Naturally occurring carbonated mineral waters have been known for a long time. These effervescent waters exist as a consequence of excess carbon dioxide in an aquifer dissolving under pressure. Although claims for the medicinal properties of these mineral waters have been grossly exaggerated, the presence of carbon dioxide does make aerated waters and softdrinks more palatable and visually attractive; the final product sparkles and foams.
The first non carbonated softdrinks appeared during the seventeenth century. In 1767, Joseph Priestly produced the first man made, palatable carbonated water. Three years later a Swedish chemist, Torbern Bergman invented a process that produced carbonated water from the reaction between chalk and sulphuric acid allowing a commercial production of aerated mineral water.In 1983, Jacob Schweppes, a young watchmaker and amateur scientist perfected an efficient system for manufacturing carbonated mineral water and founded the Schweppes Company in Geneva. He relocated to London, England in 1790. Since then the addition of flavorings to aerated water has seen the development of major softdrinks brands throughout the world. To meet the need for carbonated softdrinks, the soda fountain was developed by Samuel Fahnestock in the United States in 1819.
The patenting of the Crown cork by William Painter in 1892 and the automatic production of glass bottles using a glass blowing machine by Michael J. Owens in 1899 were notable achievement that at last allowed carbonated softdrinks to be successful bottled without significant loss of carbonation. Since then, development in closure technology, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle production, can design and manufacture, syrup making methods, carbonation technology and filling machine manufacture have led to the worldwide beverage industry as we know it today.
Softdrinks – General History
