The First Glass Bottle of Coca-Cola

Coke has been around in bottles for over a hundred years, but there’s something special about the glass ones.

On March 12, 1894, the world experienced the very first bottle of Coca-Cola. It was a simple innovation by a shop owner in Vicksburg, Mississippi, but one that would influence the industry to this day. What was the first Coke bottle like, and how did it evolve?

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Joseph Biedenharn saw the popularity of Coca-Cola, a relatively new drink, in his stores. He knew there was a great demand for the soda, but also saw the restrictions soda fountains placed on his stores. He recognised that bottling the drink suddenly made it more portable and accessible to a wider market. He even began delivering his bottled Coke to customers outside of town, expanding his client base and giving his business a USP.

By 1928, the store was selling more drinks by the bottle than by fountain. This old-fashioned approach wasn’t so appealing anymore, not when consumers could drink Coke at home and carry it around with them. It was portable, convenient, and built for a more modern America.

There was also room to diversify and provide different sizes over time. Consumer demand called for much larger bottles, and this included 12 and 26-ounce options. We still see a range of sizes today, although in plastic bottles or can form. The slimmer cans feel like more of a guilt-free treat than the standard bottles, while the 2L plastic bottles remain very popular for families and parties.

The original bottle was nothing like the ones we are used to. The first was what is known as a Hutchinson bottle, with straight sides and a metal stopper. It is a fascinating piece of social history in its own right and one sold for $4000 at auction, but it was nothing special. Over time, the company saw the need to establish its brand and a unique patented design. There should be no doubt that the cola in the bottle was authentic.

There were a few patents for a stylish new curved bottle in the early 20th century. The first attempt in 1915 turned out to be impractical. Its top-heavy shape wasn’t as ergonomic and didn’t work on conveyor belts. It was replaced in 1917 with a more attractive form. With that said, the short lifespan of the 1915 model makes it very desirable to collectors. One of these sold for significantly more than the original in 2019: $110,700! Eventually, the bottle gained the Coca-Cola logo in 1960 and became the icon we know and love today.

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We don’t see as many glass Coca-Cola bottles anymore, not when it’s so easy to make plastic ones or aluminum cans. However, it might be time to bring them back into fashion. Plastic Coke bottles are detrimental to the environment. Some are recycled, but many still end up in landfills, roadside verges, and oceans. With over 100 billion sold each year, that’s a lot of waste! Shifting to glass bottles would reduce our reliance on these single-use plastic items.

There is also the fact that Coke tastes better in glass bottles. It isn’t your imagination. The purity of glass means the drink isn’t tainted by metals or chemicals. It’s also easy to chill a glass bottle for a refreshing treat.

If we ever see a resurgence in sales for Coke in glass bottles, we can be sure that they will still look as great as they have for the past 100 years. The bottles are iconic, and it all started with that one smart entrepreneur in Mississippi.