I've read that it may have something to do with the calibration of the syrup to carbonated water in the fountain, however I find it very unlikely that every McDonalds could calibrate so effectively.

I don't believe that it is.

I've read that it may have something to do with the calibration of the syrup to carbonated water in the fountain, however I find it very unlikely that every McDonalds could calibrate so effectively. I think it tastes phenomenal!

I've heard others say that they thought mcdonald's coke was better too but have never tasted a difference myself.

As one who eats many places, first no it is no better, in fact slightly weaker at some of the McDonalds I eat at.

But they use the same materials even same machines that other places use

I used to be a waitress in a YMCA snack bar. Part of my job was filling the soda fountains -- one reservoir with root beer syrup and one next to it for carbonated water, or one for Coke syrup and a reservoir next to it for carbonated water. When a customer wanted a Coke, I would put the glass under the spout, pull a lever, and two streams of liquid (the syrup and the carbonated water) would pour into the glass.

I could vary the strength of each in how I filled the glass. I could make the beverage sweeter with more Coke syrup or make it bubblier with more carbonated water. The syrup was more expensive than the carbonated water, so the employees were warned not to put in too much of the expensive syrup when we made drinks for customers. We were allowed to eat lunch for free, so we waitresses would make ourselves sweet, syrup-heavy drinks.

I don't know if McDonald's is set up that way, but that might be your answer, that an employee is messing with the syrup flow somehow. I know they do that at Arby's in order to make a root beer float (with ice cream already in the cup and then add only the syrup from the spout), or they can pour a glass of root beer (syrup + carbonated water) from the same spout.

McDonald's used to have an orange drink made from orange syrup and carbonated water from a fountain dispenser, with the two streams merging in a cup to make the drink. You could buy a gallon of the orange syrup in gallon cartons and take it home to mix with water like Kool-Aid or buy bottles of carbonated water at the grocery store and make your own sparkling orange drink.

OR, McDonald's probably adds more Coke syrup/corn syrup (i.e. sweetness) to its Cokes than you get in a can of Coke. The can of Coke is heavier on the cheaper carbonation equaling larger profits for the company.

If you're ever in McDonald's on a quiet part of the day, ask an employee.

I'm thinking just the opposite:) I like more bubbles than syrup. It's more refreshing to me, so maybe mcDonalds is trying to save money and uses more carbonated water:D

My one question regarding this is generally the people working at McDonalds would not care enough to ensure that all of the syrup mixture was the same. I have had McDonalds in many different states and many different locations and its always the same

I live within a few miles of McDonald's corporate headquarters and would call them for you, but am guessing they've all gone home (we're having a major blizzard right now).

My guess is that McDonald's has set a certain standard for the Coke dispensers, and it's up to the franchise owner/managers to make sure that all the standards are always met. I do know that quality inspectors drop in with no notice and check out many of the company standards while they're there -- how long a burger sits before being sold, how well customer service is performed, are food portions weighed correctly, etc.