On-The-Road Coffee Taste Test

I will admit to being a coffee snob. I always have preferred the coffee I make at home over most restaurant coffees, but now I have been spoiled by Starbucks bold coffees.  Until last year, I was one of the people who did not even like Starbucks coffee, but then I discovered their bold flavors during their bold coffee of the week program. (If you missed it, you could collect stickers for trying a different bold flavor each week, and at the end of the program could turn in your sticker sheet for a free pound of your favorite flavor–I am a sucker for collecting stickers to “win” something!)

My favorite is Komodo Dragon:

Indonesia is the home of the world’s largest lizard–the Komodo dragon–and this blend of Asia Pacific coffees bears its name. Spicy, herbal, and earth with a full body, each sip of Komodo Dragon Blend evokes the lushness of Indonesia.

Well, I don’t know about all that, but it is a nice flavor.

This weekend we went out of town so my son could attend a college lacrosse clinic. The only Starbucks in town is in a Border’s that doesn’t open until 10:00 on Sundays–what good is that? Since this is our second overnight here, I knew the coffee crisis that I would be facing, and thought to toss some Starbucks Via® packs into my bag. Here’s what Starbucks says about Via®:

Starbucks has found a way to offer a truly great cup of coffee that you can prepare by just adding water. Other instant coffees taste flat and lifeless. Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew is different – it’s full bodied and flavorful, just like the Stabucks® coffee you know and love.

We know. We say the words “instant coffee” and you immediately think of something lifeless and flat. No smell. Even less taste.

We’re about to change all that. This is 100% Colombian arabica coffee, ethically sourced. To enjoy it, all you have to do is tear open a pack and add water. Let the coffee brew 10 seconds and stir. Then enjoy the rich, smooth taste, with that signature walnut-like taste found in great Colombian coffees.

Sounds good, right? I hadn’t tried it before, and although my husband likes it, he’s not as much of a coffee snob as I am, so I wasn’t sure what I would think.

I used the coffee pot in our room to fix hot water, and used one packet to make one cup.

To make it more fun, I got a cup of coffee from the (free) hotel breakfast for a side-by-side taste test.

Here’s what they looked like with 1 container of half-and-half stirred in:

Can you guess which one was the Via®?

Do I even need to tell you which one tasted better?

I will definitely keep some Via® on hand to throw into my bag for trips. While most hotels I stay at on my work trips have a Starbucks within walking distance, Via® will save me from ever having to drink weak hotel coffee again.

You can get Starbucks Via® at your local Starbucks or grocery store. The prices vary by flavor, but Starbucks sells Via® for about $6.95 for a 6-serving box, or $12.95 for 12-serving box.

Product Ratings (1-5 ♥)

Overall Quality of Product: ♥♥♥♥♥
Taste: ♥♥♥♥♥
Nutritional Value (Ingredient Quality): ♥♥♥♥♥
Value for $: ♥♥♥ (pricey but worth it!)
Would You Recommend it: ♥♥♥♥♥