The CompleteHistory of Soda

In 1767, an English clergyman and amateur scientist made a discovery that would eventually spawn a $450 billion industry. Joseph Priestley wasn't looking for refreshment—he was looking for science.

Living next to a brewery in Leeds, Priestley noticed that a layer of gas hovered over the fermenting beer vats. He suspended a bowl of water over the vat and observed that the water absorbed the gas. When he tasted it, he described "an exceedingly pleasant sparkling water, resembling Seltzer water."

Priestley published his method in 1772 ("Impregnating Water with Fixed Air") and received the Copley Medal from the Royal Society in 1773. He believed his discovery could prevent scurvy on long sea voyages.

"This is perhaps the happiest discovery I have ever made."— Joseph Priestley, on artificial carbonation

But Priestley was a scientist, not an entrepreneur. He shared his method freely and never commercialized it. Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman improved the process in 1771, but it would take 16 years for someone to see the business potential.

Johann Jacob Schweppe was a watchmaker, not a scientist. But he understood something Priestley didn't: people would pay for pleasant sparkling water.

In 1783, working in Geneva, Schweppe patented a commercial process for manufacturing carbonated water. He called his company J. Schweppe & Co.— the first soft drink company in history.

Schweppe expanded to London in 1792, establishing a factory at 141 Drury Lane. By 1831, Schweppes had received a Royal Warrant as official supplier to the British Royal Household. At the 1851 Great Exhibition, Schweppes sold over a million bottles.

The lesson was clear: scientific discoveries don't automatically become industries. It takes an entrepreneur to see commercial potential in what scientists consider mere curiosities.

Nearly every major American soft drink was invented by a pharmacist. The soda fountain—where pharmacists dispensed medicinal carbonated waters— was the 19th century's equivalent of the tech startup garage.

In 1885, Charles Alderton created Dr Pepper in Waco, Texas. In 1886, John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in Atlanta. In 1893, Caleb Bradham created "Brad's Drink" (later Pepsi-Cola) in New Bern, North Carolina.

These pharmacists had chemical knowledge, access to ingredients, retail locations, and customers seeking "tonics." The soft drink industry emerged from medicine, not food. Coca-Cola's original formula contained trace amounts of cocaine (from coca leaf) until 1903.

Frank Robinson, Pemberton's partner, suggested the name Coca-Cola, reasoning that "the two Cs would look well in advertising." He designed the famous Spencerian script logo that remains virtually unchanged today.

Asa Candler didn't invent a better soda. He invented modern brand marketing.

In 1891, Candler acquired Coca-Cola for $2,300—possibly history's greatest return on investment. While competitors listed ingredients, Candler sold an experience.

In 1915, the Root Glass Company designed the iconic contour bottle— recognizable even in the dark or when broken. Earl Dean based the design on a cocoa pod (he misheard "coca"). The "Georgia Green" color became a trademark.

The five-cent price held for over 70 years through three wars, the Great Depression, and massive inflation. By 1950, Coca-Cola owned 85% of America's 460,000 vending machines—all built for nickels only. In 1953, the company asked the U.S. Treasury to mint a 7.5-cent coin. The request was denied.

Robert Woodruff's 1941 directive would create a global empire: "Every man in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for five cents, wherever he is and whatever it costs our company."

What looked like patriotic sacrifice was brilliant strategy. Coca-Cola deployed 148 "Technical Observers" (nicknamed "Coca-Cola Colonels") to war zones. The company built 64 bottling plants worldwide at its own expense. 5 billion bottles reached American troops during the war.

Eisenhower's top-secret telegram ordered 3 million bottles for the North Africa invasion. By 1968, 50% of Coca-Cola's profits came from foreign operations.

The wartime plants became post-war infrastructure for global expansion. Coca-Cola became synonymous with American identity—both its promise and its imperialism. The term "Coca-Colonization" emerged to describe American cultural expansion.

"Coca-Cola was not simply a tasty beverage, but a symbol of American abundance and freedom."— Mark Pendergrast, "For God, Country and Coca-Cola"

What began with one man and one brewery now serves 1.9 billion drinks daily.

The soft drink industry today is worth between $450 and $630 billion globally. Coca-Cola products are sold in over 200 countries—only North Korea and Cuba lack official distribution. The brand is recognized by 94% of the world's population.

The industry has faced new challenges: health concerns over sugar consumption, environmental criticism of plastic bottles, and competition from energy drinks and bottled water. But the fundamental appeal remains: flavored carbonated water, just as Priestley discovered in 1767.