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.
There are two types of coffee in the world; arabica and robusta. Arabica is better. Any coffee not advertised on the label as '100% arabica' should be purchased only to save money. Beware of terms like 'blended' and 'mountain grown'. The Wal-Mart instant shown in your picture is very good for instant. Their ground variety is also very good.
ReplyDeleteA buck for a cup of instant is a rip! Make our new coffee maker look like a great deal - review coming.
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