Trader Joe’s Instant Coffee

"One concern: there's some air in the packets, which makes me wonder if the packets would pop open when compressed in a pack. I think I'll be wrapping in a ziploc for the first few trips."

Just make a very small hole in the packets with a needle before you put them in the ziploc. I've been doing that ever since I had a packet of Perpetuem bust on me that way, and no problems since.

good call!

How does it compare to the via? Equal? Not as good but tasty? Not in the same ballpark?

Not as good but tasty. Probably worth the hassle savings if you take cream and sugar in your coffee. So cheap you may as well give it a try

Just wanted to add my opinion of the TJ's coffee :) definitely not as strong as via but tastes better to me than my old way of using via with Nido as creamer.

I'll have to go check these out! seem like a REALLY good deal compared to Via. 10 for 2$ compared to 3 for $3!

I bought a box of the stuff, and two of the packets are in my food bag for this weekend's snow camping. But, don't trust my opinion since I'm not a serious coffee drinker.

–B.G.–

I drink a lot of coffee at home but oddly, I come to dislike it after a few days out. I've tried the Via and the Joe's and don't like them at all. Even using the Jetboil press with Peet's Arabian Mocha Sanani (really awesome coffee) doesn't cut it. Much happier with teas and EmergenC. For caffeine (which I definitely DO like on the trail) I use no-doze.

In general I also tend to grow weary of anything that ends up with a chore – packing/unpacking kitchen, washing dishes (which takes all of 10 seconds/cup mind you). I SO much prefer a cold meal munched on while I enjoy the landscape or chat over a candle.

Hot oatmeal in the am is still hard to pass up. Perhaps as I work on my own breakfast bars substituting maltodextrin for sugar I'll leave the oatmeal behind as well.

The more time I spend in the wilderness the more I want to be in the wilderness when I'm in the wilderness. Doesn't that make sense?

"The more time I spend in the wilderness the more I want to be in the wilderness when I'm in the wilderness. Doesn't that make sense?"

Yes, indeed. It's good to find a kindred spirit.

"I bought a box of the stuff, and two of the packets are in my food bag for this weekend's snow camping."

It's OK. Not too strong. Convenient.

When I go snow camping, I like to keep things simple.

[California, Carson Pass]
The weather was mild, the snow was thin but decent. South-facing slopes were bare. North-facing slopes were OK.

One good sunburn.

–B.G.–

After running the gamut I've settled on TJ's. If I want it strong I'll use 2 packs or a little less water. I was carrying TJ's and mixing it with a Via. I've also used various coffee/creamer/sugar products from http://www.veryasia.com/indonesian-coffee.html but TJ's is by far the most compact and best I've found.

I saw this thread and went out last night and got a box. It is the best I have found so far. I do like my coffee less strong and sweetened up, so this is perfect.

Thanks

Ben

I bought a box of the TJ stuff, nowhere near as good a coffee as Via but I'm glad TJ's is pushing it as it might make Starbutts come down in price.

They don't make a black version.The cream/sugar version is fine, pretty decent actually, but I just can't do sugar in my coffee.

Cool, I'll have to give the TJ's a try.

As for Via, be sure to buy it on Amazon or Costco (which has a coupon going for it now too). It gets close to $0.50/packet, which is still more than the TJ's but a lot more reasonable.

When I buy them they usually have 6-9 months until the best by date, but I've used Via packets 6+ months past that date and they've tasted fine–so load up!

I like Italian roasts, more or less. The Via Verona is pretty good for me.

Coinstar lets you convert your change jar into Starbucks cards with no fee, so I think of the Via as coming from spare change.

If I didn't have that, I might check out the instant French Roast at Asian markets …

Instead of 2 cups of Via in the morning, and maybe adding a little creamer or milk if convenient… I now go halfsies with a packet of Via and one of the TJ's for 2 separate cups.

Did that come out right? 2 packets, 2 cups consumed, cutting the Via with the TJ's for each cup.