Review of Starbuck's Via Iced Instant Coffee

Availability: Single serving packets available at Starbuck's and some retail stores.

Website: http://www.starbucks.com/coffee/starbucks-via-instant-coffee/iced-coffee

When Starbucks introduced their first ever line of "instant" coffee, many wondered if Starbucks could pull off their distinct taste in an instant coffee format. The Starbuck's Via instant coffee proved they could and now Starbucks is back with another product that may be a first: Instant iced coffee.

You have good reason to be skeptical about an iced coffee that's instant and actually tastes good but this is Starbucks and expectations are high to begin with. So it goes without saying that they probably wouldn't just throw together a product and put their name on it without careful development of the product.

Like its "hot" counterpart, Starbuck's Via Iced Coffee comes in single serving packets, each packet makes 16 ounces of iced coffee. However this isn't just the "hot instant" coffee formula with "iced" written on the label, Starbucks has added a small amount of cane sugar and doubled the amount of coffee (as needed for iced blends) to make a true iced coffee drink.

Preparation involves pouring an open packet into a glass of iced cold water and mixed it well. Starbucks, on their website, suggests that you can than pour this mix over ice cubes for extra cold iced coffee. You don't need to add sugar if you don't want to as it contains some sugar and creamer or milk is optional.

The taste is about as close as you can get to walking into a Starbucks and ordering an iced coffee. The flavor is a tad weak but still strong enough to be detected and enjoyed. The sweetness is about on par with in store iced coffee and the color and texture is slightly lighter and thinner than the in store version.

You have to give Starbucks credit for actually creating an instant coffee designed specifically for making instant iced coffee. The taste overall is well worth the price of just under a dollar a packet and is as close as you can get to the in store iced coffee taste without being in store.

However there are a few small problems with Starbuck's Via Iced Coffee. The first is that the blend is a one size fits all style. There is no unsweetened version and there is no decaf version. Also it is available in only one flavor; in store the bold pick of the day is sometimes used as the iced coffee brew. If you try to use the Starbuck's Via "hot" instant coffee in an iced version the taste will be watery.

Overall if you like Starbucks and enjoy their iced coffee this is really a great instant coffee and great if you can't get to a nearby store for a fresh cup.