Coke. A classic. We love it. The peppery and sweet beverage loves you. The electric bubbles never fail to cleanse your stress when undergoing a harsh exam, and it gives you joy on perhaps a last period Friday afternoon.

However, a perplexion and honestly, a predicament has hit the Loyola community: Which Coke is better? Diet Coke or Coke Zero? If you know, you know, but if you don’t, The Loyalist is here to tell you that Loyola’s most charitable and productive individuals go throughout their week on Coke.

You may have noticed many of your chic, erudite, and efficacious teachers carrying the trendy beverage. Adam Dempsey ’25 and Matthew Sasso ’25 have quite interesting perspectives on this quandary.

Susan Torales, math educator and pillar in the Coke Zero advocacy community, prefers the sweet taste of Coke Zero over Diet Coke’s harsh aftertaste: “I love Coke Zero. I do not like Diet Coke.” However, Chemistry teacher Fawzia Qazi voiced, “I prefer the potent taste of Diet Coke compared to the sweeter taste of Coke Zero. Coke Zero is too sweet. Diet Pepsi is poison, though.”

English teacher Nicholas Martino voiced that he prefers Diet Pepsi over Coke Zero and Diet Coke, disagreeing with Qazi’s statement. Evelyn Mabra, counselor and Coca Cola connoisseur, aced the Diet Coke and Coke Zero test. In an isolated experiment, Mabra guessed every variation of Coke while blindfolded, distinguishing regular Coke from Diet Coke from Coke Zero. However, the phenomenal counselor would prefer something other than Coke Zero and Diet Coke. She sticks with the classic, original Coke from the can.

Brian Held ’93, also known as the impeccable Econ Guy and economics teacher, loves the familiarity of Diet Coke. While he does not indulge in the beverage often, he loves the aftertaste of the diet variation. Sasso, a math prodigy and Loyola icon, agrees with Held’s statement as he loves the straightforward taste of Diet Coke.

Similarly, Dempsey, curious individual and student, poses many questions. When asked about the dilemma, they opined, “I honestly just need the caffeine to get through those last couple of periods. Lisa Barlow, a pillar in the Salt Lake City community, gave me the wonderful idea to substitute energy drinks with Diet Coke.”

While these drinks hold almost identical ingredients, the opinions of the Cub community indeed differ across a broad spectrum for such similar products. If there is one thing you take from this article, stop at your nearest Z’s and order a refreshing Coke for your long and hectic day.