I am here to propose an alternate plastic bottle Diet Coke experience. You came so close to stumbling on this yourself with your observation that "The best sip of Diet Coke is always the first one." My proposition: keep a small bottle of Diet Coke in the fridge, and whenever you walk by, take a sip. It's always cold, because it never leaves the fridge, and it is always wonderful, because it is always the first sip. Enjoy!
when i was in high school, my drink of choice was 24-oz bottles of room temp classic coke. they were the cheapest non-two liter variety at my local grocery store (that i worked at for a couple years!). the room temp thing was a function of “i drank a LOT of soda and didn’t own a mini fridge” and to this day i’ll happily drink (now-diet) coke from a sealed bottle at room temp. it hits in a way that few soda ever have hit for me.
when i was in this era, the 1.25 liter bottles came out. and i would drink them occasionally because if you’re a volume soda drinker, but not so volume-y that you would just down a 2-liter bottle in one sitting, it actually made a ton of sense.
(as an aside, i want to use this moment to push my crusade that you should never refrigerate an opened bottle of soda. either 1) drink it at a reasonable pace you dorks, or 2) let it stay closed at room temp. it holds its carbonation wayyyy longer post-opening at room temp than at 40 degrees.)
I buy the 1.25L bottles of Diet Coke. My local supermarkets (Chicago) price them at around $1.40; but both 20oz bottles AND full 2-liter bottles are closer to $3.
So many people prefer Diet Coke to regular coke for taste reasons alone -- is anyone able to explain why (or is this a dumb question and the answer is that “it just tastes better you dodo”?). I’m not a cola person so it’s hard to relate to this preference either way
Cans are an excellent delivery system for soda. But it's such a disappointment when I assume I'm looking at 12-oz cans at a convenience store or restaurant, but it turns out they only have the 7.5-oz cans. Where's the rest?
I'm so pleased someone has finally taken on Big Plastic in the environment they have most ruined: soda containers. It really is a travesty; there is literally nothing better about plastic bottles than aluminum cans. Thank you, Emma!
I used to buy the 1.25L Diet Cokes. They had a long run when they were on sale at Kroger for $1, making it the cheapest Diet Coke option. I still bought the 12packs of cans and used the 1.25L stuff for mixed drinks. At that price point I didn't mind pouring a couple of flat sips down the sink.
Fountain soda diet coke needs its own category, and it should rank near the top. It combines the virtues of really cold soda and sort of flat soda.
yes!! I regret not having a note up top specifying that fountain drinks are in a category all their own
You are 100% correct on the 7.5 ounce can being perfect for mixed drinks. It's my go to for rum and whiskey not worth drinking straight.
From the same deranged mind who brought you coffee brewed with Red Bull comes, “I kind of love a flat Diet Coke.”
I buy the minis in an attempt to drink less Diet Coke and then end up having 3
I am here to propose an alternate plastic bottle Diet Coke experience. You came so close to stumbling on this yourself with your observation that "The best sip of Diet Coke is always the first one." My proposition: keep a small bottle of Diet Coke in the fridge, and whenever you walk by, take a sip. It's always cold, because it never leaves the fridge, and it is always wonderful, because it is always the first sip. Enjoy!
when i was in high school, my drink of choice was 24-oz bottles of room temp classic coke. they were the cheapest non-two liter variety at my local grocery store (that i worked at for a couple years!). the room temp thing was a function of “i drank a LOT of soda and didn’t own a mini fridge” and to this day i’ll happily drink (now-diet) coke from a sealed bottle at room temp. it hits in a way that few soda ever have hit for me.
when i was in this era, the 1.25 liter bottles came out. and i would drink them occasionally because if you’re a volume soda drinker, but not so volume-y that you would just down a 2-liter bottle in one sitting, it actually made a ton of sense.
(as an aside, i want to use this moment to push my crusade that you should never refrigerate an opened bottle of soda. either 1) drink it at a reasonable pace you dorks, or 2) let it stay closed at room temp. it holds its carbonation wayyyy longer post-opening at room temp than at 40 degrees.)
I buy the 1.25L bottles of Diet Coke. My local supermarkets (Chicago) price them at around $1.40; but both 20oz bottles AND full 2-liter bottles are closer to $3.
So many people prefer Diet Coke to regular coke for taste reasons alone -- is anyone able to explain why (or is this a dumb question and the answer is that “it just tastes better you dodo”?). I’m not a cola person so it’s hard to relate to this preference either way
Cans are an excellent delivery system for soda. But it's such a disappointment when I assume I'm looking at 12-oz cans at a convenience store or restaurant, but it turns out they only have the 7.5-oz cans. Where's the rest?
We’re a mini can ONLY household. Only certain chains carry them and that dictates our grocery store choices every time.
The 1.25L diet cokes are money on a lengthy road trip, especially from a gas station at sundown.
I'm so pleased someone has finally taken on Big Plastic in the environment they have most ruined: soda containers. It really is a travesty; there is literally nothing better about plastic bottles than aluminum cans. Thank you, Emma!
One nit with this column: Mexican Coke is a nice change of pace, but gimme that sweet sweet corn syrup any day of the week.
I used to buy the 1.25L Diet Cokes. They had a long run when they were on sale at Kroger for $1, making it the cheapest Diet Coke option. I still bought the 12packs of cans and used the 1.25L stuff for mixed drinks. At that price point I didn't mind pouring a couple of flat sips down the sink.