Taste Test: The Best Instant Coffee

If you're too cheap to buy a coffee maker and you love your morning java, instant coffee might be the way to go. Sure, it doesn't get any of the respect of traditionally brewed coffee, but it saves you time and money. The real question is, what's the difference?

The good news: Our tasters found that the top 5 finishers in our taste test weren't discernible from regular coffee.

But what exactly is lost in the process that turns regular coffee into those shiny, crystal-like granules? Health-wise, it turns out, not much. Flavor-wise, it's completely subjective (that is, after all, why we're conducting this taste test). A big difference is in the experience. There's something to be said for the slow savoring of your morning cup o' joe -- the leisurely drip and the slow sip vs. the five-alarm panic of the daily grind.

The stigma surrounding instant coffee is perpetuated even by its manufacturers. In a 1983 Folgers Crystals commercial, the coffee is glamorized as "dark, sparkling" crystals, but diners at a high-end restaurant have to be tricked into drinking it. The tagline, "Folgers Crystals: Coffee rich enough to be served in America's finest restaurants," indicates there was reason to doubt the product in the first place.

Instant was invented in 1901 by a Japanese scientist in Chicago, but the business boomed during World War II thanks to a lucky coincidence -- the same technology that produces penicillin and blood plasma, which was developed during the war for military use, is what makes instant coffee.

So what's instant coffee made from? The same beans you'll find in traditionally brewed coffee, roasted using the same method -- plus two additional steps. Not all brands use the exact same method, but most manufacturers A) dissolve the roasted beans in water to concentrate the coffee solution, and then B) dry that product out by either freeze-drying or spray-drying. That final step is what creates either crystals or a powdery substance.

Essentially, adding hot water to instant coffee just rehydrates the granules. And voila, you've got a cup of coffee. (We should also mention that instant coffee is credited as making a pretty decent cup of iced coffee.)

But not all instant coffees are created equal. We blind-tasted 20 brands to find out what tastes the best. See the results below.

What's your favorite instant coffee? Leave us a comment!

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Comments

[Yasir Ali]

24 minutes ago (11:17 AM)

carte noire fron kraft the best

[Jason Knot]

05:37 AM on 05/11/2013

I reviewed Starbucks VIA Colombia Medium Roast recently. It tastes pretty similar to their brewed coffee, which is bitter. It's also the most expensive instant coffee, costing up to 5 times more per serving than others.
More reviews and and instant coffee comparison chart can be found at http://www.bestinstantcoffee.net

[LarkinJerry]

05:47 PM on 02/24/2013

I am told that instant is more popular abroad than in the US, that quality brands are available in Europe, not here. Some have it shipped over. For me Tasters Choice is OK. I agree Starbucks is over rated although they are now hosting some lighter aka "Blond" roasts, getting away from the French Roasts (aka "burned") beans IMO.

[HKimambi]

06:24 PM on 02/28/2013

I have tried Instant Coffee called Africafe Coffee from Tanzania, I will say its the best coffee I have ever tasted as far as Instant Coffee> Its even better than regular brewed coffee. I have tried the Starbucks and Folgers but the taste is nothing compare to AfricafeCoffee.
After testing this coffee I had to find how it was made: According to the manufacture Africafe is made using spray dry method where it produces the best instant coffee according to experts.
I use the Africafe Instant Coffee whenever I dont have enough time to brew my own coffee, actually I wouldn't call brew rather i will say pressing, Not french Press, this one new method of press using the Aeropress I bought for $25 it does amazing job. Offcourse I use 100% Arabica ground Coffee beans Dark roast or I grind the beans myself. I have used the Starbucks ground beans from east Africa but my favorite is Africafe Safari Blend dark roast.

[Organo Gold]

03:41 PM on 08/13/2012

For coffee on the go, the best is Organo Gold Coffee. It’s fast and easy because all you do is add water and you do not lose the premium coffee taste. I know what you are thinking, you do not like instant coffee.
Organo Gold has gone beyond the idea of regular coffee and transformed quality premium coffee into an instant coffee with health benefits. Drinking a healthier coffee may have more benefits than you might think. Organo Gold Coffee is based on an ancient Chinese herb called Ganoderma. Dating back almost 5,000 years Ganoderma has been named the “King of Herbs”. Ganoderma helps to build the Immune System as well as Oxygenates your body and provides stamina. Organo Gold Coffee has over 150 All Natural Antioxidants to fight Free Radicals. Imagine the benefits that could be seen by simply changing the kind of coffee that you drink. Try any of the Organo Gold Coffee flavors and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. You cannot buy this coffee anywhere on the planet except through an authorized Organo Gold distributor. Ask me how to become a distributor and you could enjoy healthy great tasting Organo Gold Coffee. www.XpressOG.com

[ourlovelycafe]

08:06 PM on 01/17/2013

I would have to agree - just to break it down to a simpler level, instant coffee + ganoderma = a healthier alternative. It's as simple as that, but don't take my word for it!
www.OurLovelyCafe.com

[-DBB]

04:06 PM on 08/12/2012

Note: I can only drink decaf

I could not seem to find decent iced decaf in my area - then I tried making my own with Trader Joe's instant decaf coffee and I actually liked it a lot better than the stuff I was buying fresh brewed.

Then recently, Trader Joe's discontinued making the instant decaf BUT

As I live in a neighborhood with a wide variety of ethnic groups - many of whom like instant coffee - the grocery stores carry lots of brands, and I am pretty sure that I figured out who HAD been supplying it for Trader Joe's - a company out of Columbia, with the product name being "Colcafe" - a little more expensive than TJ's but I'm really happy to have found it.

Not sure how widely available it is in the US, but most of the instructions are in English so it must be distributed here.

It's got a reasonably strong flavor but not bitter - just how I like it!

[SunCity85373]

05:07 PM on 08/09/2012

I drink KAVA, an instant that has a lot of the adic removed...I like it, it is smooth,,, wonder why no one ever reveiws this...?anyone else drink KAVA instant?

[hgff]

06:19 PM on 05/16/2012

what's the health value of instant coffee?? guess the pesticides remain in it. sounds like they don't filter it--so the hdl raising stuff remains?

[gingerough]

05:10 PM on 05/15/2012

My favorite for many years was Taster's Choice Colombian.....can't find it anywhere now. Then I found Cafe Buen Dia! by Juan Valdez at Walmart....I love it. I think it has to be Colombian for me to like it. I don't like french roast and I'm not a fan of Starbucks coffee.

[dariusp]

04:46 PM on 04/30/2013

Have to agree with you. I'm a European and when I was in USA, it was the best tasting coffee I could find.

[Michael Melincoff]

10:19 AM on 05/14/2012

I USE GREAT VALUE INSTANT FROM WALMART AND IT IS ABOVE AVERAGE. AT UNDER $4 A JAR, IT IS A STEAL!

[Alice Radley]

02:46 PM on 04/11/2012

Since I got a Keurig machine, instant coffee has become more or less obsolete. The only use for instant that I can think of would probably be camping. But even with camping, there are better options.

[briceverdi]

06:18 AM on 04/11/2012

When I was a kid coffee was for funerals or old people. We drank tea morning and evening. Now that I am older I like Yuban coffee. Love Irish coffee though.

[rrobinnyc1]

12:55 PM on 04/10/2012

My favorite is the Folger's. Have it every morning. Mind you, I do think it has to do with how you prepare you coffee. It comes down to personal taste. :-)

[auntiegrav]

04:31 PM on 02/05/2013

How do you prepare it? I find the Folger's bitter, but I'm a coffee amateur.

[rrobinnyc1]

04:47 PM on 02/05/2013

I use a heaping teaspoon of folger's, 2 teaspoons of sugar and then carnation evaporated milk to taste ;-). 

[Coyoty]

01:23 AM on 04/10/2012

I have yet to find an instant coffee that doesn't taste like instant, or nasty.

[ginpowell]

04:04 PM on 04/09/2012

there is NO such thing as good, better or best instant coffee, period.

[HKimambi]

06:27 PM on 02/28/2013

I guess you haven't had Africafe Coffee yet.

[ginpowell]

12:36 PM on 03/01/2013

No I have not but I will with interest actually. Thanks for the direction... since I roast my own not much instant ha taste.

[tycoon3]

03:14 PM on 04/09/2012

I like Trader Joe's 100% Columbian instant coffee. Sold at TJ stores. Pretty good, when I just want to make one quick cup 'o joe.