# When's the last time you drank instant coffee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [August 15, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783 "2011-08-15T13:49:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/1 "2011-08-15T13:49:41Z")
Woke up from a dream about busking “Singin’ in the Rain” on a tram in China with a bunch of former coworkers – really – with the title question in my mind. I know Starbucks has recently introduced, or tried to, an instant coffee, but I’m not clear whether that has piqued anyone’s interest. Otherwise – the last time I remember drinking instant coffee was when I was in college, which is 35 years ago. Do they even sell it anymore? Does anyone drink it? ---
**Author:** ![Brandus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/2 "2011-08-15T13:52:48Z")
Starbucks Via is actually decent. It’s overpriced, but its better than gas station or grocery store coffee. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/3 "2011-08-15T13:52:58Z")
I’m drinking it right now. It’s cheap, and I’m lazy. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/4 "2011-08-15T14:16:36Z")
I chose “Other”, because I don’t drink coffee. I may never have had instant. However, my husband prefers to drink instant coffee at home. He works among his fellow computer geeks and says the stuff at work is hard on his stomach. Instant, apparently, is gentler. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/5 "2011-08-15T14:23:42Z")
Posters might want to say where they live. It is my understanding that instant coffee is more common outside of the western hemisphere. Is this true? I don’t know. In the US instant coffee isn’t very commonly served. It is used as a baking ingredient though. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/6 "2011-08-15T14:29:04Z")
2 secs ago. I like to drink a lot of coffee, real coffee is too strong in flavor and effect for that. Instant fits the bill (and you can microwave it without it tasting like shit). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/7 "2011-08-15T14:29:48Z")
I said “within the last year” because that was the last time I’ve had it in a “residential” setting. Now that I think of it though, I’ve no idea what this shit is that comes out of the 6’ machine in the break room with the ironic photos of European lattes and cappuccinos on it. But I drink 3-4 cups of it every day. _Press A-4 for misery!_ ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/8 "2011-08-15T14:29:54Z")
I’m currently drinking instant coffee. It’s pretty common in the UK, I’d guess more common than real coffee, judging by shelf space at supermarkets. Instant coffee is not necessarily crap, either, although even the good ones don’t taste the same as filter coffee. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/9 "2011-08-15T14:31:00Z")
Used to be a coffee addict - especially while I was living in Germany. However, Germans love real coffee and brew it with the best coffee beans, grinding them with your own coffee grinder that every good German household owned. I now drink coffee very rarely. I think the last time I had instant coffee was when visiting some friends in London back in the early 80’s; I went to a supermarket to get coffee (my London hosts had tons of tea, but no coffee at home) and imagine my surprise when I saw an entire aisle of tea, but only a paltry section of coffee, and only instant coffee to boot! It wasn’t great, but better than nothing at the time. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/10 "2011-08-15T14:36:09Z")
… Must have been back before college, perhaps when I was in Boy Scouts on one of their miserable camping trips to Hell, so at least 35 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/11 "2011-08-15T14:38:12Z")
Over ten years ago. Likely over 20. Heck, even when camping I’ve always found a way to make real coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/12 "2011-08-15T14:41:07Z")
There’s a fellow at work who chooses to drink it, to my eternal amazement. We have a coffeepot and all the makings _right there_ but he actually prefers instant. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/13 "2011-08-15T14:42:56Z")
Never. Instant coffee is still coffee. I wouldn’t put it in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/14 "2011-08-15T14:51:17Z")
I drink it at work because it’s actually _better_ than the free coffee in the breakroom machine. When I find a sale on those “international delight” coffees, I stock up and drink those at work, because they’re sweet and frothy and have enough caffeine in them to keep me awake. I always make brewed coffee at home, but my mom likes instant coffee, so I have a small jar of it on hand for when she visits. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/15 "2011-08-15T14:55:15Z")
Yesterday. It was in the hotel room. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/16 "2011-08-15T14:57:38Z")
if you drink a lot of coffee (for productivity) even people who enjoy a tasty brewed coffee might find other than instant too hard on the stomach. also instant coffee might also be made closer to a persons workspace (boiling water placed in a thermos is good for hours, if you don’t have a spot to heat water). instant coffee = productivity. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/17 "2011-08-15T15:00:23Z")
Yesterday. I prefer it so always have it when I make coffee at home. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/18 "2011-08-15T15:04:12Z")
Hm. So maybe I should have focussed on the “busking in China” element in my dream for a thread topic? I hadn’t thought about the possibility of a geographic difference – good point. And I guess it makes sense for convenience. But preferring the taste? I’m not a big coffee drinker, but ugh. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/19 "2011-08-15T15:06:33Z")
They’ve come a long way and some of them are very good… though I’m not sure whether they are available in US as when I’m home I don’t need to drink instant. But when I’m abroad I’m not paying $10-20 for a cup of coffee at fancy coffee houses unless someone else’s paying 😉 (no, I do pay if I have to but I avoid as much as I can). ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783/20 "2011-08-15T15:25:32Z")
Weirdly serendipitous thread. I hadn’t bought or drank instant in 40 years, either, until a few weeks ago. I saw some at Trader Joe’s and I was curious to see if instant coffee had improved any since freeze dried Maxim. It has. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whens-the-last-time-you-drank-instant-coffee/592783.md?page=2)