Diet Coke Recipe

Chill glass and ingredients: place a tall glass in the freezer for a few minutes or fill with ice to chill. Keep the carbonated water and diet cola cold to preserve fizz.

Add ice: fill the chilled glass with about 1 cup of ice cubes, leaving room for liquid.

Pour cola base: measure and pour 12 fl oz of store-bought diet cola (or diluted homemade concentrate — see optional section) into the glass over the ice.

Top with carbonation (if using a stronger concentrate or making a lighter drink): gently pour 12 fl oz of cold carbonated water down the side of the glass to preserve bubbles and achieve a balanced strength. If using pre-mixed diet cola, omit carbonated water and simply serve the 12 fl oz cola.

Stir gently: use a long spoon to give the drink one or two gentle turns to combine without flattening carbonation.

Garnish and serve: squeeze a lime wedge over the surface if desired, drop the wedge in the glass, and serve immediately with a straw.

Make a quick cola concentrate

Warm 1 cup of water in a small saucepan over low heat — do not boil. Stir in 2 tbsp zero-calorie cola syrup (or concentrated diet cola), 1 tsp zero-calorie sweetener if additional sweetness is desired, 1 tsp citric acid (optional, for brightness), and 1 tsp liquid caramel color or a very small pinch of caramelized sugar for color. Stir until combined and slightly thickened, about 2–3 minutes, then remove from heat and cool to room temperature.

Dilute and carbonate: To serve, combine 2–3 tbsp of the cooled concentrate with 8–12 fl oz of chilled carbonated water, adjusting concentrate to taste. Stir gently to combine.

Proceed to the Drink section: pour over ice and garnish as described above.