Category: Soda Machines

We walk by soda fountains all the time without a second thought, but they are actually quite incredible. In the United States, soda fountains actually have a long history of cultural significance that deserves a little more attention. So let’s look at the history of the soda fountain.

History of the Soda Fountain: The Original Soda Fountain

The first American soda fountains weren’t all that different from the ones we think of today. The original was patented in 1819 by a physician named Samuel Fahnestock. This relatively simple machine was composed of a specialized barrel with a pump and a spigot.

While the original soda fountain wasn’t serving up soft drinks, it was more than capable of producing carbonated water. This nifty device hid most of its inner workings behind the counter in much the same way that modern Los Angeles soda fountain equipment does today.

The Evolution of the Soda Fountain

Over the course of the 19th century, the early soda fountain got a little more high-tech. The machine invented by John Matthews in 1832 made soda fountains much more cost-effective. As a result, their use spread to individual shops. Drug stores and street vendors could officially afford to sell sparkling water and make a profit.

The nineteenth century also witnessed the aesthetic elevation of the soda fountain. These machines were nothing like the ones we see today. They were grand devices modeled after classical themes. The fanciest soda fountain resembled a carved column with endless intricate details. They were crafted from marble, brass, and mirror to create unforgettable centerpieces.

Soda Fountains and 20th Century Youth Culture

As soda fountains continued to evolve, they worked their way into everything from barbershops to restaurants. In many ways they became an iconic part of American culture and social behaviors. This trend is most apparent in 1950s American youth culture.

Prior to the mid-20th century, youth culture didn’t really exist. The shift from childhood to adulthood proved more clearly defined with little in the middle. That all changed as the concept of the “teenager” began to develop.

The Development of Youth Culture

You could certainly argue that this concept began to emerge around the time of the first world war. Still, the idea of being a young adult and having a unique cultural identity based on your age was not well established until the mid-1940s.

In the 1950s, the concept of the teenager and youth culture became the dominant feature of American culture. To this day, if you think of the 1950s, you probably picture young people gathered around a soda fountain in a brightly colored diner.

The Cultural Significance of Soda Fountains

Between the 1940s and the 1970s soda fountains created central locations where young people could meet, share cultural experiences, and express new ideas. These soda fountains may not have been the salons or the coffee houses of the Enlightenment, but they were a vital part of the consolidation of American youth culture.

More than seventy years later, we still identify cultural periods based on the youth culture of the day. While soda fountains may not be a central theme of today’s youth culture, there is no denying that soda fountains have played an important role in American culture and our shared memory of the past.

Carrying that Legacy Forward

At SC Beverage Company, we are proud to continue the tradition of bringing cost-effective soda fountains into locations where people can enjoy a refreshing drink together. Something as small as a shared conversation between friends or family is a testament to the enduring ability of a soda fountain to bring us all together.

If you’ve taken that first sip of soda from the fountain and thought “this just tastes better,” you’re not alone. There are actually a number of reasons that can contribute to fountain drinks dancing on our taste buds with a little more zest than a canned drink. These are the most common reasons that explain why soda from a fountain machine tastes different.

Why Soda from Fountains Tastes Different

Fountain Soda Is Freshly Mixed

When you push your cup up against that dispenser, you aren’t getting pre-mixed soda. At that moment, carbonated water and the original soda syrup are both pulsating through the machine. The two streams combine at the end of their journey to create the soda you know and love. It really doesn’t get any fresher than that. As a result of this immediate process, you may notice that your soda is more flavorful and bubbly.

The Carbonation Is Just as Fresh

Carbonation isn’t for everyone. People tend to love it or hate it. If you fall in that former category, then there’s a good chance that you love the occasional soda from a fountain. Sure, a canned soda may scratch that itch, but it isn’t a match for freshly mixed soda. That carbonation has literally just been injected into your drink, so the bubbles are more active and tantalizing.

Ice Makes the Drink More Refreshing

The obsession with ice is largely an American thing, but we may actually have that one right. If you’re a restauranteur, then SC Beverage machines with fountain drinks and an ice maker are absolute essentials.

The ice cools the drink and just slightly dilutes it. Diluting your favorite soda may sound like a terrible idea, but it can actually help to enhance the sweetness of your soda as long as you don’t leave it out too long. As an added bonus on the owner’s side, using even a small amount of ice reduces the amount of syrup you use serving the average customer.

Your Straw Is Messing with You

Ok, so it’s not just the fountain that’s giving your taste buds that little roller coaster ride. There’s a good chance that your straw is an active accomplice. It’s essentially a bullet train that delivers flavor directly to your tongue. This effect is especially profound in slightly wider straws because they deliver a larger volume of soda. Some chain drive-thrus and restaurants actually choose wider straws on purpose to enhance your experience.

Of course, that means that you can at least replicate part of that experience at home. Keeping a few wide reusable straws around your kitchen means that you always have an option for enhancing your soda-drinking experience. As an added bonus, wide straws are much easier to clean and dry out.

You Can Create the Perfect Combos

The final benefit of using Los Angeles soda fountain equipment is the pure creativity offered up by a fountain soda machine. If you or a customer wants that perfect balance of sharp and sweet, there’s nothing to say you can’t mix sodas to your heart’s content. In fact, some of the best soda creations are arguably mixes.

Choosing Fountain Equipment

For the customer, going with a fountain drink is an easy choice. It offers better flavor and more options. However, it can be a little scary making that initial investment if you’re opening a new restaurant. The truth is that it’s practically always an investment worth making. Fountain drinks have higher profit margins and improve the customer experience.

They do require some maintenance, but it’s easy to learn the basics. With the help of your local southern California beverage system company, you’ll be up and running with well-maintained machines in no time.