Coca-Cola was invented by Dr. John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886. The original formula was created as a medicinal tonic that Pemberton marketed as a cure for common ailments like headaches, indigestion, and fatigue. 

He initially called it "Pemberton's French Wine Coca," which contained wine, coca leaf extract (from which cocaine is derived) and kola nut extract, which is a source of caffeine. However, due to the growing temperance movement in the United States, which advocated against the consumption of alcohol, Pemberston decided to remove the wine from the formula. He replaced it with sugar syrup and rebranded the drink as "Coca-Cola," naming it after two of its key ingredients: coca leaves and kola nuts. 

The new beverage was first sold at Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta on May 8, 1886, where it was mixed with carbonated water and served as a fountain drink. The drink became popular, and Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank M. Robinson, suggested the name "Coca-Cola" and designed the distinctive script logo that is still used today. 

Although Pemberton had a vision for Coca-Cola's potential, he did not live to see it become a worldwide phenomenon. He sold portions of the company to various partners, and after his death in 1888, a businessman named Asa Candler bought out the remaining shares and founded The Coca-Cola Company, turning it into the global brand it is today.