Instant coffee will never get the same respect afforded its freshly-brewed counterparts, but that doesn’t mean we have to permanently put up with less-than-delicious cups every time we want the convenience of a quick caffeine fix. At least, not with Jiva, an artisanal brand of gourmet coffee packed in just-add-water form.
Will it stand up to the quality of the gourmet pods you cook up in a Keurig or a Nespresso? Probably not. Is it a considerably faster solution for making a delicious cup of coffee in a rush before leaving home for work? Definitely. How about for getting a decent-tasting caffeine boost without having to bring extra gear (like a Mini-Espresso Maker) during a weekend camping in the woods? Yep, this will work.
Packed in single-serve dissolvable cubes (they recommend one cube for every six ounces of water), Jiva comes in a variety of flavors that include Classic, Strong, Decaffeinated, Mocha, Hazelnut and French Vanilla. They also offer Hot Chocolate and Caramel Hot Chocolate if you prefer those for your morning beverage indulgence. Each one comes with the coffee (Colombian Arabica beans) and sweetener (raw unprocessed cane sugar) already mixed in for convenience, so those who prefer their coffee unsweetened will probably want to steer clear until the upcoming Black flavor debuts.
Jiva is able to maintain the coffee’s gourmet quality by working with a single estate in Colombia for their beans, all while using a freeze-drying process rather than the more common spray method for the final product. It uses no chemical additives, preservatives, GMO’s, colorants or artificial flavorants.
While Jiva isn’t as cheap as regular instant coffee, it’s still plenty affordable. Price is $14.99 for a pack of 24 cubes.