Posted by Shannon | Posted in | Posted on Friday, October 02, 2009
I stopped into the Starbucks around the corner from from work intending on simply getting my morning cup of get-you-going coffee. I had forgotten Starbucks was holding a taste test. The new Starbucks VIA instant coffee versus the in-house brewed coffee. I couldn't pass up a challenge like this!! I like my coffee and think I have a pretty good pallet. The challenger was the VIA Italian Roast versus the classic Pike Place brewed coffee.
Lets just say that while the VIA makes pretty decent coffee, the taste wasn't even close, the depth and complexity of the brewed black concoction was so apparent when next to the VIA. Michael Phelps would have been proud with speed and timing with the tap in with my choice of which was instant and which was brewed.
I'm sure the VIA is really good instant coffee, but I think I'm pretty sure that if given the choice I'd go with the brewed coffee.
I decided to put the VIA to a real test, testing it against another instant coffee. I found a box of Nescafe Tasters Choice (TC) individual serving packets, very similar to the VIA packaged individual servings, but the Tasters Choice was only 18 cents a serving 82 cents a serving.
Results:
Better aroma and color from the VIA.
Richer more complex taste from the VIA.
(Adding a little more of the TC instant improved color and taste, resulting in a nice nutty flavor, making ita better comparision to the VIA.)
TC is by far the cheaper of the two and could be even cheaper by buying the instant mix by the jar/can then the individual packets, making it a very exceptional value without sacrificing taste for dollars.
The VIA seemed to want to come out of solution, at least I thought so, butthere was no mistaking the fine granules of coffee at the bottom of the small cup that had cooled slightly. I didn't notice the TC doing this, even when it was somewhat weak before we added more instant, it always stayed... well a cup of coffee.
If it wasn't for the price gap here the VIA would be a hands down winner of our little taste test. As it is, the TC gives the VIA a real run, but fades at the finish.
Do we have a new daily coffee option that would retire the coffee maker? No. I think I'll stick to my trusty drip maker or the french press for my coffee needs.
Thanks to Jamie, Jennifer, and Bob for offering up their pallets for my little taste test.
Lets just say that while the VIA makes pretty decent coffee, the taste wasn't even close, the depth and complexity of the brewed black concoction was so apparent when next to the VIA. Michael Phelps would have been proud with speed and timing with the tap in with my choice of which was instant and which was brewed.
I'm sure the VIA is really good instant coffee, but I think I'm pretty sure that if given the choice I'd go with the brewed coffee.
I decided to put the VIA to a real test, testing it against another instant coffee. I found a box of Nescafe Tasters Choice (TC) individual serving packets, very similar to the VIA packaged individual servings, but the Tasters Choice was only 18 cents a serving 82 cents a serving.
Results:
Better aroma and color from the VIA.
Richer more complex taste from the VIA.
(Adding a little more of the TC instant improved color and taste, resulting in a nice nutty flavor, making ita better comparision to the VIA.)
TC is by far the cheaper of the two and could be even cheaper by buying the instant mix by the jar/can then the individual packets, making it a very exceptional value without sacrificing taste for dollars.
The VIA seemed to want to come out of solution, at least I thought so, butthere was no mistaking the fine granules of coffee at the bottom of the small cup that had cooled slightly. I didn't notice the TC doing this, even when it was somewhat weak before we added more instant, it always stayed... well a cup of coffee.
If it wasn't for the price gap here the VIA would be a hands down winner of our little taste test. As it is, the TC gives the VIA a real run, but fades at the finish.
Do we have a new daily coffee option that would retire the coffee maker? No. I think I'll stick to my trusty drip maker or the french press for my coffee needs.
Thanks to Jamie, Jennifer, and Bob for offering up their pallets for my little taste test.
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