I never thought I’d be an instant coffee drinker. Like many, I assumed it could never match the depth and richness of freshly brewed coffee. But one busy morning, with no time to grind beans or wait for a pot to brew, I grabbed a jar of Taster’s Choice that had been sitting in my pantry. I wasn’t expecting much, but that first sip surprised me. It was smooth, well-balanced, and had none of the bitterness I associated with instant coffee.

That experience made me rethink everything I knew about instant coffee. Since then, I’ve explored Taster’s Choice’s entire lineup, from their bold French Roast to their smooth House Blend and even their decaf options. What I discovered is that Taster’s Choice isn’t just about convenience, it’s about quality. Their unique freeze-drying process preserves the coffee’s natural flavors and aromas, making it one of the best instant options on the market.

If you’re curious about instant coffee or looking for a reliable, flavorful cup without the hassle of brewing, Taster’s Choice is worth considering. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or traveling, their products deliver a consistently great cup of coffee in seconds. In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know, from how they make their coffee to how it stacks up against competitors, so you can decide if Taster’s Choice is right for you.

Key Takeaways

• Taster’s Choice uses a special freeze-drying process that preserves more flavor than typical instant coffees
• Their product range includes various roast intensities from mild to bold French Roast
• The brand offers both glass jars for home use and convenient single-serve sticks for travel
• While more expensive than budget instant coffees, Taster’s Choice delivers better flavor and aroma
• For optimal results, use water at 195-205°F and adjust coffee quantity to your preferred strength

Top Taster’s Choice Coffee

After exploring their lineup over several years, here are four Taster’s Choice products I recommend:

1. Taster’s Choice Original Gourmet Instant Coffee

The classic that started it all. Taster’s Choice Original Gourmet Instant Coffee offers a smooth, well-balanced medium roast that’s perfect for any time of day. Crafted from carefully selected beans, this House Blend delivers a rich aroma and satisfying taste in every sip.

The 14-ounce glass jar helps maintain freshness longer than plastic alternatives, preserving the coffee’s full-bodied flavor and quality. Whether you need a quick morning boost or a relaxing cup in the afternoon, this instant coffee provides a convenient and delicious solution without compromising on taste.

2. Taster’s Choice French Roast Instant Coffee

My go-to choice when I need a coffee with real depth. This French Roast delivers a bold, full-bodied flavor with subtle smoky undertones, making it perfect for those who enjoy a rich and intense cup. The darker roast profile provides a satisfying strength that holds up beautifully to milk and sweeteners without losing its character.

Whether you prefer it black or with added creaminess, this instant coffee offers a smooth yet robust experience in every sip. The 7-ounce glass jar helps preserve freshness, ensuring every cup is as flavorful as the first.

3. Taster’s Choice House Blend Light Medium Roast Instant Coffee

Ideal for travel, office, or outdoor adventures. These convenient single-serve packets deliver a consistently smooth and balanced flavor with every cup. Compact and easy to carry, they take up minimal space, making them perfect for packing in a bag or desk drawer. The House Blend’s light-medium roast offers a versatile taste that’s satisfying whether enjoyed black or with cream and sugar. Just add hot water, and you have a fresh, flavorful coffee anytime, anywhere.

4. Taster’s Choice Decaf House Blend Instant Coffee

A perfect choice for evening relaxation without the caffeine jitters. This decaf version maintains surprising flavor integrity, offering the same smooth and well-balanced taste as its caffeinated counterpart. Unlike many instant decafs that taste flat or watered down, this light-medium roast preserves its rich aroma and satisfying depth, making it a delightful option for any time of day. Whether you’re winding down after dinner or simply prefer a caffeine-free option, this decaf blend delivers a full-bodied coffee experience without compromise.

The Taster’s Choice Story

Launched in the 1960s by Nestlé, Taster’s Choice positioned itself as a premium alternative in the instant coffee market. The brand gained widespread recognition through its memorable advertising, particularly the “Gold Blend couple” commercials of the late 1980s and early 1990s that featured neighbors falling in love over shared cups of coffee.

What distinguishes Taster’s Choice from competitors is their production method. While many instant coffees are spray-dried (often resulting in a burnt taste), Taster’s Choice employs freeze-drying. They brew coffee in large batches, flash-freeze it, then remove the water through sublimation. This process preserves more of the coffee’s natural flavors and aromatics.

My Experience with Taster’s Choice Products

My initial skepticism about instant coffee came from previous disappointments with brands that delivered flat, chemical-tasting results. Taster’s Choice Original surprised me with its clean, smooth flavor profile. While it doesn’t match freshly ground beans, it offers a remarkably drinkable cup with a pleasant aroma.

The French Roast quickly became my go-to for its deeper, more intense character. It performs exceptionally well when made as a stronger brew and topped with frothed milk for a quick latte-like experience.

Their decaf has been a revelation for afternoons when I want coffee’s comfort without caffeine’s stimulation. Unlike most instant decafs that taste hollow, Taster’s Choice Decaf maintains a satisfying richness.

The single-serve packets have earned a permanent spot in my travel kit, saving me from the mercy of hotel room coffee makers and airport options. Having a reliable cup wherever I go has genuinely improved my travel experiences.

How Taster’s Choice Compares to Competitors

In the instant coffee landscape, Taster’s Choice occupies the premium mainstream segment. It costs more than Folgers or Maxwell House but delivers noticeably improved flavor. It’s generally more affordable than specialty instant coffees like Swift Cup or Sudden Coffee, positioning it as an accessible upgrade.

Compared to Starbucks VIA, another popular premium instant option, Taster’s Choice offers a more traditional coffee flavor. VIA maintains Starbucks’ characteristic intense roastiness, while Taster’s Choice provides a cleaner taste that appeals to a wider range of coffee preferences.

Taster’s Choice excels in versatility. The granules dissolve efficiently in both hot and cold water, making it suitable for everything from standard hot coffee to quick iced versions. This adaptability makes it a practical pantry staple for diverse coffee needs.

Making the Most of Your Taster’s Choice Coffee

Through experimentation, I’ve discovered several techniques that elevate the Taster’s Choice experience:

1. Mind your water temperature: Use water that’s hot but not boiling (around 195-205°F) to extract optimal flavor without emphasizing bitter notes.
2. Customize your strength: The recommended serving (one teaspoon per cup) produces a relatively mild brew. I typically use 1.5 teaspoons for a more satisfying cup.
3. Try Vietnamese-style coffee: Mix Taster’s Choice (especially French Roast) with sweetened condensed milk for a quick version of Vietnamese coffee that’s surprisingly delicious.
4. Make instant iced coffee: Dissolve Taster’s Choice in a small amount of hot water, then add cold water and ice for a refreshing summer drink that takes seconds to prepare.
5. Experiment with flavor enhancers: A pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, or cocoa powder can introduce new dimensions to your cup.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

As consumers become more environmentally conscious, it’s worth noting that Taster’s Choice has made efforts to improve their sustainability profile. Their glass jars are recyclable, and they’ve reduced packaging materials in recent years.

Nestlé, Taster’s Choice’s parent company, has initiated the Nescafé Plan, which aims to increase responsibly sourced coffee and improve farmer livelihoods. While not perfect, they’ve made more progress than some competitors in addressing supply chain concerns.

For those particularly focused on ethical sourcing, certain Taster’s Choice products carry Rainforest Alliance certification, though availability varies by specific product and market region.

When Taster’s Choice Makes Sense

After incorporating Taster’s Choice into my coffee routine for several years, I view it as a valuable compromise between quality and convenience. It serves specific purposes in a coffee lover’s life:

• Busy mornings when brewing time isn’t available
• Travel situations where good coffee access is limited
• Office environments where quick single cups are preferable
• As an upgrade from budget instant coffee brands

However, for dedicated coffee enthusiasts who cherish the brewing ritual and complex flavors of specialty beans, Taster’s Choice works better as a backup option rather than a primary coffee source.

Using Taster’s Choice Beyond the Cup

While Taster’s Choice is a reliable go-to for a quick, flavorful cup of coffee, it also shines as a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. Instant coffee isn’t just for drinking, it can enhance both sweet and savory dishes in surprising ways. Here are some of my favorite ways to use Taster’s Choice beyond the cup:

• Coffee-Flavored Desserts: Instant coffee is a key ingredient in classics like tiramisu, coffee ice cream, and mocha-flavored cakes. A teaspoon of Taster’s Choice dissolved in warm liquid can intensify the coffee flavor in frostings, brownies, and even homemade chocolate truffles.
• Marinades and Meat Rubs: Coffee adds depth and a subtle smokiness to marinades and spice rubs, particularly for beef and pork. The bold French Roast variety works beautifully in barbecue sauces, steak rubs, and slow-cooked meats.
• Baking Enhancer: Adding a small amount of instant coffee to chocolate-based recipes (like brownies, chocolate cake, or cookies) enhances the richness of the cocoa without making the final product taste overwhelmingly like coffee.
• Homemade Coffee Liqueurs: If you enjoy experimenting with homemade liqueurs, Taster’s Choice dissolves easily into alcohol-based mixtures, creating a smooth and well-balanced coffee flavor for cocktails or desserts.
• Smoothies & Protein Shakes: A teaspoon of instant coffee mixed into a protein shake or smoothie adds a delicious coffee kick, perfect for a morning boost or post-workout treat.

With its rich flavor and quick-dissolving properties, Taster’s Choice is a pantry staple that goes far beyond just brewing a cup of coffee. Whether you’re cooking, baking, or mixing up drinks, this instant coffee can be an unexpected secret ingredient in your kitchen.nt format offers precise flavor control without needing to brew coffee first, making it especially convenient for recipes.

Storage and Shelf Life

To maintain optimal freshness, store Taster’s Choice in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. The glass jars provide excellent protection against flavor degradation, but ensure the lid is tightly sealed after each use.

In my experience, an opened jar maintains peak quality for about 1-2 months, though it remains safe to consume much longer. The single-serve packets stay fresh even longer due to their individual packaging.

Final Thoughts

My journey with Taster’s Choice has taught me to appreciate convenience without completely sacrificing quality. While nothing replaces freshly ground beans when time permits, Taster’s Choice fills an important niche in a balanced coffee lifestyle.

It stands as one of the better options in the instant coffee market, offering a taste experience that, while different from freshly brewed coffee, is enjoyable in its own right. Its consistency, convenience, and relatively good flavor make it a worthwhile addition to any coffee lover’s pantry—even those who typically prefer more artisanal options.

Whether you’re reluctantly reaching for instant coffee out of necessity or deliberately seeking a quick option that doesn’t disappoint, Taster’s Choice might just surprise you with what it brings to your cup.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Taster’s Choice real coffee?

Yes, Taster’s Choice is made from 100% real coffee beans. The beans are roasted, brewed into concentrated coffee, and then freeze-dried to create the instant format. There are no additives or fillers in the product.

2. How long does Taster’s Choice stay fresh after opening?

When stored properly in a cool, dry place with the lid tightly sealed, Taster’s Choice maintains its quality for about 1-2 months after opening. The glass jars help extend the shelf life by protecting against light and moisture.

3. Can Taster’s Choice be used in recipes calling for coffee?

Absolutely! I regularly use it in desserts, marinades, and sauces. The instant format actually makes it more convenient for cooking as you can control the concentration precisely and don’t need to brew coffee first.

4. How does the caffeine content compare to regular coffee?

A standard cup of Taster’s Choice contains approximately 65-90mg of caffeine per 8oz serving. This is slightly less than the average 95mg found in a regular brewed cup but enough to provide the morning boost most coffee drinkers seek.

5. Is Taster’s Choice owned by Nestlé?

Yes, Taster’s Choice is a Nestlé-owned brand, part of their Nescafé family of coffee products. In some markets outside the US, similar products may be sold under the Nescafé Gold branding, but the production process and quality standards remain consistent.