Starbucks - VIA Ready Brew Instant Coffee Review

I suppose instant coffee is a necessary evil, even though I have not had any in years, due to the fact that you can get a decent cup of coffee just about anywhere these days (even at Mickey D's!).

But when Starbucks came out with Via, I was really interested in trying it because of all the hype and how confident the company is that it tastes as good as their brewed coffee. One assumes that they introduced it because of the recession -- fewer and fewer people want to spend $3 or $4 on a cup of Joe, so to hold on to their market share they needed to put out a good low-cost alternative (you can buy 12 servings online for $9.95, which is less that $1 a cup).

Luckily I got to try it without even having to buy it -- I got some free samples while at a Starbucks.

One of my pet peeves is packages that don't open easily. The long, thin Via packet has a perforated tear-off top that's super easy to open, so even before I tasted it I was pleasantly surprised.

The directions, illustrated on the packet, are simple -- dump the coffee into a cup, add 8 ounces of hot water and stir. The coffee comes out in a fine powder, a lot like an espresso grind you'd find in a can of Bustello (my fave coffee to brew with). I like my coffee a little strong so I skimped on the water a bit. I was given 2 samples at the store -- a packet of the medium bodied Columbia and one of the "extra bold" Italian. I went with the Columbia, and after letting it cool a bit (getting the temp of hot water right off a gas stove is not too easy) I got to sipping.

Conclusion? I was actually very surprised. It was smooth and strong without that nasty, bitter aftertaste of most instant coffees. (I can't wait to try the Italian.) In short, this is easily the best instant I have ever tried, and I have to say it does rival Starbucks brewed coffee, which is quite surprising.

All in all, Via is a great, inexpensive way to enjoy a very good cup of coffee.

Now if only Starbucks could find a way to lower the price of their sandwiches....