In 2020 a hobbyist opened a GitHub repo detailing how to brew sugar‑free, caffeine‑free cola and other sodas. The method starts by mixing a precise blend of essential oils—orange, lime, lemon, nutmeg, cassia, coriander and lavender—using a 1 ml syringe. Adding 2 g of gum arabic and a splash of water creates a milky emulsion that flavors about nine litres of cola concentrate.

First batch yielded a syrup that, when diluted 1:8, tasted surprisingly balanced; the creator swapped sugar for a German‑common cyclamate‑saccharin blend, then experimented with sucralose to curb aftertaste. Subsequent runs reduced sucralose to 0.4 g, added vanillin and extra cassia, and introduced almond‑blood orange variants. Tool upgrades included a 1 ml syringe for accurate dosing and a hand mixer to emulsify the oils.

By 2026 the author settled on a stable lineup—cola, almond‑blood orange, and blinry orange sodas—each documented with version numbers and changelogs on the repo. Comparative taste tests against decaf Coca‑Cola favored the home‑brewed versions for their vivid citrus notes. The project invites feedback via the Fediverse and email, offering a reproducible framework for anyone keen to tinker with DIY soft drinks.