7 Discontinued Coke and Pepsi Flavors That Flopped or Faded Away
For more than a century, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have battled for the hearts and taste buds of American soda drinkers. Their rivalry has produced some of the most famous advertising campaigns in history, from the Pepsi Challenge to Coca-Cola’s polar bears. It has also produced a long list of new flavors and formulas that did not last.
Some of these experiments were bold attempts to win over new customers. Others were quick responses to trends like diet drinks, coffee, or healthier ingredients. A few became cult favorites, while others were so unpopular that they disappeared within months. Here are seven discontinued Coke and Pepsi drinks that flopped or faded away, and what they tell us about how Americans choose their soda.
1. New Coke
The most famous soda flop in history happened in April 1985. Coca-Cola announced it was changing its secret formula for the first time in 99 years. The new version, sweeter and smoother, was designed to compete with Pepsi, which had been winning taste tests.
The public reaction was explosive. Customers flooded the company with angry phone calls and letters, and some people stockpiled the original Coke. Protest groups formed, and the story dominated the news for weeks.
Just 79 days later, Coca-Cola brought back the original formula as “Coca-Cola Classic.” The company tells the full story on its official history page. New Coke stayed on shelves for several more years under the name Coke II before being discontinued.
2. Pepsi AM
In 1989, Pepsi introduced Pepsi AM, a cola with extra caffeine designed for people who drank soda in the morning instead of coffee. The idea was to capture customers who wanted a cold caffeine boost to start their day.
The drink was tested in several markets but never caught on. Many people did not like the idea of drinking soda at breakfast, and others felt regular Pepsi already had enough caffeine. Pepsi AM was discontinued by 1990.
Today, many people drink soda or energy drinks in the morning, so Pepsi AM may have simply been ahead of its time. But in the late 1980s, the idea seemed strange to most Americans.
3. Pepsi Kona
In 1994, Pepsi tested Pepsi Kona, a coffee-flavored cola, in Philadelphia. It was meant to appeal to coffee lovers and capitalize on the growing popularity of coffee drinks. The soda combined cola flavor with a strong coffee taste.
Most customers did not like the combination. Coffee and cola seemed like an odd pairing, and the drink never expanded beyond its test market. Pepsi Kona was discontinued after a short trial.
The idea of coffee-flavored cola would return years later, with similar results. For many soda fans, it remains one of the strangest experiments in the cola wars.
4. Coca-Cola BlaK
Coca-Cola tried its own version of coffee cola with Coca-Cola BlaK, launched in 2006. It was marketed as a sophisticated, premium drink for adults. The slim bottle and dark label set it apart from regular Coke.
Many customers found the taste confusing, and the drink did not sell well in the United States. Coca-Cola discontinued BlaK in 2008.
In 2021, Coca-Cola tried again with Coca-Cola With Coffee, a newer coffee-cola blend. It shows that companies are still interested in the idea, even if earlier versions flopped.
5. Pepsi Blue
Pepsi Blue was launched in 2002, and it was impossible to miss. The berry-flavored cola was bright blue, and it was marketed heavily to teenagers with music and video game tie-ins. Its flavor was sweet and fruity, unlike any traditional cola.
The drink attracted attention but did not keep customers coming back. Some people disliked the artificial color and the very sweet taste. Artificial dyes have only grown more controversial since then, with big brands now removing artificial dyes from their products. Pepsi Blue was discontinued in the United States around 2004.
Fans never fully forgot it. Pepsi brought Pepsi Blue back for a limited time in 2021, and nostalgic fans snapped it up. It remains one of the most memorable cola experiments of the early 2000s.
6. Coca-Cola C2 and Pepsi Edge
In 2004, during the low-carb diet craze, both companies introduced mid-calorie colas. Coca-Cola C2 and Pepsi Edge had about half the sugar, carbohydrates, and calories of regular cola. They were aimed at people who wanted to cut back but did not like the taste of diet soda.
The idea seemed smart, but customers were not convinced. People who wanted fewer calories chose diet soda, and people who wanted full flavor stuck with the original. The half-and-half drinks fell in between.
Pepsi Edge was discontinued in 2005, and C2 faded from stores over the next few years. The experiment showed how hard it is to change Americans’ soda habits.
7. Coca-Cola Life
Coca-Cola Life was introduced in the United States in 2014. It was sweetened with a blend of cane sugar and stevia, a plant-based sweetener, and it had fewer calories than regular Coke. The drink came in a green can and was marketed as a more natural option.
Coca-Cola Life did well in some countries, but sales in the United States were weak. Many customers found the stevia aftertaste noticeable. The drink was discontinued in many markets, including the United States, in the following years.
Its failure showed that even the biggest brands struggle to create a “healthier” soda that tastes as good as the original. The search for the perfect lower-calorie cola continues.
Why New Sodas Fail
Coca-Cola and Pepsi have huge budgets for research and marketing, but even they cannot predict what customers will love. Many new flavors fail because they are too different from what people expect, while others fail because they are not different enough.
Loyalty also plays a big role. Many soda drinkers have been drinking the same brand for decades, and they are reluctant to switch. The New Coke disaster showed that people feel a deep emotional connection to their favorite drinks.
Health concerns have also changed the soda business. Many Americans are drinking less soda than they did in the 1990s, and companies are introducing more sparkling water, juice, and energy drinks to keep up. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has tracked how sugary drinks became a major focus of nutrition research.
The Ones Fans Still Miss
While many of these drinks flopped, some still have loyal fans who remember them fondly. Online forums and social media are full of people asking for Pepsi Blue, Coca-Cola BlaK, and even New Coke to return. Companies sometimes listen, bringing back old flavors for limited runs.
For many people, these drinks are tied to memories of a certain time in their lives. A sip of an old soda can bring back memories of high school, summer vacations, or road trips. They are among the little rituals from the 80s and 90s that disappeared without much notice.
Which discontinued Coke or Pepsi flavor do you remember trying, and was it as bad as people say? Many readers still defend New Coke to this day.
