LogFAQs > #986533185

When a soda fountain tastes different, or "better", than other varieties, you're probably tasting mold.
It shouldn't taste much different, unless you have a fine palette. Things do taste different whether it's from a can, bottle or fountain, but at those places, it tastes different because it's dirty. You ever see people clean those spouts? It's such a low priority in a lot places that it has to get bad before it actually gets cleaned.
I've worked around quite a few fountains in my life, and only ONE was cleaned regularly and this was a very efficient, deep cleaning maintenance person.

It's similar to how people love the smell of old books. What that smell is, is dust, mildew, mold and other old things.