thats not anti-elitism.. thats sadomasochism

Look, there are times in my life that I had to smoke brick. There's nothing wrong with that, but I don't exactly remember the brick fondly.

The espresso machine and burr grinder are on the counter, and I have a coffee shrine shelf with moka pot, an old school percolator, pour-over gear, a french press, a stovetop steamer, and hand grinder for power outages. I am not a snob, though, really! Just prepared.

So when my live-in adult children started buying instant, I was a bit dismissive, but sure, whatever, eh. Then I realized they were getting Italissimo instant espresso, and I smelled it and a flood of childhood memories came back, it was the brand all my relatives and their friends had on standby when the moka pot would be too fussy... and it's actually good.

Hey, if you like it, drink it!

It's not what I like. But who am I to tell you what to drink?

I've tried a number of instant coffees, and none were good. The only two options seem to be either tasting like the burnt sole of a decades old boot, or the most watered down Americano (or is it Canadiano now?) you've ever had.

There's literally nothing wrong with instant coffee and it has its place for lots of use-cases.

Given the choice between instant and my other preferred coffee I will of course choose the latter but I would never turn my nose up at a cup of instant

It's usually not elitism, it's compassion.

Almost everyone enters this world drinking crap coffee. We are surrounded by it, inundated by it.

_"Take a carefully blended, full-bodied, highly aromatic coffee and brew it carefully..., obtaining a heavy, delicate, enjoyable beverage. Give it to the average coffee-drinker and he will say, 'This is no good.' Then take the same coffee, boil it until all of its delicate characteristics have disappeared and a lye-like drink has been produced and give it to the same man, who will accept it joyfully, exclaiming 'Ah! that is coffee!".

-Charles Trigg, coffee researcher, 1917_

We grow accustomed to it and like Stockholm syndrome victims we learn to like it and even reject good quality brews that seem foreign and strange. With a little curiousity though and a bit of patience there is a world of flavor and variety that can take whatever elements you already like in lower coffee and expand upon them and introduce new experiences as well.

If you are going to drink instant at least make sure it's fair trade. I don't give a damn what you drink, but I've seen good Fincas and bad Fincas and you don't want to be a part of the abuse that still happens on the farm.

Have your coffee how you want without fear. People who gatekeep over something someone else drinks/eats need to get lives

Looks more like punishment

You have money for instant coffee? At least where I live, it's cheaper to buy pre-ground in bulk

In the UK, instant coffee is still pretty much standard. Of course, many, many people buy 'real' coffee, but in most hotels and places of work there will be tea bags, and little packets of freeze-dried coffee. It's by far the most common option. Most cheap, independent 'greasy spoon' cafes will still serve it. Personally I think of them as different beverages. It's like a packet of ramen Vs an authentic Chinese meal. Both have their place.

You know what? Good for you buddy. I hope you enjoy your next cup of instant coffee and I mean that with full sincerity.

I used to drink nescafe instant, and now that I'm not ignorant of what nestle does, I made it a mission to look for a replacement that I can get locally. Luckily I found one that I'm happy with when I can't be bothered to grind my coffee beans, or I forgot to replace when I ran out or am saving for some special ones that I want to try

Despite having my own grinder, espresso machine and french press (i like coffee) i have no problem as long as its still fair trade. Id rather support my local roaster and feel confident its fair trade and get a more enjoyable (to me) cup though

I strain it through a sieve as a topping for when I eat the whole container of

Instant coffee is the only kind that really works in a Keurig, which is all I have. You try and fill the refillable pod with regular ground coffee, you'll just get water with the vague memory of coffee in it.

I think one reason instant coffee gets a bad rap is because it's often paired with powdered "creamer" that's better used to make sparky explosive effects than put in your mouth.

And it's great as a flavoring ingredient that doesn't water down your recipe. The instant coffee, I mean!

Anyone notice how the cheaper a coffee is, the more corporate owend it is and the more suffering there is in the supplychain?

I'd much rather buy from co-ops that make sure the farmers get paid well, than to buy corporate products.

I'm a bit of a coffee snob, but instant coffee is a great backup for when you can't brew. I roast and grind my own beans for brewing, but sometimes you don't have time, or it's just not possible. Recently I had to evacuate home for a natural disaster and stay in a hotel for 10 days and for obvious reasons, didn't have my coffee making stuff.

In situations like this, I swear by Juan Valdez Classic, you can get it in small jars at Walmart or online, haven't seen it in other stores. The stuff is actually pretty great, and nothing like the Nescafe swill. I always keep a jar of instant handy. Sure I'd rather have my pour-over or french press most days, but it's good and you can't beat the convenience of just pouring in some hot water and stirring.

No shade, but not for me

I literally don't even know how you would make coffee out of whatever is in this picture

The great value stuff is terrible, but there are some actually good ones out there. If you are in Texas or occasionally visit Texas I'd strongly recommend the Central Market brand stuff. I'm pretty sure it's the same as the Mount Hagen stuff sold at whole foods, even the container looks identical. But at whole foods it's $15, Central Market/HEB $7.

No absolutely not lol. I’m still getting bulk whole bean for $6-$8 a pound at the hannaford

Ill throw down some instant if I don't want a full pot. But damn I at least splurge for th top shelf instant.

I sip at my instant lupine with oat milk and look with disdain at you coffee drinkers.

Took me a while to find a good instant coffee I like. I like my coffee to come with the minimum amount of work, so it will be aeropress or instant only.

The trick to making good instant when you actually have good instant, is to NOT BURN IT.

Coffee is super easy to burn, and that includes instant coffee. I don't know the temperature cutoff, but just mix it at like 140F or even lower.

I prefer to call it a “warm caffeinated beverage”.

The trick is, add the milk before the water so that the granules don’t get scorched!

Life's too short to not eat and drink what you enjoy. If that happens to be instant coffee, keep at it.

So enjoying a decent coffee counts as elitism nowadays?

It's not my first choice but I'll admit it mixes really well with hot milk.

Europe has instant coffee from vending machines that have their own chemical heat source. They are actually not bad.

ive had a variety of instant coffees but wouldn't say i could recommend any. i would try the commeteers if i ever saw them for sale. the instant coffee from the coffee machine at the county hospital when i was a little kid is a deep nostalgia memory for me...

We've got a jar of Bustelo next to the french press in case we need some extra juice, or don't have the time to wait. It's fantastic.

I don't have a coffee machine so I'm a connoisseur of instant coffees available in my region. I've tried a bunch of brands but still get a coffee at a cafe sometimes. There are definitely good ones out there so don't be put off if you come across one that's absolute shit.

Ive been drinking instant more lately over my fench press. Its just so simple in the morning. Its not as good, but I dont really care in that moment.

Here, here. I only drink store brand instant. I can't imagine having a separate appliance just for coffee, seems like a waste of money and space. And I don't want to overpay for, or overcomplicate the simple act of getting caffeine into my system.

I don't actually mind an instant coffee. The taste is very consistent while regular coffee can easily get horrendous.

Instant is the way to go when making φραπέ

I can enjoy a nice cup of specialist coffee, and have some decent equipment for making it - but I am also lazy in the mornings, and as a student I got used to the taste of the cheapest instant coffee, so that is what I drink the most. It is actually an acquired taste, I hated it the first time I had it.

Instant coffee is the bees jittery knees. There's a natural/organic bulk store near me that sells, well natural and organic (fair trade) instant coffee and it's AWESOME. As long as it's not stale (borked seal on the container) it tastes amazing e'ry tiem while also using a lot less energy to prepare. Like I only have to heat water to the temperature I want to drink it at instead of bringing it to a boil.

It's a bit ironic to describe a walmart product as anti-elite but I get what you're saying haha. Not like there's much choice most places.

I love instant coffee (but not that one lol)

If I can recommend:

https://mounthagencoffee.com/products/regular-jars

Juan Valdez is good if you like Colombian.

I mean; if you like the taste of ground asphalt… you do you.

It has a certain... Holiday Feeling to it IMO.

hey I'd take it over no caffeine!

I just popped in to enjoy my Folgers instant roast with creamer while reading this com. There is dozens of us! And they aren't here!

I am not a coffee drinker but I do have a jar of cheapest store-brand decaf instant coffee in my cupboard for the one time a month I'd like to have some. 6€ worth lasts me a year or so.

I enjoy it, but I have to have real milk and creamer with it. I often like it when I'm feeling lazy to make espresso or something fancy.

Instant coffee is great for camping.

Pro tip: If you live by an asian market, you can get these coffee packets with creamer and sugar. Tasty and easy to transport.