Any Instant Coffee Drinkers?

[Valkorado]

I am, but I reckon no longer.  Years ago, we switched to instant coffee in the mornings.  We did this for several reasons.  In recent years, the instants have become much better tasting.  Plus. It's just convenient having an electric kettle and being able to boil up a cup at a time to your desired strength, etc..  And electric coffee brewers must be cleaned thoroughly after each use, or they can breed bacteria that might give ya the heebie jeebies.

Recently I've been noticing some vision problems, blurry vision and the like.  Not always, but concerning enough to get my attention at times.  I've done some research and was thinking maybe diabetes could be the culprit, or I just need a new Rx. I also had blood tests showing I was hovering around pre-disnetic levels, which also can affect vision.

The other day I saw a news story regarding a possible strong connection between instant coffee, and some a correlation between developing this potentially blinding condition (dry AMD) to drinking it.  It seems like a strong enough correlation to convince me I should get my morning caffeine another way.

Here's the AI generated summary from a search engine inquiry I made this morning.  You can delve deeper and even find the study itself, but a sevenfold increase is, excuse the pun, very eye-opening!

Instant Coffee and Macular Degeneration
A recent study has found that consuming instant coffee may significantly increase the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
 The research, published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition, suggests that each standard deviation increase in instant coffee intake is associated with a 6.92-fold increased risk of dry AMD.
 The study also indicates that people at high risk for AMD should avoid instant coffee.

Study Findings: The study revealed a genetic correlation between instant coffee consumption and dry AMD, with each increase in instant coffee intake linked to a nearly sevenfold higher risk of developing the condition.
Mechanism: Researchers suggest that the production process of instant coffee may generate harmful substances like acrylamide and advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which could contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation in retinal cells.
Recommendations: The study advises reducing instant coffee intake to help prevent dry AMD, particularly for individuals at high risk.
Types of AMD: There are two types of AMD: dry AMD, which is more common and progresses slowly, and wet AMD, which is less common but can lead to more severe vision loss.
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

[Oss]

have not had a cup of any coffee since around 1994

just wake up and ready to go

I will admit to a bottle of plain original coca cola in the saddlebag on a long ride

Have a few gulps after riding 6 hrs at rest stops

Plus I enjoy a good burp lol being a big kid

interesting  wonder if that correlation is because of additves to the coffee??

[LadyDraco]

Hmmm I'm glad  i  only  use  instant coffee  when I  make  Coffee icecream.
Or brown gravy .. And  that's like  maybe  3-4 x  a year ..

I  read  a  few  studies on it...

[Chrisj CMA]

It may be true the taste of instant has improved over the years but my opinion has never changed. I don’t think of instant coffee as REAL coffee I suppose because back in the day that’s all we had out in the field and it tasted terrible. We got used to it after a couple days but were certainly glad to come out of the field and get real coffee. Nope, not going to try it again.

As far as coffee maker units needing that much cleaning. Not true. My first Mr Coffee machine lasted 15 years at least. We never cleaned it (didn’t know about doing that back then). No ill effects. We clean the current one every 3-4 months by running some vinegar through and the coffee always tastes fresh.

Drip style coffee is the best for you. I love espresso but it has more acid so I only make some once a week or so. They say cold press coffee is better than drip for you but I just couldn’t get used to the taste.

[LadyDraco]

As  far as coffee makers go .
I  love  this  kind..
NO glass  to break ..
Bandit turned  us  on to it..
I set ours to shut off at 4h.. It never  burns the  coffee.

As  Chrisj said cleaning  is  easy .
My maker tells  me  when it needs a descaling. 2 cups  of  vinegar
Then 2  full pots of  fresh H20 and  it  good to go.

[Rams]

If I drink a cup of "Instant Coffee", doing so means I'm desperate for some caffeine.
I guess I simply haven't tasted a good cup of instant coffee.  Surely there's one out there.

Rams   

[Serk]

I add enough sweetener (Sucralose being my poison of preference) that the actual coffee doesn't matter that much...

(And while I enjoy a cup most mornings, I can take it or leave it.)

Our usual is Wal Mart brand "Donut Shop" in a Keurig...

I won't turn down instant, can't say I can tell a difference but I can also easily do without too...

I'll... keep an eye on it though... (See what I did there?)

[Jess from VA]

I haven't had instant coffee since I backpacked.... sometime in the last century. 

[ridingron]

"I'll... keep an eye on it though... (See what I did there?)"

Must not be drinking too much of it.

[Jersey mike]

All my parents ever drank on a regular basis was instant coffee. Folgers. They didn’t want a coffee maker on the countertop and the coffee didn’t come out hot enough with a coffee maker.

My dad now almost 93 and lives by himself still drinks his instant coffee every morning and after dinner…when he’s home. He was gifted a Keurig several years back but gave it away, coffee pods are too expensive.

[Rams]

All my parents ever drank on a regular basis was instant coffee. Folgers. They didn’t want a coffee maker on the countertop and the coffee didn’t come out hot enough with a coffee maker.

My dad now almost 93 and lives by himself still drinks his instant coffee every morning and after dinner…when he’s home. He was gifted a Keurig several years back but gave it away, coffee pods are too expensive.

Good for your Dad!  Hopefully he'll be drinking it for a very long time.   BTW, he's right.  Those Keurig cups are much more expensive per cup than a pot of coffee.   Don't ask how I know.

Rams

[f6john]

Coffee has become my morning laxative. It has also become part of my morning routine that I adhere to but don’t particularly enjoy. We use a drip coffee maker but I don’t think I’ve found the right coffee blend to make a really great cup of coffee. I used to think that the only place to get really good coffee was Waffle House and a hand full of mom and pop places, but even those have let me down too in recent years. Anyway, no instant coffee out of a jar for me in 40-50 years.

[Rams]

Coffee has become my morning laxative. It has also become part of my morning routine that I adhere to but don’t particularly enjoy.

You're missing the bus................   Coffee made over a hot fire, boiling pot with the grounds in a used olive-green sock has a flavor you'll never forget.   

Don't ask how I know.................... 

Rams   

[h13man]

Haven't drank instant since 85' at work. Took my percolator to work for 9 yrs. chuggin' strong Maxwell House on 11-7. Found better coffee when I switched over to drip maker. Been using Seattle Best since 09'. Their coffee is a finer grind thus brewing to your own taste takes less but...

As with all price/quantity, SB went to 10 oz. bags recently   thus hoarding coffee will be my change in life. They do/did offer it in 20 oz. bags and my last bag was $9.

[Chrisj CMA]

Coffee has become my morning laxative. It has also become part of my morning routine that I adhere to but don’t particularly enjoy.

You're missing the bus................   Coffee made over a hot fire, boiling pot with the grounds in a used olive-green sock has a flavor you'll never forget.   

Don't ask how I know.................... 

Rams   

Been there done that sad to say

[Jess from VA]

Coffee has become my morning laxative. It has also become part of my morning routine that I adhere to but don’t particularly enjoy. We use a drip coffee maker but I don’t think I’ve found the right coffee blend to make a really great cup of coffee. I used to think that the only place to get really good coffee was Waffle House and a hand full of mom and pop places, but even those have let me down too in recent years. Anyway, no instant coffee out of a jar for me in 40-50 years.

The 100% Colombian sold at Costco is very good coffee.  My only brand for years.



Coffee that has the blond stuff mixed in with the dark coffee is 'fillers" and degrades the taste.

[0leman]

Didn't grow up drinking coffee.   Started drinking when I was fighting wildfires.   Thick black stuff that could hold a spoon up.  Since then, a cup of joe has been my morning routine.  We use  a Mr. Coffee type for many years.  Yeah, the DW does run a shot of vinegar thru it every so often. 

We have tried instant coffee a time or two when camping.  Not as good as.  Have used coffee bags and hot water instead.  Not as good as brewed but better than instant. 

[Jersey mike]

All my parents ever drank on a regular basis was instant coffee. Folgers. They didn’t want a coffee maker on the countertop and the coffee didn’t come out hot enough with a coffee maker.

My dad now almost 93 and lives by himself still drinks his instant coffee every morning and after dinner…when he’s home. He was gifted a Keurig several years back but gave it away, coffee pods are too expensive.

Good for your Dad!  Hopefully he'll be drinking it for a very long time.   BTW, he's right.  Those Keurig cups are much more expensive per cup than a pot of coffee.   Don't ask how I know.

Rams

I should have mentioned no real serious eye issues with him.

He’s worn bifocals for decades now, probably since ‘85 or so, but not a real severe script. He doesn’t read much anymore, can some watch tv w/o wearing them too. The only real issue he’s ever had with his eyes was a tendon or muscle went lazy on him maybe 20 years ago. He went to Wills Eye Institute (in Philadelphia I think) and they fixed him all up.

[Farside]

I’m not however I remember as a young’en maybe 5-8 my mom did drink instant and she loved it.  I mostly remember the name of it cause it was her favorite, Tasters Choice. 

[Chrisj CMA]

We use Yuban dark roast when we can find it. Second choice is Community Coffee dark roast. I do not understand the craze to buy cups of coffee at places like Starbucks and such.

I went to a car meet last night that was in the parking lot next to a coffee shack (not Starbucks). I felt like making a purchase almost solely because we were taking up most of their parking lot. Although most of their business seemed to be drive through. Almost $4.00 for a medium house blend with nothing added. Most were getting the fancy double shot of this with extra that and bit of something else probably $7-10 a cup minimum. And I know people that do this every day. Like I said I don’t get it.

I do understand all the additional flavorings at Starbucks because their coffee is nasty straight black

[Valkorado]

This morning I brewed up some Cameron's Jamaican Blend coffee.  I knew nothing of it other than it was in the cupboard and when I squeezed the bag it sure smelled good.  Gotta admit it was mighty tasty, and a treat drinking a couple cups of genuine brewed coffee.  Definitely worth doing.  

No more instant for me, and I can see this trend lasting into the future (there I go again with the puns).

[Jess from VA]

You like Jamaican, I like Colombian.

50 years ago in college, it wasn't coffee we were talking about.   

[Hook#3287]

Good old A&P 8 o'clock beans ground daily in my 30+ year old electric grinder. ( probably just jinxed it)

Drip Black and Decker carafe style machine.

I like the carafe because it won't burn the cofffee sitting and there's no heat pad to rot out over time.

[Rams]

Our coffee maker is starting to be a problem so, my Spousal Unit and I are looking at our options.

Doing a bit of research, I just discovered there's an Instant Coffee Machine.   Had no idea.

Always thought that all I needed was a cup, stirring stick/spoon, hot water and a packet of instant coffee.

I guess the "machine" heats the water and then dispenses it?

Rams

[HayHauler]

Found at Costco, Independence Backyard Texas Pecan fresh ground and brewed in the Black and Decker coffee maker.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Pluggy]

Good old A&P 8 o'clock beans ground daily in my 30+ year old electric grinder. ( probably just jinxed it)

Drinking 8 O'clock right now, and I grind it like you do.  A relative who is a food scientist for Keurig coffee likes 8 O'clock.  Keurig makes the K-cup version of it.   It is better tasting than many that are more expensive.  

[Rams]

You can get K-cups for 50 cents each or less.  Expensive?  Well, there is no waste.  Compared to the price at the Starbucks, it is a bargain.

Absolutely no doubt that last sentence.

EDITED:  While I'm not especially picky about the coffee I drink, I do like the bolder/stronger version but one I can't handle is "ICE Coffee".   Not sure why but, it does not taste the same to me.

Rams

[Hook#3287]

Our coffee maker is starting to be a problem so, my Spousal Unit and I are looking at our options.

Doing a bit of research, I just discovered there's an Instant Coffee Machine.   Had no idea.

Always thought that all I needed was a cup, stirring stick/spoon, hot water and a packet of instant coffee.

I guess the "machine" heats the water and then dispenses it?

Rams

Rams, I attended a seminar where a coffee chef demonstrated how he makes a special "pour over" cup of coffee.  He selects the grind, carefully measures the weight, water temperature, then makes the brewing time exacly right.  Quite a process.  All those steps are done the same by a Keurig machine brewing a K-cup. 

You can get K-cups for 50 cents each or less.  Expensive?  Well, there is no waste.  Compared to the price at the Starbucks, it is a bargain.

That's a lot of work for a cup of coffee

I can't remember the last time I tried to drink a cup of instant coffee, probably like 25 years ago.

I never go to a Starbucks and only go to a Dunkin Donuts if it's the only choice.

Up here in New England we have Cumberland Farms stores that used to sell any size coffee for $.99 and it was decent coffee, still is, decent that is, cause the price went up to something like $1.90. Still half of Dunkin and 1/3 of Starbucks.

It was marketing genius, as everyone went there for morning coffee and also bought all the other overpriced items they needed.

[Rams]

It was marketing genius, as everyone went there for morning coffee and also bought all the other overpriced items they needed.

Agreed on the marketing.   Drinks (produced on site) are definitely one of their highest profit margins.   Water and _____________.   

Rams

[Jess from VA]

I have a vague recollection of drive-through liquor stores.  30 states allow it.

Virginia law prohibits selling booze to anyone who is “seated in a vehicle.” 

[Jopson]

I drink 6+ cups of instant coffee daily and have for at least 20 years now. It’s one of life’s necessities for dairy farmers

[Rams]

I drink 6+ cups of instant coffee daily and have for at least 20 years now. It’s one of life’s necessities for dairy farmers

4 large cups of coffee  for me almost every morning, I have to ask, at what point does this become an addiction? 

Rams

[0leman]

I drink 6+ cups of instant coffee daily and have for at least 20 years now. It’s one of life’s necessities for dairy farmers

4 large cups of coffee  for me almost every morning, I have to ask, at what point does this become an addiction? 

Rams

Hey, go cold turkey for 48 hours and let us know what happens..