COFFEE BEANS & BEINGS / WHEN DID INSTANT COFFEE GET BETTER?

NOTE: We are reviewing Arabica beans based instant coffee only in this blog review.

When Instant Coffee Got Better Freeze-drying in the 1960s was the first big leap, but the real jump has been in the last decade, when third-wave roasters began freeze-drying their own 100% Arabica single-origin beans, selling them in small sachets. 

That’s when “instant” started tasting like “real coffee.” 

 Current Worthy Picks for Arabica Drinkers 

-- Sightglass La Magdalena (Tolima, Colombia) – Dark chocolate, goat’s milk caramel; genuinely resembles a fresh brew. About $4/serving. 

-- Canyon Instant Coffee – Nuanced medium roast with chocolate-cherry notes; closest to fresh drip, but pricey ($3.30/serving). 

-- Verve Streetlevel – Mild, malty, a touch citrus; best if brewed slightly stronger than instructions. ~$2.70/serving. 

-- Blue Bottle Craft Instant Espresso – Rich, smooth bitterness, blackberry and nutty depth; shines in iced lattes. ~$2–3/serving. 

-- Swift Coffee Mainstay – Jammy blackberry tartness, bold and roasty, surprisingly good iced. ~$2/serving. 

-- Mount Hagen Organic – Affordable jarred option; body lingers, generic but reliable diner-style cup. ~$0.30/serving. 

 --Little Wolf Companion Blend (Instant Coffee) – Blend of washed Colombia La Victoria & natural Colombia Gaitania; tasting notes: chocolate, berry, creamy. Convenient travel packets perfect for outdoorsy coffee fans. (~$18.50 for 6-pack box; sold out at times but definitely worth watching) Little Wolf Coffee +1 Bottom Line (two-line takeaway) 

 For an Arabica loyalist, skip the old supermarket jars and head straight for specialty freeze-dried instants like Sightglass, Canyon, or Swift—rich, complex, and drinkable black or with milk. 

Mount Hagen remains the budget fallback if you want convenience without despair.