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Which Instant Coffee?

Posted by Cliff on from the post-consciousness-beverage-choices dept.

nhn asks: "Being a caffeine-addict, I feel quite miserable not having my favourite coffee, every morning. I can't walk to Starbucks/Gloria Jeans, while I'm at work, since there is an instant coffee machine available (and I dislike filtered coffee). For the record: I hate Nescafe, it simply sucks." What must you drink, after your dreams have evaporated into the waking world? What types of coffee would you recommend to a seasoned coffee afficionado...or even your garden variety caffeine addict?

"Given:

  • I'm a fulltime developer.
  • I like very strong coffee, my usual cup is espresso machiato.
  • My coffee-style: French, or Italian as a second choice.
  • I need coffee to keep myself awake for at least 8 hours (you know how it feels like when you have to debug thousand lines of code, don't you?)
  • I drink coffee first for the taste, then the caffein, not the other way around."

7 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing but the best by SnakeNuts · · Score: 4, Informative

    Java Blue Mountain. 'nuff said. - I wonder if you can get that as an instant...

    --
    Trainee BOFH -- Just give me your username & password
  2. Nice + Ethical by mpr · · Score: 5, Informative

    I only drink this stuff when drinking instant.

    Allows me to feel all warm inside from the really nice coffee + the fair-trade-ness of it at the same time!

  3. Why make instant? by gr8fulnded · · Score: 3, Informative

    Assuming you have your own desk, get a personal coffee maker for when you're in the office:

    Coffee pot 1
    Coffee pot 2
    Coffee pot 3

    It's better then instant and it's better then the crap they serve from corporate coffee machines. You can easily pick up a bag of Starbucks beans (or, for ease of use, already ground) and make what you want right at your desk.

    --Dave

  4. Re:Dear Cliff, by Sheridan · · Score: 4, Informative
    ObviousGuy wrote:-

    Espresso has lower caffeine per volume than drip coffee,
    Nope. Espresso has lower caffeine per typical serving than drip coffee, but has more caffeine per volume.

    Reference: The Caffeine FAQ - a 7oz cup of drip coffee has 115-175mg of caffeine compared with 100mg of caffeine in a typical espresso (1.5 - 2oz serving ). (i.e. espresso would have 350-467mg per 7oz)

    HTH

  5. Where's your proof, natureboy? by occamboy · · Score: 4, Informative
    Coffee has been studied EXTENSIVELY, and nothing really bad has turned up. Rather than being a poison, coffee seems to have many health benefits:
    • lowers risk of getting diabetes by 40% or so
    • lowers risk of getting Parkinson's disease by more than 50%
    • lowers risk of getting colon cancer
    and other positive effects. See, for example, this article, for example.
  6. Vietnamese instant coffee by davidhan · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ever try Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk? Traditionally it is made with a per-cup coffee press, with condensed milk mixed in. It is strong and sweet. Restaurants serve it both hot and on ice. I agree that most instant coffee is crap, but at home I drink an instant Vietnamese coffee, and I swear it is not bad at all, especially if you like your coffee sweet. You can see the version I like here: Vinacafe. It's the one called "3 in 1 milk coffee." Go to an Asian supermarket and look for it.

  7. Re:Priorities... by pbox · · Score: 3, Informative

    Agreed. There is no better way of making coffee, than french press. I make espresso-strength coffee with it, and it also have the sought-after "crema" on top.

    Here is what I do:

    1. Put about 2 tablespoon of medium-fine grind in the press. (adjust to liking)
    2. Boil water (roiling hot), one or two espresso cups.
    3. Pour a little of the water on the grind, mix it. It should just make the grind wet, without drowning it, mix it with non-metallic spoon.
    4. Wait 2-4 seconds.
    5. Pour in rest of the water, mix it again (crema forms at this point)
    6. Insert plunger and cap, but do not press it yet (to keep it from cooling off).
    7. Let it steep 30-60 secs. (Adjust to liking)
    8. Add desired amount of suger to the bottom of the pre-heated cups. (You can boil the water in them)
    9. Either swish the whole she-bang around or mix it with the spoon to move the grind from the top (to make it easier to press down)
    10. Press it down, slowly. Just use the weight of your hand (if you press it without abandon, you end up scalding your hand, or coffee on your counter/ceiling, or both)
    11. Pour it carefully, so the crema ends up in the cup, not on the wall of the press.
    12. Stir to dissolve sugar.

    --
    Code poet, espresso fiend, starter upper.