Some days are slower to get cracking than others. The one thing that can help most with that is coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. But now and then you just don’t have the time, energy, or materials to make a whole pot. Next best thing? Instant coffee
Instant coffee used to be a can of Folgers crystals that sat in the back of the pantry that was so vile it was only used in the utmost emergency. Nothing about it was good, even the smell. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. But like most things in the past few years, instant coffee has evolved.
When Starbucks introduced their Via Ready Brew coffee, I was naturally skeptical. Starbucks knows what they are doing when it comes to coffee though, so after a while I tried it out. I was pleasantly surprised. The small packet packs a lot of flavor, and actually tastes like coffee instead of used motor oil.
This product has been a boon to outdoorsmen everywhere. No longer do we have to lug a heavy percolator in the pack on those cold fall days. Instead just bring along a backpacking stove that weighs mere ounces and that will heat water much faster than a campfire. Fishing is a sport filled with deliberate pauses. Letting the pool rest. Watching your buddy fish. Or just sitting back with your feet up, waiting and watching for something to happen. If you’re like me, a cup of coffee can make that so much better.
Instant coffee will never replace real coffee, but it can make things easier. As much as I dislike the brand, Starbucks has done a good thing with their Via line. If you’re lucky enough to not have a Starbucks location in your area (We just got our first stand alone store here in Bozeman and it has been heralded as one of the final nails in the coffin signaling the yuppification of the town that is increasingly living up to the nickname “Boze Angeles”), look around a bit. You should be able to find them in a grocery store or a place like Target. It’s worth the effort
