Starbucks Via alternative

[ChrisS]

Got mine today, not like Vias,, more like any other freeze dried coffee. Taste Okay a little weak in the cup I use, would take 2 for my taste. I don't know how Starbucks make Vias, but they seem to have that method to themselves.

Patent US8114459 - Methods of making beverages with enhanced flavors and aromas - Google Patents

 

[Dan L]

I use the target brand, Archer Farms, for coffee at work sometimes (stove practice) and it is my favorite so far. I like to change it up though, just a different taste is sometimes good, even if it is "worse" in some ways.

 

[DDAM]

I use this from time to time. This is an instant mix that replicates "Vietnamese" style coffee which is pretty much espresso with condensed milk. In terms of flavor, I prefer this over any other instant coffee mix. This tastes really good if you add 1/2 a teaspoon of condensed milk to it. You can buy condensed milk in a can, and put a little bit in small tube and use as much as needed in the backcountry. Get your fix!
Amazon.com : Vinacafe Instant Coffee Mix, 1-Pounds (Pack of 5) : Coffee Substitutes : Grocery & Gourmet Food

 

[cjl32]

I ordered the Mount Hagen after reading this thread and to me it tastes as good as the Starbucks Via. I typically have large cups of coffee and mix one Via with one G7 3-in-1 Instant Premium Vietnamese Coffee. I'll be using the Mount Hagen from now on. Mixing the two coffees in 16oz or so of water gives the perfect sweetness and creaminess for my tastes plus I don't have to pack seperate sweetener and creamer with this method.

 

[couesbitten]

Since I originally posted this, I have ordered and received the Mount Hagen and the Café Bustelo from Amazon, and purchased 3 different Taster's Choice flavors (Columbian, House Blend, and Hazelnut) from Walmart. To me, they're all acceptable, but I'm not a straight up coffee drinker. I always use one Via with cocoa to make my mocha, so the quality of the coffee isn't that important to me. Now my girlfriend is a coffee critic, and we did some taste testing last weekend, and while she agreed that when you're 5+ miles from the trailhead, any of them would be better than having none, she liked the Café Bustelo the best, but she hasn't had the chance to try the Taster's Choice Columbian or Mount Hagen yet. We'll do some more testing this weekend, but what it's really going to come down to, is that I've got enough coffee stored up to last me until this time next year!

Here's a breakdown of prices, pick your poison and enjoy!

Starbuck's Via - 26 packets/$11.99 @ Costco on sale
Mount Hagen - 25 packets/$15 @ Amazon
Café Bustelo - 24 packets/$11 @ Amazon

Taster's Choice @ Walmart
Columbian - 16 packets/$3.18
Hazelnut - 16 packets/$3.18
House Blend - 6 packets/$1

 

[Montana]

I tried the Mt Hagen and really missed the Vias for sure. Not nearly as good, IMO. I'm kind of a coffee snob though

I like to make mine with as much powdered milk as I can get to dissolve. Kind of an energy meal.

 

[Dave0317]

Why is everyone always so opposed to real coffee? J/k. I know, it's heavy and bulky, and not really essential to hunt or survive.

I have camped and made coffee with a GSI French press and with a Melitta plastic pour-over cone. Both are great methods. I prefer the pour over for the ease of cleaning and light weight.

Via packets may be better than most instant, but still don't hold a candle to real coffee. Me and my buddy decided that we will sacrifice weight and comfort in enough other areas that it will be worth packing along real coffee. It's the one comfort item we plan on bringing and something we both really enjoy.

With that said, from a purely practical standpoint, I guess Via packets are best. Despite their politics, I would probably get the Via packs for my week of hunting, and boycott them the rest of the year.

 

[FURMAN]

I have switched to the Jetboil press with real coffee. It is much better than Via.

 

[Dinger]

I tried Via recently whilst in the UK as it's not sold in Aus........I gave the rest of the box away.

It was my last hope before I snatched one of these in the grind model:

Wacaco | MINIPRESSO - Hand powered portable espresso machine

....real coffee, from real grinds. Not to be carried every trip, but it makes a brew thats indiscernable from a bench top machine. If you are chasing real expresso these things are the business.

 

[dariian]

Just found this company Home — DARKTIMBER COFFEE CO. and ordered a few of the single serve packs to try out.

 

[DangerDunn]

The other day poking around the interwebs, I stumbled upon an alternative to Starbucks Via's. They are called STOKED STIX from Stoked Roasters & Coffeehouse. I haven't tried them yet but the Dark Roast has me intrigued.

Stoked Roasters & Coffeehouse - STOKED STIX

 

[Swift]

Just found this company Home — DARKTIMBER COFFEE CO. and ordered a few of the single serve packs to try out.

I too just picked up some of these ! Did a test run this morning and I'm very impressed Great coffee

 

[SWVA_Tim]

We used the Folgers "tea bag" coffee packs and thought they were good

 

[sveltri]

I tried one this past weekend called Alpine Start, I've never had Via, but I thought the AS was very good.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

So with the caveat I'm not a huge coffee snob and I've historically just drank black coffee as long as it wasn't watery or overly burnt I was generally okay with it. Well I was looking for options for more calories in the morning hunting since I find eating that early difficult and decided to try out powdered coconut oil which was claimed to emulsify in hot fluids fairly well. Long story short I'm finding it does do that pretty well (if you put in a lot you might need to stir it up some), just give it a little time to dissolve. Secondary benefit is unless you really want that virgin black coffee flavor this has the perk of tasty rather creamy and in my opinion makes cheap instant coffee taste just fine. So while I'm mixing that in I'll skip the cost of via and my camping plan is 3 scoops (210cal) with 2 café bustelo in a 20oz mug.

 

[Owenst7]

Why is everyone always so opposed to real coffee? J/k. I know, it's heavy and bulky, and not really essential to hunt or survive.

I have camped and made coffee with a GSI French press and with a Melitta plastic pour-over cone. Both are great methods. I prefer the pour over for the ease of cleaning and light weight.

Via packets may be better than most instant, but still don't hold a candle to real coffee. Me and my buddy decided that we will sacrifice weight and comfort in enough other areas that it will be worth packing along real coffee. It's the one comfort item we plan on bringing and something we both really enjoy.

With that said, from a purely practical standpoint, I guess Via packets are best. Despite their politics, I would probably get the Via packs for my week of hunting, and boycott them the rest of the year.

I just bring the same coarse grind I use at home in my french press in a ziplock. I throw some grounds in the pot while I boil water and stir it a couple times. Once it reaches a boil, I let it steep for a minute or so. Then I lay my mosquito head net over my cup and pour the boiled coffee+grounds through the head net in to my cup. Tastes exactly like the french press coffee we make every morning before work. Doesn't require any weight that I wouldn't be carrying anyway.