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?

We bought bean to cup machine at start of pandemic and we haven't had instant or coffee shop coffee since. Wish we got one sooner.

We are British (not Brits!) and never use instant coffee. It doesn't take long to brew coffee in a cafetiere. I never understand how people can brew tea in mugs rather than teapots though. Tea made in mugs is horrid.

@britinnyc they do have iced coffee! I’m a barista snd make iced coffees all the time!

I'm a convert to making iced tea after watching Bringing up Bates,.so should probably try making iced coffee too

I'm a heathen
I LIKE instant coffee as I drink mine weak and black and the real deal is too strong for me.
When I toured the USA and Canada a couple of years ago I took a large jar of Nescafe and my own travel kettle with me

Have a Nespresso at home but only dh and the kids use it!

I don't mind Brits. I was a Brit when I lived in the US and it was fine. Somehow Yank is t as nice. Even tho they were on the right side in the Civil War!

I prefer the taste of instant

I am now making a cuppa in my cafetière cup (someone upthread made me buy it) in the office. Much ‘ooooh where did you get that?’ Comments’

I don't know as it's hideous.

Yep, instant coffee is really horrible. I only ever drink filtered coffee, and if it's not available I'll drink tea, although I'm not keen on that, either. But I prefer tea to instant coffee. I take my treasured coffee cone dripper thing, Columbian ground coffee, and filtered papers whenever I go on holiday or away for the weekend rather than endure anything else! Coffee made in a cafetiere is tolerable, although a bit cloying. Filtered and fresh is best. But that is my opinion!

@Wrenna

I’m American and love regular brewed coffee but I’ve been on a Coronation Street Classic kick and they are always talking about instant so I bought some. Now it won’t replace brewed for me but I like it!

On The Archers they always say "would you like some coffee? Sorry it's only instant".

I think if anyone enjoys instant coffee - absolutely their choice . Personally I do not , I would rather have a cup of tea but each to their own . I am too old to argue about other people's beverage prefences - I like Earl Grey Tea - some people hate it . But lovely Mum always gets some in when I visit. ( I will buy Yorkshire tea for them when they visit )

@mediumbrownmug I don't drink instant coffee and I am British.

HTH.

I always drank instant at work. I'm now retired so having an instant coffee mid morning brings back nice memories and at the same time makes me glad I can enjoy my coffee on the sofa or in the garden rather than at my desk!

[quote Roominmyhouse]@mediumbrownmug you mentioned that London fog tea Starbucks do a few pages back. I wish they did that over here, I had one in Seattle and it was lush! I have to make do with chai lattes here.[/quote]
I’ve had it a few times and it’s easy enough to make at home if you have access to a milk frother. I use a Nespresso Aeroccino (not sure if it’s called the same over there). Chai lattes are also good. Here we have them vanilla or spice, and spice is my favorite.

@IncorrigibleTitmouse, we have a local British Shop and I would imagine Amazon would have some things they don’t carry— but if you know of another place to order from I’d really be interested. Lots of amazing snacks have been mentioned on this thread and I’d love to try them!

Because there's only me in the house that drinks coffee. So pointless making a jug of coffee in a machine for one.

I only have one cup in the morning and one mid afternoon in work (if I'm lucky) again we are all so busy rushing around that a pot of coffee would be wasted.

Evenings then I drink herbal teas 🤷🏻‍♀️

This has been an interesting thread to read through. There have been quite a few anti-American sentiments which is pretty offensive. The OP has been incredibly gracious in her responses.

I grew up in England and live in the US now. I always drank instant coffee growing up and liked it, but I much prefer "real" coffee. We have a coffee maker that grinds the beans and brews the coffee into a thermal carafe, so we can make a pot and it stays good for several hours. We use half regular and half decaf, so we don't have too much caffeine.

I own and use an electric kettle - sometimes to make tea, sometimes to start the water boiling for pasta or to make stock. But it's true that not everyone here owns a kettle.

If you ask for tea in a restaurant you will have to specify if you want it hot, otherwise it will usually be assumed that you want iced tea. And for iced tea you have to specify sweet or unsweet. If you ask for hot tea the accompaniments you would usually get would be lemon and/or honey, not milk or cream.

I had to laugh at the poster trying to sound superior by claiming that Starbucks coffee is milky. Given that you add your own milk to your coffee at Starbucks, you have only yourself to blame if yours is too milky!

I've never understood why Americans make such a fuss about coffee when every single coffee I have ever had there was like dishwater. I utterly loathe it. Tim Hortons in Canada is no better. It's like the worst offering from a Little Chef. I don't drink instant myself (though keep some at home as my mother likes it) but would rather drink a decent quality instant than a US filter coffee. It's funny how tastes differ.

@Spodge

I've never understood why Americans make such a fuss about coffee when every single coffee I have ever had there was like dishwater. I utterly loathe it. Tim Hortons in Canada is no better. It's like the worst offering from a Little Chef. I don't drink instant myself (though keep some at home as my mother likes it) but would rather drink a decent quality instant than a US filter coffee. It's funny how tastes differ.

I love coffee but almost never get it in restaurants. But there is great coffee available in the US. I get mine here

Terroir Coffee

or

Peet's

I don't think mass market coffee here tastes like dishwater, but I've never tasted dishwater.

It's funny how tastes differ.

Exactly. "Better" is mostly about what you are used to. I prefer a medium roast to a dark roast but I don't think dark roast coffee is "bad".

I agree @Spodge - we fully expected fabulous coffee everywhere and were disappointed.

[quote mediumbrownmug]@IncorrigibleTitmouse, we have a local British Shop and I would imagine Amazon would have some things they don’t carry— but if you know of another place to order from I’d really be interested. Lots of amazing snacks have been mentioned on this thread and I’d love to try them![/quote]
When we lived in Houston the local Fiesta stocked aisles of speciality foods for the huge number of foreign expats. The British aisle was full of PG Tips, Marmite, baked beans and Hob Nobs! We preferred to go native tho and learned how to make jicama salad and corn bread!

I don't drink instant coffee. I'm British.

Why do Amercians have maple syrup with Bacon and breakfast biscuits, that's seriously weird.

Because it's quick, cheap and you can make it just to the strength you like .

We also have a cafetière (faff and I keep forgetting to empty it) and one of those machines that takes capsules . I hate frothed or heated milk so lattes and cappuccino is out and more than one americano a day is too strong .

@lifeturnsonadime

I don't drink instant coffee. I'm British.

Why do Amercians have maple syrup with Bacon and breakfast biscuits, that's seriously weird.

I'm with you on their Busuu it's (sun standard scones one). But maple syrup, bacon and pancakes are divine. Coffee creamer tho... bleuuuchh!