Coke Zero Recipe

Chill and Fill

Chill a 500 ml capacity glass or bottle. If serving immediately, add 6 ice cubes to the glass and set aside.

Combine Concentrates

In a small cup or measuring vessel, combine the sweetener (1 tsp), caramel color (4 ml), phosphoric acid solution (1 ml), natural cola flavor concentrate (3 ml), and caffeine solution (20 mg, optional). Stir until fully dissolved and homogenous.

Adjust Taste

Taste a very small sample (a few drops) diluted in 20–30 ml of chilled carbonated water to check balance. If too sour, reduce phosphoric acid by 0.2 ml; if too sweet, reduce sweetener by 0.1 tsp; if too weak, add 0.5–1 ml more cola concentrate. Re-dissolve after adjustments.

Pour 500 ml chilled carbonated water into the prepared glass or bottle gently to preserve carbonation. Slowly add the combined flavoring mixture to the carbonated water by pouring against the inside edge of the glass or bottle to minimize foaming.

Stir gently once with a long spoon 2–3 slow strokes to integrate the flavoring evenly without losing much carbonation. Do not vigorous stir.

Garnish with a lime wedge if desired and serve immediately. If not serving right away, cap and refrigerate; consume within 24 hours for best carbonation and flavor.