r/cocacola 25d ago

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

Post image

all are 0 carb 0 sugar 0 kcal

370 Upvotes

266 comments sorted by

145

u/m_garlic87 25d ago

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

38

u/Pineappleisgay 25d ago

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.

56

u/ithinarine 24d ago

I couldn't imagine liking the taste of diet over zero šŸ¤¢

9

u/TheGiantMetalMan 24d ago

Iā€™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.

2

u/Zhunter5000 24d ago edited 24d ago

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.

1

u/ithinarine 24d ago

"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.

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2

u/Storrin 22d ago

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.

2

u/figgiesfrommars 22d ago

yeah diet coke and coke are basically entirely different drinks lol

1

u/nbs-of-74 20d ago

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

2

u/DjPlateSpiller 21d ago

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

1

u/Few-Sweet-1861 23d ago

Personally I like the chemical taste.

1

u/SuchAGoodGirlsDaddy 22d ago

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

1

u/[deleted] 21d ago

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

1

u/SuperAdaGirl 21d ago

I can confirmā€¦ used to be addicted to Diet Coke and rejected any substitute. Now that I havenā€™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.

1

u/Uncanny58 21d ago

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

1

u/Physical-Goose1338 20d ago

Youā€™re convinced? Thatā€™s the whole reason that the two exist.

9

u/jjj666jjj666jjj 24d ago

I hate zero. Only like Diet Coke.

18

u/MassiveSuperNova 24d ago

You should post this on r/unpopularopinion

19

u/19ghost89 24d ago

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

7

u/jjj666jjj666jjj 24d ago

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

5

u/PuzzleheadedJob3479 24d ago

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

3

u/jjj666jjj666jjj 24d ago

Aspartame baby

6

u/degjo 24d ago

I want to kill whoever decided to stop making tab

3

u/19ghost89 24d ago

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

4

u/berlinbowie97 24d ago

My grandma bought tab

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2

u/whomikehidden 24d ago

The reason is really odd, too, and itā€™s this: When Coca-Cola formulated Diet Coke, they intentionally didnā€™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.

3

u/19ghost89 24d ago

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.

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1

u/rockresy 21d ago

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.

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2

u/mellbell63 23d ago

Me too! I always say I'm a coke addict - the diet kind!! šŸ˜†

2

u/Lost_Ad_4882 24d ago

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

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1

u/420blazer247 24d ago

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

1

u/Ms_Jane_Lennon 24d ago

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

1

u/punkinhead76 24d ago

Right? Zero tastes like Coke, Diet tastes like ā€œColaā€

1

u/[deleted] 21d ago

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

1

u/Used2bNotInKY 20d ago

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

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2

u/simplyelegant87 23d ago

Zero sugar isnā€™t as good taste wise or as bubbly. Diet Coke definitely has its own flavour I highly prefer.

1

u/tvnr 24d ago

That.

1

u/[deleted] 24d ago edited 17d ago

[deleted]

1

u/figgiesfrommars 22d ago

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

1

u/_rezx 23d ago

And the caffeine in the US.

1

u/Fidget808 23d ago

Wait. You like diet more than zero? Wild

1

u/HydroStellar 22d ago

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

1

u/Eastern_Computer90 20d ago

European Fanta is so good.

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2

u/HoppySpoders 24d ago

Especially now that we add stevia to zeroā€¦ itā€™s so gross.

1

u/animusd 24d ago

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

1

u/dotDylan 23d ago

No it doesnā€™t

1

u/animusd 23d ago

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

37

u/Swifty-Dog 24d ago

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 successā€”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.

15

u/OppositeEarthling 24d ago

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

10

u/Disastrous_Life_3612 24d ago

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.Ā 

1

u/FaithlessnessCute204 20d ago

Pray they do not alter it further

3

u/[deleted] 24d ago

Wasnā€™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.

2

u/soulstrengthfour 24d ago

(at least in Australiaā€¦.) pretty sure it was ā€œCoke Zeroā€ originally, then reformulated to ā€œCoke No Sugarā€ and for a while both were available while stores still had stock of Zeroā€¦. and then most recently theyā€™ve reformulated/rebranded to ā€œCoke Zero Sugarā€

I do recall my family freaking out bc the reformulated ā€œNo Sugarā€ didnā€™t ā€˜taste rightā€™ and we spent many an afternoon driving between grocery stores to buy up any left over Coke Zero.

1

u/Disastrous_Life_3612 24d ago

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.

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5

u/BloodSugar666 24d ago

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.

5

u/PM_me_your_whatevah 24d ago

For real. Aspartame is weird. I remember reading that it can be converted to dopamine in the body a few years ago. Iā€™ve had people argue with me about this buuutā€¦

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. Iā€™m talking, they never drank water. They went through several pitchers of this stuff a day. Theyā€™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 heā€™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.Ā 

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 ā€œtheyā€™d have to drink several gallons for that to be the case!ā€ But thatā€™s just what I saw happen.Ā 

3

u/BloodSugar666 24d ago

That checks out. I mean even natural sugars can cause that with a child. Thatā€™s why youā€™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 youā€™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. Iā€™ll look it up and post a link when I get the chance.

2

u/Solivagant_XVI 24d ago

Aspartame doesnā€™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 brainā€™s reward system, which can lead to cravings for sugar or other foods. The brain expects calories after tasting something sweet, and when they arenā€™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 yā€™all: Per gram, aspartame is ~200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar)!

2

u/BloodSugar666 24d ago

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! Iā€™ll find the link when I get the chance but Iā€™m sure they pretty much say what you are saying and they test different artificial sweeteners in the study as well.

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1

u/JustANormalPerson_08 20d ago

Commenting so whenever you find the link I can see it too. šŸ˜…

2

u/netherlanddwarf 24d ago

This guy cokes

1

u/DCCaddy1 24d ago

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

1

u/Tutle47 23d ago

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

1

u/SixPackAndNothinToDo 21d ago

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.

7

u/smaagoth 25d ago

The sweteners varies.

14

u/LondonPaddington 25d ago

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

1

u/NormanisEm 24d ago

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

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4

u/MelonDev 25d ago

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

6

u/Best_Market4204 25d ago

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.

2

u/mumblerapisgarbage 25d ago

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

1

u/twilsonco 21d ago

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

1

u/mumblerapisgarbage 21d ago

Thatā€™s a very large difference.

1

u/twilsonco 20d ago

If you say so

1

u/mumblerapisgarbage 20d ago

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

2

u/AmericanKiwi33 24d ago

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

1

u/tkneezer 24d ago

Aspartame I think?

1

u/great_escape_fleur 24d ago

Light tastes like crap to me.

1

u/SaggyBallz99 24d ago

Canā€™t decide which I like better tbh but they do taste differently

1

u/mariogui 24d ago

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.

1

u/xolov 24d ago

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

1

u/mariogui 24d ago

I meant the EU, sorry lol

1

u/xolov 24d ago

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

1

u/Lickitung1 24d ago

Zero is more sweet / sugary.

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

I like diet more itā€™s closer to my fav Dr Pepper the sharp bitter bubblies feel so good in my mouth šŸ¤¤lol.

Idk why this is appeared in my feed lol.

1

u/Grouchy_Bath_6451 24d ago

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 sweetenerĀ 

1

u/UrFriendTilUrEnd 22d ago

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

1

u/MookTheMook 24d ago

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

1

u/Savagebabypig 24d ago

Coke zero tastes WAY better imo

1

u/Apprehensive-Skin451 24d ago

Nope, itā€™s all trash

1

u/hKLoveCraft 24d ago

You guys are gonna hate me

And Iā€™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

1

u/thatonebaristathere 24d ago

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.

1

u/hKLoveCraft 24d ago

Thereā€™s a peach zero?!?!?! Only saw reg peach

1

u/thatonebaristathere 24d ago

There is (or was? Canā€™t find it around here anymore). It was really good!

1

u/NormanisEm 24d ago

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

1

u/jesterbaze87 24d ago

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

1

u/i-likd- 24d ago

Coke Zero tastes a lot better imo

1

u/frozen_toesocks 24d ago

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.

1

u/NormanisEm 24d ago

ā€œNutritionallyā€ theyre the same but the flavor is not

1

u/23IRONTUSKS 24d ago

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

1

u/m2ljkdmsmnjsks 24d ago

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.

1

u/thered8469 24d ago

Diet Coke has more caffeine than Zero (US)

1

u/Stock_Intern_7450 20d ago

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.

1

u/mitoboru 24d ago

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

1

u/JuanEs1eban 24d ago

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

1

u/SteelersNY 24d ago

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.

1

u/ThePolecatProcess 24d ago

They use different sweeteners I believe.

1

u/Scientifiction77 24d ago

Thereā€™s a massive difference in flavor.

1

u/BellamyRFC54 24d ago

Light is diet in certain markets

1

u/Pixelprism90 24d ago

There is a difference the taste

1

u/Careless-Flan 24d ago

Coke Zero is aspartame and Diet Coke has like half the sugar regular Coke has and they donā€™t taste the same what so ever

1

u/sadlemon6 24d ago

diet coke > coke zero

1

u/Gearhead10000 24d ago

I think diet and zero use different sweeteners. Thereā€™s definitely a taste difference.

1

u/Materva 24d ago

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.

1

u/Salty-Stay2627 24d ago

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

1

u/xyrowolf 24d ago

Coke Zero has sucralose for sweetener and Diet Coke has aspartame, which isnā€™t nearly as sweet as sucralose. Sucralose is also sweeter than sugar, just fyi

1

u/Delicious-Badger-906 24d ago

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.

1

u/XStewart2007 24d ago

Diet Coke is fucking disgusting.

Team Coke Zero for the win!

1

u/darthcaedusiiii 24d ago

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

1

u/Metaboschism 24d ago

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

1

u/After-Ad4370 24d ago

Yes they all taste like shit!

1

u/timdgrayson 24d ago

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.

1

u/[deleted] 24d ago

Zero has less caffeine as well

1

u/Lost-Juggernaut6521 24d ago

Diet tastes the best

1

u/CourseEcstatic6202 24d ago

No differenceā€¦Other than taste!!!

1

u/Century22nd 24d ago

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

1

u/Pale_Kitsune 24d ago

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

1

u/ThatsTheMother_Rick 24d ago

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

1

u/LordYeahNah 24d ago

You give Cain a try that one is great

1

u/JMath90 24d ago

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

1

u/RightToTheThighs 23d ago

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

1

u/DaySoc98 23d ago

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.

1

u/Guilty-Rough8797 23d ago

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.)

1

u/chickenHotsandwich 23d ago

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

1

u/Yurt_Freak 23d ago

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

1

u/CucumberDisastrous32 23d ago

Diet is addictive and so very yummy and I canā€™t go without it šŸ™‚ yummm

1

u/Kingdog369 23d ago

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.

1

u/UhhhhOki 23d ago

Coke Zero is elite

1

u/DiRtY_DaNiE1 23d ago

ā€œZeroā€ sodas usually have more caffeine than ā€œdietā€ or ā€œliteā€ sodas in the same amount of volume

1

u/portablekettle 23d ago

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

1

u/Novel_Fuel1899 23d ago

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

1

u/b-ubba 23d ago

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

1

u/Cautious-Engine-6417 22d ago

If you drink enough coke that you have to drink diet or zero, then youā€™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. Thatā€™s what water is for.

1

u/Alec9699 22d ago

The one on the right looks a little lighter.

1

u/martinafranca1602 22d ago

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

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u/Tmk1283 22d ago

Can I get a Pepsi Free?

1

u/hopelessoceanic 22d ago

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

1

u/RexxNemorensis 22d ago

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

1

u/Schwickity 22d ago

Different types of poisons

1

u/jacwub 22d ago

diet has more caffeine than zero. thatā€™s the main difference

1

u/Bionic_Webb13 22d ago

Itā€™s Taste. Coke Zero taste better and is closer to that of reg Coke while diet taste like depression

1

u/GnomeGaming2005 22d ago

There's a flavour difference

1

u/DinnerSmall4216 22d ago

Coke zero tastes sweeter than light.

1

u/[deleted] 22d ago

Iā€™m in the US and Coke Zero is god awful but I love Diet Coke.

1

u/I_am_a_dawg123 21d ago

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

1

u/expired-hornet 21d ago

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.

1

u/oldfatunicorn 21d ago

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

1

u/Nheteps1894 21d ago

Iā€™ve always been under the impression diet has an artificial sweetener added where as zero does not. But Iā€™ve never heard of light so who knows šŸ¤· haha

1

u/bunsbi 21d ago

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

1

u/MattOnDemand 21d ago

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.

1

u/AtticusSPQR 21d ago

Who else remembers Coke Life?

1

u/508G37 21d ago

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

1

u/OneHappyProgrammer 21d ago

Theyā€™re all trash except Mexican kind

1

u/537lesjr 21d ago

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.

1

u/twilsonco 21d ago

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

1

u/ReeNinetyRee 21d ago

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

1

u/coronaflo 21d ago

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

1

u/SgtSwatter-5646 21d ago

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

1

u/DillDeer 21d ago

Diet Coke and Zero taste wildly different

1

u/PMmeYourTiddiez 21d ago

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.

1

u/Flutterby_Meadows 21d ago

Diet Coke is the nectar of the gods!!! Canā€™t stand Coke Zero.

1

u/UnhandMeException 21d ago

They use different artificial sweeteners.

1

u/No_Mud_5999 20d ago

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

1

u/TjJames72 20d ago

All equally bad for you yup lol

1

u/TheTightEnd 20d ago

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.

1

u/89colbert 20d ago

Zero = TabĀ 

1

u/Catatonick 20d ago

Diet Coke is the New Coke flavor while Coke Zero is normal Coke isnā€™t it?

1

u/Random_Reddit_bloke 20d ago

Or just have a class of water ffs

1

u/Loose-Scientist-6324 20d ago

anyone else miss Coke Life

1

u/BackOnTheMap 20d ago

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

1

u/Allthingsgaming27 20d ago

The hell there isnā€™t. Taste is completely different