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The 9 Best Instant Coffees Of 2023

Because quick coffee should taste good.

By
best instant coffee
Sarah Ceniceros

Delish editors handpick every product we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

We know. Instant coffee has a bad reputation. It can be clumpy and simply not good. But it can also be super-convenient when you're traveling, camping, or running late. It's even good in recipes like creamy dalgona coffee, the dalgona martini, coffee cupcakes, or coffee cookies 'n' cream ice cream—all of which rely on instant coffee.

Whether you're frequently traveling or always in a rush, or simply like instant coffee because it's easy, you should never compromise on flavor. We saved you time by tasting lots of instant coffees and poring over online reviews so you don't have to. Here are our top picks.

1
Best Overall

Starbucks VIA Instant Pike Place Roast

Starbucks VIA Instant Pike Place Roast
Credit: Starbucks

Pros

  • Well-balanced and smooth
  • Affordable and accessible
  • Blends into hot or cold water

Cons

    The well-balanced Starbucks VIA Instant Pike Place Roast was first created for customers that wanted a coffee they could drink throughout the day. It's a medium roast with notes of cocoa and pine nuts, and is so smooth, you can drink it all day long.

    2
    Best Value

    Nescafé Clásico Dark Roast Instant Coffee

    Nescafé Clásico Dark Roast Instant Coffee

    Pros

    • Budget-friendly
    • Also available in single serve packets

    Cons

    • Best with hot water only

    Nescafé Clásico Dark Roast Instant Coffee makes a solid morning cup. It's rich, bold, and robust—exactly what I need to wake up. For under $10, you get a jar that can make up to 150 cups of of coffee. How much better can it get?

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    3
    Best Light Roast

    Waka Light Roast Instant Coffee

    Waka Light Roast Instant Coffee
    Credit: Waka Coffee & Tea

    Pros

    • Enjoy hot or iced

    Cons

      Waka Light Roast Instant Coffee is made with 100% Arabica coffee beans from Ethiopia and has floral notes with hints of caramel and brown sugar. Editorial Assistant Gabby Romero liked how brightly flavored it was.

      4
      Best Dark Roast

      illy Ground Intenso Instant Coffee Dark Roast

      illy Ground Intenso Instant Coffee Dark Roast
      Credit: illy

      Pros

        Cons

        • Doesn't come in single-serve packets

        For a bold, full-bodied cup of joe, look no further than illy's Ground Intenso Dark Roast. It blends well into hot or cold water, and is clump-free. I loved it iced, too.

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        5
        Best Decaffeinated

        Waka Medium Roast Decaffeinated Instant Coffee

        Waka Medium Roast Decaffeinated Instant Coffee
        Now 21% Off
        Credit: Waka Coffee & Tea

        Pros

        • Enjoy hot or iced

        Cons

          The Waka Medium Roast Decaffeinated Instant Coffee is made with 100% Colombian Arabica beans. Each cup is well-balanced with notes of citrus—all without the caffeine.

          "It's very hard to find single-serve instant decaf coffee that actually tastes good—but Waka does it!" said one reviewer.

          6
          Best With Creamer

          Alpine Start Dairy-Free Coffee + Creamer Instant Latte

          Alpine Start Dairy-Free Coffee + Creamer Instant Latte
          Now 50% Off
          Credit: Alpine Start

          Pros

          • Dairy-free, soy-free, paleo, vegan, vegetarian

          Cons

          • Best with hot water

          The box says it all—instant coffee that actually tastes good. For those who like a little creamer with their coffee, the Alpine Start Diary-Free Coffee + Creamer Instant Latte is a convenient on-the-go option that Carlos Dominguez, Delish Senior Designer, loved. While the coconut creamer gave his cup a good taste, he also liked how it wasn't overpowering.

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          7
          Best Local

          Oslo Specialty Instant Coffee

          Oslo Specialty Instant Coffee
          Credit: Oslo Coffee Roasters

          Pros

          • Can be used with hot or cold water

          Cons

          • Pricey

          I've been an Oslo Coffee Roasters fan since I first stopped in for a cold brew, and I've been loving everything they make ever since, including the Oslo Specialty Instant Coffee. With notes of berries, chocolate, and citrus, you'll truly forget that you're drinking instant coffee.

          8
          Best Dirty Chai

          Alpine Start Dairy-Free Dirty Chai Tea Instant Latte

          Alpine Start Dairy-Free Dirty Chai Tea Instant Latte
          Credit: Alpine Start

          Pros

          • Mixes with hot or cold water
          • Single serve packets
          • Dairy-free, vegan, paleo, vegetarian

          Cons

            "I was pleasantly surprised by the Alpine Start Dirty Chai Latte I tried," said Delish Digital Food Producer Camille Lowder. Traditional chai spices, black tea, and 100% Colombian Arabica coffee are blended with soy milk (which Lowder appreciated) to create a creamy, spicy dirty chai. Since Lowder isn't a camper, she said she wouldn't use this regularly, but would reach for this over the office coffee. We hear you there.

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            9
            Best With Mushrooms

            Four Sigmatic Instant Mushroom Coffee With Lion's Mane

            Four Sigmatic Instant Mushroom Coffee With Lion's Mane
            Credit: Four Sigmatic

            Pros

            • Less caffeine than traditional cup
            • Vegan and organic
            • Single serve packets

            Cons

            • Best blended with hot water

            Love coffee but hate the crash? Four Sigmatic Instant Mushroom Coffee is made to keep you jitter- and crash-free. Organic Colombian coffee is blended with organic chaga mushroom, lion's mane mushroom, and rhodiola to make a cup that they say supports immune function, productivity, and creativity—all with only 50 mg of caffeine. While it tastes a bit earthy, one reviewer adds milk and flavorings, and says it tastes just like a regular cup of coffee.

            10

            How We Picked These Products

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            We searched high and low for some of the best instant coffees on the market, pored over reviews, and taste-tested them ourselves to come up with our top picks. No one like clumpy, instant-tasting coffee, so we looked for those that tasted just like the real thing. When crafting this list, we considered several factors including cost, variety, dietary restrictions, easy of use, and, above all, taste.

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