Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee Packets, Single Serve, Dark Roast Coffee, Decaf ...

You want decaf instant that tastes really good? None better.

Ordered packet of 50, but arrived with only 48 packets were in box. Called customer service because prior order of 40 packets ( two boxes of 20 packets StarbuckVia Instant Coffee Decaf Italian Roast) was also shorted: order was made for 40 packets total (2 boxes), but only 39 packets arrived in package. Customer service agent Fakiha straightened this out right away.

I cannot stand instant coffee, but this change my mind. It is delicious and I drink a cup almost every single morning! I absolutely love this coffee.!!!

Exactly as described

I like coffee that tastes like coffee beans, not like emaciated grocery store brands from the Fifties. I’ve always thought Starbucks fresh coffee tastes “burnt” so I stopped going there in favor of “The Human Bean” in Phoenix. And after reading about the owner of Starbucks, I did this subjective taste test to try and find an instant I could live with to “instantly” move away from giving my money to Starbucks Via. In my comparison of five brands, I used one teaspoon of instant and ¾ cup of hot water in each brand, kept it just black, and tasted it hot. Next, I added one teaspoon of heavy cream and 10 drops of Sweet Leaf brand vanilla-flavored extract and tasted it hot. Then, I waited until it cooled to room temp and tasted it again. Here are my personal findings with 5 being “worst”: 5. Waka Decaf – Slightly sour and brackish, tastes “instant” and gets worse as it cools. An absolute “no.” (1 packet per 8-10 oz.) 4. Jacobs Espresso – Watery, thin, and so “smooth” as to be tasteless, and they have the nerve to call this “espresso”? (No English instructions I could find—I guess they didn’t think it was worth the bother—and they’re probably right.) 3. Mt. Hagen Espresso – Also too smooth and lacking in taste, but has a wee more grunt and flavour than Jacobs. (1 packet per cup—I assume they mean 8 oz.) 2. Café Bustelo Espresso – Definitely better than the others but still “middle of the road” when it comes to true bean flavour. At least it tastes like coffee, even when cool. 1. Via Decaf Italian – IF you mix as instructed (1 packet per 8 oz.), it's too strong and has a slightly burnt taste . However, you can make a perfect travel mug of coffee by adding 16-20 ounces of hot water instead and just one packet of this very robust, powerful instant that actually tastes brewed. You also get two times more coffee for the money, via Via, because the packet makes such strong coffee. My tastebuds have failed to escape the Starbucks czar with this test, so maybe I should give those Fifties store brands another go.

This is great

Update: I just got the second box and all 50 are there! I am upgrading to 5 stars, was a pretty small error. I just received my box of coffee packets, and there are only 49 not 50. This is quite expensive...I will pay for the good Starbucks coffee but I want all 50! Otherwise I would give it 5 stars. I don't want to bother returning, but I am expecting another box tomorrow and will see if that is short also.

To answer the early expiration date raised in other reviews: I received my box in September 2021 and the expiration date is June 2022, so no issues there. While I don't really like the taste of Starbucks coffee from the in-person stores, they really hit it out of the park with the decaf Via. Great flavor, super convenient, and it's perfect for travel near or far; the packages are lightweight and easy to carry or pack. This is an especially big deal if you only drink decaf, as it's often hard to find places that serve decent decaf. (Sorry baristas, a watery decaf Americano is not the same as a real cup of brewed decaf coffee.) The cost of this item fluctuates daily by as much as $10, it's worth it to keep an eye on it and buy when low.