Coca-Cola's Coolest Machine Never Caught On (And We Think We Know Why)

You wouldn't think there's a ton of room for innovation left when it comes to Coca-Cola. It's been around since the 19th century, after all. And while Coca-Cola has been known to experiment with some unique new flavors, it's still selling that crisp, sweet original taste. (Coke tried to change the flavor once, with New Coke, but it turned out to be a big mistake.) But just 10 years ago, Coca-Cola experimented with a new kind of cooler that sold "Arctic Coke" — essentially, instant soda slushies. The machines didn't take off due to the novelty not catching on as well as some legal issues, but there's still some appetite for them with customers.

Here's how it worked: The coolers were set to a little below freezing (as opposed to normal Coke coolers which are set at about 45 degrees Fahrenheit), and the sodas inside sat on plates that could shake the contents, at which point they would quickly freeze. (If you've ever made an instant slushie with a Coke bottle in your freezer, it's basically a high-tech version of that principle.) It sure sounds like a great idea, and in 2016 the coolers were tested in 800 convenience stores across America, but you don't really see them around anymore.

How come you don't see Arctic Coke machines lining convenience stores all across the country? Well, part of it has to do with some legal strife between Coca-Cola and the machine supplier, SuperCooler. In 2023, Coca-Cola sued SuperCooler for allegedly failing to repay a loan; while that in itself wouldn't be enough to nip the nascent Arctic Coke movement in the bud, it certainly didn't help.

Alas, the truth is that the trend simply didn't catch on. One commentor on Reddit said of their discontinuing, "Cool concept, but the novelty wears off quickly with the customers." A slushie, after all, is a more situational drink than a regular bottle of Coke. If you're after a quick hit of sugary refreshment, you're more likely to grab a bottle from a regular cooler rather than have a sort of ersatz Slurpee. Other people have commented online (half-joking or otherwise) about their desire to buy a machine for themselves. If you want an Arctic Coke for yourself, you don't actually need a fancy machine; all you need is a bottle of Coke and a freezer.