13 Nescafé Instant Coffee Varieties, Ranked Worst To Best

It's no secret that there are many different ways to make coffee and a whole slew of different brands to choose from. Unlike other types of coffee that need a whole lot of special equipment, skill, and background knowledge, instant coffee from Nescafé requires only water and granules to make a quick cup.

Plus, instant coffee can be helpful in many recipes — including coffee-related ones and even ones you wouldn't necessarily expect. For example, dalgona, a type of whipped coffee from Korea, uses instant coffee, sugar, milk, and water to craft an Instagram-worthy beverage. You could even use instant espresso powder to supercharge your cookies with a caffeine kick.

Nescafé has an extensive lineup of coffees with many different roasts, origins, and flavorings. If you're in the market for some Nescafé instant coffee and might wonder which is the best option, I took care of some of the sampling for you. I evaluated each offering Nescafé sent my way based on aroma, flavor, and my overall enjoyment. Though I found that nothing quite hits like a freshly brewed espresso, AeroPress, or pour-over, in a pinch, there are certainly Nescafé options that would meet any caffeine lover's needs, especially in terms of convenience.

Some recommendations are based on first-hand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer/distributor/etc.

Admittedly, I am not a decaf coffee drinker, but I know many people enjoy it throughout the day when they don't want to risk having too much caffeine. It's a great option for those who want the coffee flavor without the effects. This decaffeinated product is just a decaf version of Nescafé's house blend, and it can be prepared just as easily. 

I was very curious as to how the decaf product would compare with the flavor of the regular house blend, so I tried them in succession during the taste test to directly compare flavors. I found that the decaffeinated instant coffee had a similar flavor profile to the house blend, but it was marred by a slightly off-putting odor. The difference is noticeable upon opening the jar; the decaf variant lacks the quintessential coffee aroma and instead carries a peculiar, undefinable scent. 

I also noticed that the decaf blend has a noticeably darker and more bitter taste than the original. It lacked the mildness expected from a typical house blend. The decaf and regular versions are starkly different in flavor — almost as if they are two distinct types of coffee.

Making espresso at home is not a cheap endeavor. Often, it requires expensive equipment to achieve results that are enjoyable enough to compare to the stuff you might purchase at Starbucks or another coffee shop. So, with the instant jar of Nescafé Gold blonde espresso in hand, I started imagining all the ways I could use the roast to make my favorites from Starbucks right at home.

To prepare the beverage, I followed the recommended ratio of 1 teaspoon of coffee to 2 ounces of hot water. I was impressed by the crema that appeared on top of the espresso, and it did last longer than the other espresso I sampled. But it wasn't as thick as I would have liked. Even though this product claims to be a blonde roast, I found it darker than I expected. Though, the flavor does not meet the expectations for espresso. It blended in with other, less distinct profiles and did not deliver the deep, rich espresso taste I desire after a meal or in my coffee drink. 

I was more impressed with Nescafé's Gold intense espresso offering than the blonde variety. Like the blonde, this is a finely ground coffee. The box instructed to mix the powder with 2 ounces of hot water for an espresso and 6 ounces for an Americano.

After giving this container a good whiff, I discovered that this coffee doesn't smell different than other Nescafé instant coffees — even though it's supposed to be the espresso variety. Though it's stronger in taste than blonde, it doesn't necessarily come off as too strong. When mixed with the water, it produces a lovely crema on top that dissipates quicker than I would have liked. 

In terms of flavor, the Gold intense variety matches the espresso taste that I wanted, but it's not as intense as other espressos. In a pinch, though, this is a reasonable enough replacement for espresso, especially if you're making something that uses espresso as an ingredient, like chocolate chip cookies. 

Most of the instant coffee varieties that I sampled had no added flavoring. Rather, they were simply coffees of different roasts. However, Nescafé's Dolca offers something unique: an attempt at caramel flavor via caramelized sugars mixed in with the coffee. 

This instant coffee uses a dark roast similar to the Clásico. I found that the caramelized sugars slightly muted the stronger, darker roast of the coffee. It didn't taste like a whole different roast and was, in fact, pretty similar, if not for that slight dilution. As a result, I like the plain dark roast because this one has just too much going on with it. Even though it's an instant coffee offering, I found it did remind me quite a bit of dark roast drip coffee, even if I didn't taste that specific caramel flavor as the ingredients and labeling might suggest.

Although I'm not typically a decaf coffee drinker, I still make it a point to keep some on hand to accommodate guests who might be avoiding caffeine. Since I don't use instant coffee often, having a jar in my cabinet is incredibly convenient. The main challenge, however, is finding a decaf coffee that closely mimics the flavor of its fully caffeinated counterpart.

The decaf version of Clásico has the same peculiar smell as the Taster's Choice decaf house blend. But I thought the decaf Clásico actually tasted more appetizing. If you're in the market for a decaf instant coffee, this might be the one to choose. It offers a taste similar to the dark roast Clásico fully-caffeinated version, though it's not identical — an expectation most decaf drinkers have become accustomed to. Indeed, it's challenging to get decaf coffee to taste exactly like regular coffee, but this one comes close.

While the Dolca coffee included a combination of dark roast and caramelized sugar, the Clásico is purely a dark roast. Overall, I thought this Clásico was much better than the Dolca. 

The Clásico features a dark roast with granules that mix in as seamlessly as the Clásico Colombia. Just like the Colombia, the Clásico granules require no stirring — as long as you pour your water slowly. I also noticed that this coffee had a richer smell when it was both in the container and mixed into a freshly made cup. Of all the Nescafé varieties I've tried, this is definitely the one with the deepest coffee flavor, and it's one that I could see myself repeatedly reaching for an easy cup of coffee in the morning. The dark roast likely enhances its appeal, but this one really stands out by delivering a full flavor and body without tasting burnt or overly fruity.

I initially sampled each coffee black to understand its true flavor profile without any additives that could alter my perception. This approach gives a clear baseline of taste, aroma, and overall enjoyment. However, I weighted taste more than the other factors in this ranking because I wanted a coffee that matched my personal preferences for a full-bodied profile with balanced sweetness and acidity. 

After I tasted each coffee black, I introduced sweetened condensed milk to each sample. I chose sweetened condensed milk because its rich texture and sweetness can enhance and sometimes transform the coffee experience by highlighting different notes and nuances that black coffee might not reveal on its own. Not to mention, it's what I use on a daily basis with my own coffee, so I understand its impact on basic black coffee. This two-step tasting method allows me to provide a balanced review, catering to both coffee purists who prefer their coffee black and those who enjoy their brew with a hint of sweetness and creaminess.