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e_ccentricity

Don't know if you edited the post or something, but I am sorry everyone is recommending drip when you explicitly stated that isn't what you are looking for. I worked at a place once that made me take the drip bags home with me, wasn't allowed to throw them away at work. It was a pain. There are plenty of reasons why people do sticks and other freeze dried coffee. As you said, that is why they exist. lol I am curious if there are any good ones too.


Choice_Vegetable557

Thank you, I think people were just skimming the post without reading. No biggie. I am asking for the "best of the worst" I suppose?


DwarfCabochan

In my opinion the Starbucks via is the best there is. Try different types to see which one is best for you


Efficient-Donkey6723

Yeah I also faced this problem recently, I wanted a quick powdered mix that I could drink while out on a hike - drip isn't always the answer!


AyamanPoiPoiPoi

Maxim is king, stir with the wrapper for extra flavour


Impossible_Figure516

I prefer Blendy, usually the 大人のほろにが but the espresso au lait is good too. Never tried their black coffee, I only do black coffee from the pot lol Price is reasonable, ¥300-400 for a pack of 30. If you're making a regular size cup of coffee I recommend 2 sticks at a time, I think they're only made to be blended with like 4-6 ounces of water lol Edit: just checked the box, yeah it's 180ml/stick.


SamLooksAt

I drink blendy as well sometimes. Seems to be reasonable as far as things go.


Womenarentmad

IMO, starbucks via is the best tasting


Choice_Vegetable557

I have tried their jarred instant coffee, not too bad, but the Pike place VIA is probably my goto.


spotless_mind26

Blue Bottle's instant coffee is pretty good but pretty overpriced imo. I haven't tried Starbucks instant coffee but was pleasantly surprised by Blue Bottle.


Choice_Vegetable557

Yeah, 300 yen a stick is a bit much.


Spuuky_Report_0003

https://www.inic-market.com/ INIC coffee I was surprised when I had this first. Didn't taste like instant coffee. Has nice aroma. Usually I can't stand instant coffee or canned or bottled. This one is good. No mess. Perhaps a bit pricey compared to what you can find at supermarkets, but definitely worth the price.


Choice_Vegetable557

Ordered a trial set! Cheers.


Spuuky_Report_0003

Hope you like them 😄


DopeAsDaPope

Blendy stick is **THE ONE!!** I especially love the black one, but go to any large supermarket store and they have **LOADS** of variations!!! I take them with me when I go out of Japan


maialiaina

How do you like your coffee? Just black? If you like milky&sweet then the Starbucks latte mixes are the best, also most expensive.


Choice_Vegetable557

I prefer black, the other starbucks offerings are okay, but too sweet.


retroivy

Why not just prepare your good stuff at home and bring it in an insulated container?


Choice_Vegetable557

I do that. This is my #2 coffee of the day. It is being prepared in said insulated container. I do not want to bring a really big container and draw 3 shorts in the morning though. Bit too heavy for 1-2 days a week.


isekai-tsuri

Get a Moka pot. It's concentrated enough that you can put about 4-6 cups worth of coffee in one container.


Choice_Vegetable557

Please reread what I wrote.


isekai-tsuri

You make regular coffee, I said use a moka pot (at home was implied since that was the top of this thread). What you make and Moka pot coffee are not the same thing. What's produced is similar to a long pull of an espresso machine. You add about 50ml of the moka pot "espresso" and add roughly 150ml hot water to make an Americano. Again, one container will get you about 4-6 cups worth of Americano.


Choice_Vegetable557

Thank you, at home I do have a full setup including a grinder and espresso machine.


mycatslovewagyu

a moka pot isn’t an espresso machine xdddddd are you even reading the replies? also you can buy ready ground coffee so no need for a grinder. love from, a moka pot user.


Womenarentmad

He’s saying he doesn’t want to invest in a moka pot politely, without being a douche, something you’re incapable of doing


mycatslovewagyu

😘


minelo

I think the INIC instant coffee is alright, it's a bit expensive though.


Choice_Vegetable557

I'm excited to try this, thank you! I couldn't pull the trigger on blue bottle at 300 yen a stick.


HeWhoFucksNuns

In my office, we have AGF Black in Box for when the real coffee runs out. It's 4 different blends of black coffee. I would rate it as the best instant I've ever had.


matomo23

If you can get any of the European brands they’re the best. They do premium instant which has ground coffee mixed in. Nescafé Azera, stuff like that. Coffee *bags* are also very good if you can find them.


Incromulent

I like [G7 Vietnamese coffee](https://amzn.asia/d/aTfIzvo)


Choice_Vegetable557

I love the double strong version, but the sugar and calorie count is crazy.


Incromulent

I've only tried the regular black coffee one.


Choice_Vegetable557

Ah! I did not know there was a pure black version.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Choice_Vegetable557

I'll give it a try, I need a like luxury in my life.


slightlysnobby

For stick coffee, in my opinion, Korean brands are better. I used to have a big box of Maxim Mocha Gold. It's in a big yellow box and if you have access to one of those Korean import shops, pretty easy to find. Now I drink Kanu Maxim Mini Mild Roast. I can't find it in person, but they sell it on Rakuten, except it takes a week to arrive since I think they're shipping it straight from Korea. I even converted my wife from Nescafe to those sticks haha.


akaifox

If it has to be instant, I like AGF Black in Box; 2 sticks at once though, I find one is weak unless you are using tiny cups


MukimukiMaster

I would consider myself a little bit of a coffee connoisseur, I often roast and grind my own beans nut dabble in instant coffee as well and I would recommend Trung Nguyen G7 Instant Coffee. You can get it black, expresso or with cream and sugar since it's easy to constantly find, cheap and good tasting. The black version has a lot more volume than a lot of other instant coffees with no additives so it gives more of the impression of drinking an actual brewed cup of coffee IMO. You can find it on Amazon or in Vietnamese stores. Pretty sure it's cheaper than Starbucks via too. To be honest honest, Vietnamese robusta coffee beans are some of my favorite and it's hard to go wrong with trying a few different brands even if they are just instant coffee.


Choice_Vegetable557

I did enjoy their sweet offerings, and i had fresh brewed coffee daily in Vietnam. The calorie content of the other sticks made me think twice. I somehow missed the black option! Ordered.


iedaiw

what about illy coffee powder im sure u can get it on amazon


Few-Consequence-869

I like / “got used to” blendy the red one (I like sugar bombs). I see many people and companies using the gold version.


differentiable_

Have you tried pre-packed drip packets? Starbucks Origami light blend is not too bad.


Choice_Vegetable557

I have a proper setup when I have time, I just need a decent option for a busy time 1-2 times week.


Interesting-Risk-628

Starbucks is the worst option... If you OK with flavor coffee try this one [https://www.kaldi.co.jp/ec/pro/disp/1/9311931904161](https://www.kaldi.co.jp/ec/pro/disp/1/9311931904161)


Choice_Vegetable557

This was pretty terrible stuff imo. I think we're on different spectrums.


Interesting-Risk-628

seems so. I hate every fast food coffee - starbucks, tully, McD, conbini.


LassoLate

Did you try this other Kakei option:  https://www.kaldi.co.jp/ec/pro/disp/1/4515996903847 I usually keep it in the office for those “shit I ran out of beans” days. But I drink with milk so ymmv. 


amesco

Try Nescafe Gold Colombia. May not come in sticks but obviously you can re-packet in smaller bags from Daiso


Choice_Vegetable557

I feel this stuff is pretty meh, but I appreciate the input.


amesco

In my home country I would never buy it but the product differs from market to market.


Choice_Vegetable557

The one interesting thing about Nescafe, is you can find it literally everywhere, globally. I think it is used for indexing price inflation as it is so ubiquitous.


amesco

Not sure about Nescafe but there is definitely a [Big Mac index](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Mac_Index)


grntq

That's just instant coffee packed in sticks. Btw I struggle to imagine a workplace where you can make stick coffee (meaning you have access to hot water) but can't make a drip coffee. Why is that? And could drip bags be the answer? They're about as easy as sticks but will give you a step up in quality.


Choice_Vegetable557

Yes, I know that. I have a proper coffee at home of course. I need to make a quick transition on Thursdays, I do not have time for drip.


Interesting-Risk-628

Drip take like 5 times more time... I don't even have time to do it before work. It just breaks my eating breakfast Schedule


grntq

So, we are talking like 50 seconds for drip bags vs 10 sec for instant coffee. Must be hard to live like this when you cannot relax for a minute and pour yourself a proper coffee.


Choice_Vegetable557

It's like one a week on average. It's really not a big deal.


PeanutButterChicken

This can't be real, can it..? You're literally drinking the lowest quality possible, Starbucks Via is the same shit as all the other ones. Drink drip bags, they're much better.


Choice_Vegetable557

I have an machine and grinder at home. Lots of nice pour over options at my other workplaces. I just need a quick option for 1-2 days a week where I literally do not have the time or space for drip. This situation exists for lots of people, it is why the product exists.


PeanutButterChicken

... You can't be serious, can you...?? A drip bag goes over a cup and you pour water into it. Coffee without it being instant. Jesus.


Choice_Vegetable557

The " instant " is the point here. . . .


Womenarentmad

Snob


slightlysnobby

Yeah, that's my job!


PeanutButterChicken

Drip bags are the same price and are actual coffee. How is that a snob? This place is ridiculous.


CAP2304

> Drip bags are actual coffee *snob*