Why is instant coffeee STILL so bloody horrible?

[scaryjim]

buy a cuisinart grind'n'brew machine, never buy instant again!

ftfy

[listy]

Milicano, the best I've had, easier than using my aeropress and gets used more than it probably should

i like this one too but kinda dear only buy when its cheap

[Biscuit]

I have a Pact subscription so I NEVER run out of coffee

[scaryjim]

I have a Pact subscription so I NEVER run out of coffee

See, we tried Pact and were really disappointed; nowhere near the best coffee and stupidly overpriced.

I hope the coffee I had this lunchtime wasn't Grumpy Mule - it came in a grumpy mule mug but was absolutely foul. Having paid for it I stuck some sugar in and it become just palatable. Not buying from that place again though....

[Biscuit]

See, we tried Pact and were really disappointed; nowhere near the best coffee and stupidly overpriced.

I hope the coffee I had this lunchtime wasn't Grumpy Mule - it came in a grumpy mule mug but was absolutely foul. Having paid for it I stuck some sugar in and it become just palatable. Not buying from that place again though....

It is quite expensive but as far as the coffee being "the best", it varies. You tend to get a pretty broad variety of different stuff and some of it is bloody excellent, some of it only good but I have only had 1 or 2 bags that I haven't enjoyed much. Obviously this is subjective though so everyone will have different experiences based on what they are used too.
The main thing for me is the convenience. You can have coffee delivered as much or as little as you like, put the automatic process on pause, change your order to be another bag of the one you liked etc etc.
My dad uses a service where he gets a lot more beans for the same money, but because im used to having stuff thats pretty fresh all the time, I have started to notice how stale his can be at times.

[outwar6010]

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco...ffee_100g.html

This is good stuff.

[ik9000]

my friend went on holiday to Egypt. He came back with a "bag" of "coffee" he bought (or rather got pressurised into buying) from a trader in the bizarre. So far as we can tell it was some sort of mud. Fleeced muchly! At least he made it through the airport without any trouble, could have been anything in that thing.

Instant isn't so bad. I have a jar for emergencies (which is about the only time I touch the stuff anyway) and it's not like the real thing but then that's economy for you.

[shaithis]

See, we tried Pact and were really disappointed; nowhere near the best coffee and stupidly overpriced.

I'm glad I haven't bit and ordered, they send me emails a little too regularly for my liking!

I personally use Hasbean. Can't beat a bit of breakfast bomb!

[Lanky123]

I wasn't aware that 'coffee bags' like tea bags were a thing. I don't suppose anyone with experience of them (or a good understanding of the chemistry behind brewing) could comment on the coarseness of the grind and steeping time likely to be required?

I use DIY tea bags (available pretty cheaply in 100 packs on amazon) for the convenience of tea bags but with control over the quality of loose leaf that goes in. If I can do the same with freshly ground coffee and get decent results then I may start drinking more of it! Should be fun to experiment anyway...

[Butcher]

I'm glad I haven't bit and ordered, they send me emails a little too regularly for my liking!

I personally use Hasbean. Can't beat a bit of breakfast bomb!

I also use hasbean, not found another supplier who gives such a good range of nice coffees yet.

[scaryjim]

... I don't suppose anyone with experience of them (or a good understanding of the chemistry behind brewing) could comment on the coarseness of the grind and steeping time likely to be required? ...

Having used the bags several times, I'm pretty sure the grind is fairly coarse, as used in a cafetiere. They need to steep for a good three to four minutes, and it's quite tricky to get just the right level of brewing; it seems to tick over very quickly from watery to bitter.

tbh, if I was regularly desperate to make a mug of real coffee on the go, I think I'd invest in one of these....

[Zak33]

Coffee bags are pretty poor.. but they're better than instant!!!

the little disposable 1 use coffee loaded filters are not bad... everything is better than instant!

[Zak33]

Jasmine Tea is better for example... and so is Mint tea.....

in fact anything is better than instant.

[MrComputerSaint]

I didn't like the Milicano, I like the Douwe egberts instant. But yes, add a little cold water in there or milk first to not scorch the coffee.

But I agree, instant coffee is terrible

[Biscuit]

Coffee bags are pretty poor.. but they're better than instant!!!

the little disposable 1 use coffee loaded filters are not bad... everything is better than instant!

Those filters are a pretty good alternative if you find yourself without a machine or device to make something better.

[g8ina]

While we are on coffee, Tesco are doing Café Direct Machu Pichu at £5 for 2 bags till tomorrow, its excellent coffee.