What do you think about the VIA Challenge? Did you go to Starbucks to participate?

I don’t buy coffee at Starbucks. It strikes me as an obscene waste of money when I can make a cup of coffee by myself for a fraction of the cost.

I haven’t tried it yet and wasn’t planning on it. I’m very picky about my coffee. I do like Starbucks French Roast, which I buy as whole beans and grind it as needed.

However, I know someone whose daughter works at Starbucks. She said she did the taste test and could not at all tell which was instant. I’m still skeptical, but if I’m ever in Starbucks and they offer me a sample, I’ll give it a try. Since I very rarely actually go into Starbucks, that isn’t too likely. :)

I stumbled into a Starbucks in Santa Monica at 6:15am yesterday.

Barista: Hi! What can I get started for you!
nikipedia: small coffee please
Barista: Sure! Would you like to try our Starbucks VIA challenge?
nikipedia: what. no thanks. coffee please.
Barista: Oh! Have you already tried the Starbucks VIA challenge?
nikipedia: [blank stare] no? coffee. please.

So to actually answer your question…no, I didn’t try it. I kind of hate Starbucks and wish it wasn’t so damn convenient.

My husband used to work at a local Starbucks, and we’re still friends with many of the employees, so we stop by sometimes to chat. The day before yesterday we did just that and participated in the challenge, but only because one of our closest friends was working and it was more of a legitimate reason to hang out without purchasing something.

We both chose wrong. I did because I figured the more disgusting of the two would be the real Starbucks brewed coffee (notoriously bitter and undrinkable black.) In actuality, this time the Bold Starbucks coffee (in comparison) was more palatable, had a very smooth mouthfeel and very little aftertaste. VIA is just nasty. I didn’t have high expectations, but (even moreso than expected) it has the sharp, bitter, and lingering chemical aftertaste I was expecting from the other. Even with some milk the taste was present.

I’m not a big fan of Starbucks. I would rather visit a locally-owned coffee shop and support my own community.

That being said, I have not tried the new VIA product. I looked at the package when I was in a Starbucks with a friend. The package said it contains ground coffee and instant coffee. Basically the Starbucks version of Taster’s Choice.

The local coffee shop has better coffee than Starsucks.

@PretentiousArtist I agree. There is something about locally-roasted coffee that brings the flavor out. In the4 case of here (Rocky Mountain west) I think it has to do with the altitude.

They only had non-decaf at my Starbucks and I was already getting my caffeine for the day so I didn’t try it. I’m interested in how it’ll taste.
Is this to sell to customers, or just to make making coffee for customers quicker?? I thought they premade regular coffee like that.

@casheroo You mean are they hoping to adopt VIA as the method for in-store coffee brewing? Nope. It’s just another coffee product they’re trying to get existing customers to purchase, something to supplement their other purchases.

@Beta_Orionis Thanks for the response. Yes, that’s what I was asking :)

@casheroo np!

Yes, I tried it this afternoon. I drink their coffee daily. So, yes, I could tell the difference. Not because one was better than the other, but because I know instantly what their signature Pike blend tastes like.

That said, I was impressed with VIA. I plan to buy a box for those days when I’m running a bit behind and don’t have time to stop for my fix.

I guessed wrong (as did my SO) for different reasons.

The VIA was Italian Roast and the real coffee was Pike Place Market, which I had not had good experiences with in the past. Also, it had coffee smell so I thought it was the Italian Roast. Wrong, the VIA has no smell.

The VIA was almost unpalatable, which is about how I feel about all instant coffee (except usually I don’t qualify it with almost).

So, we got coupons for a free coffee out of it, which made it worth it.

@Marina They only gave us coupons for discounted VIA!

i went to costco last night and they were selling VIA for 24 packets for $16. i thought to myself that’s almost a dollar a cup for instant coffee. i figure i’ll wait to see what people say about it, and from these answers, it does not sound impressive. i am thinking maybe they’re trying to compete with the Keurig, by offering something convenient (like the Keurig cups) but without having to have the machine – all you need is hot water. however, i am not a big fan of instant coffee so i don’t think i’ll be buying VIA for almost a dollar a cup anytime soon.

Off-topic (sort-of):

Although I haven’t tried it, I agree with @Curious404—I know what various blends of Starbucks coffee taste like, and so would be able to tell the difference based on that. (If they were brewing, for instance, House Blend and had me try VIA in Italian Roast, well, that would be easy to tell. House Blend tastes like burnt rubber, Italian Roast is tolerable.)

I’m interested, but not enough to spend lots of money on it. After all, I know of an excellent instant/crystal coffee that is very inexpensive and it’s really really tasty (and doesn’t require boiling water).

(And stovetop coffee with a Moka is 200% better than a Starbucks latte.)

@Curious404 ........... ditto, what you said.

I took the challenge…. Compared to any other instant coffee I have had VIA is superior. I think Starbucks has a winner. I’ll be keeping a few in lab for times when the Keurig has vibrated itself to a leaky death.

Starbucks™ is evil, and too addictive. I never have set foot inside oen of those places, but I was addicted to the bottled Frapaccino for the longest time. Now I simply buy ground Costa Rican or Sumatran coffee at my local grocery store and brew it at home or at work. Even at $6.99 for a twelve ounce bag of ground coffee beans, it is way cheaper than Starbucks™.

Ok, so I recently became employed at a SB kiosk in my local grocery store. (I have been out of work for a long time and need something!- and its much harder than it looks) I have not been a fan of SB ever, and buy a very nice smooth Cloud Forest coffee through my church for my own use. So I am obligated to promote the Via. Many could not tell the difference, many guessed wrong. All agreed that as instants go ( which are universally crap) it is the best so far, keeping in mind it is designed for in-a-pinch situations and portability.The small packets are easy to carry, and you dont have to buy a whole jar. I recently went on a camping trip where it would have been welcome, and will bring it when I visit my dad. (no coffee there). the $1 a cup is a bit much, but I normally wouldn’t drink more than 1 cup of instant anyway.

Remember the Pepsi challenge?

@Beta_Orionis The free coffee was on the same Thank You paper, but underneath the VIA coupon.

@Marina Ahh! I range from obsessively observant to completely absentminded. This would be one of those situations towards the latter end of the spectrum. iGracias!

@Beta_Orionis Glad you hadn’t thrown it out!

I did and by just looking at it, I knew which was which. Not very good either.