Starbuck's Via

[Eclipse]

http://www.starbucks.com/coffee/c17-instant-coffee.aspx

Anyone else tried this?  Its basically instant coffee, but its "microground" and suspended in a liquid.

I got a sample in the mail last week and just tried it, not bad - much better than an "instant", but not quite
a drip or press.  I think its less acidic than normal SB coffee.

I could see these being very handy with a Jetboil.  I wonder if something like this will show up in MRE's?

[maverik]

what are these jetboils?

[Eclipse]

http://www.jetboil.com/products/cookingsystems/personalcookingsystem

[Chicago_Pilot]

Front line Frappuccinos....

[IceNine]

How did you get a sample?  I like free stuff

[Eclipse]

I dunno - came in the mail, probably because I have a registered SB card.

[_]

I have a Starbucks Gold card, I haven't gotten free samples, I demand free samples. 

For now I keep a couple of the self heating coffees i got from Walmart, in my ready bag. 

[maverik]

I heard about those on the history channel a few years ago and also wanted to try it but didn't think they were on the market are they any good?

[_]

I heard about those on the history channel a few years ago and also wanted to try it but didn't think they were on the market are they any good?

They're not bad but nowhere near Starbucks quality.  They don't get very hot and the size is deceptive because most of the space is taken up by the warming element.  But when you just have to have coffee they come in handy.

[Eclipse]

I heard about those on the history channel a few years ago and also wanted to try it but didn't think they were on the market are they any good?

They're not bad but nowhere near Starbucks quality.  They don't get very hot and the size is deceptive because most of the space is taken up by the warming element.  But when you just have to have coffee they come in handy.

Some of those self-heaters have had safety issues as well.
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3028 (couple years ago)




BTW - I had the other sample this morning - the first was the Italian Roast as mentioned above, this AM was Columbia (not Columbian?).  Same thing - quick, clean, and not a bad cup of coffee - a press makes a "better" cup, but is more hassle, my Senseo is probably right behind the Via for ease.

But in terms of tossing a couple of these tubes in your pocket and just hunting hot water, its hard to beat.  Anyone know
what these cost? I haven't been to an SB's for a few days and I don't see any $$$ on the website.

[maverik]

oh well forget the self heating miracles but I will take the vias but they are only availiable in starbucks in chicago and seatlle and I will not drive up state for a cup of cofee but I do know a few people who will (*rolls eyes coffee addicts*)

[Eclipse]

oh well forget the self heating miracles but I will take the vias but they are only availiable in starbucks in chicago and seatlle and I will not drive up state for a cup of coffee but I do know a few people who will (*rolls eyes coffee addicts*)

Come to ILWG Spring Encampment and pick some up on the way through downtown!

[maverik]

Nevermind cutoff for staff was long agooooooooooo. Must have excuse to go up there.

[Eclipse]

Nevermind cutoff for staff was long agooooooooooo. Must have excuse to go up there.

There are cadets who attend more than one encampment as a basic, some times several.

[maverik]

yeah I know but i'm also going to NESA so I'd rather not go as a basic but I should be up that way sometime for one thing or another.

[dwb]

I like that a thread about coffee is in the "Tools of the Trade" forum.

[Eclipse]

Coffee is the fuel of SAR (and just about everything I do...

[maverik]

I don't see how my fellow cadets survive there's nothing like waking up on a 45 to 50 degree morning and having a canteen cup of cofee.

[_]

I heard about those on the history channel a few years ago and also wanted to try it but didn't think they were on the market are they any good?

They're not bad but nowhere near Starbucks quality.  They don't get very hot and the size is deceptive because most of the space is taken up by the warming element.  But when you just have to have coffee they come in handy.

Some of those self-heaters have had safety issues as well.
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3028 (couple years ago)

I saw that page too.  My bet is that when they fist started making them they put too much of the chemicals in there to get it really hot.  The one's I've had never got anywhere hot enough to melt anything but ice.  By my calculations you have a better chance of your laptop battery blowing up than one of these things.

[IceNine]

oh well forget the self heating miracles but I will take the vias but they are only availiable in starbucks in chicago and seatlle and I will not drive up state for a cup of cofee but I do know a few people who will (*rolls eyes coffee addicts*)

Not true, there is a big sign at my local SB's saying they have them.  I'll ask the price on my morning drive thru

[maverik]

oh I was going off the official SB website.

[winterg]

http://www.jetboil.com/products/cookingsystems/personalcookingsystem

My professor has a jet boil.  We were having a bit of nicotine with our caffeine last December on campus.  As he's showing it off to me the Jet Boil proceeds to melt half of the cup!  It was good for a few laughs.

[Rob Sherlin]

 Sorry people, coming from a coffee person (I was spoiled by my aunts who owned "Coffee Junction" in Tarzana, CA., where a lot of movie stars chose to go rather than "Star!ucks"), I have to say their coffee is pretty generic. You're just feeding into the "hype". Despite the odd names and the corperate feel of their establishments, I can do better at home. But, I have never been able to match the "feel at home" places like my aunts (they retired now).
  Star!ucks even tried to open a place right across the street from them (even though there was another two blocks away), and despite their reputation, we still got all the business, and they had to shut down.

  Corperate environment + good coffee = a lot of customers

           VS...

  At home environment (Irish pub like) + great coffee (with normal names) + live entertainment = more customers, celebrities, famous musicians, exposure...need I go on?

  Which would you choose?

  Don't mean to brag.........but it was an awesome place!

  If any of you in California have been there, you can probably back me on this.

[dwb]

I used to say that Starbucks was the McDonalds of coffee, but now McDonalds has McCafe, and they make all the same drinks, so I need to come up with a new analogy.

I don't mean to say Starbucks is bad.  I mean they are ubiquitous and predictable.  You always know exactly what you're going to get.  However, ubiquity and predictability come at the expense of quality.

McDonalds and Starbucks have both reduced the process of making fancy caffeine drinks down to a few simple steps, with a few mass produced ingredients, so that any idiot they can hire will be able to do it.  This allows you to get the same cup of coffee, or Big Mac and fries, at any of their locations, and it will taste exactly as you expect it to (more or less).

Therein lies the advantage of buying local.  The quality of local eateries is all over the map (like local CAP squadrons!), but if you find one that's good, it will be way better than the chain store.

The doughnuts and coffee you get at Holland Farms in Utica, NY will always be WAY better than Dunkin Donuts.  But Dunkin Donuts is ubiquitous and predictable, so if you don't happen to be near Utica, NY, you can still get acceptable doughnuts.

[Rob Sherlin]

 Next time I'm in Utica, I'll make it a point to try Holland Farms .......Thanks!

Everyone here brags about D'Camillos, but I will not support people who are the "wanna be mafia" here in Niagara Falls.

[MSgt Van]

Where in da heck were these back when I was working the flightline at 0' dark thirty?

[FlyingTerp]

Not to get caught up in the corporate coffee discussion, but I received some free samples of the VIA and they're pretty good for instant coffee.  In a pinch, its not a bad alternative to fresh brewed.  The sample pack had a link for free shipping on a VIA order if anyone is interested:

http://www.starbucksvia.com/offer

[RogueLeader]

Think of the rush if you took the via as a shot, and not as a regular drink.

<shudders>
It'd pobably be like adding ether to an already lit fire.

[notaNCO forever]

Think of the rush if you took the via as a shot, and not as a regular drink.

<shudders>
It'd pobably be like adding ether to an already lit fire.

Those both sound like fun ideas to me.

[Eclipse]

I noticed my most recent MRE's have a similar coffee tube in them - Folgers - but I didn't open it to see if its just regular instant or something similar to Via.

[RogueLeader]

I noticed my most recent MRE's have a similar coffee tube in them - Folgers - but I didn't open it to see if its just regular instant or something similar to Via.

Regular Instant.  tastes nasty with out water.

Those both sound like fun ideas to me.

First isn't;  the Second really is.  Tried #2 many times. . . . . .
FWIW, do NOT throw a full ether can into fire . . . .