MANILA, Philippines–The past couple of weeks have been a guessing game for many Filipinos as beverage company Coca-Cola teased about “tasting Coke® for the first time again” through social media, TV, and several billboards along major highways. Many wondered how this could possibly happen as the popular drink has been in the Philippines for more than 100 years.
On February 15th, Sunday, we got the answer. Coca-Cola revealed that there is a way to enjoy an even better tasting and more refreshing Coke, as if having Coke for the first time! The secret? Chill your Coca-Cola bottle up to 3˚ Celsius and voilà! You now have a perfectly chilled Coca-Cola!
Derek Sotto, Group Brand Manager of Coca-Cola Philippines engaged the crowd with Coca-Cola trivia that gained oohs and aahs – “What’s the first word that comes to mind when asked about the taste of Coca-Cola? Some will say a bit spicy, others will say refreshing, or it may even be described as having a bite in the throat. No matter who you ask, there is not one word to describe the taste of Coca-Cola. This is what we call flavor amplitude – because flavors are well blended and balanced, it triggers all five primary tastes that creates the “bloom” in the mouth that is hard to describe. “Basta masarap!”
So what exactly is the Perfect Coke experience? It is drinking from a Coca-Cola bottle chilled to perfection. Normally we get to taste Coke at 4 degrees Celsius or even warmer. But drinking it at 3 degrees takes the experience to a whole new level. It brings out that great Coca-Cola taste, like you’ve never tasted it before.
This was launched to the public through a simultaneous event done across the country – with key venues in Abreeza Mall Davao, Ayala Center Cebu, and Glorietta Mall in Makati. The afternoon was made more fun by performances from the Coke Ambassadors. Julia Montes and Jerome Ponce joined the celebration in Abreeza, Joseph Marco & Janella Salvador fired up Cebu, and Miles Ocampo & Manolo Pedrosa doubled the happiness in Glorietta.
Gigantic coolers – the first of its kind in the Philippines – were filled with ice and Coca-Cola bottles and were set up on each site. These came with giant thermometers showing the coolers’ temperatures, which started at 10˚ Celsius.
The highlight of the event was when the Coke Ambassadors, together with key Coke representatives in each venue, poured buckets of ice in the coolers – which made the temperature drop to 3˚ Celsius. It was a eureka moment as the audience realized that the key to getting the perfect Coke is simply by chilling it to 3˚.
The ambassadors and Coke officials then gave away samples of perfectly chilled Coca-Cola to the audience. True enough, Coke chilled to perfection is nothing like you’ve ever had before. Even avid Coke drinkers must be wondering how they’ve never had Coca-Cola this good.
Diego Granizo, the newly appointed General Manager of Coca-Cola Philippines, says this is the company’s way of re-connecting with the consumers. “We want them to re-discover the thrill, chill, and refreshing feeling of drinking a bottle of Coke, as if it’s their first time again,” he says.
To be able to reach out to as many Filipinos as possible, Coca-Cola also introduced the new Coke Happy Cycles. After the simultaneous launch, these coolers on wheels were sent out to the streets and have since been going around barangays to serve perfectly chilled Coke.
For more details on the #PerfectCoke and how to chill one on your own, check out the official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts of Coca-Cola Philippines. Feel free to post about your #SarapNgFirst time taste of the #PerfectCoke experiences online. ADVT