Health-Hack.com

Review: Coca-Cola Zero (4.75/5 Widgets)

June 17th, 2005

In Health-Hack.com’s recent review of Diet Coke With Splenda, we said that if Coke made a diet version that was based on the flavor of Regular Coke (as opposed to Diet Coke, which tastes nothing like Coca-Cola), but with Splenda instead of sugar, They would have a sure fire winner on their hands.

I doubt the good folks in Atlanta, GA were readers here at the time they planned Coca-Cola Zero, so it seems they have gotten it right all by themselves. Although “Zero” has no Splenda, it does have Ace K (Acesulfame Potassium), a non-caloric sweetener often paired with Splenda to balance the flavors. It does a great job offsetting the nasty, cloying flavor of Nutrasweet (Aspartame) in Coke Zero. Best of all, the overall flavor is very similar to Coca-Cola Classic.

The only concern I have is that Coke may be viewing this as a short-term product, rather than a permanent addition to the Coke family. The branding is an amateurish swipe at Pepsi’s “Pepsi One”, The 2 liter bottle’s label is mostly black and white, looking like a Soviet-era “generic beverage product”, and the word “Zero” probably has more negative connotations than positive ones.

When a product this great comes out, we shouldn’t hear about it for the first time when we see it on the grocery store shelves! Frankly, there’s a lot to love about Coke Zero. Let’s just hope it stays around and gets the promotion it deserves.

UPDATE: Now my beloved Diet Pepsi tastes like ashes in my mouth…

**Sponsor: Disc of Light Media has relaxation and meditation CDs and MP3s to help you calm the chaos in your life!**

>Add to Del.icio.us | Add to Digg | Click here to send this page to a friend.
Entry Filed under: Caffeine, Diet, Popular