Let's be realistic. No instant coffee ever is going to beat a cup of freshly brewed coffee made with boiling water and just-ground beans. But Starbucks VIA Ready Brew comes darned close.
The tiny single-serve packets actually emit a coffee aroma on opening. The granules of instant and microground coffee actually dissolve in hot water, even when it comes from one of those instant hot water spigots on the office water dispenser. A little grit settles into the bottom of the cup. But it's far less than the sludge you encounter in your average cup of French press coffee.
Both the Italian Roast and Colombia flavors deliver a product that is not only recognizable as coffee but contains more than one flavor layer.
As someone who travels a lot, both internationally and around the country, these tiny packets are a must-have replacement for the weak and flavorless coffee -- either ground or instant that accompanies hotel room coffeemakers.
One caveat. Instructions on the Starbucks Web site call for one packet to an 8-ounce cup of water. Most mugs are far bigger, so you might want to use more than one packet to get the same caffeine and flavor bang you get from brewed coffee. At $9.95 for 12 serving packets, the cost comes to 83 cents per cup, far cheaper than what's perking at your nearest coffee shop, or in the office vending machine.
-- Alice T. Carter
For me, a morning without coffee is like Thanksgiving without stuffing -- it ain't happening. My friends joke that I have a perpetual IV of Starbucks coffee running in my veins to get me going in the morning. The only problem is, I perfer sleeping in to waking up early to make a quick run to grab my grande five-pump nonfat mocha every morning.
Enter Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. The coffee giant's new instant coffee requires you to just add hot water and go, and promises the same great taste as its drip coffee. Now, when I think instant coffee, I think grounds in the bottom of my cup and a weak flavor.
Such is not the case with VIA. After a quick swirling of hot water and creamer, there isn't a coffee grind in sight. The coffee, which comes in two varieties, tastes just as good as any other drip coffee. In fact, the medium version is almost too strong for me. With a full, robust flavor, it smells even better than the pot of joe brewing across the office from me -- and doesn't require me to walk as far. The Italian Roast Extra Bold smells so good that setting it on your desk is enough to wake you up. When mixed with a splash of pumpkin spice creamer, Starbucks VIA replaces my compulsive morning stops -- and makes my boss much happier.
-- Daveen Rae Kurutz
My mother lies in wait for the day when I need coffee or else a massive caffeine headache will ensue. Fortunately I'm not there yet, so carrying around instant coffee isn't necessary - which should give Starbucks enough time to go back to the drawing board and start over.
After getting over the "instant" fear, I made my mug of Starbucks VIA and was completely unimpressed. Fine instant grind or not, the flavor was really lacking; bitter at first and a gritty feeling on my tongue when it finished -- not to mention if you don't stir your cup quickly enough, the coffee beads up on the side of your mug. Oh yeah, I want that in my tummy.
The Colombia flavor was a bit better than the Italian Roast, not nearly as sharp tasting, but overall I was completely underwhelmed. I would take VIA with me for a camping trip, but in lieu of a regular cup of joe at the office, I'll wait the 10 minutes for the machine to brew.
-- Caroline Hirt
Additional Information:Starbucks VIA Ready Brew
The claim: This new kind of instant coffee tastes like a freshly brewed cup of Starbucks coffee. It's 100-percent naturally roasted - no chemicals and no additives. Starbucks microgrinds Arabica beans so that when you add hot water and stir, you release the full flavor and aroma of its great brewed coffees.
It comes in Italian Roast Extra Bold and Colombia Medium. A decaf version is coming soon.
Cost: $2.95 for 3-pack; $9.95 for 12-pack
Where: Starbucks locations
