For years, my wife Dorothy insisted on stopping at McDonald's to get a large Diet Coke. I would always say, why didn't you just grab a can from the fridge? I don't know, she'd say, but it just tastes better coming from McDonald's.
Here's exactly why:
1. McDonald's has Coca-Cola delivered in stainless steel containers, unlike most fast food restaurants, which have Coca-Cola syrup delivered in plastic bags. Stainless steel containers help preserve ingredients, making the soda taste fresher.
2. McDonald's cares about two things: fresh water and a perfect temperature. The company spends a lot of money on a filtration system, so the water that mixes with the syrup is fresh, clean water. That same water is run through an insulated tube that keeps it cold.
3. McDonald's prechills soda syrup before it enters the fountain dispensers, to make sure it's fresh.
4. You might have noticed that the McDonald's straw is a bit wider than other fast-food restaurants straws. That's on purpose. McDonald's says it's so "all that Coke taste can hit all your taste buds." McDonald's is not messing around with straws (cc: the Shamrock Shake Straw). More Good Housekeeping here > The Real Reason McDonald's Coke Tastes Better Than Regular Coke