Today, I’m experimenting with backpacking coffee. The big question: Is there an instant coffee formula that actually works for me? My main criteria—I’d rather drink this than skip coffee altogether.
Other questions on my mind:
- What’s the best ratio of coffee to milk to water?
- Does fancy instant coffee taste better than cheap stuff?
- Is coconut milk powder better than whole milk powder?
- Can I tolerate cold coffee, or is hot coffee worth bringing a stove? (This might be the deciding factor between carrying a stove or cold-soaking everything.)
The Contenders
I tested Maxwell House vs. Starbucks instant coffee, both with two different creamer ratios:
- ½ part creamer to coffee
- Equal parts creamer and coffee
The Results
- Coconut milk powder? Immediate no. Not to my taste at all.
- Cold coffee? Starbucks was better. The difference was noticeable, and I preferred the Starbucks. Adding more creamer muted the difference a bit, but not entirely.
- Hot coffee? No real difference. Once warmed up, Maxwell House and Starbucks tasted about the same to me.
- Best ratio? Equal parts coffee to creamer. It had a smoother taste and better balance than the half-creamer option.
The Bottom Line
Hot, both instant coffees were surprisingly decent—better than expected. To be fair, at home, I drink coffee with half and half, and in general find coffee with milk instead to be just serviceable. This is with really good coffee, drip brewed. So, Honestly I was somewhat surprised. Cold, I could tell the difference, and only Starbucks passed my “I’d rather drink this than not” test.
Next Steps
For my next trip, I’ll be bringing Starbucks instant coffee mixed with equal parts whole milk powder. After some real-world testing, I’ll decide if the difference between hot and cold coffee is enough to justify carrying a stove.
Trail Recipe
- 2 tsp Starbucks instant coffee
- 2 tsp whole milk powder
- 1 cup water (hot if possible)
I’ll check back in after more trail testing—stay tuned!
