Community Corner

Today in Georgia's History: First Coca-Cola Served

The beverage was served in an Atlanta pharmacy on this date in 1886.

The first Coca-Cola was sold to the public at the soda fountain of Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886.

The drink had been invented by John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist. He came up with the formula in a three-legged, brass kettle in his backyard. Bookkeeper Frank Robinson suggested the name and wrote “Coca-Cola” in the flowing script that has become the product’s logo.

Initial sales were slow. Only about nine servings of the soft drink were sold each day, which meant only about $50 worth was sold the first year.

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Until 1905, the soft drink was marketed as a tonic. Indeed, it was, because its ingredients included extracts of cocaine as well as the caffeine-rich kola nut.

In 1887, Atlanta pharmacist and businessman Asa Candler bought the formula for Coca-Cola from inventor Pemberton for $2,300.

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By the late 1890s, Coca-Cola was one of the country’s most popular fountain drinks, thanks to Candler's aggressive marketing of the product. With Asa Candler in charge, the Coca-Cola Company increased syrup sales by over 4,000 percent between 1890 and 1900.

Did you know that consumers around the globe enjoy Coca‑Cola Company products 1.7 billion times every single day — about 19,400 beverages every second. 

Are you a Coca-Cola or Pepsi drinker? Tell us in comments. 

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