Starbucks Iced VIA

The FUTURE always promises such amazing things, of which never really seem to deliver. No Concept Hovercars are on the roads. Cancer, AIDS and hiccups are still incurable. all knowing Robot drones have not infiltrated my life - unless you could droid apps. mmmm apps. The one promise they now seemed to have been able to deliver on is the ability to create real food, or in this case drink, instantaneously from a puff of powder - like the food transporter in Star Trek or the Jetsons.

Starbucks already surprised the hell out of me with VIA, their instant coffee that in no way tastes like the instant coffee we have all grown to hate since the 50s. Between a taste test between their normal Colombian blend and a cup of VIA, I was fooled into which one was which 3 out of 5 times. So I was just as excited when I saw a friend pull up a bag out of a niftily designed bag-box Iced VIA - the same coffee convenience, only this time able to melt in Ice Cold Water. After having tried dozens of mixes, tabs and powders, I can tell you this is no small feat. Most powdery substances just can not mix in cold water. As anyone in science, or cooks regularly, can tell you, things mix better when you use heat. Also, anyone who cooks can tell you that instant anything equals bad.Except instant Potatoes. I am not sure what makes a potato flake, but give me a box, an Ice Cream scoop and a Tub O' Gravy,and I am one happy dude.

Now After trying this coffee powder from Starbucks, all I have to say is YOW! For a mere 6 bucks (5 IN SOME PLACES), you can treat yourself to five of these wonderful summery treats - not only a real bargain but is absolutely delicious for all real coffee lovers. Sanka is Dead. Screw waiting for the flying car. Finally, I can have some of my Future today. While I must thank Starbucks PR team for sending me samples to try out, A big thanks goes out to my friend Keith for spotting these early at the Starbucks in our lobby.

Buzz:9
I was skeptical until I saw the ingredients. Coffee. Sugar. That's it? This does not look like instant coffee at all! of course, even instant Folgers has roughly the same ingredients in it, as they don't need to list the hundreds of chemicals used in their processing of the coffee to get it into freeze dried crystals. Still, I did really like how there are no other added crap in here, including preservatives or thickeners. On top of this, the coffee buzz is pretty wicked too! As opposed to the iced coffee drinks at Starbucks that have relatively low caffeine content, Iced Via is absolutely Cram Packed with Buzzy goodness! I do not know how much caffeine it has (Starbucks is trying to find out - and I will update when I can), but I can tell you it has over 200-250 mg per 16 ounce glass. I could taste the caffeine rush in my blood within the first mouthful, and by the time the glass was drained I could definitely feel the happy glow of a well caffeinated nervous system..

Taste:10
Strangely enough, these are really formulated for iced coffee. Keith tried one hot - and he said it was not nearly as good as it is iced. And it is REALLY GOOD iced. Good enough that you will be drinking this even when you are not supposed to. Like drinking 3 in a row. At night. But on hot nights, this really hits the spot - it is just that good. Let me rephrase that: It is just that good for people who like Starbucks blend coffee. It is sweetened with almost a bakers sugar - as it is very refined and dissolves nicely in icey cold water - not an easy feat.
I found that adding 1 package of half and half is perfect, as it is a little harsh just sweet and black. But, I also made mine with only 8 ounces of water, so it was good and strong too. Other fantastic uses that you really should try if you get the chance is as a dessert topping, and makes the most killer Starbucks Coffee Shakes.

Packaging:9
five big packages come in one of their bag-boxes, a cardboardish thing that looks more like a table topper or brown bag lunch than an instant coffee container. Like most things Starbucks does, it worked hard to find a unique design that could also be displayed well on a countertop. The overall design and theme is so well done, and the only flaw is that maybe it is so pretty that it goes into the level of corporate. The back has the little intro paragraph, a couple official words from the chairman - the usual stuff people pay copy writers for.

The drink packet inside is well designed too, also with the funny instruction illustrations on it. I wonder. If they did not spell out- add to freaking water and stir, what would people be doing with it? Just sayin' I doubt even Dennis Leary would try snorting this. It opens poorly, but the packet is waterproof and all pretty - you could tell a whole lot of R&D went into the product, from beginning to end. With the beauty, simplicity and grace that Starbucks has made instant, you know it is just a matter or time before the knock offs from Folgers, Tasters Choice and Nestle won't be far behind, As we take one step more towards my hovercar...