12 Best Instant Coffee (Review) in 2021

Ok, this isn’t pure coffee bean as such but for a review curveball, we’ve added in this rather tasty instant coffee and mushroom mash up from organic gurus, Four Sigmatic.

Mixing 100% organic Arabica coffee beans with lion’s mane and chaga mushroom powder may seem an unusual combination but trust us, there’s no mushroomy taste, just a totally passable coffee with less caffeine than a typical instant brew. You also get, say Four Sigmatic, a host of health benefits, including boosted focus and concentration as well as immune support.  Plus, there’s added rhodiola root to tame any stress. While there’s nothing magic about the mushrooms, they are straight up funghis that help to create a well-rounded coffee for when you need some instant energizing.

If you are going to do a review of the best instant coffees, then there’s no way to make a list without this popular brand. With over 80 years in the ground coffee and instant business, there’s no arguing with their expertise and so it is the premium flavor of Nescafe’s Choice Blend that comes in as our instant coffee Best Choice.

If you want the reliability of a mild roast instant that manages to maintain the refined and well-balanced flavor of the best Arabica beans to help you start the day, then look no further. Smooth and delicious. If you love coffee, make sure you also check our guide to the best coffee pod machines.

Bring the high street barista instantly into your home with our Premium Choice from the ubiquitous Starbucks. The team that loves the coffee bean has used only 100% Arabica to create a tastebud-tickling quality coffee that packs a nicely balanced flavor hit to get your day off to a great start. All without the queue at the coffee shop.

The VIA Decaf Italian Roast is deliciously dark and deep, hitting you with a strong yet subtly sweet roast bean flavor without losing any of its smoothness or aroma. With 50 packets per box, this is one instant coffee to always have ready in the cupboard, for when you have guests as it is also end-of-a-dinner party good. So, pop on that kettle, get out the best China and smile as you enjoy a totally premium instant.

For a double-dose of conscience in your coffee, opt for Mount Hagen’s freeze dried instant that uses only organic and Fairtrade-sourced coffee beans from their namesake’s home island, Papua New Guinea. For their Fairtrade credentials alone, they would have our vote, but this instant coffee also tastes great, with a softly rich and smooth flavor that’s matched by its fresh, wake-up aroma. Supplied in a tight-sealed glass jar, store it well and this lovely instant will keep its premium grade coffee promise right to the very last granule.

Unlike many of the other products in our best instant coffee review, this tasty coffee from G7 is created via a patented dry roast process that does not see the coffee beans pre-brewed, freeze-dried or concentrated.  However they do it, the result is a great textured instant coffee granule that morphs with hot water into a nice tasting coffee. Plus, it comes complete with creamer and sugar to give you the three-in-one instant package.

There is a distinct aroma to this Vietnamese instant that could well divide opinion but get past that and you have a nicely balanced coffee to go. With each serving making up six ounces of coffee and packed in carry-friendly sachets, this is also a great coffee to take when traveling, out camping or in a flask for a long work commute. No use if you like your coffee sugarless and black though.

Now to one of the US’s oldest and best-known coffee brands, Folgers…the staple of many home cupboards and workplace staff kitchens. Still roasted in New Orleans, Louisiana, their Instant Coffee Crystals is popular for a reason, and it’s not just pure convenience. It’s the classic roast flavor that has made it, well, a classic that dissolves instantly in hot water for a reassuringly familiar cup of coffee. It is a strong, rich flavor with some subtle bitter undertones to the full-bodied taste that gives just enough caffeine to revive and energize. Plus, it lasts nicely, with a flip-top lid to its jar to seal in the flavor, which also seals the deal as our review’s Best Value instant coffee.

One of the top-priced in our best instant coffee review, this German import promises a superior, freshly brewed flavor thanks to the freeze-dried process and its jar sealed packaging.

There’s no denying its fresh taste and the great medium flavor vibe but it may be a little light for some, especially if you prefer a richer, darker instant coffee. That aside, the Kronung is a very well-crafted instant made from 100% premium responsibly sourced beans and does pack a nice fresh brew power punch, making it a great go-to for a caffeine pick up, at home or at work.  And the lid seal on the jar locks in nicely, to keep it freeze-dried fresh until you need another hit of instant.

Combining ethical trading, organic growing and a delicious ‘fresh brew’ taste, Café Altura’s freeze dried instant coffee is a winner in our eyes. Made from an exclusive blend of organic Arabica beans, sustainably grown by farmers from three continents which are then freeze-dried to keep in the smooth, rich flavor and aroma, this is a lovely instant coffee. 1-2 teaspoons per cup will give you that strong, smooth flavor you’d expect from a freshly ground bean and if its caffeine hit is too much, you can opt for the decaf version, without losing any taste.

Certified organic and also GMO free, this is a full-bodied freeze-dried instant coffee that quite rightly wears its ethical credentials on its sleeve.

Here’s an old school coffee brand that is still keeping a pace with the demands of today’s instant coffee consumer with its tried and tested original blend formula. Meet Maxwell House Original Blend Instant Coffee!

A stalwart of the coffee world for well over 100 years, this is just the right level of rich medium roast and quality flavor you would expect from Maxwell House. To get the balance between strength and taste, they custom-roast every batch so you can drink a reassuringly consistent, quality instant that is perfect for making at home. Play around with the amount (1 – 2 spoons seem typical) to get the right depth and you’ll be convinced you have a cup of freshly brewed that has magically come out of a jar!

For those days when only a strong espresso will do, then turn to Medaglia and their instant D’Oro Italian Roast will deliciously hit the sweet spot.

Seriously smooth, this award-winning instant espresso is blended from double-roasted coffee beans that deliver a rich, intoxicating flavor to transport you to the Italian Riviera in the time it takes to boil a kettle and stir. Its creamy flavor can also be used as a base for other continental coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos. Or, for a long black coffee, try mixing a couple of spoons with a few spoons of your regular coffee and brew in a coffee maker for a bold blend that will be a total crowd-pleaser. Versatile, authentic and delicious – what’s not to love?

Eliminate that sharp taste you can get with some instants with this innovative coffee that neutralizes unwanted acidity for a smooth beverage that’s also kinder on your digestion. Kava have reduced acidity in this instant coffee by 90% – so what does that mean, for both you and for its taste?

It’s certainly less bitter – a problem with some instants due to the beans used and the freeze or cold spray processing. In fact, Kava claim it is 15 times less acidic than other leading instant coffee brands. So, for a smooth, rich flavor that’s made from premium quality coffee beans without losing its caffeine impact, you can’t really go wrong. And, as acidity can be a tum troubler, your digestive system will thank you for it too.

For the ultimate in instant convenience, here’s another 3-in-1 coffee blend that packs freeze-dried coffee, creamer, and sugar all in one on the go sachet. This one is for those with a sweeter tooth who also craves some Asian style coffee flavor. Vinacafe’s 3-in-1 instant coffee mix packs a decent taste, although you may need to double up a sachet or two if you prefer a bolder, more intense flavor.  Whipping up a cup couldn’t be easier – empty the sachet, add hot water, stir and off you go – which makes this a great option for traveling, off the beaten track adventure days or as an emergency ‘caffeine, sugar, cream’ pack.