What's the best instant coffee? [Archive]

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Ted

09-11-2005, 11:28 AM

David Lowry

09-11-2005, 11:55 AM

Folgers.

Laugh all ya want. It does fine for me :D.

Michael Cook

09-11-2005, 12:07 PM

:spyder: Instant coffee?!? :eek: :rolleyes: Some things should not be rushed. :spyder:

Ted

09-11-2005, 12:31 PM

:spyder: Instant coffee?!? :eek: :rolleyes: Some things should not be rushed. :spyder:

I knew somebody was gonna say that. :D

Thing is, I'm gonna gonna do a fun bushcraft course with a buddy of mine. He needs his morning shot of coffee fast otherwise he's not that good company ;)
Firing up a gas stove is probably a no no on the course, so I guess once we've managed to start a fire and boil some water, instant coffee will be faster then 'drip-drip'... ;) Any other 'fast' suggestions are welcome too!

Ted

09-11-2005, 12:33 PM

or should I get one of these?

http://www.rei.com/product/47781010.htm

The Deacon

09-11-2005, 12:52 PM

or should I get one of these?

http://www.rei.com/product/47781010.htmThat would definitely be the better way to go from a flavor standpoint. :) IMHO, even the best instant is a poor substitute for a decent quality brewed coffee.

java

09-11-2005, 02:22 PM

I'm running out of my supply of instant coffee and need something new.
Now I've been told that some members here do know a bit about coffee ;) , so tell me, what's the best that money can buy? :D My favorite so far is 'Carte Noire'.

:eek:

Such an animal does not exist in the natural scheme of things! I shudder to even speak the words but good instant coffee, the best instant coffee or any variation thereof is not just a mere oxymoron but a physical impossibility. It is alchemy thought of as pure science, astrology as the basic tenets of nuclear science, or fool's gold as precious coin. You may as well joust with windmills, invent the perpetual motion machne, trisect an angle using only a pencil, straight edge, and compass, or build a manufacturing plant for purified instant water. ;)

The camp press from REI, which Java uses, is a good choice and will give you the power to make a less acidic concentrated brew via the cold process (also known as Toddy coffee) that the Dutch Afrikaners have sworn by for years. Just be sure to expirement to find the proper grind to brew a satisfactory cup of Joe. Presses (and cold process coffee systems) use a coarser grind than drip, vacuum, and most percolators.

If you are far, far from home, alone on a desert island, forgotten by man and abandoned by God, then and only then should you sully your lips with Folgers instant and then only for your very survival. Otherwise Folgers also makes a great flavoring for smoothies or shakes, and doubles admirably as a steak rub when there is no powdered espresso or Java's own roasted and morter and pestle hand ground blend. :D

That would definitely be the better way to go from a flavor standpoint. IMHO, even the best instant is a poor substitute for a decent quality brewed coffee.

Young man, you are wise beyond even MY years!! Bravo! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/tankajava/JavaSteam.gif

pmel018

09-11-2005, 02:47 PM

[ My favorite so far is 'Carte Noire'.[/QUOTE] :D
Yep that would be the best. Can't get it down in the South Pacific, have to rely on friends coming back from Europe :(

Regards Phil

greencobra

09-11-2005, 03:03 PM

or should I get one of these?

http://www.rei.com/product/47781010.htm
Yes, invest now, you'll be happier in the long run.

hanswurst

09-11-2005, 04:22 PM

Hi Ted,
just tried the above mentioned french press last weekend and could not make a decent cup of coffee with it. I tried anywhere from one spoon to 4 spoons of ground coffee, tried boiling water,then adding grounds and let it sit,tried boiling it with the grounds, but no matter what it still tasted weak. Could have been the altitude? (10000'-> about 3000m), or lack of french pressing skills.

Marco

Just saw Java's reply. Any pointers on how to use this thing?

JD Spydo

09-11-2005, 04:28 PM

OH do I have your answer. I sell an instant coffee drink that also has health benefits. The name of the product is GANO CAFE. It comes in 5 different flavors. It has a reishi mushroom compound in it. I have been using it over coffee for almost 8 months now. It gives you a lot of natural energy. If any of you want more info on it you can PM me. I can give any of guys/gals some samples if you like. PM me for more info if you like. JD Spydo :spyder:
or e-mail me at joedot@swbell.net

davec

09-11-2005, 04:59 PM

According to Mrs. Olsen, it's Folger's Instant Coffee. Those flavor crystals.

jaislandboy

09-11-2005, 05:30 PM

Me thinks Java knows best. ;)

Joe Talmadge

09-11-2005, 07:02 PM

Now I've been told that some members here do know a bit about coffee ;) , so tell me, what's the best that money can buy?

If you want to know what the "best" instant coffee is, you specifically need to find a group where the members don't know anything about coffee -- anyone who knows anything about coffee won't deal with instant. It's like coming to spyderco forums to ask which pakistani pot metal $1.50 knife is the "best" :) :) :)

However, Consumer Reports does rate instant coffees. I often disagree with them on subjective things like this, but you might want to see what their tasting experts had to say. Personally, camping is one of those times I either skip the coffee, or just use whatever instant is around and deal with it, since they all taste stale, flat, and off to me. I can live without coffee for a few days now and then, but if I couldn't, I'd definitely use one of the portable drip systems instead of searching out the best instant.

Joe

vampyrewolf

09-11-2005, 07:08 PM

RLR

09-11-2005, 07:10 PM

Cowboy coffee is better than instant (that's grounds in a pot of boiling water strained through the teeth as you drink it)!

java

09-11-2005, 07:14 PM

Any pointers on how to use this thing?

The main thing is getting the grounds right, using the best water you can, and finding the right balance of time to steep before pressing the grounds. The grounds should not be too fine or they will result in more sediments passing through the filter (press) and you end up with the proverbial mug of "mud". They should not be too coarse or you reduce the surface area and the water water doesn't fully release the oils that give coffee its color and flavor. VW could probably talk your arm off about his press and his drive to make a good strong coffee but this place might have a pointer or two to get you started till he logs on.

Vive le Press du Francois (http://www.ineedcoffee.com/99/05/frenchpress/)

I'm using an MSR Whisperlite Internationale multi-fuel "stove" to heat the REI press and altitude is no problem at 3,000 - 8,000 feet. I still prefer to use the cold process method at home but it generally takes 12 - 24 hours for the system to make a good concentrate. I just can't tell you enough about how good the concentrate is. It has a bold flavor yet is less acidic. Many folks who can't tolerate regular coffee's acidity swear by it. If you have a Seattle's Best place, they make the cold "toddy" coffee on a regular basis. The Coffee Bean and Green Tea franchises also use a cold process for their CODs (coffees of the day) as do some of the better restaurants. Dispenser machines are programmed to mix the right amount of concentrate with hot water and the results are incredibly consistent.....and good.

Don't give up!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/tankajava/JavaSteam.gif

vampyrewolf

09-11-2005, 07:15 PM

ok, NOW I've read all the replies... a bodum press is great if you have the time and patience to figure it out. Gives a smooth mellow cup with a hell of a kick if done right.

my usual brew is 1oz of beans to a 12 cup drip... or 2 scoops of fresh ground into my bodum press. No comparing the pre-ground crud to a fresh ground pot.
Still want to get to roasting my own beans but don't have the cash or space for another year.

lazyman's toddy can be done with a bodum press too. cold water, fresh ground beans, and toss it in the fridge. the next day when you want it(8-24hrs) you just press the grounds out and have iced coffee waiting for you.

java

09-11-2005, 07:18 PM

ugh... instant...

How about 1lbs of ground coffee to 1 gallon of water, make toddy....

1/8 cup to 1litre if you want to make smaller batches

leave it sitting for 24hrs and strain it

"Liquid instant" :D

Sorry I was in "Hey I'm daydreaming while I write a post including VW and coffee" land and didn't see ya chime in on the Toddy coffee side. :o

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/tankajava/JavaSteam.gif

Or the one that followed when I wrote this.......

vampyrewolf

09-11-2005, 07:19 PM

java

09-11-2005, 07:22 PM

playing 'reply tag' john?

Only spent a *few* months looking up tips for the press before buying one... hardest part for me now if getting the grind right first thing in the morning.

at least when I bought a scale(grams and ounces, up to 1lbs) I could take the guesswork out of the amount for a pot if I was grinding fresh for the pot.

There's a bit of a time delay on the broadcast....or an echo in the hollow spot between my ears, I think.... :D

Jiminy crickets lad! That's a heck of a lot of camp gear to pack in!! :eek: Maybe cowboy coffee is best.....just add a shot or two of Old Bushmill's to kill any dissenting taste buds.... :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/tankajava/JavaSteam.gif

java

09-11-2005, 07:31 PM

Further detail on "toddy" coffee from the Tod guy who believes he invented it. (Don't tell him about the Dutch using it for herd of years - he invented a system....and yes Java owns one and wants to improve it)

Toddy: drink better coffee (http://www.toddycafe.com/)

.....plus you can't help but love a blue-eyed beauty who can horse-lip a mug of coffee like this:

http://www.toddycafe.com/images/coffee_chick_web.jpg

:eek: My type of woman!! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/tankajava/JavaSteam.gif

dialex

09-12-2005, 12:05 AM

What's wrong with instant coffee, anyway? Seems pretty tasty to me (but I readily admit I seldom drink coffee - or similar)

vampyrewolf

09-12-2005, 12:15 AM

alex: PM me your addy, might want to go buy a coffee grinder in the next week ;)

Michael Cook

09-12-2005, 12:43 AM

What's wrong with instant coffee, anyway? Seems pretty tasty to me (but I readily admit I seldom drink coffee - or similar)

:spyder: To me it's like boxed wine or a 35 cent cigar, or a five dollar knife. :spyder:

zenheretic

09-12-2005, 02:14 AM

What's wrong with instant coffee, anyway? Seems pretty tasty to me (but I readily admit I seldom drink coffee - or similar)

From my experience, instant coffee in the States, vs instant coffee in Europe, Malaysia,and Austrailia are vastly different beasts. American instant coffee is indeed horrid stuff, whereas foreign instant coffee can be quite good. As I was traveling at the time, I never noted the brands)...I do find it interesting that practically as one people in this hemisphere shudder at the thought of instant, yet other folks are scratching their heads in confusion. :D

Ted

09-12-2005, 12:26 PM

Thanks all for the good replies! :D Exactly what I was hoping for. That Toddy stuff looks interesting. I'll try to find it here in Europe. :)

Ted

09-12-2005, 12:27 PM

Cowboy coffee is better than instant (that's grounds in a pot of boiling water strained through the teeth as you drink it)!

Sounds very 'bushcraft' ... but I think I'll go for a bit more sophisticated ;)

HoB

09-12-2005, 01:50 PM

:spyder: Instant coffee?!? :eek: :rolleyes: Some things should not be rushed. :spyder:

I think that statement should be emphasized: There is no such thing as good instant coffee! ;)

Since we have moved on to personal preferences already: I drink pretty much only espresso (black Lavazza to be precise) made in a 3 cup aluminum "hexagon". You know the old fashioned stove top kind. Still my favorite. And you can take it on a camping trip, too. Actually, works even better on a camping stove or open fire than on the stove top.

vampyrewolf

09-12-2005, 04:55 PM

you don't want to get me going on personal preferance as far as coffee choices... have about 20 or so varieties vaccuum sealed and in 2 tubs on my kitchen floor down here.

today's coffee was nuked from friday's thermos... Kicking Horse expresso blend(good old canadian coffee)... the pot with supper will be either Grand Marnier decaf or Tanzanian Peaberry(hm, 0.2% and 1.42% caffeine on those 2)...

The Kicking Horse is "cheap" at 14cad/1lbs bag, and they have 6-7 choices. This express blend could be kicked up a 1/2oz of beans, still a little weak with only 1 oz of beans but at least it's nukable.

rainman

09-12-2005, 10:00 PM

Here is what I have done as a comprimise. Pick your fav. coffee, either grind it with a hand grinder or pre grind it. Some will call even this heresy. Use your first day as a test to see how it works. Make "cowbow coffee", pour it through one of those gold strainers, taste.
Personally, I don't use instant. I have made some pretty goood coffee with the above method, and didn't have to suffer the horrors of instant. YMMV :D
---Tom

ken

09-12-2005, 11:24 PM

Ted-

Are you for real? There is no such thing!

Also beware of the post below because of what it contains-

OH do I have your answer. I sell an instant coffee drink that also has health benefits. The name of the product is GANO CAFE. It comes in 5 different flavors. It has a reishi mushroom compound in it. I have been using it over coffee for almost 8 months now. It gives you a lot of natural energy. If any of you want more info on it you can PM me. I can give any of guys/gals some samples if you like. PM me for more info if you like. JD Spydo
or e-mail me at joedot@swbell.net

Yep it gives you energy and also gives you visions-I think the main ingredient is "psilocybin" AKA magic mushrooms! Than again it might be great stuff!

ken

liltemp1

09-13-2005, 07:23 PM

Organic panic or Shock coffee. Double the fun

Ms. Delica

09-16-2005, 03:10 AM

Follow JDSPYDO's advice. Gano Cafe is the best instant coffee, that is not only "healthy" but good for YOU! And tastes like perked! And all you have to use is a little Sunbeam hotshot...........30 seconds and life is good! ;) ;) ;)

Less caffeine than decaf :D

Ms. Delica

ken

09-16-2005, 09:06 PM

Ms. Delica

09-20-2005, 01:20 AM

The reishi mushroom extact is so much better for you, replacing the caffeine (the mushroom ironically has a coffee taste), but the Gano coffee is also acid free,
and can really do great things for the body. Plus, it is so much less than Starbucks, you can save your pennies and purchase more spyderco knives! :o

Ms. Delica :)

Ted

09-20-2005, 01:21 AM

Interesting! - anyone knows a good site that ships internationally? (or a EU site?)

vampyrewolf

09-20-2005, 06:28 AM

Ted: email JD Spydo(unless I tapped his supply with our recent trade)...

zenheretic

09-20-2005, 03:34 PM

java

09-20-2005, 08:59 PM

Ummm just for the record, coffee is good for you also. The problem stems from the fact that it is so good that people use to much. Like any other drug, strictly natural or man-made, too much can cause problems. It is good for the teeth (yes good for them as in health not looks), prevents Alzheimer's, promotes bowels, and I think helps the liver (not sure about that can't remember....better go drink some more coffee :D )

Thanks fer pickin' up on that heretic.... :)

For a break from the over-priced (and over-roasted) malodorous brew that is Starbuck's, you might want to give It's A Grind and The Coffee Bean and Green Tea Leaf a try sometime. TCB&GTL is located in The District down from REI and IAG has a couple of stores including the one on Sunset where I hang out once in a while.

Numerous studies into coffee's benefits have been done and as you imply - all things in moderation. Coffee has survived the years as being sacred to the point that Dutch traders risked their lives smuggling the Arabica bushes out of Yemen to establish the varietals found throughout world today. It has been alternately condemned as a drug of indolence and destruction and exalted as a divine gift imbuing users with alert vision and clarity of thought.

Coffee does have its drawbacks. Consumed in excess quantities, some people experience hypertension and develop ulcers. Caffeine is contraindicated for many people with heart problems but decaf can be subbed with little ill effect. The kick of caffeine keeps you alert but this is another idiosyncratic effect which can interfere with some folks' sleep habits. I can drink a triple shot breve and sleep like a baby. Others will be up all night. It is an excellent dental dental stain and of course, coffee must be free and untamed. It is a mild diuretic so no one can own coffee. It passes through you as sands through the hourglass.

That said, and questionable fungi notwithstanding, coffee is being studied not just in Alzheimer's research but for its helpful benefits in diabetes and Parkinson's as well. It has been linked to preventing liver cancer for people who drink more than one cup of coffee a day.

More recent research is suggesting that coffee contains the most antioxidants than any other food that American's digest on a regular basis.

"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close," says study leader Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the university. Although fruits and vegetables are generally promoted as good sources of antioxidants, the new finding is surprising because it represents the first time that coffee has been shown to be the primary source from which most Americans get their antioxidants, Vinson says. Both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant levels, he adds. (Source: Coffee is number one source of antioxidants - Physorg.com)

And for less acid coffee, read my comments on Toddy Coffee.

SHROOMS!!!?? :eek:

Unless you are chowing down on the portabellos in Tennuto's at Lake Las Vegas, shrooms are just another of nature's sponges. With little flavor outside of the dank musty cellar taste, they take on whatever seasonings and liquids it takes to cover up their dark, dirty origins. They are fungi....They grow from....SPORES!! They secrete mycotoxins and psychoactive compounds that lead to hallucinations, loss of inhibitions, dementia, unconciousness, and post mortem lividity!! Carlos Castenada tried to bend our minds to shrooms in the 60's and 70's and what happened to him. He found his little purple space glowing in a corner and expired!! Timothy Leary was not far behind!! Shrooms are evil - almost on a par with the despicable orange blasphemies that are punkyns!!! Ms Delica claims reishi mushroom extact replaces caffeine but she so adroitly side-steps the real concern.....REPLACES IT WITH WHAT?????!! :confused:

Again:
SHROOMS SPONGE UP WHATEVER THEY ARE PLACED IN TO MASK THEIR DANK, MUSTY, EVIL WAYS!!

What does the shroom extract from you, John Q. Spydie-Public???

If you value your vital bodily fluids, DO NOT PLACE THEM IN YOUR BODY!!

I see no mention of any mycosis in the above shroom sell!

Systemic mycosis is a deep fungal infection involving various bodily systems or regions. Is it caused by the Angelic Arabica Ambrosia??? Nooooooo! It's caused by....A FUNGUS!!! Is histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, cryptococcosis, systemic candidiasis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis, mycetoma, chromomycosis, or phaeohyphomycosis borne by the Benevolent Bean???? Nooooooo....they're all brought on by......A FUNGUS.

Wake up my fellow Spydie-brethren and sistren! The beast is among us!!

Heed well the tales of cinematic doom foretold by The Invasion of the Body Snatchers - those fibrous tendrils were myceloid in origin!! They sucked the life force from their victims in mycethenic lust replacing them with screeching soulless psychotraumatized sycophants searching ceaselessly for sleep starved sentient sessile sapien sacrifices!! Coffee would have kept the last survivors awake, alert, refreshed, and on guard!! Coffee is a vaccine against the foul shroom hordes!! Beware the spore spewn spoor of all manner of malevolent myceteans!!! :D

Now excuse me while I go innoculatte myself with another cup of fresh-brewed home-roasted Mavis Bank Estates Jamaican Blue Mountain COFFEEE!!!! ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/tankajava/JavaSteam.gif

zenheretic

09-20-2005, 09:54 PM

Wow, that dude loves his coffee. It is no wonder he lives in a dry oh so dry climate...so the shrooms don't get him...or me...dang spores are every where man! :eek:

I'll have to try the coffee place you speak of Java, in fact I just walked by there a day ago. :D

vampyrewolf

09-20-2005, 11:12 PM

*shake head*

John, what ARE you drinking and what are you adding to your cup? ;)

Gotta get me some of that stuff... :p

I mean, today's pot for school was Yauco Selecto AA, and I was "human" on the 2nd cup of it...

ken

09-21-2005, 12:16 AM

VW-

It's not what he's putting in his coffee but it's what's in his brownies!

Now Java we now know more about shrooms than ever, but as long as that coffee does not contain the following;
Destroying Angel (Amanita verna)
or
Death Cap (Amanita virosa)
than maybe it's not all that bad! But than again what do they say about being a mushroom-put me in a dark room and feed me a bunch of BS.

One question tough Java. Seeing that your out there in "Dreamland" isn't mushroom's the only type of food that will grow out in the deepest, darkest, reaches of space? The food of our alien friends out there at Area 57? Sorry for asking I should realize that you are not to talk of such things!

ken