To narrow our list of brands to test, we included instant coffee sold only two ways: bulk in jars and single-serving packets with at least six or more packets per box. We thought that getting fewer than six packets wasn’t very practical for most people, especially if you drink at least two cups per sitting.
We also didn’t include single-serving sachets or disposable pour-over options that brew in a more traditional way by steeping pre-ground coffee.
We thought it would be an unfair comparison to truly instant coffee, which is made from spray- or freeze-dried coffee concentrate. It’s also more complicated to try to make a pour-over than to simply make instant coffee in water, especially when you’re on the go.
We avoided decaffeinated instant coffee, and options that had added sugar, creamer, and other flavorings. And we stuck to medium roasts for the most recent round of testing, because we learned in previous tests that dark and light roasts tend to be too polarizing.
Over the years, multiple Wirecutter staff members have helped taste instant coffees (we even filmed one round), but most recently we’ve enlisted several members of Wirecutter’s kitchen team to participate in a brand-concealed taste test.
We brewed all of the instant coffees according to the package instructions and tasted them black, evaluating their aroma, flavor, balance, and body.
We took note of any undissolved granules, and how easy the packages or containers were to open, which is particularly important for outdoor excursions.
After eliminating the worst offenders, we tasted our favorites a second time the following day with a fresh palate, this time black and with milk added. Though there were a couple of polarizing brands, we were in complete agreement on our favorites and least favorites.
This article was edited by Marilyn Ong and Marguerite Preston.
