Starbucks VIA Review

Name: Starbucks VIA
Brand: Starbucks

By far the lightest option. Some people can tolerate the taste, others say, "nope."

Starbucks VIA Review (Starbucks VIA Ready Brew) — Starbucks VIA Ready Brew
Credit: Starbucks

Price: $10 List

Manufacturer: Starbucks

By Penney Garrett ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Nov 20, 2018

OVERALL
SCORE

Taste - 40% 2.0
Ease of Use - 25% 10.0
Group Cooking - 15% 4.0
Portability - 10% 10.0
Weight - 10% 10.0

View at Starbucks

Our Verdict

OK, it's not a coffee maker, but most of the products we reviewed here are too bulky for long backpacking trips. So what is ideal for a backpacker or a big wall climber? The answer may be an instant coffee like Starbucks VIA. Almost completely weightless while still packed full of coffee flavor, this instant “micro grind” coffee can easily be tossed in a pack and carried for miles without a second thought. For shorter trips where weight and space are precious, this is an ideal method. For longer trips where budget is a concern, not so much, as VIA averages to almost a dollar per cup, far greater than making your own coffee in a simple pour over cone.

REASONS TO BUY

Virtually weightless

Easy to make

Tastes better than other instant coffees

Works in cold water

REASONS TO AVOID

Limited quantity

Have to continually re-purchase

More expensive per cup than using other coffee makers

We preferred the flavor of First Ascent, our Top Pick for Instant to the VIA however. Created by a craft roaster in the Colorado mountains, it was the best instant we've tasted thus far — though it is more expensive. For the budget-minded backpacker that can spare room for a bulkier setup and a few more ounces, the Melitta Pour Over, our Best Buy winner, is a great option. Just slightly heavier but producing one of the best-tasting cups was our Editors' Choice winner, the Hario V60 Plastic Dripper.

Our Analysis and Test Results

If you're going on an adventure that doesn't allow space or weight for luxuries but can't fathom starting the day without caffeine, packets of instant coffee might just be the ticket. Instant coffee, in general, isn't known for being particularly delicious, but Starbucks VIA is pretty darn decent. Though we found First Ascent to be considerably better.

Performance Comparison

starbucks via - starbucks via working its magic in a water bottle on a frigid... — Starbucks VIA working its magic in a water bottle on a frigid morning in the mountains.
Credit: Luke Lydiard

Brew Features

This coffee is instant and tastes like it, though it's better than many other brands on the market and there are a lot of varieties available. Individual packets carry finely ground coffee that can be dissolved in water for a sort-of fresh brew with no grinds whatsoever to clean up afterward. One huge plus is that this even works in cold water, so if you don't want to bring a stove or run out of fuel, your morning cup can still be kinda tasty and satisfying.

Taste

Starbucks says that VIA retains a smooth, quality flavor despite being instant — and we found that this isn't a total fabrication! The flavor certainly does not compare to freshly brewed coffee by literally any other means, but the taste-to-weight ratio of these tiny packets is excellent. If your only choice is no coffee or instant, this will do.

One thing we liked about VIA is how many different roast profiles and blends are available. From very dark to decently light to sweet and flavored, VIA has something for everyone. We tasted the Italian Roast, French Roast, Pike Place Roast, Veranda Blend, and the single origin Colombian. The lightest roast of that bunch was the Veranda Blend, so for the coffee connoisseurs out there that can't stand that burnt rubber-taste of very dark coffee, try the Veranda. Or go with a single origin from First Ascent if you really value your taste buds — it's worth the extra dollars.

starbucks via - starbucks via comes in a plethora of different roasts and flavors... — Starbucks VIA comes in a plethora of different roasts and flavors, so there's bound to be something that appeals to your palate at least a little, no matter how picky.
Credit: Penney Garrett

Ease of Use

It doesn't get any simpler than this: just add water. You don't even have to heat the water up if you don't want to.

starbucks via - rip open packet, put in vessel, add water. simple as that. — Rip open packet, put in vessel, add water. Simple as that.
Credit: Penney Garrett

Group Cooking

The rule for instant coffee is pretty much one packet for one person. In that respect, this isn't a good option for multiple people. That said, the packets weigh almost nothing, so it's easy to stockpile a bunch of them and be able to satisfy however many humans your group happens to have.

Portability

You really can't get more portable than tiny practically weightless packets. Bring along a whole handful for your overnighter, just to be safe, and you will still have room to pack your orange poop shovel and a teddy bear.

starbucks via - making starbucks via couldn't be simpler or less messy: add coffee... — Making Starbucks VIA couldn't be simpler or less messy: add coffee from packet to water.
Credit: Luke Lydiard

Weight

At 0.14 ounces for one packet, VIA is still less than half an ounce for three servings. This factor alone makes it the perfect solution for caffeine-addicted ultralight backpackers.

starbucks via - starbucks via packages are small and light, so even four servings... — Starbucks VIA packages are small and light, so even four servings barely add weight to your pack. This is an excellent backpacking coffee solution, though certainly not the tastiest.
Credit: Luke Lydiard

Conclusion

If you are a backpacker who likes to move fast and light but are still encouraged by caffeine-filled mornings, then this is your method for a brew. Taking up almost no weight or space, it seems as if instant coffee was designed with outdoor adventurers in mind. Car-campers will be better off with a more sustainable coffee brewing method, such as the Hario V60 Plastic Dripper or AeroPress, our Top Pick for Gourmet Taste.