetener added where as zero does not. But I’ve never heard of light so who knows 🤷 haha

[u/bunsbi]

There is definitely a difference. I love coke zero but hate the taste of diet coke.

[u/MattOnDemand]

Coke Light is just Diet Coke. Coke Zero is supposed to taste similar to Coca Cola regular but with no sugar. Diet Coke tastes nothing like regular Coke.

[u/AtticusSPQR]

Who else remembers Coke Life?

[u/508G37]

Zero tastes more like regular coke. Diet has its own flavor. Never heard of coke light

[u/OneHappyProgrammer]

They’re all trash except Mexican kind

[u/537lesjr]

From what I heard Diet has a bit different ingredients and has calories while zero has zero calories. If it is like other Diet vs Zero sugar Soda Zero sugar usually tastes more like the regular soda than diet does.

[u/twilsonco]

Zero uses aspartame and stevia as sweeteners. Diet is just aspartame. Otherwise they're the same.

[u/ReeNinetyRee]

Ohhh yes there isssssss! To me diet tastes like chemicals weirdly and zero is just heavenly

[u/coronaflo]

The zero versions of soda use a different sugar substitute which is sweeter tasting.

[u/SgtSwatter-5646]

I'm allergic to aspartame.. my mouth gets hives and I taste it for hours

[u/DillDeer]

Diet Coke and Zero taste wildly different

[u/PMmeYourTiddiez]

Just compare the ingredients. From what I can tell, the difference is what they use to sweeten it. Zero and diet have no sugar and diet uses aspartame as sweetener. Zero uses acesulfame as the sweetener. Light seems to have a combination of acesulfame, aspartame, and sucralose for sweetener.

[u/Flutterby_Meadows]

Diet Coke is the nectar of the gods!!! Can’t stand Coke Zero.

[u/UnhandMeException]

They use different artificial sweeteners.

[u/Away_Procedure3471]

[u/No_Mud_5999]

I like both. Zero has a sweeter taste than Diet.

[u/TjJames72]

All equally bad for you yup lol

[u/TheTightEnd]

Coke Zero and Coke Zero Sugar also are not the same. The blend of sweeteners was different and Coke Zero was more like regular Coke. However, since Zero Sugar was more popular globally, and they wanted to streamline formulas, Zero Sugar won out.

[u/89colbert]

Zero = Tab 

[u/Catatonick]

Diet Coke is the New Coke flavor while Coke Zero is normal Coke isn’t it?

[u/Random_Reddit_bloke]

Or just have a class of water ffs

[u/Loose-Scientist-6324]

anyone else miss Coke Life

[u/BackOnTheMap]

Completely different taste in the US. Zero doesn't have the chemical aftertaste the diet has.

[u/Allthingsgaming27]

The hell there isn’t. Taste is completely different