Gas stations are the most classic vendors of over-sized cups of chilled, carbonated, caffeinated soft drinks, but excellent products can be found in drug stores, grocery stores, and wholesale warehouses everywhere. If you live in a town with people and businesses, you are surrounded by fountain drinks. With so many options, how do you choose where to take your loose change and singles? Which establishments will provide you the best priced and highest quality refreshment? On a hot, long day, who do you trust to give you the optimally refreshing and rejuvenating 32 ounces of your favorite cola? To answer these important questions, I present to you my findings.
Emily's Official and Highly Scholastic Survey of Fountain Drinks
(All research was conducted in the summer of 2009, in the Denver area.
All products tested were 32 oz, diet cola beverages.)
(All research was conducted in the summer of 2009, in the Denver area.
All products tested were 32 oz, diet cola beverages.)
Best Value: The Circle K "Thirstbuster"
Circle K's pricing is what makes them one of my favorites. A 32 oz drink is just 79 cents anytime, any day, which is the best price I've seen yet. The cups are styrofoam, which, as the cups claim, stay "Arctic cold on the inside" while remaining "Bone dry on the outside." Not all Circle K's have the styrofoam cups, but their plastic cups have a decent, though not ideal, grip-ability. Also, plastic cups collect condensation, which can be an inconvenience. The occasionally wet hands are totally worth it, however, for paying approximately 2.46 cents per ounce. For Coke product lovers, however, Circle K is not the place for you. Only Pepsi products flow from their spouts, but being a Diet Pepsi lover myself, the lack of selection is not a setback.
Status Symbol: The 7-Eleven "Big Gulp"
7-Eleven is classic, but it's overpriced in my opinion. Their selection, however, is the best you'll ever find. Their machines dispense both Pepsi and Coke products, and many locations offer the flavor shots option, which is a nice way to shake things up every once in a while. With the flavor shots, you can choose from lemon, cherry, or vanilla flavoring to be dispensed along with your drink. I have tried cherry and lemon, but I warn against the lemon flavor; it was overpowering, artificial, and too sweet. A Big Gulp will cost you $1.19, which breaks down to about 3.7 cents per ounce. Refills are only 99 cents, however, and the cups are durable, so they're easy to hang onto in your car for your next drink stop. Overall, 7-Eleven is a classic, though not better enough than its alternatives to justify the $0.20 + difference.
Short-lived Favorite: Diamond Shamrock
I was so excited when I passed by a Diamond Shamrock in Littleton, CO and saw that between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., they observed "Halfy Hour," during which all fountain drinks were half off. Sham. Wow. I immediately made a stop and bought a 32 oz. drink for just 54 cents; it was truly thrilling. Diamond Shamrock has styrafoam cups (my favorite) and Pepsi products, which is fine with me. I thought for a while that Diamond Shamrock was the perfect gas station drink stop for me, so I spent the next month searching for a D.S. close to home or work. Once I finally found a few, I discovered that tragically, "Halfy Hour" was only a six-week-long promotion. Normally priced, a drink is still only $1.09, and the cups are as cute as a 32 oz styrofoam cup can be. Diamond Shamrock is definitely worth the stop.
Number 1 Choice: The Walgreens "FlavorRage"
Walgreens really is the all-around champion of fountain drinks. Not all locations offer them, but if you are stopping by a Walgreens with a "Cafe' W," you are in for a fantastic experience. The Cafe' W provides pebble ice, both Coke and Pepsi products, flavor shots, and good-looking cups. They have the best of everything, and at just 99 cents, the price is right. The downside is that Walgreens stores are bigger than most gas station convenience stores, so getting in and out may take longer. The benefit of their being larger, however, is that you can pick up your prescriptions, photos, and anything else you need while grabbing some much-needed refreshment.
Circle K's pricing is what makes them one of my favorites. A 32 oz drink is just 79 cents anytime, any day, which is the best price I've seen yet. The cups are styrofoam, which, as the cups claim, stay "Arctic cold on the inside" while remaining "Bone dry on the outside." Not all Circle K's have the styrofoam cups, but their plastic cups have a decent, though not ideal, grip-ability. Also, plastic cups collect condensation, which can be an inconvenience. The occasionally wet hands are totally worth it, however, for paying approximately 2.46 cents per ounce. For Coke product lovers, however, Circle K is not the place for you. Only Pepsi products flow from their spouts, but being a Diet Pepsi lover myself, the lack of selection is not a setback.
Status Symbol: The 7-Eleven "Big Gulp"
7-Eleven is classic, but it's overpriced in my opinion. Their selection, however, is the best you'll ever find. Their machines dispense both Pepsi and Coke products, and many locations offer the flavor shots option, which is a nice way to shake things up every once in a while. With the flavor shots, you can choose from lemon, cherry, or vanilla flavoring to be dispensed along with your drink. I have tried cherry and lemon, but I warn against the lemon flavor; it was overpowering, artificial, and too sweet. A Big Gulp will cost you $1.19, which breaks down to about 3.7 cents per ounce. Refills are only 99 cents, however, and the cups are durable, so they're easy to hang onto in your car for your next drink stop. Overall, 7-Eleven is a classic, though not better enough than its alternatives to justify the $0.20 + difference.
Short-lived Favorite: Diamond Shamrock
I was so excited when I passed by a Diamond Shamrock in Littleton, CO and saw that between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., they observed "Halfy Hour," during which all fountain drinks were half off. Sham. Wow. I immediately made a stop and bought a 32 oz. drink for just 54 cents; it was truly thrilling. Diamond Shamrock has styrafoam cups (my favorite) and Pepsi products, which is fine with me. I thought for a while that Diamond Shamrock was the perfect gas station drink stop for me, so I spent the next month searching for a D.S. close to home or work. Once I finally found a few, I discovered that tragically, "Halfy Hour" was only a six-week-long promotion. Normally priced, a drink is still only $1.09, and the cups are as cute as a 32 oz styrofoam cup can be. Diamond Shamrock is definitely worth the stop.
Number 1 Choice: The Walgreens "FlavorRage"
Walgreens really is the all-around champion of fountain drinks. Not all locations offer them, but if you are stopping by a Walgreens with a "Cafe' W," you are in for a fantastic experience. The Cafe' W provides pebble ice, both Coke and Pepsi products, flavor shots, and good-looking cups. They have the best of everything, and at just 99 cents, the price is right. The downside is that Walgreens stores are bigger than most gas station convenience stores, so getting in and out may take longer. The benefit of their being larger, however, is that you can pick up your prescriptions, photos, and anything else you need while grabbing some much-needed refreshment.
*Which one sounds best to you?*
*Did your favorite make my list?*
*What do you look for in a fountain drink?*
*Did your favorite make my list?*
*What do you look for in a fountain drink?*
5 comments:
Ha this is the best survey of fountain drinks ever! I was glad to be able to join you this summer in your fountain drink quest.
I must confess that fountain drinks have never been much of a temptation for me. Perhaps that stems from numerous road trips wherein any drinks that were purchased must contain screw-on lids to prevent spillage.
But after reading your findings, I must say that I can see the financial benefits in purchasing fountain drinks.
I will certainly give these mystical drinks a try.
This is hilarious! I'm a diet Coke lover myself, Coke Zero being my all-time favorite. I love a flavor shot of vanilla or cherry. I've never even heard of Walgreens having drinks! Good work on your research and reporting.
So glad I could be part of your research team this summer. Miss you!
I've always been a sucker for 7-eleven, but that's just because you can get Jalapeno and cream cheese go-go taquitos. I am excited to try out cafe W though.
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