coffee solution

A couple of Stateside outdoor bloggers have commented recently on a new product from Starbucks called VIA, an 'instant' coffee that comes in single cup sachets.

Popping out of Gunnersbury tube on Saturday I noticed some advertising for the same on a phone box. And as I was heading down Chiswick High Road I kept an eye open for which of the many Starbucks outlets along this strip was stocking VIA.

VIA is available in an Italian or Colombian roast, with a packet of three sachets costing £1.20, so I picked up one of each.

Here's the dilemma... I'm not a fan of organisations like Starbucks or Maccy Dee's. But I am a fan of good coffee. I don't rate the coffee at SB's - it's bland tasteless stuff - you can guess where this is going.

So what does VIA taste like? Well I couldn't tell much difference between the two roasts, not much of a surprise really, but that said the coffee did taste better than instant. It's not cheap; you'll need two sachets for a decent sized mug but it will be a better tasting one for that. If you can live with that then it is vastly more convenient than using a mug mate. For now I'm going to stick with the coffee bag solution that I worked out.