Starbucks Via Reviewed

Starbucks has gotten into the instant coffee business with a new product they're calling "Via". You buy Via at Starbucks stores. I'm not sure if it's available at grocery stores. It comes in cardboard sleeves of three Via 8 ounce via servings. The cost was $2.95, or about a buck cup.

I had read that Via tasted exactly like fresh brewed Starbucks, so I put it to the test. I boiled water in a tea kettle and poured exactly eight ounces over the contents of a sleeve of Via in a coffee mug. It did smell and look like fresh brewed Starbucks, but the taste wasn't exactly right. Not bad, mind you, just not the same as fresh brewed.

I suppose Via is a reasonable instant coffee option, but at a buck a cup, it's still out-of-this-world expensive compared to other available instant coffee, which only costs pennies a cup.