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SALT LAKE CITY -- The makers of Coca-Cola are hoping Utahns like their new dispensers, which serve drinks you may have never heard of before.
Currently, there are only a few places in the country you can try out Coke's new Freestyle beverage system. One is in the Megaplex Theater at Jordan Commons in Sandy.
"They wanted to put this new technology into one of our theaters to see how our guests respond and how they like it," says Megaplex General Manager Blake Andersen.
Andersen says using the machine is almost like using a giant iPod. The touch screen lists the general drinks it offers then gives the customer more specific flavor options.
It's not a flavor shot like we've seen at some of the traditional convenience stores. This is actually a mixed drink and so you get it as if you were getting it out of a can or bottle.
–Blake Andersen
"It's not a flavor shot like we've seen at some of the traditional convenience stores," Andersen says. "This is actually a mixed drink, and so you get it as if you were getting it out of a can or bottle."
The machine dishes out 116 flavors of Coke, Fanta, Dasani, Pibb, Sprite and Minute Maid Lemonade, and some of these flavors may be brand new to you.
For instance, it has Coke in raspberry and orange flavors, as well as grape Sprite Zero, raspberry Minute Maid Lemonade and peach-flavored Vault Energy Drink.
How can you make sure you don't get stuck with a flavor you don't like?
"We encourage sampling, tasting and trying out the different flavors," Anderson says.
He says an orange Creamsicle mixture seems popular. That's what you get when you mix orange Coke with vanilla Coke.
"The guests seem to love that one," Anderson says. "I haven't actually tried that one, but you can come up with all kinds of flavors and this Creamsicle concoction is everyone's favorite."
The machine is just in the testing phase right now. If customers like it, more machines will be added to other theaters.
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E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
