Starbucks
Italian Roast VIA Instant Coffee
| Roaster Location: | Seattle, Washington |
| Coffee Origin: | Not disclosed. Composed entirely of coffees of the Arabica species. |
| Roast Level: | NA |
| Agtron: | 0/0 |
| Est. Price: | $7.99/0.93 oz. instant |
| Review Date: | March 2011 |
| Aroma: | 2 |
| Acidity: | 3 |
| Body: | 6 |
| Flavor: | 4 |
| Aftertaste: | 3 |
Blind Assessment
Smoky, faintly rubbery aroma with hints of a sensation we are calling salt meat. Flat, bitterish acidity. Lean, rather astringent mouthfeel. In the cup some dark chocolate makes an appearance, together with a burned board sensation that shows more energy than it did in the aroma. More burned board and salt meat in the finish.
Notes
An instant coffee evaluated as mixed in proportions of 2.5 grams to 150 ml or 5 ounces of hot water. Assuming a larger cup size and a more generous 3 grams (one packet) per serving, this product costs approximately one dollar per serving. Consists mainly of spray-dried instant coffee with the addition of very finely, “micro” ground roast coffee. We cupped a Starbucks whole-bean Italian Roast blend purchased at the same supermarket from which we purchased the VIA instant version and rated it 80. Visit www.starbucks.com for more information. Visit
Who Should Drink It
Coffee drinkers who enjoy the pungent, robust richness of dark roasts will not find that sensation here. Inert, thin and unattractive.
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This review originally appeared in the March, 2011 tasting report: Instant Coffees and Starbucks VIA: Beyond Bad
