The Seven Ways to Enjoy a Diet Coke, Ranked

I love Diet Coke. This will come as a shock to no one - I've established a reputation as a bit of a Diet-Cokehead over the last few years.

But as such, I'll be the first to tell you that NOT all Diet Cokes are created equal. I've tried every possible way of enjoying this delectable beverage, and this is my definitive ranking of the best ways to sip on a DC.

7. In a plastic bottle

The plastic-bottled DC is, in every sense of the word, a disappointment. Like, don't get me wrong, I'm not above drinking one from time to time - it IS still Diet Coke. 

But when stacked up against the other options here, the plastic bottle just has nothing to offer. Aside from the obvious environmental concerns, the flavor is always slightly off, and the soda is prone to going flat and room-temperature at like, Mach 1 speed. 

Needs improvement, IMHO.

6. In a glass bottle

OK, I know I'm supposed to be a DC connoisseur or something, but I have a confession: I'd never tried Diet Coke in a glass bottle until last summer. But in my defense, they're not exactly easy to come by. (Not where I live, at least.

The payoff? NOT worth the hype. The flavor is def a step up from the plastic bottle, but the soda still went flat surprisingly quickly. The glass bottle is also the smallest option here, at a pitiful 8 oz - and in my book, the more DC, the better!

The novelty of the glass bottle may entice you, but don't get your hopes up too high.

5. In an aluminum bottle

AFAIK you can't actually get these anymore, but while you could? They were a solid choice in terms of flavor, about equal with the aluminum can. The small size (only 8.5 oz!) and the fact that they're no longer available means they have to rank pretty low on the list.

The aluminum bottle DOES get bonus points from me, however, for being the medium of choice for Coca-Cola's collabs with designer labels: Marc Jacobs, JW Anderson, Karl Lagerfeld, etc. VERY chic stuff.

4. From a soda fountain

This one is hit or miss, and completely depends on the soda fountain it's coming from. At its best, it's cool, crispy, and refreshing - standard for a Diet Coke, but delish nonetheless.

At its worst? I once drank a Big Gulp DC from a local 7-eleven that I'm pretty sure had honest-to-god actual mold in it from the fountain.

Unless you've already cased the joint, the soda fountain is always going to be a gamble, so I have no choice but to rank it near the middle of this list.

3. Poured into a glass (ice optional)

This one might be a little contentious because Diet Coke in a glass has to have come from somewhere else first (e.g. plastic, aluminum, etc). But I can assure you that the simple act of pouring DC into a glass is enough to dramatically change the drinking experience, enough so that it deserves its own slot here.

The glass does a LOT of heavy lifting in improving the taste of a Diet Coke - it enhances the already-great flavor of the soda fountain DC, and it's a band-aid for the mediocre taste of the plastic DC.

Drinking glass, your hard work has not gone unnoticed.

2. In an aluminum can

This is truly the MVP of the Diet Coke big leagues. This little can manages to pack fathoms of flavor into only 12 oz - and top tier flavor at that! Something about the aluminum can is just perfect for bringing out the immaculate taste of DC.

The can itself is also a chic staple. It's smart, it's clean, and it goes with almost any outfit. VERY New York Fashion Week.

The aluminum can is a reliable classic, and it's my go-to for keeping my fridge stocked up at home.

1. From the soda fountain at McDonald's

What can I say here that hasn't already been said by Diet Coke aficionados the world over?

It's 100% true that McDonald's takes special care to prepare their sodas differently than other restaurants - everything from the soda water to the syrup to the ice is carefully calibrated to provide the best possible drinking experience. Like, these guys have it down to a science. 

And it totally pays off. Every sip from a McDonald's Diet Coke is like a cold, crispy slice of soda heaven. I would die for a McDonald's DC. I would KILL for a McDonald's DC. There is actually, genuinely NOTHING better to me than taking the first sip of an ice cold Diet Coke from the drive thru. I'm in love.

At the end of the day though, the only wrong way to enjoy a Diet Coke is to never enjoy one at all. So go forth, my fellow Diet-Cokeheads, and carpe drinkem - cheers!