Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 562
Loc: Upstate New York
Checked Organic Direct, but they don't list any Mt. Hagen coffee. There is another brand of Organic, freeze dried coffee for $3-4 for 3.5 ozs., but they seem to have discontinued the Mt. Hagen or at least be totally out of it.
By the way, I checked with my local Starbucks, and the Via is supposed to come out with a decaf version in November sometime. As others have noted, VIA is a step above other instants that I've tried, but like all of the Starbucks coffee, if I drink the caffinated version after dinner, I won't sleep for days. On a related note, can someone help me out with their solution for milk or cream for coffee on multi day trips. I've recently used the small containers from Burger King, and they seem to have lasted more than one day, but I'm never sure what can be used over several days without spoiling and what can't. Thanks, Gerry
I used this a couple of weeks ago and it is a great substitute for my regular coffee. The nice thing is that I can leave the mini french press at home.
Checked Organic Direct, but they don't list any Mt. Hagen coffee. There is another brand of Organic, freeze dried coffee for $3-4 for 3.5 ozs., but they seem to have discontinued the Mt. Hagen or at least be totally out of it.
Thanks, Gerry
Just found Mt Hagen on Amazon ....I bought some of the Via because I thought it was pretty good, but is spendy, so if this is a good alternative thanks for the recommendation.
Wow - just realized this is my first post! What a noob...
Has anyone else tried both the Trader Joe's instant coffee and Via? I've only had the former, not the latter. IMO TJ's coffee is pretty good for instant. Not as good as what comes out of the espresso machine, but entirely passable as brewed coffee. 3.5 oz for $3 is a lot cheaper than Via.
Does anybody else think that maybe coffee is Toxic? I mean, wouldn't it kill you if you had it for breakfast with a handful of MSG coated peanuts?(that's for you Rooketman)
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If a robot could carry my stuff, I'd make him carry me with my Osprey on my back any way.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I heard about the decaf Via, too, but I haven't seen it yet. My experience with Starbucks decaf is that it appears to have about as much caffeine as normal caffeinated coffee from other vendors. Starbucks caffeinated (including Via) has me climbing the walls! If regular coffee at night keeps you awake, I wouldn't use the decaf Via at night.
I'm a cafe au lait/latte drinker at home, but I have not found a dried milk that doesn't taste weird when heated, no matter how strong the coffee. There's also the problem of avoiding lumps. I won't use non-dairy creamer (too much of a purist, I guess). That's why I drink tea when I backpack. Cleanup is much simpler with tea, too--no milk residue! I especially like herbal tea after dinner. Coffee and regular tea both tend to act as diuretics, and I already have to get up enough times during the night without adding them to my evening diet.
Gerry, I suggest you try a bunch of different kinds of non-dairy creamer and dried milk (buy the smallest packages you can find) at home and see what works best for you. I would think that for a 2-3 day trip the Burger King or similar stuff would keep, unless it's really hot weather. You could keep them wrapped in something in the middle of your pack during the day to help keep them cool.
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Just found the decaf Via in the St.Arbuck's at the neighborhood Safeway. Knowing how much caffeine is in their decaff espresso, I won't try it until tomorrow morning. They had only the Italian roast, not the Columbian, in decaf.
EDIT--next day: I tried it for breakfast. The taste of the decaf seems no different from the caffeinated version. It's far superior to most decaf instant. I don't think it's completely decaffeinated, though--neither is the decaf that St.Arbuck's serves in their stores. I didn't get as much of a buzz as when drinking the regular, but there definitely was a buzz that I don't get with other brands of decaf. I wouldn't want to drink it at bedtime. If you have blood pressure problems, you probably want to avoid Starbucks altogether!
Edited by OregonMouse (11/23/0905:13 PM) Edit Reason: Additional info
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
I just picked up a pack of this today and just wanted to point out that it is not the "instant" flavor crystal stuff most people have come to hate. This is actually just starbucks beans microground to a fine powder, which makes it regular coffee "via" a different transport method in my opinion... I would bet that if you let a cup sit for a day or two some of the powder would settle back to the bottom. This happens to the powder that makes it through my drip makers filter at home when I grind the coffee really fine.
Also, this is my first post so in an attempt to get my two cents worth I'll also mention that this beats the hell out of my old method of grinding my own coffee at home and vacuum sealing it for pack trips. Well worth the buck for convenience. By the way, I hate that stuff made with flavor crystals...doesn't taste at all like coffee to me.
For what its worth, Bigfoot gave me a packet of via and I had fine grounds in the bottom of the cup. So is this a suspension or a solution? I don't think such a small amount of ground coffee could be so strong. perhaps it is an "augmented" ground coffee...
I just carry original coffee mate non-dairy creamer because I'm lactose intolerant. I also use it on my instant oatmeal. Jim
Edited by Jimshaw (03/15/1009:59 PM)
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
For what its worth, Bigfoot gave me a packet of via and I had fine grounds in the bottom of the cup. So is this a suspension or a solution? I don't think such a small amount of ground coffee could be so strong. perhaps it is an "augmented" ground coffee...
The pack says it's instant and "microground" coffee - so I'd say yeah - there's real ground coffee in there too.. I notice the bit of very fine ground in the bottom too.
Hmm, I'd assumed it was just de-watered "French press" coffee to explain the solids, but instant+"microground" sounds more interesting.
I'm thankful for the Costco tip, as it's quite a bit cheaper from there. They need to add Italian roast to their selection, though.
Cheers,
Originally Posted By phat
Originally Posted By Jimshaw
For what its worth, Bigfoot gave me a packet of via and I had fine grounds in the bottom of the cup. So is this a suspension or a solution? I don't think such a small amount of ground coffee could be so strong. perhaps it is an "augmented" ground coffee...
The pack says it's instant and "microground" coffee - so I'd say yeah - there's real ground coffee in there too.. I notice the bit of very fine ground in the bottom too.
My experience with Starbucks decaf is that it appears to have about as much caffeine as normal caffeinated coffee from other vendors. Starbucks caffeinated (including Via) has me climbing the walls! If regular coffee at night keeps you awake, I wouldn't use the decaf Via at night.
I understand how decaf might be higher compared to other vendors, but since federal regulations require that in order to label coffee as "decaffeinated" that coffee must have had its caffeine level reduced by no less than 97.5 percent, I don't see how it can reach regular coffee levels.
I tried a little experiment when camping last weekend. I brought Hills Brothers regular grind coffee, some Kona coffee beans I'd ground into a fine dust, and some Folgers instant. A couple beans worth of the Kona dust in a teaspoon of the instant Folgers tasted almost like the Via. The kona dust did sink to the bottom of the cup, like the Via. I made a big pot of cowboy coffee with the Hills Bros. and 1/3rd Kona, all settling to the bottom of the pot after a few minutes. Via knockoff is fairly easy to make.
No....2-3 beans ground to super fine powder. My grinder pulverizes beans very fine. Screen out the bigger chunks and discard. Mix the bean powder with a teaspoon of instant. Experiment around. It's hard to go wrong...all good.
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