8 Best Instant Coffee

Until recently, instant coffee had a terrible reputation, but it has since evolved from low-cost, low-quality alternatives to high-quality, organic, and specialty coffees. Early variations of the solubilized drink date all the way back to 18th century Britain, but the concept really took off around 1910, when instant coffee was first commercially distributed; its popularity soared during WWII and has subsequently spread into more sophisticated markets.

We put a plethora of popular options through their paces to determine the best instant coffee brands on the market that offer a cup of joe that tastes equally as good as one brewed using a French press or drip machine.

While it’s tough to identify instant coffee that compares to freshly made, our roundup will point you in the right direction. Here are the greatest instant coffees to buy, whether for camping, traveling, or just for pleasure.

At a Glance:

8 Best Instant Coffee

DesignBuying GuideRetailer
1. Mount Hagen Instant Coffee
Check Price
Budget Pick2. Waka Coffee Medium Roast Colombian
Check Price
3. Starbucks VIA Instant Veranda Blend
Check Price
Best Pick4. Maxim Mocha Gold Instant Coffee
Check Price
5. Starbucks Breakfast Blend
Check Price
6. G7 Instant Coffee
Check Price
Staff Pick7. Nescafe Azera
Check Price
8. Truestart Instant Coffee
Check Price

1. Mount Hagen Instant Coffee

The world’s first certified organic coffee drink is Mount Hagen organic instant coffee. One of the most popular coffees in the world is Mount Hagen organic freeze-dried instant coffee. Whenever we mention organic, we imply absolutely no artificial chemicals were utilized in the production of the coffee beans. These chemicals contain additives as well as insecticides and herbicides. And Mount Hagen does not make use of them.

Mount Hagen coffee beans are 100 percent Arabica and are also ethically obtained from all over the world and cultivated in higher altitudes and shaded places. However, being organic does not stop with growing and harvesting coffee beans.

To be verified as 100 percent organic, coffee cherries must be roasted using equipment devoted entirely to roasting. Furthermore, between roasts, this equipment must be carefully cleaned. Mount Hagen accomplishes this!

To put you at ease when consuming Mount Hagen coffee, the brand wants to make sure that they are concerned for the environment as well as the farmers that grow coffee beans for them. Mount Hagen’s Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee has received overwhelmingly good feedback, with the majority of buyers rating it five stars.

Praise for these medium roast coffee beans extends from the product’s ease of travel to its full-bodied flavor. This coffee is ideal for you if you don’t like the extra strong flavor of beans.

Pros

  • Low acidity level
  • No bitter aftertaste
  • Can be added with sugar or milk
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Comparatively expensive
  • No strong roast

2. Waka Coffee Medium Roast Colombian

Waka Coffee Medium Roast Colombian

Budget Pick

Waka only utilizes Arabica beans, which are smoother, sweeter, and less bitter compared to the Robusta beans found commonly in poor instant coffee. Rather than combining crops from over the world, they get their Arabica beans from single origins.

This allows you to taste the distinct flavors of different areas and permits them to modify the roasts to properly highlight the uniqueness of each coffee bean.

Finally, all of their coffee granules are mostly freeze-dried. Because the company does not want to sacrifice coffee quality, they create coffee granules using an innovative freeze-drying process rather than cheaper spray drying. Because freeze-dried coffee is not heated, the essential flavors of the coffee are unaffected.

It has a sweet, nutty aroma that reminds me of marzipan. The flavor is rich and robust, bordering on medium, but there is no discernible bitterness. These beans have a caramel sweetness to them that is complemented with a startling blast of citrus acidity.

With aromas of chocolate, smoke, the aftertaste is sometimes more complex. This coffee is ideal for you if you want some smooth, chocolaty flavor in your coffee.

3. Starbucks VIA Instant Veranda Blend

In January 2012, Starbucks debuted Veranda Blend, as well as numerous additional light or “blonde” roast coffees. Starbucks has been noted for its dark-roasted coffees since its inception in 1971. Although dark roasts are generally valued on the West Coast, Starbucks realized that by serving high-quality coffees in a range of roasts from light to dark, it might draw more people.

The Starbucks Roast Spectrum now includes three roast profiles: blonde, medium, and dark, thanks to Veranda Blend and other blonde roast coffees. Despite being a deviation from Starbucks’ customary darker roasts.

However, Veranda Blend blonde roast coffee has become one of the company’s most popular mixes. Starbucks Via Instant’s single-serve packets of the distinctive Veranda mix are loaded with both instant and micro-ground coffee, which is coffee that has been ground so finely that it can dissolve in water.

Veranda Blend is a premium Latin American coffee blend. It has a light flavor and medium acidity, making for a really relaxing cup of coffee. It does have more caffeine than a deeper roast, although it is a light roast. Soft cocoa and lightly roasted nuts are among the flavors.

Also, Veranda Blend blonde roast coffee comes in whole bean or ground form, in a variety of bag sizes and multi-bag quantities. If you want a coffee that has a lot of taste but isn’t too bold, this coffee is for you.

Pros

  •  Full-bodied coffee
  • Light flavor
  • Minimum acidity
  • Light roast

Cons

  • None

4. Maxim Mocha Gold Instant Coffee

Maxim Mocha Gold Instant Coffee

Best Pick

A smooth flavored coffee, Maxim Mocha Gold is a moderate coffee combination.  They’re easy to carry in your handbag or backpack and allow you to have a nice cup of coffee whenever you choose. Dongsuh Company Inc. in Seoul, Korea, provides Maxim coffee.

Dongsuh has dominated the Korean culinary market since 1975. Moreover, TeaAroma Incorporated in Carson, California distributes it thanks to ongoing product development and tight quality monitoring.

This instant coffee mix has a smooth flavor and comes in individually wrapped packets with a perfect mixture of great coffee, sugar, and cream. These packets have a sugar control feature. Because the sugar is on the bottom of the ingredients, clamping the packet around the end would control the sugar flow. Furthermore, pour the entire packet of sugar out if you want the full sugar content.

If you want to keep part of the sugar in the packet rather than in your coffee, hold the end of the package as you pour it out. This coffee has a pleasant sweetness to it and is not overly bitter. Also, if you don’t use all of the sugar, you could have a slightly bitter coffee if you prefer it that way.

This instant coffee doesn’t have the burnt flavor than conventionally brewed coffee has. This selection will make your mornings amazing if you like your coffee sweet, nutty, and round with overtones of chocolate and caramel.

Pros

  •  Halal-friendly
  • Smooth flavor
  • Overtones of chocolate and caramel
  • Easy to carry

Cons

  •  Less quantity in each packet

5. Starbucks Breakfast Blend

Starbucks is known for offering a wide range of flavors to appeal to a wide spectrum of customers. They even offer a coffee that is specifically meant for the morning. Moreover, the drink’s citrus aromas, mixed with high-quality caffeine, will keep you awake all day.

At the same time, this coffee is instant, so you’ll spend very little time preparing it. It’s as simple as pouring the powder into a cup, filling it with hot water, and sitting back to enjoy it.

Harvested from Sumatra, these coffee beans have a distinct flavor that you won’t be able to mistake for anything else. You’ll notice right away that this is a gourmet instant coffee, which is why it’s so popular all over the world.

Starbucks Breakfast Blend Coffee Ground coffee has a softer flavor profile than one might expect from a coffee used in espresso. Also, the ground coffee has a darker, burned sienna tint, indicating a medium roast. It has a mild, almost woody scent that is sweet and pungent.

It ranges from a mild brown to a dark, earthy huge that seems loose yet full, based on your brewing strength. Starbucks Breakfast Blend Coffee has a sweet flavor with traces of acidity that add brightness. It has a light, agreeable body that transitions to a moderately astringent, pleasantly citrus finish.

Also, Starbucks Coffee Breakfast Blend is a delightful and easy-to-drink coffee with a light to medium roast qualities that are worth trying. It’s a simple morning coffee that may be sweetened simply yet is robust enough to be served with creamer if desired.

6. G7 Instant Coffee

G7 3in1 Coffee is a gourmet instant coffee that tastes just like a freshly made cup of coffee. Instant coffee, in reality, eliminates the burnt flavor associated with brewed coffee. This coffee mix is made from coffee beans, so it makes a better cup of coffee than standard freeze-dried coffee crystals.

Moreover, G7 by Trung Nguyen Coffee is one of the greatest instant coffees available. Trung Nguyen is a Vietnamese coffee-producing, processing, and distribution company. It is Vietnam’s most popular coffee brand, with exports to more than 60 countries.

This company was started in 1996 and has since released a number of well-known items. One of their most popular instant beverages is G7 3in1 Instant Coffee. This instant coffee has an outstanding flavor, especially if you like your coffee rich and creamy with a little sugar and cream. However, the unique climate of this country enhances the overall flavor.

The lovely aroma that this coffee emits is one of its most distinguishing features. Because there is a lot of sugar and cream in this coffee, there isn’t much bitterness. Moreover, each pouch has a moderate amount of caffeine, which can provide a great surge of energy if consumed first thing in the morning.

This isn’t your typical instant coffee, to say the least. It is a fantastic instant beverage that may be enjoyed at any time and in any location.

Pros

  •  Rich and creamy flavor
  • Easy to carry
  • Provides energy

Cons

  •  Less quantity

7. Nescafe Azera

Nescafe Azera

Staff Pick

Enjoy a delicious cup of coffee with NESCAFÉ AZERA Intenso. With each sip, enjoy a full-bodied taste and powerful scent thanks to a carefully designed recipe made with a blend of Robusta and Arabica beans. If you don’t want to go to the coffee shop but still want a good cup of coffee, try this barista-inspired drink instead. With NESCAFÉ AZERA Intenso, brewing a superb cup of coffee at home takes only a few minutes.

Every cup contains both instant coffee and finely ground coffee beans that have been thoroughly roasted. To make a great cup of coffee with a velvety layer of coffee crema on top, simply add hot water and stir. Moreover, NESCAFÉ AZERA Intenso was created by and for coffee aficionados, with a full-bodied flavor and powerful scent.

Great coffee begins with respect, which is why this coffee is cultivated, processed, and packaged in a way that is considerate of the environment and the farmers who grow these beans. From partnering with coffee farmers across the world to help them grow healthier, higher-yielding crops to pledging to make 100 percent of packaging recyclable or reused, NESCAFE is committed to protecting the environment with every cup. As a result, you can expect high-quality coffee from reliable sources.

Pros

  • Well-grounded
  • Smooth
  • Full-bodied flavor

Cons

  • Short expiry date

8. Truestart Instant Coffee

TrueStart guarantees that every decision made along its journey from crop to cup is ethical and sustainable, making it a feel-good and guilt-free source of energy.  The 100% Colombian Arabica beans produce a silky smooth blend with caramel and chocolate undertones. Moreover, TrueStart is just freeze-dried instant coffee.

TrueStart doesn’t have a particularly distinctive flavor. It has the flavor of instant coffee. It’s a decent instant coffee, but it still lacks the flavor of freshly brewed coffee. TrueStart Performance Coffee is instant coffee that has been standardized to have a more accurate caffeine content per serving.

Caffeine content is guaranteed to be 75-115 mg per 2-gram serving, with an average of 95 mg. Athletes are sold the product as a means to improve their training and recover faster after a session.

Pros

  •  Barista quality beans
  • Ethical and sustainable
  • No bitterness

Cons

  • Not so strong

Buying Guide For The Best Instant Coffee

There is no doubt that instant coffee, like its freshly brewed version, is gaining popularity. While some brands have a quality that is surprisingly comparable to that of a cup from your favorite coffee shop, others are very far from. Consider the following purchasing variables to make the best decision.

Roast Type

Despite the fact that different grains can be purchased and roasted using the same universal procedure, the taste will differ. After all, various methods of frying meals do not produce the same flavor. As a result, different degrees of roasting coffee generate diverse results, as mentioned below.

See also  8 Best Ground Coffee in 2024

Light roast

This sort of coffee roast works well with milk since it has a tinge of sourness. This roasting process produces light brown beans, allowing you to enjoy the delicate scent and varied flavor. Instant coffee with a light roast is ideal for soft raw materials. Scandinavian New England, Urban, and American beans are all lightly roasted.

Medium roast

It is not only the most common but also the most traditional method of roasting. Instant coffee with a medium roast is a dark grain with an oily surface. This roast is distinguished by its acidic and sweet scent and flavor. In comparison to the light roast equivalent, the flavor is much more saturated.  Viennese roast, Classic roast, and full city roast are all examples of medium roast coffee.

Dark roast

It features dark brown grains with mild indications of oiliness, similar to highly roasted instant coffee. Dark roast coffee has a less acidic flavor than prior iterations. As a result of the effective extraction of essential oils, it has a more rich flavor and a brighter look. Dark brown beans and little oiliness characterize brewed coffee, which darkens dramatically. French coffee is an example of dark roast coffee.

Levels Of Caffeine

Before you buy instant coffee, make sure to check the caffeine content, especially if you’re pregnant or even if your children will consume it. The amounts are expressed in grams per serving. As a result, if the offered coffee has more than 60 grams per serving, it’s best to cut back or skip it entirely.

Non-Decaf vs. Decaf

Decaf coffee, as the name implies, is a decaffeinated coffee that has gone through an additional procedure to remove the caffeine. However, none of today’s sophisticated technology produces decaffeinated coffee that is 100 percent decaffeinated.

Non-decaf instant coffee is the best choice if you want to keep the rich flavor of the coffee. The smallest amount of caffeine is usually 0.1 percent, which is the guideline in most European countries. For people on a diet or who are unable to drink normal coffee due to health reasons, non-decaf instant coffee is a preferable option.

Beans Of a Certain Type

One of the two varieties of coffee beans is most likely the source of your delicious cup of instant coffee (Robusta or Arabica). Robusta is most typically used as instant coffee or in a blend. Arabica is the best choice when it comes to quality.

Personal preference, however, is the ultimate determinant of which type you will choose. Robusta coffee is grown primarily in Asia. Furthermore, because it is a tougher coffee bean, it has a particularly bitter flavor.

Arabica coffee is farmed all over the world and has a layered, somewhat sweeter flavor, making it a popular gourmet alternative.

Cost

It goes without saying that instant coffee costs more as time goes on. So keep an eye out for the cost per serving and pick your favorite brand. Remember that most manufacturers offer enticing savings when you buy in quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it harmful to consume instant coffee on a daily basis?

 If you’re unsure how much coffee to consume, 3–5 cups of instant coffee per day may be the best option.

What makes instant coffee different from ordinary coffee?

The two are distinguished by their production methods, scent, caffeine concentration, flavor, and nutritional content. The main advantages of instant coffee over ground coffee are its longer shelf life and speedier preparation. Furthermore, quick coffee contains less caffeine than normal coffee.

Is instant coffee made entirely of coffee?

 Instant coffee is created from whole coffee beans that have been roasted, ground, and brewed before they are processed into instant coffee. When all the water has been extracted from the brewed beans, leaving dehydrated coffee crystals, this yields instant coffee, which can then be rehydrated to create coffee.

Is it safe to consume too much caffeine?

 Caffeine does, after all, provide a number of health benefits. Enhanced physical and mental performance, improved attention, increased energy, and increased metabolism is just a few of the benefits.

Conclusion:

Who doesn’t like to start their day with a hot, aromatic cup of coffee, which most people refer to as their daily Joe? It’s no secret that you probably consider yourself a home barista and have honed your perfect brew.

If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you might prefer a French press or a luxury single-serve coffee machine. Alternatively, you may like to keep things easy with instant coffee, which takes nothing more than hot water or milk and a single stir. In this review and buyer’s guide, we have discussed 8 of the best choices for getting the most bang for your buck. After all, life is too short to be satisfied with a mediocre cup of coffee.

We will suggest,

G7 Instant Coffee

This instant coffee has an outstanding flavor, especially if you like your coffee rich and creamy with a little sugar and cream.

Mount Hagen Instant Roast

Praise for these medium roast coffee beans extends from the product’s ease of travel to its full-bodied flavor.


Share post on

SipCoffeePro is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.