zlacker

> Diet Coke, which contains significantly more caffeine than regular Coke

I'd never heard that before, but you're right -- "Coke contains 32 mg of caffeine per 12-ounce (335-ml) serving. Diet Coke is higher in caffeine, with about 42 mg per 12 ounces (335 ml)." [1]

I wonder why that is? If people expect an energy boost from Coke, and if sugar isn't contributing to that any more, a little extra caffeine will?

Coke Zero, on the other hand, "contains only 34mg of caffeine per can (12oz)" [2]. So it's more like regular Coke.

[1] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-in-coke

[2] https://lifeboostcoffee.com/blogs/lifeboost/caffeine-in-coke...

>>crazyg+(OP)
Caffeine is an important part of the taste, so I'd guess it's largely a taste-based decision. Probably doesn't hurt that caffeine is highly addictive and habit forming

>>crazyg+(OP)
Compensation for the lack of a sugar rush?

>>freedo+X1
You are more correct than you know. “Coke” (the full sugar, red can kind) is actually Coca-Cola “Classic.” Notably in the 80s Coca-Cola reformulated to the absolute outrage of the soda drinkers of the world (1985). They had released a diet version of this reformulation three years prior (1982)—I suppose as a trial run—based on Tab. For some reason people liked the diet version. This is Diet Coke. After backpedaling on the reformulation, the full-sugar flagship was re-released in all its former glory, dubbed Coca-Cola Classic. Much later, a diet version of this “classic” formula was released. This is Coke Zero. So yes, it’s absolutely about taste, because Coke and Diet Coke aren’t based on the same recipe!