Do you prefer instant coffee to cafetiere/espresso/drip-filter or the other way round ?

[WildRosie]

I admit I haven't tasted instant coffee for at least a decade; I must have been spoiled by the relative easy availability of ground coffee and various devices for making it, plus the rise of Nero and Costa, inter alia. However, I don't doubt that instant coffee has steadily improved in range and quality. At one time all you could buy was Nescafe, Maxwell House and Mellow Birds, plus supermarket own-brand stuff. Then came the likes of Blend 37 and Masterblend. Now there's dozens of instant coffees but how do they compare to 'proper' coffee ?

I love instant! But only one type - the Nescafé columbie one I think it’s called. And I have it a particular way - half a mug of milk warmed in the microwave, then a spoonful of coffee, 1.5 sugars and then topped up with boiling water. So basically like a milky latte and that’s my fave way of having a coffee. Even prefer it over costa or shop type ones.

I can't drink instant now so when at home I have tea. When out I drink Americano coffee with the occasional latte or cappuccino. Have also had the odd mocha. I do have a cafetiere at home and a percolator which I use for visitors not many of them this last while . Have tried coffee bags but find them a bit strong

i prefer instant, i get Lidl's own.
i hated that coffee you used to be served in restuarants after dinner, from a kind of round glass vase with a handle.
it always made me feel ill, headache almost instantly.
i'd say lots of milk with it, but it made no difference, always made me feel ill, stomach and head. i couldn't understand how people liked it.
so maybe i'm not really a coffee person.
i like mellow birds. can still get it in poundland.
i also hate smoked salmon, would never eat it. enjoy poached, grilled or tinned salmon.

I prefer instant - kenco decaf. Absolutely can’t stand Maxwell House though, so would go for proper coffee over that.

Maxwell House did have a premium instant coffee called Masterblend. I used to like it and much preferred it to Nescafe. There was a ground version of it too which you could get in the coffee shop in Owen Owen, donkey's years ago.

Is instant coffee mainly a British thing ? I can't imagine the Turks and Italians going for it.

I drink absolutely any sort of coffee. As long as it is strong and black with no sugar then I am in! I call instant coffee, social work coffee, as it reminds me of my working days!

I hate instant coffee. I'd never drink it. It gives me bad breath and constant need for the loo. Fresh coffee is uplifting and delicious. I drink it every morning. it's why I get up

I've had some tasty instant coffee but it goes right through me, so I rarely touch it.

I've got one of those stovetop moka pots and use it to make espresso from time to time. I've got a couple of cafetieres (different sizes) and use them to make coffee for other people if they're visiting. I can't stand drip filter coffee, it's either too weak or burnt, I won't pay Starbucks or Nero prices - and most of the time I far prefer an instant Nescafe Gold!

I don’t like fresh coffee at all but it’s everywhere now! It has a kind of nasty taste to it, instant is much nicer. Maybe that just means I’m not a coffee person ☕️

Better a decent instant to shit beans.

I drink Azera, it's only me that drinks coffee. So honestly can't be arsed with the faff of a cafetiere although I'd prefer it. Occasionally I do, but half of it normally does to waste, as its gone cold. Then you have to clean it for the next cup...

I also have an espresso machine, but again the faff. Especially as you have to boil the kettle anyway to make it more than a shot.

I'm campaigning for a bean to cup, which I think will finally get me drinking black coffee!

I'll offer guests a cafetiere though.

Better a decent instant to shit beans.

I disagree - the worst real coffee I've ever had was still better than the best instant I've tried.

I dislike instant coffee; I can’t remember the last time I had one. We use a cafetière - we have 2 mugs each from it at breakfast; then it’s tea for the rest of the day, unless we eat out. My real favourite is Turkish coffee!

Filter coffee for me, can't stand instant.

Can't bear instant, personally. It always tastes thin and rehydrated (because it is, I suppose). I like cafetiere coffee, or from an espresso machine. I grind my own beans.

I have a nespresso at home and we have a cafetiere in the office but sometimes I crave a cup of instant lol. I love Lor and Nescaffe Azera

I have filter in the morning then decaf azera the rest of the day.

For a few years I didn't drink instant at all but became a bit less rubbish of late and don't mind azera at all

I mainly drink instant, douwe egberts. The one with the black label. And I use 2 teaspoons of it.
I occasionally make some in the cafetiere and it is nicer.

@MyOtherProfile

It helps to think of them as two different drinks. I like proper coffee but am happy to drink instant so long as I know not to expect proper coffee as it really doesn't taste as good.

This. I will have a cup of instant if nothing else is available, but it’s rubbish compared to proper coffee

A Nespresso machine has ruined instant coffee for me. I don't care that its not bean to cup etc

Also - I don't drink coffee with cow's milk any more, I only drink coffee if I have access to oat milk (I'm not vegan)

Who else 'grinds their own beans' ?

I became a bit of a coffee snob over lockdown, I grind my beans which I get from smaller localish roasters www.moresso.co.uk and coffeegems.co.uk/ are the two I’ve been using most recently.
I use a chemex, gooseneck kettle etc it feel quite therapeutic sorting my coffee out when I need a cuppa, although it would be nice to get one a bit quicker sometimes

Instant coffee is rancid in my opinion. But honestly I'd just say they're different things. Too different from each other to compare.

@WildRosie I get the Taylors of Harrogate Hot Lava Java in bags and ground for the cafetiere.

I prefer cafetiere, a particular brand.