Topic: Soda: Fountain vs Bottle vs Can

[GoldenPhoenix]

My curiosity has gotten the best of me and I must know how weird I really am (Ok how much MORE weird I really am), but when you guys drink soda (if you drink soda) which "form" do you prefer. For me I love it out of the fountain though it depends on the place though, I can't stand 7'11's drinks but on the flip side I'll almost go out of my way to go to Fred Meyer to get a diet Pepsi or a Quiznos because it is fizzy goodness. My second choice is the bottle and the final one would be the pop can.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Oops wrong forum, move this to general chat!

[ShyGuy]

I generally prefer a well tuned soda fountain. Next best is glass bottles. I went to this one bus stop in Montana that hand mixed their sodas.

[GoldenPhoenix]

It is kind of funny I think the best fountains are those owned by smaller food marts that aren't apart of a chain. Though like I said Quiznos and Fred Meyer both have great tasting fountain drinks!

[Stogi]

Glass bottle for sure. If not a glass bottle than a fountain drink. But I RARELY ever drink soda by itself.

[Dasmos]

What is a "soda fountain"? All I keep picturing is this:



But with Coke flowing through it.

[GoldenPhoenix]

For the goober Australians.

[bustin98]

I think fountain drinks can be a bit too sweet, or too watered down. Sometimes its good, just not consistent.

I'm dying for some Mountain Dew in a glass bottle. I haven't had some since the early 90's. Anyone have some?

Canned is better than plastic as you can taste the plastic. Though the can has its funny taste too.

[ShyGuy]

Sometimes pouring the soda out of the plastic bottle or metal can and into a glass, er glass, can make a difference.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Sometimes pouring the soda out of the plastic bottle or metal can and into a glass, er glass, can make a difference.

I've noticed that too lol. I think that may be more mental though!

[Khushrenada]

What is a "soda fountain"? All I keep picturing is this:



But with Coke flowing through it.

That is what it is like in America. Pop flows the streets freely. What a country.


On a more sreious note, I have to say bottle first, followed by fountain, followed by can. Of course, it has to be fresh from a bottle. Otherwise it loses too much fizz. Fountains are too inconsistant. Plus, they don't taste right without ice. Ice is the big factor. Coke with ice is much better than Coke without ice.

[nickmitch]

The fountains in the cafeteria here don't work well.  The fruit punch is usually syrup, the Sierra Mist is usually bubbly water, and the tea is just water.  That being said, I only like fountains when the refills are free.  Otherwise, pass me a glass bottle.

Edit: I just realized I'm drinking out of a can.  I really only do that because cans are better for storage in my dorm/mini fridge.  I only wish I could fit cases of glass bottles.

[UltimatePartyBear]

Sometimes pouring the soda out of the plastic bottle or metal can and into a glass, er glass, can make a difference.

I've noticed that too lol. I think that may be more mental though!

Exactly!  It's the fizz shooting up your nose to tickle your brain directly.

More seriously, this is why so much thought has gone into the design of glass stemware over the years.  Supposedly, the properly shaped glass enhances the drink in many ways.  I'm not sure anyone's done that kind of work for soda (which I have trouble saying without laughing).  Of course, pouring a soft drink into a glass has its downsides.  Primarily, it releases a lot of the CO₂, so the drink is flatter in your mouth.  On the other hand, it gives you the chance to drink it while it's fizzing, if you drink it quickly.

Personally, I don't consider a drink from a fountain to be the same as a bottled drink.  There's too much variation, and too many places thin the mix.  It's good when it's good, but terrible when it's not.  I'll take the guarantee of sameness in a bottle instead.

[Stogi]

Well, if we're counting Powerade and Gatorade, then I will go with the fountain everytime. Nothing beats a 42 oz. drink for 65 cents.

[Mop it up]

Fountain > Bottle > Can

A Fountain soda is best as long as it is mixed right, it is very fresh and fizzy.

A glass bottle seems to work better than aluminum cans; I guess the soda sort of absorbs the metal? There must be some reason: notice how the more expensive sodas usually come in bottles, such as IBC, Steward's, Jones, etc.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I've noticed that Pizza hut tends to really fizzy. I sometimes look more forward to that then the food.

[Yoshidious]

I seldom drink soda this way, but a highly chilled glass bottle is my preferred delivery method for carbonated "goodness". Fountains are great for drinking large quantities of with food, and cans are convenient for storing at home, so I'm fine with them all though.

[ShyGuy]

I like to call soda "pop"

[nickmitch]

Nothing beats a 42 oz. drink for 65 cents.

QFT

[BranDonk Kong]

Coke out of a glass bottle tastes better than any other variation.

[ThePerm]

Soda in a bottle from Mexico beats all. Real sugar. Next is Soda at Taco Bell, for some reason it tastes better. Then movie theater soda..although it makes me piss like a race horse. Then canned soda that has been nearly frozen to a slushy, but not quite yet. After that regular bottled soda, then canned soda, then warm canned soda, then soda in a plastic bottle..however if it happens to be a citrus soda in a bottle it goes closer to the soda made in mexico

[Spak-Spang]

I like fountain best on almost all sodas except Coke which I actually like caned the best.

But the problem with fountain is that you can get a horrible mix, and if you do it is really bad.

[Ian Sane]

When I drink a pop I usually like it served cold in glass.  It can be in a bottle or a glass.  Doesn't really matter but glass bottles are obviously quite rare these days.  After that I'll go with a can just because the fountain pop might not be mixed correctly.  If it is then it's fine but sometimes you get something really bad.  I don't mind flat pop but it's like a different type of drink for me then.  If I want a Coke I typically want a fizzy Coke.  If I want a flat pop then I'll hit 7-11's fountain and get a Big Gulp.  Usually it's not very fizzy.

Order a soda in Canada and you might get a float instead.  Like a Coke Float.  That ice cream stuff.  That's what "soda" is here.

Even when it in the States I always use the term "pop" and only say "soda" when it's clear that who I'm talking to has no idea what I mean.  I think as a native English speaker one should make some sort of effort to have some familiarity with language quirks from other regions.  I know a lot of American English so Americans should know common Canadian English terms as well.  I shouldn't have to specifically feel I have to speak American.  You can use the term "soda" or "coke" but you should be aware that "pop" is used as well.  If you don't I figure you deserve to get confused by the guy with the weird accent.

[bustin98]

This topic spurred me to write to Pepsi and ask for Mountain Dew in a bottle.

They wrote back saying its up the local bottling companies. And 99.99% of them are using plastic that meets some environmental concerns. Blah blah blah. If Coke can do it, so can others.

[ThePerm]

i can get mountain dew in a bottle gracias Mexico