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6 of the very best instant coffees – approved by Women's Health
Better than Starbucks? Easily
We’ll be honest: here at Women’s Health HQ, there are a couple of us – me included – that count ourselves as coffee snobs. So much so, that (I won’t name names) a couple of the editors point-blank refuse to use the only coffee machine in our office building. ‘I just loathe it,’ one of the girls told me. ‘It tastes so bitter.’
Whether you too consider yourself a coffee snob, or you’ll happily drink any old cup of coffee, there is something incredibly convenient about having a tin or jar of instant coffee ready for those ‘I'm too busy to do anything’ kinds of mornings – or even when you’re just feeling lazy.
Sure, there are some not-so-delicious instant coffees out there, but the market is also full of options that give your brew as much nuance and balance as any other method.
We’ve tried quite a few instant coffees over the years, from Sainsbury’s own blend which fuelled long hours in the university library to a fancier jar I used to keep in my drawer at work.
How we tested: We boiled the kettle and taste-tested the very best instant coffees on the market. From rich roasts to everyday blends, we've tried coffees ideal for early mornings, late nights, and lazy Sunday brunches.
Curious about our top picks? Keep scrolling for our fave instant brews.
Best instant coffee 2024 – Tried and tasted
Nescafe Azera Americano Instant Coffee 90g
Of all the powder instant coffees on the list, this is the easiest to blend, and gives a super smooth finish. Great as just an espresso or with boiling water and milk for a white americano.
Douwe Egberts Pure Gold Instant Coffee 190g
Whenever I visit my parents, you can bet they'll have a jar of this Douwe Egberts coffee in the cupboard (despite the fact that they own a very fancy built-in bean-to-cup Miele coffee machine) – it’s just that good. Their decaf is worth a try, too.
Carte Noire Classique Instant Coffee 180g
This stuff is strong – but, importantly, it’s not bitter and doesn't have that slightly burnt taste. Very indulgent as a latte, Carte Noire combined with a frothy milk offers a nice creamy texture.
Kenco Gold Indulgence Instant Coffee 195g
With subtle notes of dark fudge, this well-balanced coffee ticks lots of our boxes. Rich? Yep. Smooth? You betcha.
Another medium-roasted coffee (can you tell we like these?) for a well-balanced aroma. Adding milk opens up the softer, sweeter sides of this coffee, enhancing the biscuity notes.
Grind Iced Oat Flat White Coffee 250ml
Best served over a big cup full of ice cubes, this instant iced coffee is perfect for those looking for more of a refreshing coffee over ice.
Read more
- Can you drink coffee while fasting? Here’s what dietitians say
- The egg diet is going viral, but it isn’t the health fix you might think it is
- Is the Atlantic diet the new Mediterranean diet?
- ‘I quit drinking coffee over a year ago - this is why it's the best decision I've ever made’
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With nearly a decade of journalistic experience – in print, online and social – at national newspapers and lifestyle magazines, it’s fair to say Alice has tried it all when it comes to health and fitness. From packing herself off to an extreme Aveduric retreat in Sri Lanka and sweat-testing every new fitness fad to running the London Marathon and completing a 70.3 IronMan, Alice now looks after WH’s food content. With a ‘food first’ ethos, she is here to help you decipher exactly which foods will support your health, and which macro-counting, pasta-replacing, intermittent-fasting, 13-day cleanse is just, well, a scam. A keen baker and host, her favourite dessert has to be pavlova (with lots of summer berries and whipped cream, of course).
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