Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Buy: My Review of Starbucks Instant Coffee

Is this truly worth the cash you’re about to part with?

Not all of us have the luxury of starting our mornings by grinding fresh coffee beans from our local artisan shop, brewing a velvety espresso, and meticulously adding just the right amount of milk to craft our morning ritual. That’s where instant coffee comes in.

Instant coffee, the practical and time-efficient solution for those of us with busy mornings

With just a teaspoon or two of grounds and 8 ounces of hot water, you can savor a satisfying cup of coffee in under two minutes. Once a humble staple, it has now become a luxury, with a single jar costing up to $10.

This inspired me to kick off a new series titled “Why Should You Buy,” where I’ll dive deep into various products, unraveling their worth and providing you with insights to navigate your purchasing decisions.

For the first installment, let’s delve into Starbucks Instant Coffee— exploring the reasons you might want to bring this bold blend into your life, or choose to leave it on the shelf.

I hope you enjoy my brewed thoughts!

While wandering through the aisles at my local Publix, I found myself on a quest for a coffee alternative that could last an entire month rather than just eight days. Since I’d enjoyed Starbucks’ single-packet blend, I assumed the big tin of their instant coffee would be just as good. As a former barista, I’ve perfected my morning ritual—typically a simple caramel latte with Fairlife milk and Chobani’s luscious caramel creamer.

Excited to try it out, I measured out the recommended dose of grounds, poured a bit of water to create an “espresso shot,” as I’ve done many times before, and added my milk and creamer. But as soon as I took a sip, I was disappointed—the taste was awful.

This instant coffee ranks, by far, the cheapest-tasting, least satisfying instant coffee mix I’ve ever tried; it tasted joyless. It doesn’t mix well with milk, creating a strange separation between the coffee and milk proteins. The texture was so off that I felt nauseous. Thinking perhaps I was imagining it, I abandoned the milk and tried it with plain water, only to find it unappealing. For $10, it should at least blend smoothly with milk proteins!

If you’re contemplating this instant brew, I wholeheartedly urge you to save your coins for something else. This one is definitely not worth it.

Author: Kierra Benning