Coke or Pepsi

I'm a huge Coke fan, Diet Coke is my drink. Thats
why it honks me off no end that the majority of
Indian casinos that have beverage bars with free
soft drinks, overwhelmingly have Pepsi. The reason
for this is, Pepsi offers their fountain products at
substancially lower prices than Coke does. Its a loss
leader to get people to drink Pepsi and give up Coke.

I hate Pepsi, its nasty stuff. In one of our local big
supermarket chains, I see Coke guys in there all the
time stocking shelves. I ask them how many times a
day they have to come to this store and they say 6
times, and 10 times on Saturdays. The Pepsi guy says
they come twice a day and three times on Saturday.
So clearly, people prefer Coke by far over Pepsi. You
see the same thing in food carts at shows, or in movie
theatres, or even in restaurants. Pepsi is almost always
the only brand they have because Pepsi practically
gives away their fountain drinks. SUCKS!

Quote: EvenBob

I'm a huge Coke fan, Diet Coke is my drink. Thats
why it honks me off no end that the majority of
Indian casinos that have beverage bars with free
soft drinks, overwhelmingly have Pepsi. The reason
for this is, Pepsi offers their fountain products at
substancially lower prices than Coke does. Its a loss
leader to get people to drink Pepsi and give up Coke.

I know all Caesars properties serve Pepsi, but most other property groups are Coke properties (MGM, Pinnacle, Boyd, Ameristar [which used to be Pepsi], Penn National). In fact, outside Caesars, all the groups I know serve Coke. To me, that's a bummer, cuz I'm a Pepsi guy... and not necessarily Pepsi, but Mt Dew. Harrah's Joliet didn't used to serve Mt Dew and that hocked me off to no end!

Quote: Tiltpoul

I know all Caesars properties serve Pepsi, but most other property groups are Coke properties

Good properties and good restaurants know people
prefer Coke over Pepsi 3 or four to 1. They pay the
extra money for Coke because its what their customers
want. But where its going to be free, or in the smaller
mom and pop joints, the bottom line always forces them
to choose Pepsi.

I dislike Diet Pepsi (it taste slightly gingery to me), but Pepsi Max is the soft drink of the gods. I tend to drink Coke Zero though as that's whats in the fridge at work.

Say, "Pepsi, please."

I choose Pepsi any day. I used to work in a grocery store where we stocked the shelves ourselves, salesmen not allowed to touch them (union shop.) Back in the late 1980s Pepsi way, way outsold Coke in our market. Managers hated the Pepsi Company for one reason or another. Once we were told NOT to straighten out the shelf and NOT to put more than 24 bottles out at a time. Serious, it was like the blueberries scene in "Casino." When I said I'd be going back and forth all night they said they didn't care how many times I went back and forth, no more than 24 bottles and don't straighten it AT ALL.

Then the store manager, who was not at that meeting, said we were keeping it too neat (we hadn't touched it-he was joking) and physically messed it up even more. When the other managers came by they told us we were not supposed to actively destroy the display but we said "Doug (top manager) did that." "Oh, OK."

To this day I have no idea what that salesman did to PO them, and Pepsi didn't overload their backroom plus sold better. But hate them they did.

Lots of restaurants stock Coke because their foodservice has Coke only, to get Pepsi is another call, another salesman, and another delivery. They take convieninece. Since the late 1980s most C-Stores seem to hacve given up and stock both. The Pittsburgh Penguins played it really smart--sell the pouring rights at auction. Which is why they have Royal Crown at the Consol Energy Center!


Pepsi-Cola hits the spot;
12 full ounces, that's a lot;
twice as much for a nickel, too;
Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you!

Quote: EvenBob

I'm a huge Coke fan, Diet Coke is my drink. ...

I hate Pepsi, its nasty stuff.

There are folks out there who think ALL diet drinks suck. There are folks who think soda in general sucks. You say you're a Coke fan, then you say you're a DIET Coke fan. Ick. How can I take you seriously after that?

And your poll is quite biased against Pepsi.

From now on, polls should always include the option "I'm EvenBob".

I took the Pepsi challenge and chose Coke. By the way, if you like Coke, the Coke in Argentina is even better! It has more of a bitter natural taste to it.

Well, several years ago while at The Taste of Chicago I took the Pepsi challenge... and lost. The one I chose blindly was Coca-Cola. BUT... I do have to say that I have noticed that I do not like the taste of Diet Coke but prefer Diet Pepsi instead. And I usually prefer the uncaffeinated versions. I don't usually like drinking sodas with caffeine. You know it doesn't occur naturally in the sodas, right? They add caffeine to them. Eckh.

When it comes to alcoholic beverages if I ever order a rum and coke it's usually cuz it's earlier in the day or I plan on staying up pretty late, otherwise I prefer 7&7's and other non-caffeinated alcoholic beverages. But I remember when we used to order pizzas my dad would order a 2-liter of pop and the place that we ordered it from would give us RC cola. Honestly, in my opinion, Coca Cola, Pepsi, RC Cola, store brand, etc. don't taste all that different to me. If I ordered a coke somewhere and was served some generic brand without being told I probably wouldn't even notice the difference. But maybe that's because I don't drink much soda. But when I do it's usually some uncaffeinated flavored diet soda or my absolute favorite, Canfield's Diet Chocolate Fudge soda. So yum!!

And I do remember that when I used to wait tables we got to drink the sodas for free and I discovered that I like the tast of Mr. Pibb. Good stuff.

Quote: Wizard

I took the Pepsi challenge and chose Coke. By the way, if you like Coke, the Coke in Argentina is even better! It has more of a bitter natural taste to it.

CocaCola is bottled in Mexico using a recipe that uses cane sugar instead of corn syrup. Just the fact that it is served in glass bottles vs. aluminum or plastic, means it has a very clean taste. These bottles occassionaly find their way to specialty stores, and even some large retailers in the southwest. look for it, and give it a try.

I recently bought a bottle of Coke from a gas station cuz I thought it would be cool to drink it out of a bottle. I was surprised that it cost me like $2.30 or something like that, and for only a 12 oz. bottle! And honestly, in my opinion, it didn't seem to taste any different cuz I drank it out of a bottle rather than any other way. Now BEER on the other hand, I can taste a difference between bottle vs. glass almost always.

Quote: Ayecarumba

CocaCola is bottled in Mexico using a recipe that uses cane sugar instead of corn syrup.

Yup, thats the difference Mike tasted. The real sugar
Coke was and is way better than the corn syrup crap.
But in the States, corn syrup is half the cost of cane
sugar.

Quote: EvenBob

Yup, thats the difference Mike tasted. The real sugar
Coke was and is way better than the corn syrup crap.
But in the States, corn syrup is half the cost of cane
sugar.

One secret, is to buy Coke during passover - you'll see yellow caps on them - since Corn Syrup is not kosher for Passover, they make the Coke with sugar. Yum yum!

-B

Quote: Ayecarumba

CocaCola is bottled in Mexico using a recipe that uses cane sugar instead of corn syrup. Just the fact that it is served in glass bottles vs. aluminum or plastic, means it has a very clean taste. These bottles occassionaly find their way to specialty stores, and even some large retailers in the southwest. look for it, and give it a try.

This was the only kind of Coke I liked better than Pepsi. Used to buy it in AZ, and it drove Coca-Cola nuts that retailers sold it. Until Wal-Mart started stocking it and they shut up or somehting.

BTW: This stuff is available in the northeast (Pittsburgh) at Wal-Mart, but you need to look in the Mexican section, not the pop aisle. Look for the glass bottles and look for the USA ingredient list put on as a sticker.

Quote: Ayecarumba

CocaCola is bottled in Mexico using a recipe that uses cane sugar instead of corn syrup. Just the fact that it is served in glass bottles vs. aluminum or plastic, means it has a very clean taste. These bottles occassionaly find their way to specialty stores, and even some large retailers in the southwest. look for it, and give it a try.

Yes and no.

Until a few years ago most soda companies were using high-fructose corn syrup rather than sugar because ti was cheaper, even though much of it had to be imported from the US. Then government slapped a ridiculously high tax on it, so they went back to sugar. Me, I only drink d¿suger-free soda, so it doesn't directly affect me.

Glass bottles, now, are arather rare. You find them in some restaurants here and there, but I'd say at a guess well over 90% of all Coke comes in plastic bottles or cans.

I can switch between Diet Coke, Caffeine-free Diet Coke Coke Zero, Pepsi Max and Pepsi Kick (with ginseng) and not bat an eye. Except I only drink it caffeine-free in the evening. But I can't take Diet Pepsi at all.

I chose "Other".

I generally do not drink any carbonated beverage, except occasionally less popular flavors such as Cream or Black Cherry.

I prefer fresh Iced Tea - without lemon! If you ever see Iced Tea in a fountain dispenser, it's got lemon in it. Snapple and Lipton both sell bottled flavors labeled as "No Lemon." Read the ingredients. Citric Acid. I love driving thru the South. They don't know about putting lemon in Iced Tea. Then again, they don't know about Iced Tea. There, it's "Sweeeet Teaaaa." Great stuff!

Quote: Tiltpoul

I know all Caesars properties serve Pepsi . . . .

Here's a map of Vegas, colorized by what they serve:
http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/coke-or-pepsi.htm

Yeah, Caesars is aligned with Pepsi, but MGM is undecided.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I prefer fresh Iced Tea - without lemon! If you ever see Iced Tea in a fountain dispenser, it's got lemon in it. Snapple and Lipton both sell bottled flavors labeled as "No Lemon." Read the ingredients. Citric Acid. I love driving thru the South. They don't know about putting lemon in Iced Tea. Then again, they don't know about Iced Tea. There, it's "Sweeeet Teaaaa." Great stuff!

Since I lived in Missouri for about a year (and traveled to Tunica for a couple years), I learned to order Unsweetened Iced Tea, or else you got that nasty concoction. Growing up in Nebraska and living in Illinois and Ohio, I often get laughed at for ordering Unsweetened tea now. And I totally agree about the lemon thing. Unless it's a fresh brewed tea, it's not real. There is the Lipton fresh brewed that comes in glass bottles... while I think it does have some acid for freshness, it's the closest thing I can find to tea on the go.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Here's a map of Vegas, colorized by what they serve:
http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/coke-or-pepsi.htm

Yeah, Caesars is aligned with Pepsi, but MGM is undecided.

I forgot about that map! It appeared in another forum discussion at one point. If what EvenBob says is true, it makes sense why certain casinos have gone with Pepsi. However, Harrah's USED to serve Coke, so I can't imagine it was simply a bottom line decision on their part. Pepsi probably cut them a nicer deal, so it ended up being cheaper, but I've seen too many unsuccessful casinos serve Coke to believe it's strictly a monetary decision... at least for the larger groups.

Quote: Tiltpoul

If what EvenBob says is true, it makes sense why certain casinos have gone with Pepsi.

I know its true because I started asking. I always
got the same answer, Pepsi prices their fountain
products way cheaper than Coke.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I chose "Other".

I generally do not drink any carbonated beverage, except occasionally less popular flavors such as Cream or Black Cherry.

I'm similar in this. I do like soda's, but prefer Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Strawberry, Cream, Black Cherry, and Orange sodas to any cola. If there is nothing else, I'll drink a Pepsi. I never drink coke.

Both are fine, especially if there's some rum on hand.

Quote: waltomeal

Both are fine, especially if there's some rum on hand.

Now that's what I'M talking about!!

Pepsi for me, but I more or less quit drinking soda a year ago. I would get the caffeine withdrawl headaches if I didn't have a soda by noon. Now I drink water at lunch. That's 150 calories I don't need :) Sprite Zero is my first choice when drinking soda these days.

I usually drink Iced Tea or water but if I have to choose a cola I would go as follows.

I like Coke Zero best. I also like Pepsi Max.
Diet Coke is way better than Diet Pepsi. But i prefer the Zero/Max varieties to either of these.
Diet Cherry Pepsi is OK.
I generally do not drink the sugared versions. I do make an exception if I get my hands on real sugar Mexican Coke. I would love to try that Argentinian one referenced.

Also I am a cheapass so I usually end up buying a 2liter of Diet whatever storebrand I am in to go with my rum.

P.S. My Iced Tea preference is when I'm in a restaurant, and only if it's free refills.

Otherwise, and at home, it's water.