Your Favorite Instant Coffe & Why

What is your favorite instant coffee and why do you like it?

Our coffeemaker gave up the ghost recently and I have been enjoying the delights of Carte Noire instant. It tastes the most like real coffee to me; most instants I have had here don't really have that coffee bite. What would you recommend and why?

Normal Instant - Alta Rica by Nescafe - It has a strong but creamy taste.  Other than that..I lurve Whittards flavoured instant coffee...Hazlenut or Ameretto is the best! 

Bit particular, actually. A lot of instants use Robusta coffee and I just can't stand that as it's very inferior.  As long as the coffee is made with Arabica beans then it's a whole lot better!!

Is that what you look for when judging instants?  I had no idea. I am not a fan of the regular branded instants, they seem to taste not quite like coffee, if you know what I mean? So it is the type of bean used? I always thought it had to do with being instant, but that is probably because I have been a ground snob. I was pleasantly surprised at the Carte Noire but it is expensive. So I am casting around for others to try when it runs out, barring us getting a new coffeemaker before then!

Yeah, there are two types of coffee beans. Robusta and Arabica. Robusta is more commonly used but is an inferior grade of bean. Arabica is much better and nicer tasting.  But there are two different kinds of processes to use when making instant coffee too. So that can alter the tast slightly.  I hate to say it but generally if you pay more for you coffee you are probably going to get a better quality one.  If you are in a speciality shop you can always ask the sales assistant if it isn't printed on the label.  But alas, nothing does beat pure ground coffee!! 

I think Whittards coffees are made with Arabica

Here is the flavoured stuff....but the other plain instant coffee...I just checked is made with Arabica 


http://www.whittard.co.uk/ProductList.aspx?language=en-GB&cid=c3060

Mnn...me need a coffee now 

I absolutely HATE instant coffee, but since there isn't a lot of choice at work (french press is too much of a hassle to clean every day) I have M&S Fairtrade Cafe Noir - and I keep the same in decaf at home 'cause we don't drink decaf but I like to have something on hand for guests.

It's the only thing that tastes even remotely like proper coffee to me....

Anyone know a good Orgnaic Fairtrade Decaf Instant?  I'm not really an instant fan (Though I like it here a lot better then in the US)  but I figure I should have some if I'm in a bind.

(Anne you are so sweet to have decaf in the house for guests!  That is really thoughtful!!)

Instant coffee is not coffee! 

Anyone know a good Orgnaic Fairtrade Decaf Instant?  I'm not really an instant fan (Though I like it here a lot better then in the US)  but I figure I should have some if I'm in a bind.

(Anne you are so sweet to have decaf in the house for guests!  That is really thoughtful!!)

We use CafeDirect fair trade decaff.. It's okay. I don't think any decaf is very good. But we'll only buy fairtrade coffee now so we use that.

I have it on good authority from my Ukrainian co-worker that neither instant NOR ground drip coffee is coffee.  Only Turikish coffee, where you have the grounds in the cup, makes a real cup of coffee.

Of course, she might be crazy.   But then she also says that even when they were a commuist country, the Ukraine had mixer taps, so I might trust her after all.   

We use CafeDirect fair trade decaff.. It's okay. I don't think any decaf is very good. But we'll only buy fairtrade coffee now so we use that.

Thank you.  I wish I could drink regular.  But I'm trying to cut out all caffeine  It stinks.

Ok, I may get jumped on here but I won't do Fairtrade (unless it's single-sourced).  After having learned about it, the farmer gets a premium price, which it is all about and I don't disagree with, but the consumer most often loses out.  The reason being is because the product isn't single sourced and can often be a conglomeration of (since we are talking about coffee, I will use this reason) coffees from different farms.  Where the coffee is grown makes a HUGE impact on the taste.  Growing coffee is about soil, temperature, picking season.... the whole climate.  So if you have coffee A grown in two completely different places, it won't tast the same and once it reaches the consumer they could very well be drinking a cup of coffee from three different plantations and thus the true taste of the bean is being compromised.  I do support the farmer receiving a premium price but as long as the product is single sourced.

Ok, I may get jumped on here but I won't do Fairtrade (unless it's single-sourced).  After having learned about it, the farmer gets a premium price, which it is all about and I don't disagree with, but the consumer most often loses out.  The reason being is because the product isn't single sourced and can often be a conglomeration of (since we are talking about coffee, I will use this reason) coffees from different farms.  Where the coffee is grown makes a HUGE impact on the taste.  Growing coffee is about soil, temperature, picking season.... the whole climate.  So if you have coffee A grown in two completely different places, it won't tast the same and once it reaches the consumer they could very well be drinking a cup of coffee from three different plantations and thus the true taste of the bean is being compromised.  I do support the farmer receiving a premium price but as long as the product is single sourced.

Interesting.  I have to admit, I know very little about fairtrade.  Is there a way to find out if it is single sourced or not?  Is it as easy as reading the package?