In California ordering regular coffee gets you black coffee (caffeinated). In a coffee shop they will have cream/milk/half and half and sugar plus various sugar substitutes available for you to put in your coffee. Most places will ask if you want room left for cream. In restaurants regular coffee gets the same and they bring cream and sugar to the table for you to use should you so choose.
Yes, huge difference in taste between decaff and regular. Bigger than huge difference between instant and regular coffee.
I can’t get past the smell of instant.