Fountain Drinks Recipe

Dilute each syrup with carbonated water (single-serve method)

For a single 12-oz serving, place 2/3 cup (about 160 ml) chilled carbonated water into a chilled 12-oz glass or cup. Add 2 tablespoons (approx. 0.5 fl oz / 15 ml) of the chosen soft-drink syrup (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Mr. Pibb, or Barq's). Stir gently once or twice with a bar spoon to combine. Taste and adjust by adding up to 1 more teaspoon syrup if you prefer sweeter/stronger flavor. For Minute Maid Lemonade, use 3 tablespoons of lemonade concentrate per 2/3 cup carbonated water if you want sparkling lemonade; if you prefer still lemonade, use chilled plain water instead of carbonated water and mix 3 tablespoons concentrate into 2/3 cup water.

Batch dispense method (for multiple servings)

If making multiple drinks at once, maintain the approx. 1:8 to 1:10 syrup-to-carbonation ratio used by commercial fountain systems. For the ingredient amounts listed above (0.5 cup syrup + 6 cups carbonated water), combine 0.5 cup syrup with 6 cups chilled carbonated water in a pitcher for a mildly strong batch. Gently stir once to combine. Label the pitcher with the flavor and keep chilled. Stir again briefly before serving.

Diet/light options

For Diet Coke or other diet syrup, use the same dilution ratio as above. Diet syrups are typically more concentrated; start with the lower end (1:10) and adjust to taste.

Prepare glasses by filling each serving glass with 1 cup of ice (adjust based on glass size). If serving sparkling lemonade, pour the mixed lemonade over the ice. For cola, root beer or other sodas, pour the diluted mixture over ice.

Garnish: For lemonade or Sprite, add a lemon wedge to the rim or squeezed into the drink. For diet sodas or colas, garnish is optional. Insert a straw and serve immediately while carbonated.

If additional sweetness is desired in lemonade, stir in up to 2 tablespoons of simple syrup per pitcher or 1 tablespoon per single serving, then taste and adjust.