The instant coffee thread
#31
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wild Wiltshire
Programs: Demoted to gold, Cats protection
Posts: 3,455
Grown up with Instant or percolated coffee, cant stand coffee in the US as its either weak or strong and bitter. The favouite instants are Cap colombie, ALta Rica, and Dowe Egberts Gold
#32
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 9
Instant coffee for the traveler on the go!
I know this has been asked before but I didn't really get a usable answer out of the old threads. I'm trying to find a passable instant coffee that I can bring with me on my travels. When I lived in the UK I liked the Clipper brand but I'm in the US now and can't find it. I picked up some Nescafe Taster's Choice Gourmet Roast and its undrinkable! What do you guys like?
Addl requirements: Available in the US, either widely in supermarkets or online...
Addl requirements: Available in the US, either widely in supermarkets or online...
#35
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 9
I haven't tried via but I've heard that its good. Its expensive for instant though. On the advice of a comparison review article I found I bought some Cafe Bustelo. Actually its not bad - I would say it is comparable to the Clipper instant.
#37
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BOS
Posts: 183
Also I think Via is far better than the coffee served on airplanes.
Generally I drink two cups as soon as I wake up but if I've had to take a red eye and don't have time to pick up a cup at a coffee place in the airport, I will drink the Via instead of the airplane coffee. That stuff is nothing but hot brown water.
Generally I drink two cups as soon as I wake up but if I've had to take a red eye and don't have time to pick up a cup at a coffee place in the airport, I will drink the Via instead of the airplane coffee. That stuff is nothing but hot brown water.
#38
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
Programs: COdbaUA 1K MM, AA EXP, Bonbon Gold, GHA Titanium, Hertz PC, NEXUS and GE
Posts: 5,839
One thing to get straight - There is no such thing as "good" instant coffee. There is only tolerable instant coffee until you can find real stuff.
Taster's Choice used to be good, and certainly better than Folgers, but its not
the same.
I think Via is awful. Not just bad because its instant, but truly awful tasting swill and really overpriced. Also, you should qualify the statement about airplane coffee. LH and AF have excellent coffee. UA's coffee (a special blend made for them by the Evil Green Mermaid) is ok if it is super fresh, but goes off 5 minutes after the pot is brewed.
You find Tim's weak and Starbucks strong? I find Tim's strong (and yummy, especially for the price) and Starbucks burnt and hollow. I would never take a Starburnt over a Tim Hortons.
As for cream, UHT packets of 18% isn't widely available in the US. Not to mention that I have, since I was a kid, loved the taste of half and half.
I know this has been asked before but I didn't really get a usable answer out of the old threads. I'm trying to find a passable instant coffee that I can bring with me on my travels. When I lived in the UK I liked the Clipper brand but I'm in the US now and can't find it. I picked up some Nescafe Taster's Choice Gourmet Roast and its undrinkable! What do you guys like?
Addl requirements: Available in the US, either widely in supermarkets or online...
Addl requirements: Available in the US, either widely in supermarkets or online...
the same.
Also I think Via is far better than the coffee served on airplanes.
Generally I drink two cups as soon as I wake up but if I've had to take a red eye and don't have time to pick up a cup at a coffee place in the airport, I will drink the Via instead of the airplane coffee. That stuff is nothing but hot brown water.
Generally I drink two cups as soon as I wake up but if I've had to take a red eye and don't have time to pick up a cup at a coffee place in the airport, I will drink the Via instead of the airplane coffee. That stuff is nothing but hot brown water.
The only Elite coffee I tried was total crap. I hate instant coffee. I'd rather boil the water and use a french press. of course Tim Hortons or Starbucks also is good for coffee. Surprisingly I like both Tim Hortons (weak coffee) and Starbucks (strong). I only use 18% cream in my coffee. I find 10% (half/half) has a really yucky cheesy/fatty taste and smell.
As for cream, UHT packets of 18% isn't widely available in the US. Not to mention that I have, since I was a kid, loved the taste of half and half.
#39
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BOS
Posts: 183
I fly Delta and I dislike their coffee enough to do without. It's just hot brown water to me.
#40
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
I like Nescafe Clasico. I believe its from Mexico, but its widely available, at least here in N California. It's not the same as brewed coffee but if I'm in a hurry or out of regular coffee, I don't find it the least bit unpleasant. Definitely better than some brewed coffees.
I find it useful to have on hand for making a quick iced coffee with milk or when added to Mexican hot chocloate (Ibarra for me) to cut the sweetness.
I find it useful to have on hand for making a quick iced coffee with milk or when added to Mexican hot chocloate (Ibarra for me) to cut the sweetness.
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,249
I like Nescafe Clasico. I believe its from Mexico, but its widely available, at least here in N California. It's not the same as brewed coffee but if I'm in a hurry or out of regular coffee, I don't find it the least bit unpleasant. Definitely better than some brewed coffees.
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.
#44
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,305
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 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.