Instant coffee has a reputation for being terrible, and honestly, that reputation is often deserved. But is there a drinkable option hiding on the supermarket shelf? We went to Walmart, bought every single instant coffee they had, and put them all to the test — ranking each one on a scale of one to ten.
The Ground Rules
We brewed every instant coffee black, following the package instructions exactly. Before tasting, we ranked them by what we thought they would taste like based on branding and packaging alone. The results completely shattered our expectations.
The Rankings
Juan Valdez Medium Roast — 6/10. We started with this one expecting a top-tier result based on its premium look and higher price point. It delivered a good flavor and pleasant smell with no bitterness. A solid, drinkable cup that we would happily finish.
Taster’s Choice House Blend (Light/Medium) — 5/10. A strong taste that felt more like a heavy coffee than you would expect from a “light medium.” It carried a slightly bitter aftertaste. Not terrible, but not exciting either.
Starbucks Colombian Medium Roast — 3/10. This was a disappointment. Despite the Starbucks name, it was bold, bitter, with an artificial aftertaste. Not what we hoped for from a premium brand.
Starbucks French Roast (Dark) — 2/10. The dark roast was smoother than the Colombian but had a lingering, acidic aftertaste that was unpleasant. Even for dark roast fans, this one was hard to recommend.
Folgers Classic Roast (Medium) — 7/10. The biggest surprise of the test. Folgers was smooth, rich, and had absolutely no bitter aftertaste. It tasted genuinely like a proper medium roast — something you would actually want to drink. A shocking performance from a budget brand.
Maxwell House (Light with Cream and Sugar) — 6/10. Technically not a fair comparison since this is a mix with cream and sugar rather than straight black coffee. That said, it had a good flavor, was not too sweet, and tasted pleasant. Slightly watery, but a high mark for what it is.
Nescafe Clasico (Dark) — 2/10. Strong, acidic, and dominated by an unpleasant aftertaste. If you want to put hair on your chest, this might be your pick — but for drinkability, it scored near the bottom. We did not finish this cup.
Taster’s Choice Colombian (Medium) — 4/10. A nice aroma and rich flavor, but darker than labeled with a lingering bitter taste. Drinkable, but not memorable.
Great Value Fresh and Smooth (Medium) — 6/10. The biggest plot twist of the entire test. Walmart’s store brand instant coffee was genuinely one of the best. It had great flavor, was not watery, and was remarkably smooth. Slightly lighter than advertised, but in a pleasant way.
The Verdict
Here is our final ranking, keeping in mind that these are instant coffees and we did not expect any of them to score above a six:
| Tier | Coffee | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Best | Folgers Classic Roast | 7 |
| Strong | Juan Valdez / Great Value / Maxwell House | 6 |
| Middle | Taster’s Choice House / Colombian | 5 / 4 |
| Avoid | Starbucks Colombian | 3 |
| Avoid | Starbucks French Roast / Nescafe Clasico | 2 |
The two most expensive options — both Starbucks varieties — landed at the very bottom. The two best performers were Folgers and Great Value, sitting at opposite ends of the brand prestige spectrum. The lesson is clear: when it comes to instant coffee, you absolutely cannot judge a jar by its label.
If you are looking for a quick, easy, on-the-go coffee option, Folgers Classic Roast and Walmart’s Great Value are genuinely drinkable and cost a fraction of the premium brands.
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