Scientist claims to have discovered the secret formula for Coca-Cola

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Scientist and social media creator Zach Armstrong claims to have cracked one of the world’s most enduring mysteries. Namely, how do you make Coca-Cola?

Through his YouTube channel, the chemist claims that his homemade formula is virtually indistinguishable from the original American soft drink.

To recreate Coca-Cola, Armstrong starts with the basic components. For each liter of soda, Armstrong uses 110 grams of sugar, 96 milligrams of caffeine, 0.64 grams of phosphoric acid and caramel coloring. According to him, however, the real secret lies elsewhere.

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Those missing elements are the so-called “natural flavors” that define Coca-Cola’s taste. Traditionally, this includes cocaine-free coca leaf extract, an ingredient that is almost impossible to obtain. In the United States, only the Stepan Company is licensed to import coca leaves and the extract is banned from public sale.

That obstacle did not stop Armstrong. After more than a year of analysis, taste testing and trial and error, he claims to have found a viable substitute for coca leaf extract.

Recreating the unique taste of Coca-Cola

Armstrong’s approach relied on mass spectrometry, a chemical test that turns a substance into an electrically charged gas and separates it into its individual molecules.

This process creates a kind of chemical fingerprint of Coca-Cola. Using that data, Armstrong set out to replicate the drink without any coca leaves. The next stage involved blending a complex mix of essential oils, where exact proportions are crucial and even small mistakes can alter the final flavor.

To finish the reproduction, Armstrong adds lemon oil, lime oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, nutmeg oil, orange oil, coriander oil and a pine-like natural compound known as fenchol. Once combined, the mixture must rest for at least 24 hours.

After resting, the liquid is diluted with food-grade alcohol. In the original recipe, coca leaves contribute tannins, which add bitterness. To replicate this effect, Armstrong used wine tannins, a water-soluble powder that is easy to source.

In the final step, the tannins are mixed with water, caramel coloring, vinegar, glycerin for thickness, caffeine, sugar, vanilla extract and phosphoric acid. According to Armstrong, the result is a homemade version of Coca-Cola that comes remarkably close to the real thing.

Scientist claims to have discovered the secret formula for Coca-Cola

Recreating the unique taste of Coca-Cola

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