I’m a little “frazzled” in my quest for decent coffee here in Linyi. Here the results of a mini-tasteoff:
Instant Coffee Taste-Off!
Outside of the US & Canada, instant coffee is ubiquitous, and especially in Asia, more common than brewed! What’s an espresso drinker to do?
As you might have figured from my constant complaining, there is very little coffee selection in Linyi. There are no Starbucks here, (although there are in many cities in China), we have to make do with McDonald’s coffee, which is cheap and not too bad tasting, or brewed coffee at one of several “coffee restaurants,” which are also not too bad tasting, but expensive. But what about at home or at work? I’m working out the best system for making good coffee at home, but at work I’ve been forced to go the instant coffee route.
Here are my choices and my comments:
- 1. Nescafe Regular Instant Coffee: Bleah! This is made from dehydrated and sprayed coffee, resulting in a strange dark brown powder. This is actually just brown water. No flavor, no aroma, no zip. Can’t drink this, although I used to drink it all the time back when I still drank milk and sugar in my coffee. That milk and sugar were covering up a real sin.
- 2. Nescafe Gold Instant Coffee: Not so bleah. This is actually made from dried coffee crystals. The crystals are light brown in color. It has a bolder flavor and coffee aroma. I can drink this, but to be honest I have to put twice as much coffee crystals as are recommended.
- 3. Starbucks Via Columbia Instant Coffee: Now we’re talking. This is a dark brown powder and a barista in Denver told me it is made by “exploding the beans.” I don’t know if that is true or not, (or even what that means), but this powder bears no resemblance to the Nescafe Regular powder, smells great and dissolves easily in hot or cold water. And the flavor? Knock you out! The flavor is strong, full-bodied and very similar to a cup of American joe from an actual Starbucks. Smells good, too. I’ve also tried the Italian Roast, which is even stronger. Excellent stuff. Too bad Via is currently only available in the US (and possibly Canada?) I’ve got a hook-up, however, and I’ve got a nice stash of this hidden away.
I have also seen instant coffee available from Maxwell House, but I find it is very similar to the Nescafe Regular. On the premium level, our local supermarket also stocks Davidoff Instant Coffee, which is very similar to Nescafe Gold. Doing some Internet research, I found an Italian brand “espresso-like” instant coffee, but it is not available here in Linyi.
One day I will live in a city where I have easy access to inexpensive and ubiquitous cafés for my coffee fix, or I will have mastered the use of a French press or Italian stove top coffee maker (with access to good coffee!) Until then, Via and Nescafe Gold will get me by.
In the interest of supporting China, I tried a latte made from organic coffee beans from China’s own Yunnan Province while eating at Element Fresh (in Beijing and Shanghai) and I really liked it. So I’m on the outlook for some Yunnan beans, too.
And for those of you who wonder why I bother with coffee when living in the land of tea – I love tea, too! All kinds! I think I just like hot beverages in general. I’ve noticed a steady rise in the numbers of Chinese coffee drinkers at McDonald’s, so although that is completely unscientific, I think the Chinese are slowly becoming coffee-fanatics, too.
Update: I received a nice email from someone at Starbucks letting me know that Via is now available in the US, Canada and the UK and will be available in Japan on April 14th. They’ve got a great PR firm! Now I only need travel to Tokyo for my fixings. Tokyo is very tempting…
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
ugh. i can’t imagine. i used the nescafe stuff when i first moved to shenzhen. yuck. now i have a nice coffee maker i got at jusco and get ground coffee beans either at the expat stores, dunkin donuts or sometimes in hongkong. we really are spoiled here in shenzhen…
I have to admit that my morning laziness plays a role here, too. I do have a little Japanese contraption that fits over a cup where I can brew regular coffee. I’m planning on purchasing a French press the next time I visit Beijing or Shanghai.
We are big fan’s of pressed coffee since moving to Zhongguo. You are a brave woman to go the instant route! What about your DH? What does he drink?
PS– I’m scared I will have “pithy words” as well!!
The DH is a recreational coffee drinker, and only espresso, so he just doesn’t drink coffee! Okay, maybe once a week or so he’ll get a cup at one of the coffee restaurants. He’s weird!
I’ve got to do something about the “pithy” words! LOL I didn’t even realize it said that when I installed the theme.
starbucks instant has been the best so far!
in puerto rico, i used to be hooked on moca. moka? crap, i forgot how to spell it… it’s the pot that you ‘cook’ on the stove top. it was my fave. then again, puerto rico is more coffee land than tea land. 
Oh yes, I love the Moka/Moca/Mokka pot! That is what we used in Spain. Unfortunately, I am a big klutz at using it and usually burn the coffee a bit. The DH prefers his coffee from that contraption so we’ll have to get one and I’ll make him prepare my morning coffee.
Thanks for stopping by!