(no subject)

[dakegra]

I received a free sample of Starbucks' new Via coffee in the post yesterday, and finally got round to making a cup tonight.

According to Starbucks' website:

This isn't coffee as you know it.

This is rich, flavourful coffee, made with finely ground Starbucks coffee beans. We believe this tastes as delicious as our fresh filter coffee, and all it takes to prepare is a little hot water.

and

Starbucks VIA™ is made with the highest-quality, ethically sourced 100% arabica beans (the same high quality as all our coffee). The finely-ground roasted coffee literally brews in your cup when you add hot water. It’s an easy way to enjoy the great taste of Starbucks coffee when you’re not near a Starbucks store.

Hmm. Colour me sceptical. I'm quite fond of Starbucks filter coffee, and that's a bold claim they've got going up there.

So. Kettle on, sachet emptied. First impressions: the coffee powder is unlike any instant I've seen - instead of the usual granules you've got a very fine, dark coffee powder, finer than regular coffee grounds. Nice aroma too.

Add hot water, stir, pause, taste.

Blimey.

That's really rather good. It's not going to replace a 'proper' freshly-pressed filter, but it's damn close, and is certainly miles better than regular instant. Perfect for those of us who don't live/work near a Starbucks!

Comments

[innerly.livejournal.com]

really? i'll have to check it out.. Cris makes coffee for both of us to take to work, but i need a mid-morning boost and there's only instant, which i hate

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

definitely worth a try. Kind of expensive, but cheaper than buying a regular filter at Starbucks

[nextian.livejournal.com]

I used Via to make chocolate mocha cupcakes. They were delicious, but Via is so unbelievably intense it was like getting punched in the mouth with coffee! I'm glad to hear the actual drink version lives up to the frosting experience.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

oooh, tasty!

[martinoh.livejournal.com]

Interesting, and worth checking out by the sounds of it.

Boiling water or slightly cooled?

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

umm. Not far off boiling - kettle had boiled whilst I was having a poke around the contents of the sachet.

[caitirin.livejournal.com]

I had heard that too, though not being a coffee person, I hadn't tried any :)

[pteppic.livejournal.com]

Okay, may have to give this a try. Reminds me - I need to take my cofee stuff into work today.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

This weekend they're doing a taste challenge, see if you can tell the difference between Via and filter. You get a voucher for a free coffee too, I seem to recall.

[nalsa.livejournal.com]

I may see if I can try some in one of their taster sessions. Starbucks has started singeing their filter coffee so I'm not really that fussed anymore.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Interesting...

I'll have to get some :)

[hak42.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I liked it too. Which is surprising, as I don't actually like their fresh filter coffee. I tend to get their fancy, expensive, high-calorie drinks when I go.