Coca-Cola: 10 best Coke flavors of all-time, ranked

Callum Gunn

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 14: Coca-Cola drinks on display at the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival Presented By Capital One – Coca Cola Backyard BBQ Presented By National Beef And Pat LaFrieda Meats Hosted By Bill Durney And Pat LaFrieda at Pier 92 on October 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYCWFF)

Coca-Cola has been around for some time now and during that time we have had more than one great flavor hit that store shelves. Here are the 10 best Coke flavors of all-time, ranked.

I think it’s a safe bet to say you have tried a Coke. Coca-Cola has been around since 1886 and since it’s inception it has become the number 1 fizzy drink in the world. Where you go, whether it be to your local shop or the other side of the world you will be able to find a Coke.

But what is the best Coca-Cola flavor of all time?

10. Vanilla Coca-Cola

OK. So, kicking off the list is Vanilla Coca-Cola. This flavor has been around for some time now, introduced around 2002, but before then bartenders were making this flavor before it was rolled out by the fizzy drinks giants by simply adding a dash of vanilla when pouring a drink.

Now, normally Vanilla is a huge hit when it is used. It’s one of those ingredients that just works with everything. However, when it comes to Coca-Cola it isn’t the best when you compare it to the rest of the flavors out there.

It’s still drinkable if it wasn’t it would have been discontinued, but when you have another flavor available it is always best to opt for that flavor instead.

9. Diet Caffeine Free Coca-Cola

Moving onto Diet Caffeine Free Coca-Cola flavor and this is obviously an ideal choice for those of you who are opting for less sugar and less caffeine in your fizzy drink as well. Surprisingly, this flavor is one of the longest-running flavors, with it first appearing in stores around 1987.

Thing is, while it is great for everyone looking to cut back on the caffeine and the sugar, it’s lacking in the flavor department. Which is why it has only come in at number 9 in the overall ranking.

It misses the ‘zing’ or whatever you’d like to call it when it comes to Coca-Cola. Basically, it is just a bit bland. It is better than the Vanilla Coca-Cola though.

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: In this handout image provided by Coca Cola, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley launches Coca-Cola Life – the new addition to the Coca-Cola family sweetened from natural sources with a blend of sugar and stevia leaf extract on September 19, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Nathan Gallagher/Coca Cola via Getty Images)

8. Coca-Cola Life

Coca-Cola Life is the flavor we are going to look at next and if you haven’t tried one already, I have some bad news for you. The flavor has been officially discontinued. Introduced in 2013, it was discontinued in 2019.

A lower-calorie version of regular Coca-Cola, the drink was made with stevia and sugar as sweeteners. Fans viewed the drink as something in-between Coca-Cola and Diet Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Zero was also viewed the same way and basically, a competition between the two flavors appeared.

And clearly Coca-Cola Zero came out as the clear winner. Due to the increase in sales in Coca-Cola Zero and decrease in Coca-Cola Life, the drink was soon discontinued.

7. Orange Coca-Cola

Another flavor that is technically discontinued but can be found if you know where to look and are willing to pay an insane price for. A can won’t set you back $100 bucks or anything like that but expect to have to pay two times, maybe three times the price of a regular can.

A decent flavor but not the best. You can certainly taste the orange flavor; the only issue is it can be to strong for some. While some fans loved the flavor, others found it was a bit of an orange flavor overkill. Because its split people on whether it was good or not, along with the fact it is extremely difficult to get your hands on a can, it could only land number 7 of our list.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 23: Coca Cola beverages on display at BETHer Presents Fashion & Beauty during the 2018 BET Experience at Los Angeles Convention Center on June 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for BET)

6. Lemon Coca-Cola

We’re almost halfway through our ranking now and just missing out on the top half of the list is Lemon Coca-Cola. Another flavor that was pretty much being made by bartenders before Coca-Cola rolled it out in a can, you honestly can’t go wrong with this one.

It’s a great flavor to have during the summer months. The great thing about the flavor is if you can’t find the drink being sold it is easy to recreate. Simply grab a lemon and cut a thin slice and throw it into your glass. That, or cut a wedge and place it on the rim of the glass.

5. Coca-Cola Zero

OK. We’re counting down and getting closer and closer to the number one Coca-Cola drink of all time and Coca-Cola Zero is the flavor we are going to look at now. This flavor has been on the rise for the past few years now.

If we had done this list a couple of years ago Coca-Cola Zero would have been nearer the bottom of the ranking table, but, after one or two revamps on the recipe, it has raised up, killed off Coca-Life, and solidly planted itself in the number 5 spot.

4. Lime Coca-Cola

Just missing out on a top 3 spot, we have Lime Coca-Cola. Similar to the Lemon flavor and Vanilla flavor of the fizzy drink, you have been able to order this drink at a bar longer than what Coca-Cola has been making it for.

You have also been able to make your own blend by simply cutting up some Lime in slices or wedges and adding it to your drink. It’s way better than both the Lemon and Vanilla flavors though. Giving you a much smoother flavor, it doesn’t overpower the taste of the original Coca-Cola flavor rather than it compliments it perfectly.

3. Cherry Coca-Cola

It’s time for the medal ceremony now and taking the bronze medal is Cherry Coca-Cola! Definitely the go-to flavor out of all the possible flavors, you’re never left disappointed with this flavor and the after taste is just right.

You can enjoy it with pretty much anything, whether you’re enjoying a chicken burger, cheeseburger, hot dog, whatever, Cherry Coca-Cola flavor just works. The only downside is when you start coming across Cherry Vanilla flavors and Cherry Lime flavors, stuff like that. Stay clear of them and stick to just the Cherry flavor.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 29: A can of Diet Coke is displayed in a cooler on June 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that restricts local governments from imposing new taxes on soda until 2031. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

2. Diet Coke

Silver medal time and the winner is Diet Coke flavor! The only flavor that has been around longer is the regular Coca-Cola and there is a very, very good reason for that. The flavor, the diet thing is pretty good as well, but the flavor is what fans are most happy with.

If it wasn’t then like I said earlier, they would have discontinued it. The fact they haven’t is a clear sign that we got this one right. Everybody loves the taste of Diet Coke and the only flavor to beat it is……..drum roll, please………

1. Regular Coca-Cola

No doubt you guessed the number one flavor before you got here. Nothing beats the flavor of a regular Coca-Cola. It’s obviously changed over the years, some ingredients used when the fizzy drink was first launched are not allowed to be used today but that hasn’t affected it from being the number one flavor.

And it is just as well. Because of Coca-Cola had never made their first drink so good then we would never have gotten all the other amazing flavors we have today.

So, what do you think? Have we got the ranking, right? Or would you move around a few of the flavors? Let us all know what you are thinking by dropping a comment just below.

Callum Gunn

A Gryffindor from Scotland now living in Canada. Callum writes about all things TV and Movie while raising his two little girls and pet husky. He will be the first to admit his husky is easiest to raise and would be completely useless without his wife.