I vaguely remember in the past there was suggestions in advertising that Diet Coke was like regular Coke. By naming it the same thing, it does suggest an affinity, particularly on the dimension of taste. I am probably wrong, but this can be my own "consumer" expectation, giving the naming.
Coke Zero or the local variant still doesn't taste like Coke, but bitter fizzy water, to me :)
No, it doesn't taste the same. It's different from Diet Coke because Diet Coke has it's own unique formulation but Coke Zero 100% has that artificial sweetener taste.
You're implying that Diet Coke is not meant to have a distinct (aspartame) taste. Coke Zero is the one meant to be an imitation, and it is much closer.
Yes, I prefer it. Coke Zero does taste closer to Coke but in an "uncanny valley" sort of way. I drink Diet Coke often, I like it. It isn't really supposed to taste like Coke.
I developed a taste for Diet Coke some years ago when I tried to cut back a bit on sugar. Being based on a different drink would certainly make sense given the large flavor difference! Funnily enough it was just a few weeks ago that I justified getting a Diet Coke to a friend by saying that I get Coke Zero when I'm in the mood for Coke and I get Diet Coke when I'm in the mood for Diet Coke.
I make no claims that they taste the same, you can absolutely tell them apart. Honestly, I think you could tell them apart texturally if not from flavor. Sugar-free sodas are just thinner.
You can definitely tell them apart. Diet Coke though tastes nothing like Coke. Coke Zero tastes like a close approximation of Coke.
Well yes they leveraged the enormous brand recognition of Coca-Cola, tho it took them 20 years to figure out they were not diluting it as the product line was previously branded as Tab [1].
The first ever ad, AFAICT, for Diet Coke introduces it as "you're gonna drink it just for the taste of it", implying it's different than Coca-Cola [2].
Also, notice how it's branded as "Diet Coke" (initially "diet Coke"), not "Diet Coca-Cola", and has a distinct packaging. Whereas the zero variant is branded as "Coca-Cola Zero", with the same packaging but inverted colors or black font.
But they all taste like delicious over-sweetened fizzy drinks to me :)
Yes, Coke does seem to have gone way out of their way to make Diet Coke and Coke Zero taste very distinct.
I miss Diet Pepsi (can't get it in Norway) - Pepsi Max is ok, but it's not the same. Since work ditched Pepsi I've cut way back on the amount of soda I drink. I suppose that may be a good thing, but I still miss the taste.
The last time that I tried, (a few years ago) I thought that Coke Zero as well tastes like ... just a a better Diet Coke :) The same type of bitter under-taste, just a bit less of it.
The last time I tried Coke Zero, it tasted like Diet RC. I didn't like it at all.
Diet Coke has huge differences in flavor between sources and packaging options. It's universally bad out of a can or bottle, and the stuff from soda fountains varies by restaurant.
I agree. In my experience all the Coke Diet/Zero/etc varieties has this really distinctive taste and the aftertaste is also quite different from Classic. My husband is a fan of Zero and also claims it tastes the same. He has occassionally poured Zero into a glass for me thinking I couldn't tell the difference. Every single time I take one sip and that's all I need to identify it. YMMV.
I don't find that weird - if I'm going to be drinking a coke (of whatever flavor), caffeine-free Diet Coke is my preference over regular/Zero. It is a different formula, even if it only comes down to the blend of sweeteners. Obviously I don't know the actual formulas, but each has a different blend of sweeteners based on the labels, and now I've added "The Real Thing" to my reading list. Different people prefer different blends, like the other commenters who prefer monkfruit, erythritol or stevia.
Really? My immediate reaction to Coke Zero was revulsion, and I can't understand how people could have problems recognising the difference.
The only cola I've ever had where the diet version that has been close to fooling me was RC Cola. I think overall the colas with a stronger caramel taste like RC and Dr Pepper tends to fare better, because there are other taste notes that help obscure the lack of sugar.
If I was going to switch to a diet soda, Coke Zero would certainly not be it.
Lots of research and engineering. Diet coke has to taste like diet coke now, customers expect and want that taste specifically. Coke zero was developed from the ground up to try and taste like coke. It's very much a working soda that sees updates as food science technology improves to try and get it ever closer to standard coke taste. It was most recently reformulated in 2021 actually.
My understanding, when they made diet coke they couldn't replicate the flavor of coke that well, so diet coke is based on an entirely different formula. Coke zero is supposed to be coke without sugar.
The difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke is that one uses the Coca Cola Classic formula, and the other one is Coke. The name difference is to signify the flavor profile.
Coke Zero or the local variant still doesn't taste like Coke, but bitter fizzy water, to me :)
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