People are just discovering the difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke

One of life's great debates is what's better... Coke Zero or Diet Coke.

They might fill a similar brief – Coca Cola flavours without the sugar – but the actual contents of both beverages are different.

So, what is the difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar?

The main difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke is how similar they taste to the real thing...

There's a key difference between Diet Coke and Coca Cola Zero Sugar (Credit: Getty)

Coca Cola explains: "Both drinks are sugar free and calorie free. Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar looks and tastes more like Coca‑Cola original taste, while Diet Coke has a different blend of flavours which gives it a lighter taste."

So, there you have it.

Let's get a bit granular and look at why the drinks taste the way the do.

Dietician Abbey Sharp has done some research and explained all on TikTok, telling viewers that there's 'one key difference' to consider.

"The key difference is that Diet Coke is sweetened exclusively with aspartame, whereas Coke Zero Sugar also contains a sweetener called acesulfame potassium or Ace-K," she says.

"While the wellness community will call both of these sweeteners complete poison, the reality is, they’re both FDA-approved and have been deemed safe in moderation."

(We're not going to go into the alleged risks of different chemicals, which the dietician does, as the research is still inconclusive).

Diet Coke also does not contain potassium citrate (which is sour and slightly salty) or acesulfame potassium (a sweetener with somewhat bitter taste), while the newest iteration of Coke Zero does, which balances the flavours to make it closer in taste to the OG.

The drinks are both zero sugar and zero calories despite their differences (Credit: Getty)

Coca Cola Zero Sugar launched after the beloved DC in 2016, and today comes in many flavours including cherry and vanilla.

Are you team regular Coca Cola, Coca Cola Zero Sugar or Diet Coke? We find the question is a divisive one, but at least you now know there's a reason they taste different...

Featured image: Getty