Starbucks and instant coffee

[yendi]

Starbucks has introduced a line of instant coffee. I'm skeptical, to say the least, although I do think that instant coffee has its uses in some recipes. But I can't imagine wanting to get it at Starbucks and pay that premium for it (although I will try to stop by during one of the free tastings).

There's one sentence in the article that amuses me:

However, the company could face resistance from coffee purists who generally see instant coffee as inferior to brewed.

Let me fix that sentence:

However, the company could face resistance from coffee purists who generally see shit as inferior to Shinola.

Much better.

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I wouldn't eat either shit OR Shinola. Although one of them might DELIBERATELY end up on my shoes, and one of them only accidentally.

[yendi]

*nod* I'm assuming that coffee purists also know what Shinola is for.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

If "coffee purists" are anything like "wine snobs", I wouldn't put any money on it.

The more I learn about wine, the more I enjoy wine, and the less I respect wine snobs . . . I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing was true about coffee purists.

If "coffee purists" ARE analagous to "wine snobs", though, "people who think that instant coffee tastes like shit" would, of course, be a different set than "coffee purists." "Coffee purists" would then actually be "people who turn their nose up at instant, because somebody once told them that instant coffee is bad, even though they would have no idea the difference if it was served to them."

[yendi]

As a coffee purist, I'd suggest that they're nothing like wine snobs. I'd certainly question anyone who said that instant and drip are indistinguishable; this isn't like caffeinated/decaf, where there really is a fine line. The two tastes are so significantly different, it's comparable to chocolate and carob, or cow milk and soy milk. It's one thing for people to like instant, but even those who do (and I've known a few) recognize that the tastes are nothing alike.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

*blink*

There's a fine line between caffeinated/decaf? One of them has the taste of caffeine in it, and the other doesn't. Maybe I just haven't had good decaf, but, without the caffeine, what lifts the flavors (the way that alcohol does in wine)? Decaf has always tasted "flat" to me -- it lacks enough bitterness to highlight the other flavors.

[yendi]

There have been a number of blind taste tests in which folks turned out to be unable to tell the difference. Don't know how valid they are, but supposedly, the current decaf processes are refined enough to make it harder to tell the two apart.

[mfree.livejournal.com]

Nestle "mountain blend" is actually pretty decent stuff, as long as you're drinking it in mind that it's not "coffee". It's almost a hybrid coffee/tea blend, to my taste buds, and I like the stuff. It's just me, and if I want to have coffee in the morning a 2 minute nuke and stir beats taking care of a coffee maker.

I think it's better because they put chicory in it. That adds the little bit of missing flavor that mars instant coffee.

It's incredible stuff in hot cocoa too.

[yendi]

I haven't tried it, but I could see liking something as long as I wasn't actually expecting it to taste like coffee (sort of like those International Delight drinks).

[sarahwilder.livejournal.com]

We were JUST in a Starbucks this morning and they are selling THE HELL out of that stuff. Spouse tried it and said it wasn't bad (he normally thinks Starbucks is too acidic). For my part (not a coffee drinker) I noticed it doesn't have a strong coffee smell- which was nice for me.

[yendi]

*nod* Given the lack of brewing, the smell would be a lot less pervasive. I'll definitely have to try it to see if the flavor holds up.

[voltbang.livejournal.com]

Oddly, the smell is the only thing I like about coffee. It it tasted like it smells, I might want to consume it sometimes.

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

What he said there...

[wednesday]

Gold card holders got samples a few months ago for at least two different kinds. I really enjoyed mine, but I recognized on contact that it was instant coffee for espresso drinkers. This will have its issues for some.

I might keep some on hand for the days when I only have enough energy to steam the milk or make the espresso, but not both.