Best brew: Australia’s favourite instant coffee named

Not everyone is a morning person, and when you need a coffee, you need it fast. A recent coffee-drinking review by financial comparison site Canstar confirmed that almost half (49 per cent) of the 1,100 Aussie coffee lovers surveyed need their morning cuppa to start the day, and 30 per cent preferred to make their coffee at home (to prevent buying from a cafe). And while coffee machines taking pods or ground beans are increasingly finding bench space in kitchens around the country, fast, affordable instant-coffee brews continue to hold a place in the hearts of many.

To find out which instant coffee brands are favoured by most and whether it’s worth spending more on the big-name brands, Canstar asked coffee drinkers to review the instant coffee they had purchased and brewed at home in the past three months. Brands were compared on taste, texture, aroma, range variety, packaging, value for money and overall satisfaction, and only those that met the minimum survey sample size of 30 responses featured in the results. Those making the final list included: Nescafe Blend 43, Moccona, International Roast, Robert Timms, Aldi AlCafé, Nescafe Gold and Coles.

Nestle’s Nescafe Blend 43, scooped up first place this year and was the only brand to achieve five stars for overall satisfaction, with most other labels gaining four stars. It also scored full marks for taste, texture, and packaging, while achieving four stars for aroma, variety and value for money.

Nescafe Blend 43 says it’s mastered the “perfect cup” by creating a coffee that’s both bold and smooth. There’s also the smooth and creamy option, which is said to provide a creamy layer of crema and a rich aroma for a café-like experience. Nescafe Blend 43 also claims its coffee beans are 100 per cent sustainably sourced, and roasted and blended in Australia. Prices for their products typically range from $5 to $20.

Last year’s winner Moccona slipped to second place this time around, but still clearly impressed Aussies, achieving five stars for taste, variety and packaging. It received four stars for overall satisfaction, aroma and texture, and three stars for value for money. And speaking of getting bang for your buck, Nestle’s International Roast and Aldi AlCafé were the only five-star winners for value, with International Roast taking out third place overall.

Here is the full list of Canstar Blue’s 2021 review:

1. Nescafe Blend 43
2. Moccona
3. International Roast
4. Robert Timms
5. Aldi AlCafé
6. Nescafe Gold
7. Coles

Canstar’s survey also revealed that a whopping 64 per cent of Aussie coffee drinkers are loyal — sticking to the same brand every time. Surprisingly, only 11 per cent said they worry they drink too much coffee, with just 5 per cent regularly drinking decaf.

When it comes to ordering from a cafe, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) surveyed said they would go out of their way to buy a good coffee. And of the different types, flat white was found to be the most popular choice (30 per cent) for Australians, followed closely by the foamy cappuccino (29 per cent). Meanwhile, the latte came a distant third (15 per cent).