another +1 for sbux via

I have been drinking it for the last year, after I discovered that the coffeemaker at work never gets cleaned and deposits a seemingly permanent supply of stringy solids in the coffee.

However, if I remember to bring in a few k-cups, someone in my office has a Keurig that I can use to brew a better cup.

Another vote for Mexican Nescafe and Via.

I prefer Via for hot coffee. The Nescafe is perfect for a homemade frappuccino in the morning (with almond milk)! I also use the Nescafe when cooking/baking.

Instant coffee is pretty bitter, foul tasting stuff. Swill might be an apt term.

I travel quite a bit and find that I can find a good cup of coffee anywhere if I look hard enough. But not necessarily a good cup of expresso.

Solution: I take a Nespresso machine in a soft case with 30 capsules when I travel. The 30 capsules I take include the occasional shot of decafe when I feel like enjoying one at night. I just purchased a Nespresso Pixie which is half the size and weight of the Citiz model I travelled with before. I'm using it in Brasil now, as the cafe do Brasil here can get a little too sweet at times.

I do not need to pay R$3, 3 Euros, or $3-4 USD for an expresso or lungo shot. A 2 week business trip adds that expense up fast, to where the Pixie has paid for itself in 2 trips. And I can enjoy it whenever I want to. Like instant coffee, all you need is a little good water.

I like the Via and it is really easy for travel. You can get it at Costco and I have seen some good sale prices at Target.

Couldn't agree much. I had it on one of my trips to Paris. It tasted great and I haven't been able to find another brand that tastes that good.

Drinking coffee 5x a week OK?
 

Since I drink instant, what would be a good instant coffee you reccommend? I don't have a preference really. I use a splash of 2% milk and 1 1/2-2 teaspoons sugar.

Coffee is fine, and may have some small health benefits.

There really is no "good" instant coffee IME. When I have had to use it traveling, I have used Nescafe. I suspect some of the Starbucks single serve instants may be better, but have not tried them myself.

I like Folgers Black Silk. It's usually $4.50 at the grocery store and it's pretty decent as an everyday in my to-go cup beverage.

3 years later, I still don't like instant coffee. I have a Keurig in my office. I have 3 different coffee makers in my kitchen. If I'm camping, I take Starbucks Via or JFG instant. I think JFG is a regional. There is a tallish building in the Old City neighborhood in Knoxville with a big JFG sign on the top and a cafe (may now be closed) on the ground floor. I do remember a delicious aroma coming from the building back in the 80's and 90's. It's not bad but it's still instant - to be made when brewing from scratch is impossible or nearly so.

The Starbucks Via isn't bad - best instant coffee I've found thus far in the states. I mean, it doesn't beat a tradition cup of coffee, but it gets the job done. Although, I really can't drink the Blonde roast.

I agree. I keep wondering how the blonde screwed it up.

Folgers.

I have Via in my travel kit, seldom drink it at home.

Trader Joes instant is above average.

Via added to airline coffee is tolerable.

my best favorite coffe is DAO coffe of LAOS
http://www.foodandkitchen.com.sg/images/exh_LWR.png

+1 for the Via. I prefer the sweetened Iced Coffee over the Colombia and Italian Roast.

Via is so easy to take with you and it's not bad. When we go on a cruise (cruise coffee is generally yukky), we order hot water and use the Via. We will be in France next month, so will look for the Nescafe Noir.

Nescafe
 

I haven't had Nescafe Noir, but when in France I always stock up on Nescafe Espresso instant coffee 'sticks', which I've found to be much better than any American instant coffee. They're really cheap at all the grocery stores, Monoprix, etc.

I may check out the Noir to compare next time too.

While I do not drink regular coffee, I do like the Jacobs Toblerone or Milka cappucino drinks I get when I'm in Germany.

I have friends who like Percol and I take the dark roast back to them when I go home.
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:)

Does anyone still drink instant coffee?
 

With the proliferation of Keurig, Nespresso and other single cup coffee makers is there still a market for instant coffee? It takes about as long to boil the water for instant as it does to make a cup with a single cup maker.

I've never found an instant coffee I've particularly cared for but it was sometimes a reasonable alterative to brewed coffee in the era when you had to make a full pot. Is anyone still drinking instant?

Occasionally. If I want some later-day decaf, I'll have a Starbucks VIA Italian Roast Decaf. It is up there in the "not bad" department.

The only instant coffee I've found palatable is the Starbucks Via line. I don't know if they make it anymore, either.

I do, but more for travel / portability then a time savings or alternative to "full pot". The Starbucks VIA packets are single serve and small enough to keep a couple handy in travel bags, etc.
The VIA are also typically better, or at least just as good, as the single serve "brewed" coffee found in most hotel rooms.

Yeah, they are still made / available.

We also travel with a couple of packets of Via to avoid crappy in-room coffee.

I think I like Nescafe classico better but Via is more widely available in single serve packets.

Hotels that get my return business are those with Keurig machines in the room. :)

And how many times do you "test run" water through them prior to use for actually making coffee? (For me, usually at least twice for any in-room coffee.) Some of the in-room K-cup coffee has been ah trow shus. And I don't bring my own.

I usually throw in a handful of good quality K-cups for stays where I know there are Keurig machines.

Back on topic, the VIA packets are the only decent instant I've had.

Run "test water" through once or twice. The quality of the K-pods can vary so usually have Pike Place from Starbucks in my bag.

I carry the VIA for that reason to have in the lobby of HIX which has hot water and tea

I always run at least one cycle through of just water. I did that once at an upscale hotel and got a ton of black pieces in the cup. Now, I run at least one, if not two cycles.

Came searching for coffee threads today and thought I'd add to this discussion. I'm not a daily coffee drinker, so I've been using Mount Hagen instant for a few years now. I buy the glass jar when I'm in need and iHerb has a 20% off sitewide code. Have also bought a box or two of their decaf sticks for when traveling to places where decaf is uncommon.

(My coffee game has recently changed though since buying a Vertuo machine from Nespresso this last holiday season, a deal too hard to resist. It's been fun trying different brews from all of the free coffee that came with the purchase.)