I tried 5 brands of instant coffee, and there's only one I'd never buy again

The 2-ounce container of Maxwell House instant coffee said it would make 30 servings and only cost $3.19.

Although the description said the coffee would be rich, I didn't find it that flavorful.

I originally made a cup with the directed coffee-to-water ratio, which was fine but kind of weak. Then, I added an extra teaspoon of the coffee to try to get more of the flavor.

This was a mistake. The result was too bitter to drink. 

I bought a small container of Café Bustelo espresso instant coffee for $2.89.

If you follow the directions as written, the container makes only 11 servings, bringing the per-cup cost a bit higher than other brands.

However, the coffee itself tasted great and was well worth the price.

The description of the coffee as pure and flavorful proved to be accurate. The coffee was rich and had a good, almost hazelnut flavor that reminded me of the blend at McDonald's.

It also had a pleasant smell. Some of the other brands didn't have much of a smell at all.

I bought a 3-ounce container of Folgers that says it makes 41 servings for $4.19.

The description on the container was vaguer than the others I tried. It said only that the coffee was "100% pure," with no information about the flavor.

I found that it was just a bit richer than the Café Bustelo coffee, so I liked it best out of the ones I'd tried so far — which isn't surprising since I've been drinking it for years. 

The 7-ounce container from Chock Full o' Nuts says it makes 42 servings — an estimate that surprised me since the Folgers instant coffee that's half the size makes almost the same amount.

The description on the container promised "rich, quick, and easy" coffee.

Although it was just as quick and easy to make as the others, I didn't find it rich at all. The coffee didn't have any standout flavors, and the slight bitterness left a strong, unpleasant aftertaste.

It was drinkable, but it was definitely the worst of the five.

Priced at $10.49, the 7-ounce container of Nescafé Taster's Choice House Blend said it should make 105 servings. Thankfully I'm looking forward to using it again. 

The first thing I noticed was that it smelled just like real coffee beans.

I found that the coffee was actually between a light and medium roast, as the bottle promised, and it tasted wonderful.

It was rich with no aftertaste or bitterness, and it reminded me of a freshly brewed cup from a coffee chain.

The only brand of instant coffee I probably wouldn't go out of my way to drink again is Chock Full o' Nuts, though it might be a perfectly fine pick for someone who prefers a bitterer brew. 

But I'll be reaching for Nescafé if I want an instant coffee that I'd genuinely be happy to drink and serve to friends. 

The coffee smelled and tasted great, and it was well-priced for the number of servings it makes.

This story was originally published in February 2022 and most recently updated on October 30, 2024.