Coke (Coca‑Cola) was invented in 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia, by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • Year invented: 1886.
  • Exact date often cited: May 8, 1886, when the first Coca‑Cola was served at Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta.
  • Inventor: Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist experimenting with flavored syrups and “tonic” drinks.
  • Original purpose: Marketed as a patent medicine and “health” tonic, sold at soda fountains rather than as a casual soft drink like today.
  • Name origin: “Coca‑Cola” comes from the original ingredients: coca leaves (source of cocaine in the early formula) and kola nuts (source of caffeine).

In its first year, Coca‑Cola was sold for five cents a glass at a single Atlanta pharmacy, with only about nine drinks sold per day—far from the global brand it is now.

TL;DR: Coke was invented in Atlanta in 1886 by John Pemberton and first sold on May 8 at Jacobs’ Pharmacy as a medicinal‑style fountain drink.

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