Starbucks - VIA Ready Brew Instant Coffee Review

Overall 4.00 of 5 view all 14 reviews

AnnaBanana
Oak Park, IL

A cup of Starbucks which you can carry in your pocket!

not sensitive to caffeine, a sucker for a great cup of coffee

Pros

Great flavors, doesn't taste like instant coffee, packets are easy to carry with you

Cons

VIA powder is harder to pour out, a little expensive for routine pleasure

MAR

2009

Sometimes you want a cup of great coffee but Starbucks isn't there.

Whether you have just settled into your motel room and don't feel like going back out to look through someone else's neighborhood for your favorite coffee oasis or perhaps you are hiking with someone and there you are in some peaceful rustic spot, with water boiling over a campfire and no Starbucks in sight. Maybe it's cold outside, you have settled in with a favorite book or movie, and you just don't feel like running another errand even for a special "cuppa." Like your mother, the good folks at Starbucks have foreseen days like this when you would be on your own and have come up with an answer .... Starbucks VIA Ready Brew.

Because I am registered with Starbucks Rewards program, I received by mail a couple samples of VIA Ready Brew the other day which consisted of two flat, rectangular stick-like pouches each containing a single serving along with an earnest explanation: "Unlike traditional instant coffee, which lacks the essential oils that give coffee its flavor and aroma, ours is made with the highest quality arabica beans, finely ground to release their fullest flavor." Yah, yah, yah, I thought but I decided to give it a try and I've got to admit that ... yah, yah, yah ... this stuff is great!

THE VIA EXPERIENCE

As my water came to a boil in the microwave, I discovered that the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew packets were (Hallelujah!) easy to open. More problematic would prove to be actually pouring the coffee powder into the mug of hot water. This instant coffee is not as dry or free flowing as other brands and had to be coaxed a little. (If you enjoy full-bodied brew, try to get as much as you can out of the packet.) My patience was rewarded when the coffee hit the hot water and the most wonderful aroma billowed up. It is not enough to say that Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is great instant coffee but rather that it is the first I have ever tasted that didn't TASTE like instant coffee. It couldn't have tasted better if my very own barista had been standing by to brew it up for me.

TASTE TIP:

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew comes in two flavors: Colombia (a taste I think most people will prefer on a routine basis) and Italian Roast, a darker more robust version which I suspect will be the perfect complement to fancy desserts, especially all things chocolate and even Girl Scout Cookies!

OH, OH!

Alas, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew may fall into the dreaded "special treat" category for most of us. A package of 12 single-serving tubes costs $9.95. (Part of the mailing promotion was a BOGO card which can be redeemed at the store to buy one package of three single-serving tubes (no price indicated) and get another three-tube pack free. For instant coffee, this is a bit pricey. On the other hand, if you are in the habit of dropping into Starbucks several times a day, VIA Ready Brew may be more economical. Sometimes, it's a darned sight easier and more convenient, that's for sure.

Last edited on Mar 06, 2009

Starbucks - VIA Ready Brew Instant Coffee is recommended by AnnaBanana

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Comments about AnnaBanana’s Review

To be honest, I have never had instant coffee, but I imagine it can't be as good as the real thing. This was a good idea for Starbucks; and here I thought they had already saturated the entire coffee market. My favorite product of theirs is their "Double Shot". It's a canned beverage you can buy at 7 - Eleven that is made with espresso and milk and is slightly sweetened.

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Mar 7, 2009 at 11:20PM:

That's pretty dumb. Come to think of it though, we had a young lady from another block who was held up in the alley behind our building when she was walking her two dachhounds (sic?) at 7 a.m. one morning!!! What do these people think they are DOING!

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Mar 7, 2009 at 9:03PM:

We're paying more attention about crime here, too. Two female dog walkers (one dog) were held up at gun point last Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Neither gal had a purse, but they gave him earrings, etc. They said that he was probably high on drugs. Dogwalkers seldom have anything valuable so he was dumb as well as high. We're knocking off the late night stuff, but 6:30 p.m.? I agree about whistles. They could as easily incite a guy with a gun as deter a crime. Screaming bloody murder is certainly a viable alternative. Each circumstance is so different. Please be watchful when you do those 7/11 trips. Can you do them before dark?

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Mar 7, 2009 at 8:00PM:

I'm going back offline again for a while, heading over to 7/11 Heaven!!!!!!!!

WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!

Did I tell you that street crime has escalated here in Oak Park to the extent that they are thinking of bringing back "Operation Whistlestop" again? I don't know why because it didn't work 20 years ago but ANYHOO the idea is that we will be able to buy these whistles and blow them which will supposedly 1) scare the mugger off and 2) summon people who out of the safety of their own homes so they can help you.

What REALLY happens is this. You blow the whistle and:

1) If anybody hears it at all, they don't pay any attention and ...

2) the mugger stuffs the whistle up your nose or steals it from you!!!!!

I tell ya, the people in high places are thinking about us all the time and THAT'S what scares me!

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Mar 7, 2009 at 8:00PM:

HAWWEEWOOYAH! (Hallelujah, as I used to pronounce it when I was speech-impaired) but my doggy friend was a good girl. Pranced outside, looked apprehensively around, ran over and pissed as fast as she could and was back at the front door, pawing to get in as soon as she could. That was fine with me, it ws miserable out there and Mumsy and Daddy are going to walk her when t hey get home. She is a dear little dog, will admit, ALMOST as dear as yours!

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Mar 7, 2009 at 7:10PM:

Time change tonight. More daylight tomorrow. Yaaaaaaay! Does your little doggy companion have a raincoat? Shelby wears one and likes everything but the hood. Dolce's natural coat throws water off enough so that she doesn't get very wet or need a raincoat.

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Mar 7, 2009 at 5:41PM:

No kidding, this stuff is GOOD. I would almost rather have one cup of this than three cups of my usual, but I do think S.B. is VERY EXPENSIVE GENERALLY SPEAKING!!!!!!!

One place that has seen the light -- I checked out the Comfort Inn today for their rates and mine is only going to be $71 a day which is NOT BAD AT ALL FOR A MOTEL.

Take care, I've got to go offline for a while as I promised my neighbor I would take her dog out tonight. Naturally, it is raining. That doesn't bother ME but this little dog is such a PRINCESS it is all I can do to get her little body outside even if ONE drop is falling much less a whole bunch of them!

I'd just heard that Starbucks had an instant coffee. Amazing but great that it's so good. And they're still getting high dollar for their new product. You always make everything sound delicious - especially when you mention the G.S. cookies as an accompaniment.

In response to LaurieM's comment from Mar 5, 2009 at 5:40PM:

You know, Laurie, I should have added in the taste tip thing that this coffee would be great with a flavored creamer in it, like Hazelnut! It's REALLY really good coffee!