Top 6 Instant Coffee – 2021 Review

While coffee is a must-have for many people, the whole process of grinding up fresh coffee every morning can be time-consuming.

And not everyone can afford the time to go through the whole process of brewing coffee. But again, you want your daily coffee dose as fast as possible before starting your day.

And that’s where instant coffee comes in for the fast cup of joe. Pre-ground coffee makes a great in-between for anyone who likes their coffee fresh but doesn’t have the extra time.

Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

That’s good news for coffee lovers who are always on the go. More importantly, instant coffee is a lifesaver to coffee enthusiasts who don’t have coffee brewing machines at their disposal.  

All in all, note that instant coffees from different brands vary in taste and flavor. Therefore, it’s important that you choose the right brand for a great-tasting cup of coffee. 

To make this process easier for you, we’ll look at the top 6 instant coffee brands to choose from for the best taste and flavor you genuinely desire.

Name	Features	Amazon Ratings (out of 5)	Price
Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee – Italian Roast	Dark Roast	4.7	Check on Amazon
Folgers Classic Roast  Instant Coffee	Medium Roast	4.5	Check on Amazon
Nescafe Taster’s Choice House Blend Instant Coffee	Light Roast	4.5	Check on Amazon
Mount Hagen Instant Coffee	Light Roast	4.5	Check on Amazon
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee	Light roast	4.5	Check on Amazon
Waka Coffee	Medium Roast	4.3	Check on Amazon

6 Best Instant Coffee in 2021

#1. Starbucks Via Instant Italian Roast Coffee

This product offers you a slightly dark coffee, sweet and with a strong flavor.

If that sounds like the qualities of coffee you look for in each cup, we have something for you. The Instant Italian Roast Coffee from Starbucks might be what you’re looking for.

General features

Starbucks instant coffee is made of 100% dark roast, micro-ground Arabica coffee, making it readily soluble in hot water.

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As a result, it’s quick and easy to prepare a delicious cup of Joe. No grinding of coffee beans is needed or other complicated procedures that are most likely time-consuming.

How to make a cup of Starbucks instant coffee

All you need to do is a packet of Starbucks via Instant Italian Roast coffee, add some of it into a cup with hot water and wait for ten seconds to elapse.

After that, you can stir and then enjoy a sweet and deep-flavored cup of coffee. The sweetness results from caramelized sugar in the coffee roast.

The pleasing flavor points back to the precision and roasting skills during the manufacturing process.

Packaging

StarbucksVia Instant Italian Roast Coffee comes in the form of packages that vary in size. For instance, there’s an option of 1 box with 50 single-serve and ready-to-brew packets of Italian roast coffee.

Alternatively, another box may contain 8 packets. And on each packet, you get the quantity of hot water you must use for the best taste ever.

Getting the best quality coffee in your cup

Specifically, each packet combines best with 8 fluid ounces of hot water. This way, you don’t have to worry about spoiling the coffee flavor with excess water.

Even better, the packets are single-serve, which means no measurement is necessary when making a cup of coffee. The correct amount is already measured for you. 

Caffeine Content

For coffee lovers obsessed with caffeine, it’s worth mentioning that the caffeine content in Starbucks Italian Roast coffee ranges from 135 mg per packet (per serving). And this is relatively high.

But what if you aren’t a fan of caffeine? Well, Starbucks has got you covered. They have another Italian roast decaffeinated Coffee (Starbucks Via ready Brew Decaf Italian Roast Coffee). A label on the box will tell you whether it is decaffeinated.

Who is it for?

• Caffeine lovers
• Those looking for slightly dark coffee in their cup
• Those looking for sweet and strongly flavored coffee
• Coffee enthusiasts looking for a quick cup of Joe

It’s not for…..

• Caffeine haters
• Those looking for light coffee roast

#2. Folgers Classic Roasts Instant Coffee

Looking for a cup of coffee that is neither too dark nor too light? One that comes from a medium roast but with delicious tastes and a fresh aroma? If that’s a yes, Folgers Classic Roasts suit you best.

General Features

Unlike Starbucks Italian Roast Coffee, which comprises micro-ground coffee, Folgers instant coffee is made up of 100% classic roast coffee crystals.

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That means it’s one of the freeze-dried instant coffee. It’s easier to think that it’ll take forever to make a cup of Joe from coffee crystals, but that’s not the case (you’ll know why in a minute).

What’s more, Folgers classic roast is pure coffee, meaning that there are no preservatives or additives – like caramelized sugar.

Plus, it’s a blend of Robusta and Arabica coffee used to make slightly bitter crystals. If that’s the taste you’re looking for, Folgers classic instant coffee will deliver.

How to make a cup of Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee

You’ll be surprised to hear that the instant coffee from Folgers dissolves quickly despite existing in the form of crystals. You don’t even need boiling water – hot water is enough to get your coffee ready.

And if you prefer, you can use hot milk instead. All you need to do is add the crystals to a cup of hot water or milk and stir.

Getting the best quality coffee in your cup

With Folgers Classic Roast Instant coffee, you can easily adjust the taste to get your desired strength.

For instance, if you prefer your coffee a little bit stronger, you can add more Folger coffee crystals to get the desired taste.

The best part is that Folgers classic roast comes with a recommended quantity of coffee crystals to use per specific cup of coffee.

That is: one rounded spoon of coffee crystals is perfect for a 6 fluid ounce cup of hot milk or water. This way, it’s easier to find the best taste and optimum flavor from the coffee crystals.

Packaging

Folger classic roast is packed in a jar, allowing you to buy more coffee at once. Also, the jar features an easy-to-open flip-top, making it more accessible when adjusting the taste of your coffee.

In addition to that, the flip-top ensures the jar gets tightly sealed when not in use to avoid compromising the coffee quality.

Despite the benefits of packaging in a jar, you’ll have to measure the correct quantity of crystals for every cup you make.  

Caffeine Content

For each teaspoon you use, you’re consuming 74 mg of caffeine in your coffee. That’s far less than the caffeine in Starbucks Via Instant Italian Roast coffee (135  mg per serving).

As a result, Folgers instant coffee is slightly weaker in terms of flavor and taste (compared to Starbucks Instant Coffee).

#3. Nescafe Taster’s Choice House Blend Coffee

As a coffee lover, the last thing you want is getting caught up in the morning rush and forced to skip the daily coffee doses you love dearly.

Nescafe instant coffee comes as a game-changer. It ensures that your daily morning routine is smooth with a well-balanced flavored cup of coffee you can make within seconds.

General Features

Nescafe Taster’s Choice House Blend Coffee features a medium-light roast. This puts in a tantalizing aroma and refined flavor in every cup. Interestingly, it comes in the form of crystals coming from 100% coffee.

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The crystals are skillfully crafted from a blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. As a result, it balances the flavor (that is: pleasingly bitter taste).

When you compare Nescafe instant coffee with Folgers Classic Roast instant coffee, the latter is much bitter.  

But all in all, you’ll have to add sugar or creamer to your coffee if you want something sweeter from Nescafe taster’s Choice instant coffee.

How To Make A Cup Of Nescafe Taster’s Choice House Blend Coffee

Add hot water into your cup and put in some crystals, which dissolve quickly and thoroughly. Your coffee is now ready. 

That’s a Fast and hassle-free procedure that suits a busy schedule, morning rush, and can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere.

Getting the Best Quality Coffee in your cup

Nescafe Taster’s Choice instant coffee comes with cup-size instructions ensuring you savor a fresh cup of coffee with the right flavor and sharp taste you genuinely desire.

Packaging

Like Folgers Classic Roast Instant coffee, Nescafe Taster’s choice is packed in a jar (available in packets too) that features a tight lid. This way, you can keep your instant coffee fresher and flavorful to the last crystal.

Caffeine Content

If you follow the cup-size instruction from the manufacturer, each 6 oz cup of coffee contains 65 mg of caffeine. That’s a fair amount of caffeine for those who love caffeine in coffee.

Who is it for?

• Coffee lovers looking for a pleasingly bitter taste
• Those looking for medium light coffee roast
• Those preferring coffee with not-so-strong caffeine content

It’s not for……

• Coffee enthusiast with a craving for sweet and dark roast coffee

#4. Mount Hagen Instant Coffee

It doesn’t matter whether you take your coffee early in the morning before work or late in the evening before sleep. All you want is a decent cup of Joe. And Mount Hagen Instant coffee can give you that.

General Features

It comes in the form of freeze-dried coffee crystals made from 100% finest organic coffee. That means the crystals come from coffee beans free from synthetic fertilizers or chemicals used in production.

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Therefore, you’ll get a tasty cup of coffee originating from genetically clean coffee beans. On top of that, Mount Hagen boasts the single-origin and light roast coffee that perfectly fits those looking for a brown-colored cup of coffee.

What’s more, Mount Hagen Instant Coffee is famous for its fantastic flavor and smooth mildness. Therefore, this is your perfect fit if you crave a sip of flavor-rich and smooth coffee.

How to Prepare a Cup of Mount Hagen Instant Coffee

Note: You can prepare this instant coffee both hot or cold

Firstly, add boiling water into a cup and put some of the freeze-dried crystals and stir. Alternatively, you can use milk instead of water if you prefer.

But what if you want iced coffee? No problem. Half-fill your glass with cold water, put in some of the coffee crystals, and stir. After that, add some ice and serve. 

Next, let’s look at what you can do to achieve the best taste and flavor in your cup of joe.

Getting The Best Quality Coffee In Your Cup

Whether you want your coffee hot or cold, one teaspoon of the crystals is enough for each cup you make.

However, it depends on how strong you like your cup of coffee. If you want a strong taste, use two teaspoonfuls of the crystals.

Packaging

The coffee crystals come in a 3.53 ounces glass jar that can make approximately 50 servings. That’s wonderful news for those looking to buy more coffee once and avoid going shopping now and then.

What’s more, the glass jar features an air-tight plastic lid that protects the crystals from contamination for zero compromises on quality.

Caffeine Content

Mount Hagen Instant Coffee has 40 mg of caffeine per serving. This is relatively lower than caffeine in Nescafe Taster’s, Folgers classic roasts, and Starbucks via instant coffees. But all in all, it’s still a fair amount that can serve your caffeine needs.

Who is it for?

• Coffee lovers looking for a brown-colored cup of Joe with a velvety mildness
• Those looking for low-caffeine coffee

It’s not for…..

• Those looking for dark coffee

#5. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix

Is the word ‘mushroom’ scaring you away? Chances are, it triggers the thoughts of a ‘mushroomy’ taste in your coffee, which doesn’t seem to fit any of the tastes you’re looking for.

Well, a cup of coffee made using the Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix gives you a well-caffeinated and health-conscious.

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This comes from lightly roasted coffee extracted from 100% organic Arabica beans –free from traces of agricultural chemicals.

And, more importantly, a cup of coffee that tastes nothing like a mushroom. But why the name: Four-sigmatic mushroom coffee mix?

General Features

This instant coffee is an intriguing combination of four things:

• Organic Arabica Coffee
• Organic Chaga Mushroom
• Lion’s Mane Mushroom
• Wild Rhodiola Root

Why combine the four? Organic Chaga, known as the King of Mushroom, is rich in antioxidant properties that boost your immunity.

Also, the Lion’s Mane mushroom is a natural nootropic that increases brain activities in terms of focus, productivity, and concentration.

Plus, the wild Rhodiola root (which is an adaptogen) counteracts stress to help you kick-start your morning powerfully and with joy. A combination of the four overcomes the dark side of consuming coffee (jitters and mid-day crash).

In general, Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee is unique. It goes beyond soul-touching flavor to give you more health benefits not seen in most instant coffee.

How to Prepare a cup of Four-Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix

Similar to other instant coffees, Four Sigmatic Mushroom is a just-add-hot-water beverage. All you have to do is pour the coffee powder into an 8 fluid Oz cup of hot water and stir.

The resulting solution is a cup of coffee with a smoother and milder flavor free from bitter notes found in most instant coffees. Also, if you prefer, you can use ghee or coconut oil for a creamier texture.  

Packaging and Caffeine Content

This instant coffee comes in packets with the correct quantity for each serving. So, you’ll get 50 mg of caffeine per serving and 250 mg (each) of lion’s mane and organic Chaga per serving.

In addition, Four Sigmatic instant coffee contains 100 mg of organic Rhodiolaper per serving. As a result, every sip you take is a perfect blend of the four ingredients keeping your coffee light and healthy.

Note that the packet comes in a box (10 packets in each box).

Who is it for?

• Coffee lovers craving for extra nutrients other than the flavor in their daily cup
• Those looking for a moderate amount of caffeine in their cup of Joe

It’s not for….

• Those looking for pure instant coffee with no additives

#6. Waka Coffee

What you want is to get the best taste from your cup of coffee fast. And you can get that from Waka instant coffee. Let’s dive in and see whether it suits your coffee needs.

General Features

This instant coffee comes from 100% single-sourced Arabica beans. More interestingly, Waka instant coffee comes in the form of crystals, which are freeze-dried to preserve the original taste and aroma of the beans.

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As such, the crystals are a medium roast to ensure you get a perfectly balanced taste: neither too weak nor too strong, just the right coffee strength with smooth-bodied notes of citrus.

Waka Coffee is free from additives – pure coffee. This way, you can enjoy a fresh cup of instant coffee with a taste not too far from regular coffee.

The best part is that you can get the coffee in whichever state you desire: whether you want it hot or iced, it’s your choice.

How to Prepare a cup of Waka instant coffee

Like all other instant coffees, the procedure is easy. Add hot or cold water into a cup, add the crystals and wait for it to dissolve. Next, enjoy a fresh and delicious cup of Joe.

Packaging And Getting the Best Quality Coffee in Your cup

The packaging varies depending on the size of the box. You can opt for an 8-packets box or go for the 24-packets box.

The good news? Both options provide 1-ounce single-serve packets of coffee, making it easier to measure the correct quantity per serving for the best taste. The packets also make it easier to travel with waka instant coffee.

Caffeine Content

The instant coffee features moderate caffeine content: 1-ounce packet of Waka coffee contains 56-84 mg of caffeine (an average of 70 mg) per single-serve – not too bad for caffeine lovers.

Who is it for?

• Those looking for medium roast coffee crystals
• Coffee enthusiasts looking for an additive-free cup of coffee

It’s not for…..

• Those looking for extremely dark or light coffee roast

Things to Look For in Instant Coffee

• Tasting Notes

Getting the perfect taste from your cup of Joe begins by knowing the type of coffee roast you like. Is it light, medium, or dark?

However, it takes more than that to get the coffee taste you crave. You must know the tasting notes. Are its notes of chocolate or smokiness? (the list is long).

With the proper roast and tasting notes, each sip of your coffee will have the soul-touching flavor or taste you truly desire.

• Price

When it comes to the price of instant coffees, it goes down to what you’re able to offer in exchange for a just-add-hot-water coffee. But again, know this.

Expensive instant coffees are not a guarantee of mouth-watering flavor, and neither are the cheap ones.

Even then, to find the right one you can experiment with a few options to find the product that fits all your needs.

• Single Serve vs. Jar

Search online or visit a grocery store. Even then, instant coffee is sold either in jars or single serves (in packets), with each packaging style having its advantages.

Single-serve instant coffee is easier to move around with, and the correct quantity per serving is already measured for you.

On the other end, instant coffee in a jar enables buying more coffee at once, which can save you money. Also, jars are fit to travel with. Therefore, choose the one that is more convenient for you.

Why Find The Best Instant Coffee Product For Quality Coffee

As you look for instant coffee you don’t have to sacrifice quality, aroma, and flavor.

With a little research, you’ll find the best instant coffee option that will offer you a quality coffee experience that’s made quickly.

There’s instant coffee to suit everyone. to give you flavorful, quality, and rich coffee to make things quickly in the morning.