To ask why Brits drink instant coffee?

[mediumbrownmug]

I’m an American and am genuinely curious. Every British TV show and article I’ve seen so far seems to imply that instant coffee is far more popular than whole or ground beans. Is it too nosy to ask why?

[quote rainbowunicorn]@mediumbrownmug
It would seem the Mumsnet Bitches are out in force today. They are quite pathetic really. There are a minority of downright nasty people on here that will do their very best to deraill a thread. This often happens when someone from USA asks a question. They think that they are better than you but usually just manage to show themselves up to be the biggoted idiots that they are.

In answe to your question, I think in all honesty we ar emore of a tea drinking nation so instant coffee is convienent for an occasional cup. Although coffee pod machines have increased in popularity in the last few years.[/quote]
Very nice of you to say so! I certainly don’t mind being told if I’ve put my foot in it. People do put their foot in it at times, and I’m no different to most. I appreciate the kind words!

It makes sense about the tea. Someone earlier mentioned how convenient it is to put on the kettle and be able to make both tea and coffee at the same time for guests. This was kind of an ah-ha moment for me. Not sure why it hadn’t occurred to me before, but it’s entirely sensible and practical IMO.

@SoMuchForSummerLove

The phrase 'bean to cup' makes me want to stab myself in the eye with a spoon.

Shame, it’s really nice coffee 🙂

I drink it because I like it. I have a coffee maker that I don't use. It's also a lot cheaper, which is a bonus. I don't drink much tea either.

Also, to those saying about the coffee pods not being recyclable: my kids bought my DH a Nescafé Dolce Gusto machine for father's Day, which he loved but hated the idea of throwing the pods away, so he found reusable pods for that machine, that you can just put coffee grounds into. It was about £10 for a pack of 3 and he'd had them a couple of years now and they're still going strong.

Just saw there are flash floods in London. Stay safe, all who are affected.

I very much appreciate all the responses and conversations. I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed reading all the replies! Thanks all!

When I was a child, it was the norm. No one used beans/ground. Then there was huge investment in TV advertising, and you picked your team (Red Mountain, Mellow Birds, Gold Blend) and it became part of the culture. So I think drinking PG Tips and certain brands of instant coffee are part of our fabric.

Oops, meant to add that I’m ducking out for awhile for work and adulting things. And a cup of coffee.

I’m realising I’ve clearly lost my marbles over coffee, reading this thread.

I have an electric bean grinder, an espresso machine (with milk steamer arm), a large cafetière/French press and an individual one for travel, a stovetop espresso pot and and individual filter cone for single mugs.

And I’m the only one of the 5 of us who drinks coffee.

Starbucks used to be about coffee; now they are about sweet flavoured drinks for young adults. The only over 40s I see there are clearly there for free WiFi

Tea is popular, so you need an electric kettle. With a lack of space, it just makes sense to have a way to make coffee without another machine.

yes @toffeebutterpopcorn - disgusting. That one was a purely British invention, supposed to be made for military use when they could not make proper coffee after their long dinners (hence the label). Instant was defo a better invention. Apparently the people who developed camp coffee made syrups for drinks.

Honestly though, if you grew up with these kinds of ads how would you not drink instant coffee

@DianaBrackley

I think that it's because the United States don't use kettles like we do in our kitchens. I remember reading once that they don't tend to use kettles in the US.

This is a common canard. We have kettles that go on the stovetop hob. The electric kettles are not common here, but are certainly available.

I don't drink coffee so I only have it in the house for guests. They can have instant, I'm not wasting money on equipment for 'real' coffee for them!

@MissConductUS
It's not really a canard. They're really not into kettles in the US. It's not seen as an absolute essential the way it is in the UK.
I mean, otherwise heating water in a microwave wouldn't be a thing (it's also a French thing too, by the way )

Ugh, I wouldn’t drink canard at all.

Because it tastes so much nicer.

Wow, it's interesting I have just found out that "the first “instant coffee” is made in Britain in 1771. It was called a “coffee compound” and had a patent granted by the British government.". It seems there's a historical reason why instant coffee is popular in the UK.

We didn't have whole beans in the shops, well, not out in the sticks,anyway until the last couple of decades. I didn't see whole beans for sale until I went to the US on my honeymoon, tho that was a while ago now...

I’m a massive coffee snob and to the poster that said a good instant coffee is not dissimilar to a proper coffee, we’ll that depends how badly you make the proper coffee! However coffee from a proper expression machine using ground beans could never be mistaken. It’s an art form making a good coffee and most people haven’t a clue how to do it. No comparison though, once it’s executed properly. (I’m a barista!)

I'm British and never drink instant coffee.

Those saying they find real coffee too strong, you know you can make it to your preference, right? If you use a plunger you put less ground coffee in; if you use a stovetop you use a smaller shot and/or top it up with more water or milk.

Why do Americans make tea in microwaves? Its vile.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Why do Americans make tea in microwaves? Its vile.

That’s already been explained on this thread- they don’t have kettles.

@Polkadots2021

Maybe because we are total heathens - I really don't like proper coffee, although I realize it's far better quality!! I love an instant, though.

I thought I was the only one who preferred instant to ground!

Tea bags are a generational thing I. think. I remember in the 90s Id say the majority of old people drank leaf tea but that generation is gone now. I suspect the war was responsible in the same way it got everybody onto cigarettes over pipes.