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 ?

@WildRosie

Who else 'grinds their own beans' ?

I do. We will buy ground if we've run out and just pop into a small shop. So I do have it still and I do notice the difference.

Like @Bagelsandbrie love a decent instant coffee.
Used to like 'real bean' take away coffee, but find them too strong now. Although, will sneak the odd cappuccino/latte.

Love Douwe Egberts and Kenco beautiful deep & rounded coffees. There are others, but those are my preferred brands.

I guess it's a matter of taste.

I think @NannyR has it, you have to see instant and ground as two completely different options.

I only buy Douwe Egberts instant, and that's made strong but milky, small amount of sugar, if i am feeling caffeine deprived or having it in a hotcup/flask

Otherwise I buy beans....fave is SanfranciscoBay rainforest from costco, but also Aldi italian beans are great, deep, smooth, no bitter harsh roast....only problem with that is I thikm everyone likes them as the almost never have them, dh was in twice today and bought the last three that were there, but they had restocked for the afternoon and he got four more so I am good for a while!
The house blend is alright, but flimsy.

I have a krups burr grinder that is the bane of my life, it grinds beautifully but makes such a mess when you open the little plastic hopper the coffee is so static but still I love proper coffee enough to put up with it!
I do think it is "more coffee" if you grind the beans as you use them.

My favourite way of making it is in the Bodum Pebo, a vacuum affair, it's like witchcraft!!

I couldn’t drink instant now except Tom avoid upsetting someone. I don’t often drink cafetière coffee either these days. We don’t grind our own though. Nespresso in holiday houses, bean to cup at home.

Seems to be a consensus that the two types of coffee are very different and that ground, beans etc. are superior.

I've never tried Camp Chicory and Coffee (or the King Cup granules) but I'm assured both are beyond disgusting so I shan't bother. I shall look into Taylor's coffee bags.

I absolutely prefer the "powder" consistency coffees particularly nescafe azera and the lid dupe to Starbucks etc

And it has to be black,strong and sweet

Lidl

Different drinks. Real coffee in the morning with the caffeine hit. Milky instant later in the day.

I hate instant coffee now - it doesn't really taste of coffee. We use a cafetiere although last week when we were camping we took coffee bags sourced from a local supplier which were far superior to the supermarket ones.

Different coffee's for different situations

No time and/ or at wirk- instant
Staying at home and have time- cafetiere

Instant coffee tastes nothing like coffee.

I try to avoid instant. I have a Nespresso machine at home and a cafetiere at work. Although l haven’t met up with the latter for quite some time.

@WildRosie

Who else 'grinds their own beans' ?

Me - for my morning Moka espresso pot. My husband has his own all in one bean to cup machine ( which squeals and makes rubbish coffee IMO ) I drink tea at home for the rest of the day except for the occasional evening decaff instant coffee which I think of as a coffee-ish hot drink.

About equal, depending on time of day. I use a Smeg coffee machine or in the past one of those jugs on a heater thing with filters that used to be popular, instant is those ones you get in a tin called Nescafe Azero or similar. I don't like those little machines that use pods though as it has a funny taste. Non instant coffee varies though depending on what machine you use.

There is a nice Sage Barista Express machine on offer on Amazon (£419.95) at the moment that I'm quite tempted by.

I was never a fan of coffee much but since getting a cafetière and using ground coffee, I drink it every morning. The coffee is better and I like the ceremony of it all ☺️