Not crap. But I did try one of these today and couldn't get all the way through it:

I guess I'm the only person on this planet that thinks Coke Blak is really good.

I will concede that it could be better. Specifically the coffee flavoring they use has a bad aftertaste. There is room for improvement, but I stand by this product.

And Coca-Cola is the tastiest of all colas.

I bought two of thee CocaCola Blak for they were $.50 each!

I couldn't even finish the first one!

Shit is captivatingly bad. By which I mean, you'll want more of that horrendous chemical aftertaste after 4 minutes.

Original Coke: Not Crap as a once-in-a-while thing, by itself or as a chaser for Scotch or mixer for bourbon. Does leave my teeth feeling disturbingly ... furry. For everyday drinking I favor water or tea.

Every other form of Coke, including Vanilla, Cherry, and Diet: Crap. I'm sure Coke Blak sucks but I sort of want to try it once anyway.

Coca-Cola Company: Crap.

Pepsi and all of its variants: Crap.

Most terrifying beverage produced by Coca-Cola or anybody else: Tab. Its "bizarre petrochemical aftertaste" (Cecil Adams) was ambrosia to me as a teenager. I could drink two liters in an evening, and probably spent a few late nights driving around the North Shore with a bottle of Tab-plus-cheap-vodka in hand. Doubt I could make it through a single can now, not that you see it much any more.

Best carbonated beverage known to me: Reed's Extra Ginger Brew. Very gingery, just sweet enough without being sugary, wonderfully refreshing. Beats the hell out of Schweppes or whatever. I am also drawn to Izze Sparkling Blueberry but have not tried it yet. (Apologies for pimping hippie / yuppie soda pop, but some of it is good.)

NOT CRAP...really one of my favoritest things ever...in theory perhaps i should hate it due to the marketing omniscience...but it tastes SOOO good, it tastes so much better than any other soft drink...it's one of my favoriest things ever...oh, i already said that...

uh, and i've never heard of this Coke Blak...sometimes stuff's regional...or maybe i'm just not paying attention...i'm not a coffee fan anyway...

It's weird, but if I was asked to describe the taste of Coke to someone who had never had one, I would probably convince both of us that it's disgusting.
Really, what *does* it taste like?
Malted battery acid?

But I sure enjoy one from time to time. Like hotdogs, theoretically there's no reason to consume one when you consider the taste and what it's made out of.

I crave them though. Pretty often in fact. That's how Americanized we get. That we can crave this shit and nothing else will do.

-A