14 Store-Bought Instant Coffee Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

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The great Joan Didion once said: "Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant." In this moment, after experiencing 14 different store-bought instant coffee brands, it's hard for me to think she was talking about anything other than instant coffee when she penned these immortal words.

If you want to change the trajectory of your day, there's no quicker way to do it than with a spoonful of instant coffee. You can go from catatonic couch potato to energized, functional member of society in a matter of seconds, without fussing over such tasks as grinding and filtering. Simply pour some freeze dried coffee into a mug, add water, and sip yourself into a state of caffeinated grandeur.

But instant coffee has a reputation problem. If you're somebody who starts your day with coffee rather than tea, you probably know that a dash of instant coffee doesn't deliver a taste experience comparable with a fancy pour-over or a carefully steeped French press. I'll be the first to admit that, as a cliché Brooklyn coffee snob, a mug of instant will never achieve the delicate nuance of a machine made espresso, but still, there have been strides in the instant coffee industry. I rounded up a variety of instant coffee brands and slurped myself into a frenzy, paying special attention to whether nutty, nuanced notes earned an instant brew a spot in my pantry, or a burnt acrid aftertaste got it a one-way ticket to the trash can.

Unfortunately, Stop & Shop instant coffee is a textbook case of everything people fear when they hear the words "instant coffee." It's dark and bitter, but not in the bold, complex way of a rich French roast. It tastes more like somebody flambéed a piece of toast beyond recognition, ground it up, and pretended it was coffee.

The flavor is flat-out aggressive, with none of the subtle roastiness or chocolatey, fruity undertones. The mouthfeel is weirdly thick, almost sludgy, like it's trying to trick you into thinking it's full-bodied, when in reality it's just poorly dissolved. It left a ring of gritty residue at the bottom of my cup, which made the last few sips feel like punishment.

If there's one upside, it's that it's caffeinated and very affordable. It's the kind of instant coffee I'd put in an emergency preparedness kit and it would give me reason enough that the apocalypse is nowhere near. If you're desperate, it'll do the job, but if you're even slightly picky about your coffee, I'd leave it on the shelf.

For those who like instant coffee, there's instant coffee, and for those who like their mornings soft and sweet rather than bold and bitter, there's Maxwell House Café Français. This instant coffee is less about the coffee and more about the vibe of sipping a warm, sugary beverage that happens to have a little coffee in it. This is a drink for people who prefer their caffeine delivery system cloaked in milk and sugar. It's creamy, mellow, and frankly more reminiscent of a vending machine cappuccino than anything you'd get at a Parisian café.

There's not much actual coffee flavor here. It's not going to please black coffee drinkers or those who scrutinize bean origin. I'm a bit of a coffee snob myself, so I struggled to connect with it, but I wanted to include something for people who prefer their milk and sugar with a little coffee and not the other way around.

Silicon dioxide and dipotassium phosphate, two of the many ingredients listed in this product, don't exactly make me want to be a regular consumer, but if you've got a sweet tooth first thing in the morning, it might just hit the spot. Artificially flavored, artificially colored, but against all odds not entirely unenjoyable.

I wanted to love Trader Joe's instant coffee the way I want to love all things Trader Joe's. The chain has a way of making every product feel like it was designed just for me, with clever packaging and playful food puns that make it feel like someone in the product department is really trying. Unfortunately, this did not make my list of must-buy Trader Joe's items.

The coffee comes on very strong, with an immediate bitter bite, and not in the deep, dark chocolatey way you sometimes want. This is a sharper, more astringent bitterness that hits right up front and doesn't mellow out. There's no real nuance here, just a lot of intensity and no depth.

That said, it's undeniably effective, and it gave my nervous system a jolt with its caffeine content. I could practically feel my heart rate pick up before I even finished the cup, so if you're drinking instant coffee for the sole purpose of waking up fast, this one gets the job done. But if you're hoping for a cozy mug to ease into the morning, you might want to look elsewhere.

Nescafé Clásico is exactly what most people imagine when they think of instant coffee: Familiar, inoffensive, and pretty average. The aroma veers toward burnt popcorn, which is not the most enticing smell first thing in the morning, but also not a dealbreaker. On the palate, it's drinkable and smooth enough, with a mouthfeel that's a touch less acidic than some of its competitors. 

It's a dark roast, but don't expect to find notes of chocolate, fruit, or anything particularly complex here. Nescafé Clásico isn't pretending to be a premium roast or a café-style brew. It's a utilitarian coffee, the kind you keep in the cupboard for busy mornings.

While it's drinkable, it's also forgettable, and it doesn't inspire a second sip out of pleasure so much as routine. Still, for the price point and sheer ubiquity, it's easy to understand why this is a go-to for many households. 

I'll admit I didn't go into my cup of Folgers instant coffee expecting greatness. It's one of those legacy brands with a reputation built more on ubiquity than quality, and I can imagine it better in a breakroom or a motel lobby than I can in my own pantry. But to its credit, Folgers managed to surprise me with a flavor that's not nearly as harsh or over-roasted as many of its instant peers.

That said, the taste is unmistakably a little stale, like it's been hanging out in the jar for a few too many seasons. I was also left with an aftertaste that reminded me of wet cardboard and made me want to brush my teeth. 

On the plus side, the crystals dissolve well, leaving behind very little sludge or grit in the cup. And, of course, it's cheap and available literally everywhere. So if you're in a pinch or just looking for a caffeine fix without fuss, Folgers instant coffee is a decent fallback.

With its iconic bright yellow and red exterior and blue lettering, Café Bustelo definitely wins the award for best branding. The color scheme practically screams: "WAKE UP!" Unfortunately, the flavor doesn't quite live up to the packaging's energy. 

Made according to the directions, the coffee tasted surprisingly weak (I had to almost double the amount of powder just to be able to really taste the coffee). Once I dialed it up, it was a very smooth cup, with very little bitterness and a soft finish, but it lacks complexity. You don't get any deep roasty notes or a nuanced flavor profile.

This is probably a great option for people who need caffeine fast but don't love the taste of coffee. It's extremely drinkable, but it's too subtle for anyone who actually enjoys a bold brew. So while Café Bustelo Instant might not win awards for flavor, it's perfect for those mornings when you care more about caffeine than the coffee experience.

Generally speaking, Italians know what they're doing when it comes to coffee; it's no coincidence that the words for different espresso drinks like cappuccino, macchiato, and espresso itself all come from the Italian language. In my own experience in Italy, I encountered a lot of espresso, but instant coffee was not as widespread as it is in the U.S. or Latin America. When I opened my jar of Ferrara instant espresso, I was excited to experience an Italian take on a convenient coffee experience. What I found was a perfectly acceptable brew that was neither offensive nor groundbreaking.

The smell of the powder is a little more sour than many of the other coffees on the list, and some research revealed that it's made with a blend of robusta and arabica beans. The former likely gives the coffee its dark, intense notes of molasses and burnt sugar, and the arabica a more complex, layered flavor.

When I brewed it according to the instructions, I found the result significantly weaker than I expected from a product labeled "espresso." Despite the fact that it wasn't as strong as I'd hoped, it's a decent brew that will satisfy drinkers looking for the intensity of a dark roast.

Unlike most instant coffees, which are typically made with robusta beans or a blend of robusta and arabica, this one uses 100% arabica, and the result is a noticeably smoother and slightly sweeter cup. The flavor is more refined than what you'd expect from a standard grocery store instant, which makes sense considering it's based on Starbucks' popular Pike Place blend.

Despite the package's claim of being a medium roast, the flavor tells a different story. It's bold, bitter, and has that signature Starbucks edge that borders on burnt, depending on your palate. While some might find that intensity off-putting, others will appreciate its richness and depth, especially if they're already fans of Starbucks' darker roasts. The texture is impressively smooth, and the coffee dissolves cleanly, making for a consistent and mess-free cup. It also dissolves well in cold water, so if you're in the mood for a Starbucks iced coffee, you can easily make one yourself.

The overall experience feels a bit like getting a to-go Pike Place from your local Starbucks. For people who gravitate toward bold, roasted flavors and want a dependable instant option with some brand-name heft, this one checks the boxes, but it's a little pricier than most of the options.

I'll admit I had never heard of this instant coffee before I found it at my local Target. The branding is charmingly old world, and the coffee, I'm happy to report, is quite good. It's a little weak for my taste when you make it according to the instructions, so I added more to get the desired effect. 

Medaglia d'Oro wasn't even on my radar until I spotted a small jar tucked away on a shelf at the store. With its old-school Italian packaging it looked more like something you'd find in a grandma's pantry than a coffee aisle. But I'm glad I gave it a shot, because it turned out to be a hidden gem.

The flavor is rich and smooth, with a deep, slightly bitter edge that reminded me of dark molasses or the crust of a well-baked loaf of bread. It's not flashy or overly bold, but it's satisfying in a quietly confident way. Made as directed, it was a little weak for me personally, but it scaled up beautifully with just a bit more powder. 

Nescafé Gold is a noticeable step up from its Clásico sibling, and thankfully, the price hike came with a quality bump you can taste. From the moment you tear open the jar, the aroma is richer, deeper, and more inviting than your average instant. It doesn't smell like coffee you're settling for, but coffee you're choosing.

The label promises a "velvety crema," and surprisingly, that's not just marketing fluff. The coffee brews up with a smooth, creamy texture that genuinely evokes a decent espresso. It's not a replacement for your favorite café's perfectly pulled shot, but it's shockingly close for something that can be brewed in a matter of seconds. The taste is bold but not aggressive, with a balanced flavor that doesn't veer too bitter or burnt.

The powder dissolves cleanly with no clumps or leftover grit, just a cohesive, satisfying cup. If you're looking for an instant that actually feels a little luxe, but is easy to find and not crazy pricey, Nescafé Gold delivers.

Whole Foods' 365 instant coffee is a rare example of a store-brand instant coffee, and it's a pretty successful stab at convenient caffeination. When you first pop the lid, you're hit with a pleasantly bitter, almost chocolate-forward scent. The bitterness follows through in the cup, but it's balanced by a mellow smoothness that sets it apart from other budget instant coffees. The tasting notes lean heavily toward dark chocolate, with just enough roasted coffee flavor to feel robust without crossing into acrid territory. 

Compared to some of the budget brands on the list, 365 is less harsh, less acidic, and overall more drinkable. Whole Foods is famous for being one of the most overpriced grocery store chains in the U.S., and this instant coffee is slightly more expensive than average. But the extra dollar or two is justified if you're looking for a decent daily instant to start your day. 

In terms of the affordable coffees on this list (the ones that end up costing less than about a dollar a cup) Mount Hagen is hands-down the best tasting, and the only one that almost makes me forget I'm drinking instant in the first place. It has the rich, full-bodied flavor of a well-roasted cup of real brewed coffee, with complex notes that actually resemble what you'd expect from a good dark roast. There's bitter chocolate and burnt caramel, with just enough warm, roasted flavor to give it depth without tipping into scorched territory.

The granules dissolve easily, with no sludge or mysterious grit at the bottom of the cup. It's what I'd call the "everyperson's instant:" Affordable and good enough to drink every day without feeling like you've sacrificed your standards in the name of convenience. It's not as fancy as some of the premium boutique brands, but for the price and availability, it's hard to beat. If you're looking for a day-to-day instant coffee that doesn't taste like a compromise, Mount Hagen is absolutely the one to keep stocked in your pantry.

If you're still convinced that instant coffee is inherently inferior to a fresh-brewed cup, Blue Bottle's instant might be the one to change your mind. The Bay Area-based coffee company, famous for its minimalist cafés and meticulously sourced beans, brings that same obsessive attention to detail to this jar, and it shows. Buyer beware: At around $25 a jar, this is very much the luxury handbag of the instant coffee world. But wow. It's good.

The tasting notes on the label (blueberry, lemon zest, and golden raisin) sound like they were cooked up in a marketing meeting, but in this case, they're not too far off. The coffee is light, vibrant, and fruity in a way that feels more like a pour-over from a café than something you stirred together with hot water. It's pleasantly complex and has that clean, tea-like finish you only ever get from well-roasted arabica beans.

Depending on your personal opinion, you may find it a little ridiculous to spend this much on instant coffee. Part of the price can be explained by the simple fact that coffee is more expensive right now than it used to be, but this instant coffee does, in fairness, taste better. 

Verve coffee, a Santa Cruz, California based coffee shop known for its craft instant brews, certainly wasn't the cheapest instant coffee on the list. When you do the math, each cup ends up costing you about $2.50, which is much more expensive than the average instant coffee. But it seems that Verve is trying to dismantle your idea of what instant coffee can be, and elevate it to a truly worthwhile sipping experience. I have to say, it's an endeavor that has proven quite fruitful (or should I say "with notes of fruit") to this taster.

It's an incredibly smooth cup of coffee, with a delicate nutty undertone that rivals a pour over. There's a very gentle astringent undertone (kind of a signature when it comes to making instant coffee), but compared to the other options on the list, it's almost absent. The variety pack comes with seven different coffees and I tried the house blend and the flagship blend, both of which nearly blew my mind with their quality and attention to detail.

To taste these instant coffees, I approached the process like a full-blown coffee snob, because I am one. I sipped each coffee black, hot, and prepared according to the package instructions (I sometimes added extra granules if I felt that the coffee was too weak to get a good picture of the flavor).

I judged each cup on depth and complexity the same way I'd assess a good pour-over. I looked for notes beyond "burnt" and "brown," hoping for actual flavor: Chocolate, fruit, citrus, toastiness. Aroma, mouthfeel, and aftertaste all mattered, too. I also noted how easily the coffee dissolved and whether it left sludge at the bottom of the cup. 

While some instants lived up to their bad reputations, others surprised me with complexity and flavor balance. I treated this like serious business and I gave every brand a chance because bad instant coffee is easy to find, but good instant coffee is worth hunting down.