Coca-Cola Freestyle: Trying To Find The Tastiest Mixed Coca-Cola Flavour | HuffPost

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Test Drive: 21 Mixed Coca-Cola Flavours

Arti Patel & Rebecca Zamon — The Huffington Post Canada

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Coca-Cola

Each week, The Huffington Post Canada's Living team will try out something that has sparked our curiosity, and as long as we live to tell the tale, we'll let you know all about it.

The Contender: Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine

Cost: Depending on the venue, drinks can start at $3.

What It Is: Get ready to feel like a little kid in a candy store -- just replace all that candy with Coke. The Coca-Cola Freestyle machine is nothing like your typical soft drink fountain. This touch-screen mixer lets you combine up to 100 flavours of traditional Coca-Cola brands with new (and tasty) shots of peach, cherry and lime-flavoured products. Oh, and did we mention the machine also includes the return of classic Cherry and Vanilla Coke?

Though it launched in the U.S. last year, it only appeared in Canada in May, with 14 locations in the Greater Toronto Area (for now) in selected movie theatres and fast food restaurants. Ready for the "way too much choice" part? The machines carries 50 low and zero-calorie beverages and 75 caffeine-free ones, with brands like Minute Maid, Coke, Sprite, Barqs, Powerade, Fuze Tea, Fanta and Pibb Xtra -- which is otherwise not sold in Canada.

Putting It To The Test: If you're wondering how we started mixing these concoctions -- we really had no set of rules. Mixing our own favourite flavours and others we thought would blend well was the true inspriation behind this week's Test Drive. Associate Editor Arti Patel and Living Editor Rebecca Zamon take you on a sugar rush to find the best (and worst) "recipes" for mixed Coca-Cola flavours.

Have you experimented with any of these yourself? Let us know in the comments — we want to try them!

Check out the flavours we attempted to mix:

Test Drive: Coca Cola Freestyle

Minute Maid Strawberry(01 of21)

FAIL: Don't get us wrong, the taste itself was fine but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

Minute Maid Light Orange(02 of21)

PASS: It tastes just like an ice pop on a hot summer day.

Raspberry Coke and Minute Maid Orange(03 of21)

FAIL: The strawberry flavour was overpowering -- tasted just like plain strawberry.

Minute Maid Light Orange And Cherry(04 of21)

PASS: Another cold ice pop flavour -- this time with a hint of cherry.

Minute Maid Fruit Punch(05 of21)

PASS: Surprisingly, it tasted like homemade fruit punch.

Hi-C Orange Vanilla(06 of21)

PASS: Let's just say orange and vanilla do work well together and don't overpower one another. This is what a mixed drink is all about.

Pibb Xtra(07 of21)

PASS: Not sure why we don't have this one in Canada but Pibb Xtra is like a root beer with a kick (or something very similar to Dr. Pepper).

Hi-C Vanilla Orange And Raspberry Lime(08 of21)

FAIL: Too many flavours in this one. The orange flavour takes over the rest. We suggest sticking to one.

Pibb Xtra And Peach Sprite(09 of21)

PASS: A strange yet good mix. Peach sprite is a definite win for peach lovers.

Coke Lime And Powerade Cherry(10 of21)

PASS: The taste of lime goes perfect with cherry in this mix. Also, the non-fizzy flavour of the Powerade blends will with carbonated pop.

Barqs Vanilla(11 of21)

PASS: It tastes almost the same as regular Barqs...just a little sweeter.

Barqs Root Beer And Peach Fanta(12 of21)

PASS: Who knew? Peach also mixes well with root beer.

Grape Fanta And Pibb Extra(13 of21)

FAIL: We thought we would like this mix but the grape flavour didn't mix well with Pibb. Overly sweet.

Sprite Cherry And Fanta Raspberry(14 of21)

PASS: Sprite probably is the best mixer. In this mix however, the cherry overpowered the Fanta drink.

Sprite Strawberry And Fuze Tea(15 of21)

PASS: This one is great for those of you who want something light -- a light taste of iced tea and strawberries.

Fanta Lime And Vanilla Coke(16 of21)

PASS: This one was Arti Patel's favourite. The classic taste of Vanilla Coke tastes the best with lime.

Caffeine-Free Diet Coke And Sprite Grape(17 of21)

FAIL: We don't recommend mixing any type of regular coke with the grape -- it completely throws the flavour off.

Come Like And Hi-C Raspberry Lime(18 of21)

FAIL: Even with all the lime -- you can't taste any of it.

Powerade Lemon And Hi-C Fruit Punch(19 of21)

PASS: More on the fruit side, fruit punch does taste better with a hint of lemon.

Powerade Grape And Vanilla Sprite(20 of21)

PASS: This one was Rebecca Zamon's favourite. It was a surprisingly delicious mix of flavours.

Raspberry Coke And Minute Maid(21 of21)

PASS: Raspberry and lemon are a great pair but the fizzy Coke makes it a better drink.

Minute Maid Strawberry:

FAIL: Don't get us wrong, the taste itself was fine but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

Minute Maid Light Orange:

PASS: It tastes just like an ice pop on a hot summer day.

Raspberry Coke and Minute Maid Orange:

FAIL: The strawberry flavour was overpowering -- tasted just like plain strawberry.

Minute Maid Light Orange And Cherry:

PASS: Another cold ice pop flavour -- this time with a hint of cherry.

Minute Maid Fruit Punch:

PASS: Surprisingly, it tasted like homemade fruit punch.

Hi-C Orange Vanilla:

PASS: Let's just say orange and vanilla do work well together and don't overpower one another. This is what a mixed drink is all about.

Pibb Xtra:

PASS: Not sure why we don't have this one in Canada but Pibb Xtra is like a root beer with a kick (or something very similar to Dr. Pepper).

Hi-C Vanilla Orange And Raspberry Lime:

FAIL: Too many flavours in this one. The orange flavour takes over the rest. We suggest sticking to one.

Pibb Xtra And Peach Sprite:

PASS: A strange yet good mix. Peach sprite is a definite win for peach lovers.

Coke Lime And Powerade Cherry:

PASS: The taste of lime goes perfect with cherry in this mix. Also, the non-fizzy flavour of the Powerade blends will with carbonated pop.

Barqs Vanilla:

PASS: It tastes almost the same as regular Barqs...just a little sweeter.

Barqs Root Beer And Peach Fanta:

PASS: Who knew? Peach also mixes well with root beer.

Grape Fanta And Pibb Extra:

FAIL: We thought we would like this mix but the grape flavour didn't mix well with Pibb. Overly sweet.

Sprite Cherry And Fanta Raspberry:

PASS: Sprite probably is the best mixer. In this mix however, the cherry overpowered the Fanta drink.

Sprite Strawberry And Fuze Tea:

PASS: This one is great for those of you who want something light -- a light taste of iced tea and strawberries.

Fanta Lime And Vanilla Coke:

PASS: This one was Arti Patel's favourite. The classic taste of Vanilla Coke tastes the best with lime.

Caffeine-Free Diet Coke And Sprite Grape:

FAIL: We don't recommend mixing any type of regular coke with the grape -- it completely throws the flavour off.

Coke Lime And Hi-C Raspberry Lime:

FAIL: Even with all the lime -- you can't taste any of it.

Powerade Lemon And Hi-C Fruit Punch:

PASS: More on the fruit side, fruit punch does taste better with a hint of lemon.

Powerade Grape And Vanilla Sprite:

PASS: This one was Rebecca Zamon's favourite. It was a surprisingly delicious mix of flavours.

Raspberry Coke And Minute Maid Lemon:

PASS: Raspberry and lemon are a great pair but the fizzy Coke makes it a better drink.

Have a suggestion for a Test Drive? Tried something you loved or hated? Let us know on Twitter at @HuffPostCaLiv, or in the comments below.

ALSO: Check out these other products we've put to the test:

Products We Have Tested

Freya Active Sports Bra(01 of29)

Our Thoughts: Wearing this bra to yoga, a class with more relaxation, little movement and stretching, helped keep my boobs in place. Next, I wore the bra to the gym during an elliptical session and skipping workout. Again, the bra was ideal for keeping things in place and not adding strain to my back or chest. Lastly, I tried out an intense Madonna-inspired dance/cardio class in Toronto, and once again, the bra did nothing but impress.It felt great, it didn't look too cone-like under a basic t-shirt and it was easy to wash as well. Read the article here.

Mealspirations Delivery Service(02 of29)

Our Thoughts: I really like the idea of a service that gives you ideas of meals for the week (I can't tell you the number of times I've searched 'meal planning calendar' online), along with high-quality ingredients and recipes that you might not attempt otherwise. Once they're made, the meals are very yummy and often leave leftovers for lunch the next day. Read the article here.

Madonna's Hard Candy 'Addicted To Sweat' Class(03 of29)

What it is: A 60-minute cardio and dance class for all levels that challenges your ability to stretch, balance and dance. The class was taught by Madonna's trainer Nicole Winhoffer, who also happens to be the creative director of the Addicted To Sweat program and a kickass dancer. Using a variety of equipment, including steps and towels, the high-energy workout is meant to push your cardio limits and "harden" your body.Read the story here.

Essentrics Workout(04 of29)

Our Thoughts: I'm only 5 feet tall, so I'm up for trying anything that targets getting long, lean muscles as opposed to short and stocky ones. The best part is, you can do it anywhere. All you need is a mat, and maybe a chair if you want to get into some of the deep stretches. The balance between strengthening and stretching while focusing on your core also feels kinder to your body than just punishing it with high impact cardio or heavy weights.Read the story here.

Studio Lagree(05 of29)

Our Thoughts: The abs portions was probably my favourite. Even though having your whole body on a machine seems a bit awkward at first, you start to adapt to it. These exercises challenged my balance, energy levels and of course, my lack of flexibility.Read the story here. (credit:Handout)

Chromebook(06 of29)

Our Thoughts: The Chromebook is not yet for everyone. You have to "live and breathe" Google in order to be able to use the device to its fullest potential, and also be connected to the Internet. Lucky for me, I use Google's Enterprise service and it integrates beautifully with the device.Read the story here.

Kobo Aura HD(07 of29)

Our Thoughts:The Kobo Aura HD addresses the three most important factors in an ereader flawlessly — screen quality, speed and battery life. The secondary objectives such as form factor and feel in hand are somewhat off. One could argue that the device is bulky and the back design does not resemble a conventional, modern gadget.Read the story here (credit:Handout)

Microsoft's Surface Windows 8(08 of29)

Our thoughts:The size was a little too big — for a tablet at least. For my own use, I would've preferred something smaller in size. However, when it came to typing, size did matter. Since the tablet can rotate, it was easy on the fingers for typing.Next was the quality of photos and videos. For a tablet, I thought the images worked well. Pictures were easy to scroll through (I tested out saving a few in a folder), and videos online were quick to upload. The photo quality for the built-in camera was average — but I've never been a big fan of taking photos with tablets to begin with. (Taking self-portraits with them are even more awkward). The tablet also included a cool travel tool that let you browse different cities and their go-to spots — pretty neat.Read the story here (credit:The Huffington Post Canada)

Divine Heritage Artistry's Bollywood & Bhangra class(09 of29)

Our Thoughts: "Years of watching "So You Think You Can Dance" had me terrified to make any hand gestures that might offend, but that didn't seem to be too much of a concern at Sarkar's class. I've never tried Bollywood dancing before, and at first found it a challenge to keep up with the moves -- but fortunately, the size of the class (around 60 people) made me instantly less self-conscious and I was able to enjoy just spending the hour learning new steps." Read the story here. (credit:The Huffington Post Canada )

Swizzle.com(10 of29)

Our Thoughts: "The first thing I noticed when I got my digest was how empty my inbox was. At least 15 of my regular emails were grouped into one convenient email that was easy to read on my phone and the computer. I also noticed I didn't miss the emails I had unsubscribed to -- I actually couldn't even remember a lot of them." Read the story here. (credit:Swizzle.com)

Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo Review(11 of29)

Our Thoughts: Wow, it's light. Really light. I'm a media junkie so I pick up magazines, newspapers and other things to read like a stray dog picks up fleas. The Mini is probably lighter than this week's issue of The New Yorker and it's definitely lighter than that September issue of Vogue (DEFINITELY lighter).Read the story here.

Slow Cooker Love(12 of29)

Tips: If you're planning to start your meal in the morning, the trick is to prepare the ingredients or any sauces the night before. Leaving your full chicken or curries for the morning can get frustrating -- and sloppy. Another option for those of you who don't want to leave your cooker on during the day is to leave it on overnight and unplug it in the morning. This way you have a lunch and a leftover dinner.Read the story here.

Hot Dog Stuffed Crust Pizza(13 of29)

The Warning: Not everyone in the office was willing to try Pizza Hut's newest pizza fusion. One editor even described it "wrong," which is probably the biggest thing we have to warn you about: People will judge you for your willingness to try new things. They will judge you hard for your acceptance of hot dogs and pizza belonging together. You may even lose a few friends in the process. Granted, that's what ordering in is for, so feel free to leave your food-fusion hating friends at the restaurant.Read the story here.

Iogo Yogurt(14 of29)

Thoughts: "With its motto of "the natural taste," iögo is created without gelatin, artificial colours or flavours, and no preservatives. Available in seven lines (fat-free yogurt, probiotic yogurt with lactose-free options, Greek-style yogurt, drinkable yogurt, fresh cheese and -- wait for it -- cheese in a tube), iögo comes in over 40 flavours." Read the story here. (credit:Shutterstock)

Extension Room Ballet Class(15 of29)

Our Thoughts: "Like any dance workout, this isn't as easy as it looks and it may take me a few classes to actually catch up and follow every move. The pace did slow me down a bit and by the time I ended up understanding one dance move, the instructor was onto the next one -- I definitely would stand closer next time. But in terms of a workout, it was great. My abs, arms and legs were sore the next day and my back felt more relaxed than ever -- especially after sitting at a desk for eight hours a day." Read the story here. (credit:TDFolo )

BMW ConnectedDrive(16 of29)

Our Thoughts: While we didn't have a chance to try out all the features on this prototype (like the full-featured iDrive Touch controller), this system looks to be the most comprehensive out on the market. Announcing Twitter and Facebook statuses has sure been a good way to pass the time in traffic, and those mapping graphics are truly fantastic. (credit:Dave Pankew )

Suspension Training(17 of29)

Our Thoughts: With so many workout classes opting for "new" and "improved" techniques these days, it was nice to go to a class that was purely about strength conditioning -- albeit with the suspension gimmick for a bit of interest. As someone who does strength training occasionally -- say, once a week -- the exercises were a challenge throughout. And better yet, there were plenty of options to make it more difficult once you'd mastered the original pose, merely by moving your feet around a bit. (credit:Ageless Body Bootcamp )

BarreWorks(18 of29)

Combining the use of ballet barres, resistance bands and weighted balls, BarreWorks is a group fitness course that focuses on muscle sculpting, cardio, core conditioning and forcing our bodies to stay balanced. Read more here. (credit:BarreWorks)

Socacize(19 of29)

Our Thoughts: Did I feel the burn? I felt it right after and the next day, but just like any workout aftermath, it was the best type of pain. My shoulders, neck and thighs felt both tense and relaxed. I could feel that I worked out my abs and butt, even if I couldn't keep up with all of the moves. I realized this was not necessarily for a beginner like me. I did have to work at my own pace, but, with a few more classes, I can see myself catching up. Read the story here. (credit:Socacize )

LeRoy's Gourmet Flavored Ketchup(20 of29)

What It Is: Figuring Heinz et al had the classic ketchup market cornered, LeRoy's, a Milwaukee-based company, set out to innovate. They concocted flavours such as Dill & Celery, Homemade Chili, Mustard & Spice, Smokey Mesquite and Beer & Onion (two additional flavours, Crispy Bacon and Ghost Pepper & Aged Cheddar came out earlier in 2012).
Available in select stores in the U.S., and hoping to arrive in Canada this summer, the ketchups are meant for anything from fries to burgers to chips -- or any other recipe incorporating this favoured condiment. (credit:Rebecca Zamon)

ISIS Sports Bra(21 of29)

Our Thoughts: "Compared to my last bra with no real support, yes, the ISIS was better. Compared to another one I own from Lululemon that boasts similar functions? I would rank them about the same. This bra does the job of securing your girls when you're running or jumping, and it does a great job of collecting sweat. The straps, again, are the selling point, thanks to the support they allow." Read more here. (credit:ISIS Sports Bra )

Lumosity.com's Brain Games(22 of29)

Our Thoughts: As someone who's less than stringent about adhering to any particular gym or general wellness schedule, I actually found myself looking forward to my daily Lumosity games. The idea that I could be making my brain work better just by memorizing matrix patterns or figuring out rules to a card game was incredibly appealing, and really compelled me to 'play' every day. Read more here.

Imagine Organic Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup(23 of29)

Our Thoughts: First, you should know that I L.O.V.E. soup. I can eat it day and night, hot or cold, any time of the year. There are two things I will never get tired of: soup and cheese. Oh, and bacon. Oh, and fruit.
So I have pretty high standards for my soup, and especially chicken soup. My mom's is the best (5 stars!), my grandma's was the second-best (4.5 stars!). Canned and prepared soups will do the trick, but generally don't fool me (1 - 3 stars). How did Imagine's soup measure up? Read more here. (credit:Lisa Yeung/The Huffington Post Canada )

Kinect's Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012(24 of29)

Our Thoughts: Approaching the workout as a game is great in concept, but tougher to do when you find yourself yelling at the screen as the trainer "asks" you to do another 12 squats. And that's probably the game's greatest asset -- the feeling that you have a personal trainer motivating you to keep going. Yes, it is a computer-generated person who doesn't respond when you tell them you've had enough, but for many people, this push can be the difference between sitting on the couch and getting up and air boxing. Read more here. (credit:Kinect)

Argan Oil(25 of29)

Our Thoughts: Did it work, you ask? Pretty darn good as a moisturizer. It left my skin feeling ridiculously soft, and didn't cause breakouts like I feared it would, but that may be because I use another moisturizer with glycolic acid to help keep my skin clear. But it left my skin dewy, plumped up and kind of glowing, and was a good companion to my other moisturizer (NeoStrata, which I can't recommend enough). Read more here. (credit:Shutterstock)

Snacks Of The Week(26 of29)

PRICE: $3
AVAILABLE AT: Most grocery stores across Canada.What's In It: 25 per cent of your daily iron.
Putting It To Use: Cooked along green vegetables and mushrooms, this tofu makes the perfect protein option for vegetarians. Read more here. (credit:Sunrise )

Be Kool Kids Fever Patches(27 of29)

Our Thoughts: Now, we must be honest -- our testers were a group of adults, none of whom had fevers. So the sheets were slightly small for our foreheads, but no less effective because of it. As soon as we stuck them on, the cool, tingling sensation made an impact, alleviating tiredness and for some, the after effects of excessive holiday partying, including headaches. Taking the "patch" on and off did mean it lost adhesion, but when left alone, the sheet was as cool as when it started, even three hours later. We can imagine in the case of a fever, the sheets would be greatly appreciated, but definitely shouldn't take the place of appropriate medication. We also loved that the sheets were cold upon impact, with no need to stick them into a freezer. Read more here.

Starbucks Cake Pop Kit(28 of29)

Our Thoughts: In the end, I had some pretty good-looking cake pops to give my family, though we could each only eat one because of the sweetness. Were they the same as the ones you buy at Starbucks? Not exactly -- baristas apparently have a better handle on covering the ball in icing, and seem to tone down the sugar so as to keep customers from going into a diabetic shock. On the plus side, the homemade pops were much more moist than the ones in store. Read more here. (credit:Starbucks )

Coca-Cola Freestyle(29 of29)

What It Is: Get ready to feel like a little kid in a candy store -- just replace all that candy with Coke. The Coca-Cola Freestyle machine is nothing like your typical soft drink fountain. This touch-screen mixer lets you combine up to 100 flavours of traditional Coca-Cola brands with new (and tasty) shots of peach, cherry and lime-flavoured products. Oh, and did we mention the machine also includes the return of classic Cherry and Vanilla Coke?Read the story here.

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