You ever wake up and want some fresh coffee, but you do not want to use your Keurig, try Instant Coffee! The fastest way to get your tasty organic coffee in four or less steps. The great thing about instant coffee is it is ready in seconds! Simply heat up your water, pour or scoop some coffee beans, mix together and pour coffee into your desired cup! Feel free to add whip cream to make it feel like a Starbucks drink and simply enjoy. Here are the top companies that provide the best instant coffee!
History of Instant Coffee
The first “modern” instant coffee was made by Alphonese Allais. Nestle was the first company to make dried coffee and in 1938 they made their first instant coffee official. Although drinking instant coffee is different from regular coffee this is how it all started.
What is Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee is made of coffee beans or coffee flavored crystals that dissolve into real coffee after adding hot water. In order to mix well just simply use a spoon to stir it together. The coffee beans are able to mix with the hot water because they are roasted and then the grinds itself easily blend with the water. The coffee crystals are freeze dried and that is how they can be broken into small crystals and they remain hard until you add hot water for them to dissolve into.
Instant coffee is way easier and on the go than making regular coffee. It takes two seconds to pour the packet into a cup and simply add the hot water. Although instant coffee has been around for a while in order to figure out which company is the best, look to this list below for more information on the Best Instant Coffee of 2020.
Top 10 Best Instant Coffee Options
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1. Waka Coffee Quality Instant
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Presenting this instant coffee from Waka Coffee, a Medium Roast specifically made with 100% Arabica Freeze Dried Coffee. It has a smooth texture with hints of citrus. It is packaged with 8, 0.1 oz packets of pure joy. Simply mix one of these packets with 8 ounces of hot water from your microwave or stove and enjoy your easy instant coffee.
Specifications
- 100% Arabica Freeze Dried
- 8 Single-Serve Packets
- 8 Servings
- Caffeinated
Sample Customer Review…I’m in the process of trying out several different premium instant coffee options. So far Waka is at the top of my list. It’s a rich, balanced flavor but without the acidic tones of some instant coffees. I like the light/medium roast flavor too (my favorite). It’s a challenge to produce bright, fruity tones (of lighter roasts) without the acidity. Waka pulls it off.
A great option for a backpack or day hike. The crystals dissolve with little stirring (honestly you could get by without a spoon) and the flavor is great to the bottom of the cup (with no Via silt at the bottom!).
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
2. Mount Hagen Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee
[amazon box=”B00N9TYGVS” description=” ” rating=”4.5″]
This instant coffee is very organic and has been awarded at the top of the list for best instant organic coffee. This Organic Fairtrade Coffee is complex and rich and has a unique flavor which was founded in Papua New Guinea. The glass jar is 3.53 ounces with about 50 servings.
Specifications
- 3.53 oz Jar
- 50 servings
- Kosher Award-Winning Single Origin 100% Arabica
Sample Customer Review…I love to brew freshly ground coffee every morning and have done so for decades. But there are times I want a good cup of coffee without going through all the motions. After trying countless instant coffees, this is the richest, smoothest I’ve found. Absolutely excellent.
American instants are dreadful, European instants are notably better, but Mount Hagen is what I was looking for. And it has everything for the coffee snob: 100% Arabica, USDA/Ecocert Organic, Fair Trade. Plus it’s freeze-dried and comes in a glass jar. Yes, fresh-brewed coffee is always better, but this is EXCELLENT instant.
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
3. Joe Coffee The Daily House Blend Coffee
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This bag of instant coffee is for those who truly love the strong coffee taste. It is very delicious and has a sweet taste of chocolate and caramel. These beans have been handpicked and certified by the Rainforest Alliance in Cajamarca, Peru. This instant coffee can be easily blended if you desire to add cream of some sort.
Specifications
- 12 oz Bag
- RFA Certified Whole Beans from Colombia & Peru
- Small-Batch Speciality Roaster in NYC
Sample Customer Review…Excellent Coffee! I think I can speak for most people when I say that all I want is good cups of coffee. High-pressure marketing tries to separate you from your money with claims of ‘ten times
the normal amount of caffeine because OUR coffee is grown in hydroponic vats under optimum conditions of light and nutrients PLUS our research scientists have cracked the coffee plant’s DNA code!’ or ‘Only the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Board has the right to sell genuine Jamaican Blue Coffee.
Look for the label, and if the price seemed reasonable, then you know that it’s not genuine JBM coffee. I like Joe coffee. It’s unpretentious and while there’s a bit of marketing with a nod towards NYC, it’s not overbearing. It is what it is: good coffee. It comes as advertised, and I’ll drink to that. I’ve got a thermos full of Joe right next to me on my desk and am enjoying it.
Read more at Amazon.com.
4. Cafe Altura Instant Coffee
[amazon box=”B00HKGB9ZW” description=” ” rating=”4.6″]
This Cafe Altura is a tasty instant coffee that can be used for hot or iced coffee. This 3.53 Oz Jar can come in packs of multiple. This Arabica coffee is the perfect instant coffee to use to start your morning. Not to mention, it is freeze-dried which entails that it is certified through the USDA for their organic coffee.
Specifications
- 3.5 oz
- Freeze Dried Instant Coffee
- USDA Certified Organic Coffee
Sample Customer Review…This is great quality coffee, especially being that it’s instant. No Starbucks for me anymore. Where’s their organic option anyway? I’m not big into chemically poisoning myself with pesticides. Especially coffee from many developing nations that douse coffee with tons of pesticides.
This is quick, gives a nice pick-me-up, it’s chemical-free, no cleanup, and tastes great! Everyone in my household loves it. What more could a person ask for?
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
5. Steeped Coffee
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This coffee is a single specialty that comes in packages similar to tea bags. The process of using them is just like if you were making tea, simply add hot water. You are getting the taste of the California Blend Medium Roast and also comes in these flavors, Eventide Decaf, Odyssey Blend which is the dark roast, and a Sunrise Blend which is the light roast. All of these packages come with pure 100% Colombia Gourmet Coffee.
Specifications
- 8 servings
- Medium Roast
Sample Customer Review…During the stay-at-home order, I’ve been missing being able to go get a nice cup of coffee. I don’t have a coffee maker at home because I never like coffee at home. THIS IS DIFFERENT. Not only is it convenient/super easy to make, but the coffee itself is delicious. I only rarely drink my coffee without cream or sugar, but this coffee is so tasty, I wouldn’t even consider adding anything to it.
The price is a bit high for at-home coffee, but it’s cheaper than a cup at a coffee shop and tastes just as good!
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
6. Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee Medium Roast
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This very own 20 oz bag of Starbucks medium roast house blend instant coffee, can make you feel like you are walking right into Starbucks every morning with the aroma it has. The flavor is loaded with nuts and cocoa with a touch of sweetness from the medium roast. It is preferred to use for making cold iced coffee. This item is recommended to use cold, filtered water and keep the ground coffee in a cool place for best tasting.
Specifications
- 20 oz Bag
- 100% Arabica
Sample Customer Review…If you see VIA and think instant, you’re missing the keyword — it’s Starbucks. Would they risk their brand and reputation on an inferior product? No way. So this must not be an ordinary instant, right? Right. VIA is one of the great inventions in this world — really great coffee just by adding boiling water (and I’m a person who will otherwise turn down coffee rather than drink instant).
Or — try making it with skim milk instead of water! Solves the creamer problem, gets you your calcium, and non-fattening — a super deal. I start out the day with a 16-oz VIA iced coffee made with skim milk (alas, they already put the sugar in it, but it’s too good to pass up).
At the end of the day, I make two of these decaf packets (each one makes 8 oz) with Splenda and cream if I have it in the house, or I heat 16 oz of skim milk to make it with instead of water and then just add Splenda. Gives me the delight of coffee in the evening without keeping me up all night!
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
7. Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Coffee, Colombia
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This blend is Starbuck’s favorite instant coffee made from organic 100% Colombian arabica coffee, and it is almonds-free. This product can come in many serving sizes but this particular pack is sold out and this is a 50 count package of instant caffeinated coffee. To enjoy this product simply, pour the packet into a cup, add the hot water for the best taste.
Specifications
- 1 box, 50 packets
- Organic Coffee
- Almonds-Free
Sample Customer Review…I bought this back during the start of quarantine when Costco was constantly sold out. (Paid $54.97 for one box of 50). I see the price has lowered down to $34 as of the time of this review, so get it while you can! Anyway, this is my favorite instant coffee and it’s great for travel as well.
Colombia is probably my favorite flavor, I like how strong it is. My box had an expiration date far into the future so that shouldn’t be a concern. Although I now have a Jura espresso/coffee machine, I still enjoy these instant packets from time to time.
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
8. Folgers Instant Coffee Crystals, Classic Roast
[amazon box=”B01LB1J9BW” description=” ” rating=”4.7″]
This classic brand of coffee in the U.S. has an instant coffee made with pure 100% coffee with instant coffee crystals roasted from New Orleans. This 8 ounce caffeinated coffee jar contains a pleasant aroma with a rich taste. This company gives us instant coffee at an affordable cost.
Specifications
- 8 Oz Jar
- Classic Roast
- 100 % Pure Folgers medium roast coffee
Sample Customer Review…I get a lot of looks at work when I break out the Folgers Instant but I love it. It is super easy and convenient. I do not drink coffee often so I like a product that keeps well, which this does. I recently ordered another jar and was surprised to learn (with Amazon’s helpful “last purchase” detail) that the jar I just finished was over 2 years old.
I never tasted any difference in quality over that entire time. To be sure, if it is not already obvious, I am not a coffee connoisseur but when I need a little extra kick in the day this is great.
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
9. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix
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If you are looking for a more organic, instant coffee option, then Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix is the one for you. The coffee itself is a blend of organic matsutake mushrooms that add extra nutrients into your morning joe that you wouldn’t get otherwise. Although a bit pricey compared to other instant coffee options, the health benefits that come with this specific brand are well worth the expense.
The Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Mix comes in multiple different styles that provide separate benefits depending on the type you indulge in. Whether you want an energizing cup or one that takes away the jitters and provides a calming sensation throughout the day, this brand of instant coffee will not disappoint even the biggest coffee snobs out there.
Specifications
- Brand: Four Sigma Foods
- Size: 250 mg per serving
- Packaging: Box
Sample Customer Review…I have no idea if there will legitimately be any real benefits to ingesting these “super-“mushrooms in my coffee, but what I do know is this: they taste good, and they leave me less jittery than regular coffee.
That could be just the result of drinking slightly less coffee in my coffee, but either way, it satisfies my craving for coffee and it tastes good. Well, at least the “create” variety with Lion’s Mane & Chaga and the “achieve” variety with Cordyceps & Chaga taste good — the “hack stress/adaptogen” one with Tulsi & Astragalus takes a little more getting used to.
If “Create” is Mushroom Coffee 101, “Hack Stress” is grad level, and I have no idea whether it’s worth powering through. The other reason to feel good about these — and particularly the way they’re packaged, which might otherwise be a drawback — is that they’re great for travel. On the road and at conferences it’s not always easy to get a really enjoyable cup of coffee but you can usually track down hot water.
Now that I have developed a taste for this coffee, it’s nice to be able to have a consistent cup of my favorite coffee pretty much wherever I go. If I’m getting any health benefits out of it too, then so much the better.
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
10. Cusa Tea & Coffee Cold Brew Variety Pack
[amazon box=”B08BW6RV47″ description=” ” rating=”4.0″]
Coming in a variety of flavors, the Cusa Tea & Coffee Cold Brew Variety Pack is the perfect brand for an easy and significantly better cold brew process that is instant to make. Instead of using typical hot water to create the coffee, the process uses room temperature water, making the cooling process ten times faster compared to other brands.
Although they come in individual sticks, this adds to the appeal for easy travel cups that you can drink on the road. These sticks act as a great substitute for expensive cold brew brands like it, adding to the overall appeal of the product itself. Coming in a variety of different flavors, such as Mocha and Lemon Dark roast, Cusa’s Cold Brew Variety Packs are flavorful and all-around convenient for those looking for a cold coffee option.
Specifications
- Brand: Cusa Tea
- Item Form: Ground Coffee
- Specialty: Organic
- Packaging: Can/Individual Sticks
Sample Customer Review…I can not say enough about Cusa Coffee. As an avid hiker and backpacker, my morning coffee is an essential item as part of my gear. However, before meeting this amazing brand, I had mostly been tolerating the other options I tried.
I usually am not a fan of dark roast and struggle with the acidity of coffee at times, but because they cold brew it and then do their ‘magic’ to make it, it isn’t rough on my stomach, even if I have it first thing and then eat a bar as we start out on the trail.
And although I prefer hot coffee, there are times there are factors that don’t lend themselves to that, with the good news being this coffee even dissolved well in cold water (I just chalk it up then to being fancy iced coffee – tee hee)! Oh, and I was pretty sure I’d like the vanilla dark roast, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the Lemon dark roast – both are such a treat!! And I liked the light, medium, and dark roast plain ones as well.
Read more reviews at Amazon.com.
Choosing the Best Instant Coffee
Affordable & Best Tasting
In order to pick the best instant coffee, it is important to find which one is the most affordable and the best all around tasting. Each instant coffee has its own unique features. It is important to choose the best coffee with the best taste. Even if you believe that the coffee is the best to someone else it could not be.
In order to decide which one is right for you! You have to do a trial and error. It is first important to know what kind of coffee you like. Are you into more of a sweet tasting or are you a strong and bitter coffee drinker? These are things to figure out about yourself before deciding which one is right for you!
Shipping
Each instant coffee packaging is different. It is important to look at the reviews and look at how it comes when purchasing. The research I have done proves that some packaging can be shipped with a plastic bagging rather than the shown box. This shows how some packaging can be safer than others. Some packaging like jars are easily shipped off because it does not require much, but also the glass jar products may break debating on how it was shipped.
Instant Iced Coffee
The best thing about Instant Coffee is the idea that the coffee can be used cold. The way this can be done is to simply pour and make instant coffee the regular way and then add ice to a new cup and pour the coffee into the new cup. Iced coffee is for the summer days when you want something cold instead of hot coffee.
Conclusion
In order to pick the best instant coffee it is important to know what type of coffee you like. I have provided you with the top instant coffee all are uniquely different with different taste and packaging all catered to you. All of the instant coffees’ listed can be found on amazon once you click the links. I wish you the best on your journey to find which product is right for you.
By J’Annah Peterson and Madalyn Bumsted.
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