Hi all!

Just curious - my husband insists he can taste a difference between the regular (caffeinated) and caffeine free versions of most every drink. I, myself, cannot tell a difference, except in the way I feel after I have a caffeinated vs. non-caffeinated soda. Specifically, I think Caffeine Free Mountain Dew tastes just like its counterpart, along with Caffeine Free Coke and regular Coke. Thoughts anyone?

I have to agree with your husband. I've had my own family test me on this. For those with a sensitive sniffer, it is immediately noticeable. I very much prefer the taste of the caffeinated versions. It is either because it is what I am used to, or perhaps because the formulation is different to compensate.

Caffeine is very bitter to taste. The stronger it is, the more it needs to be compensated for. Either way, it definitely has an effect on flavor.

To me, the difference is noticeable. The caffeine gives it a "bite." When Barq's used to advertise, they used the tagline "Barq's has bite."

Originally Posted by fusion

To me, the difference is noticeable. The caffeine gives it a "bite." When Barq's used to advertise, they used the tagline "Barq's has bite."

Ha ha - I wouldn't know about the Barq's, since the version we get here in Utah is caffeine free - although the advertising on the packaging still says Barq's has bite - too funny!

I will say that the only drink I can tell a noticeable difference is in SunDrop. I've had both versions and the caffeine free version is noticeably sweeter - it also has more calories, so it may be a different formulation altogether.

There's a difference between the taste of Diet Sun Drop and Caffeine Free Diet Sun Drop. The caffeine-free diet version is much sweeter and has less bite.

As mentioned earlier, caffeine is very bitter, so extra sweetener is often added to mask the bitter taste. I wonder if the diet caffeine-free Sun Drop tastes sweeter because they use the same amount of sweetener in both versions?

I notice a difference between regular Pepsi and Caffeine Free Pepsi.

Originally Posted by drpep

I notice a difference between regular Pepsi and Caffeine Free Pepsi.

Same for me.

I used to be able to tell a difference between Diet Coke and CF Diet Coke (I thought the CF version tasted a little better).

Originally Posted by drpep

I notice a difference between regular Pepsi and Caffeine Free Pepsi.

Same for me.

the CF Pepsi tastes flatter, and sweeter.

So KP CF Pepsi must be the best tasting Pepsi then