Nowadays, Coke is by far the most popular carbonated soft drink in the world, much more than any of its competitors, including its biggest rival – Pepsi. However, there are still millions of people who think Pepsi is better than Coke.
It all comes down to personal taste – some people prefer Coke, and others prefer Pepsi. And if you ask them why they prefer one option over the other, there will be many reasons.
So, what makes Pepsi better than Coke? There are several things that Pepsi fans claim to be the advantages of Pepsi over Coke. Let’s take a closer look at these advantages:
1. Better Taste
Pepsi has a bit more sugar than Coca-Cola, which makes it slightly sweeter. In a 12 oz can, there are 39 grams of sugar in Coca‑Cola, while there are 41 grams of sugar in Pepsi.
However, at the same time, Pepsi contains citric acid, while Coca-Cola doesn’t. The citric acid gives Pepsi a specific citrusy and tangy flavor, which makes it more tasty than Coca-Cola.
The superiority of Pepsi flavor has been proven many times. In 1975, Pepsi started the Pepsi Challenge, an ongoing marketing campaign that relied on blind taste tests to compare Pepsi against Coca-Cola.
This test is very simple: participants are given two white unlabeled cups – one with Pepsi, the other with Coca-Cola. Participants had no way of knowing which cup had Pepsi and which had Coca-Cola. They took sips from both cups and had to decide which flavor they preferred.
The majority of participants chose cups with Pepsi over cups with Coca-Cola. Since 1975, Pepsi has done numerous blind taste tests all around the world, getting similar results over and over again.
2. Less Carbonation
For those who dislike the “crispiness” of Coca-Cola, Pepsi is a much better solution. Pepsi has noticeably less carbonation, which makes it less frizzy and more mellow and pleasant to drink. This makes Pepsi drinking a much smoother experience, with far less burping and stomach gases.
3. More Caffeine
If you need a drink that will refresh you and also give you an energy boost, Pepsi (38 mg//12 oz can) is a better option than Coke (34mg/12 oz can). It contains significantly more caffeine than Coca-Cola. As such, Pepsi can make you energized and pumped throughout the day.
4. Special Flavors
Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi have released dozens of special flavors throughout their history. Given that many of these flavors were either regional or time-limited, it is hard to conclude which company released more flavors, even though some sources claim that Pepsi did.
In any case, Pepsi’s iconic flavors were far better and more original and iconic. For example, Pepsi Twist is one of the most popular special Pepsi flavors, far more popular than Coca-Cola Lemon.
5. Iconic Ads
The war between Pepsi and Coca-Cola is evident through their marketing campaigns. Both companies invested a lot of effort, time, and money into marketing and branding efforts.
Coca-Cola’s ads evolved to be more about holidays, family, and friends, and they celebrate inclusivity and the feeling of belonging somewhere.
On the other side, Pepsi’s marketing was more focused on more contemporary and edgy themes, often appealing to young and cool generations. That’s why some of the most iconic Pepsi ads featured various celebrities, such as Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Shakira, Elton John, and many, many more.
Calling these ads iconic is not an overstatement. They became an important part of pop culture. For example, one such ad from 2004 featured Britney Spears, Pink, and Beyonce as Roman gladiators, with Queen’s “We Will Rock You” as a background song.
In 1987, another Pepsi ad showed a mad scientist who created a perfect woman by spilling Pepsi over his equipment. This ad featured musical icons David Bowie and Tina Turner, which only shows how cool Pepsi was throughout its history.
There are many other iconic Pepsi commercials out there, and we could write a whole article about them. However, these examples are already enough to prove the superiority of Pepsi ads. Even though Coca-Cola ads are wholesome and send a good message, they are nowhere near Pepsi ads.
6. Superior Logo
Coca-Cola has done a great job of branding a simple combination of two colors – red and white. Whenever you see these two colors together on a product, you will think of Coke. However, Pepsi’s logo has always looked cooler than Coca-Cola’s.
This logo has evolved since its first version, but every rendition of its legendary logo was simple, balanced, yet effective and aesthetically pleasing.
Even in this modern age, when most large companies have changed their logos to be more minimalistic, Pepsi’s logo has kept its old charm without looking outdated.
7. Underdog Charm
Both Pepsi and Coca-Cola are large multinational corporations. As such, they have conquered the worldwide market. They make billions in sales each year, and not many other companies can compare with these two in terms of market share.
However, Coca-Cola seems more prominent as a large corporation that owns many other smaller companies. Pepsi, on the other side, has more of an underdog vibe, even though it is an insanely successful company.
People find underdogs more relatable and easier to identify with. Additionally, since Coca-Cola is more present and visible in stores than Pepsi, it can become boring for buyers. For them, seeing Pepsi is refreshing, both literally and figuratively.
8. Nostalgia
Even though Pepsi has embraced the 21st century and it stayed modern and relevant, there is a certain retro aura around it. In particular, Pepsi is reminiscent of the ‘80s and ’90s. It seems that the nostalgia for these two decades doesn’t fade, and drinking Pepsi is part of that nostalgia.
9. Better Side Products
Coca-Cola has a strong focus on beverages, including soft drinks, waters, and teas, whereas PepsiCo has a more diversified range that extends significantly into the snack food sector, with brands like Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, and Quaker Oats.
Pepsi is owned by PepsiCo Inc., a multinational corporation that owns many other food and beverage brands. We will list only some of them to show you that Pepsi’s side products are superior to Coke’s.
For example, apart from making Pepsi, PepsiCo also makes some other drinks, such as Gatorade, Manzanita Sol, Lipton Tea, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Naked Juice, Tropicana, Mug root beer, and Aquafina. This corporate giant also paired up with Starbucks, and from this collaboration, PepsiCo started producing Starbucks bottled beverages.
PepsiCo also owns some famous food brands, such as Rice-A-Roni, Pasta Roni, and Quaker Oats. Some of the world’s most famous potato chip brands are owned by PepsiCo. For example, Fritos, Lays, Munchos, and Ruffles.
PepsiCo also owns many snack brands, such as Tostitos, Cheetos, Doritos, Cracker Jack, Matador, Miss Vickie’s, Funyuns, Smartfood, Munchies, Chester’s, and SunChips. This is only a small portion of all snack brands that Pepsico owns, but these brands are the best snacks out there.
Is Pepsi Healthier Than Coke?
In the Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola health debate, there’s no clear winner. Both drinks contain similar levels of sugar, calories, and caffeine, and neither offers substantial nutritional benefits.
These beverages can be part of your balanced diet when consumed occasionally and not as a regular part of your fluid intake.
Here we’ll compare their ingredients content and see how they impact our overall health.
Sugar Content and Calories
A primary health consideration for soft drinks is their sugar content. Both Pepsi and Coca-Cola contain high amounts of sugar, contributing to potential health issues like obesity and diabetes.
As said above, a standard 12 oz can of Pepsi contains about 41 grams of sugar, while Coca-Cola comes in slightly lower at 39 grams. The calorie count follows suit, with Pepsi at 150 calories and Coca-Cola at 140 calories per can. While the difference is marginal, it’s worth noting for those counting their sugar and calorie intake.
Artificial Sweeteners in Diet Versions
Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke offer lower-calorie alternatives to their sugar-laden counterparts. Both use artificial sweeteners like aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
While these sweeteners have been deemed safe by health authorities, there is ongoing debate about their long-term health effects. Therefore, while diet versions are lower in calories, they are not necessarily a healthier choice overall.
Caffeine Content
Caffeine content is another aspect to consider. Pepsi has slightly more caffeine, with 38 mg per can, compared to Coke’s 34 mg. The difference is small but might be significant for those sensitive to caffeine or consuming multiple servings.
Phosphoric Acid and Bone Health
Both beverages contain phosphoric acid, linked to lower bone density in some studies. Excessive consumption of drinks with phosphoric acid could potentially impact bone health, although more research is needed in this area.
Overall Nutritional Value
Neither Pepsi nor Coca-Cola offers significant nutritional benefits. They lack essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and are essentially empty calories.
Regular consumption of either beverage could contribute to nutrient deficiencies if they displace more nutritious options in the diet.
Conclusion
Despite Coke’s worldwide popularity, Pepsi is still better for several reasons.
Apart from being tastier and less carbonated, Pepsi also has better ads and side products. Of course, every Pepsi fan will be able to tell you even more reasons why Pepsi is better than Coke.
In the end, your personal preferences will determine your favorite drink. And there is no reason why you can’t enjoy both drinks equally!
