With the new Starbucks Via out, there has been a lot of talk about instant coffee. As much as coffee connoisseurs may hate it, instant coffee still has a sizable market share in the U.S. (as well as a much larger market share in Europe), and Via may increase the mainstream "respectability" of instant coffee in the U.S.Personally, I view instant coffee the same way I view most tea bags -- it'll suffice in a caffeine-craving pinch, but it's not exactly something I drink for the taste. However, I think that instant coffee can be a decent base ingredient for other foods and drinks, such as Instant Cinnamon Mocha Cocoa. Sure, better ingredients make a better end result, but sometimes, just sometimes, I think it's fun to go with the lowbrow approach and enjoy the uncomplicated flavors of things like instant coffee-flavored hot cocoa or old-fashioned, Southern-style iced tea.
What do you think about instant coffee? Love the convenience? Hate the taste? Only use it as an ingredient? Can't believe Via is so completely good/bad/mediocre? (I haven't tried it yet, so I'd really love to hear your thoughts.) Let's talk quick coffee!
Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin
Comments
Instant is good when I can’t get any real coffee, but for cooking, I’d rather use a good dark roast coffee. It really seems to make the flavor standout, where the Instant coffee seems to get lost with the other ingredients.
Good point, Mike! Thanks for sharing. Does anyone else have a preferred way of cooking with coffee?