/* DEFENDER GENERATED SALTS */ define('AUTH_KEY', 'uQ&P8Y 9MDqhl<||S#9-e M]nQWWz&/Ub(?N6gRLiM/CiUC;9O0|D$cVyv-W)kF8'); define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY', '1&2=`9hsL!Ka$0n*#Bw_BtEzc[YX3HKSO'); define('LOGGED_IN_KEY', ')}nS[U*zlxk{[lDY:SnU=@cUC:VdP}e.X+*SG @-GD~8*Vm+.ReOQmk|V2||($%U'); define('NONCE_KEY', '6M:5t}*CcHMD#;jc~+dZi3ZKW/Ytc.H|7$a[#L7}Wg!)& DCq<>urY{h_.|No&t['); define('AUTH_SALT', '}j:Nbc?Q&ad$_`K9>qxa`ZPd[tFB3XKK[9#&C0WS_k@B>Mqw|Po^H:l+f!^ +-U5'); define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', 'VpUSr(OH`}+IiaK}(!||I+vQ2}yqm;HmksEUmShq_B2M^*|MR{TA@3n)xz`=Rcj-'); define('LOGGED_IN_SALT', 'bz3*F*Eu:bz(XhB|7D_3+X+XPrLT]Kpd0X-Hd>&N0?*9{G1c$aXScPN+;&C~a8-5'); define('NONCE_SALT', '3701}!;#s}K5r|Q%-_AS0#}Zt77PN$!w-E!2ob.!xS!$$O}AW>P__ZG~AhKt!^J)'); Starbucks Soluble Coffee – What’s Next?

Brewed Coffee

Starbucks Soluble Coffee – What’s Next?

3293411002_4660fdffe1I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read that Starbucks is going to release a new line of coffee. You know how I love Starbucks coffee and more often than not, I would walk over to a Starbucks even if there is another coffee shop nearby. But soluble coffee? It is just a pretty name for instant coffee.

Yes, you read that right. Starbucks is coming out with a line of instant coffee. What in the world are they thinking? Fast Company reports:

But that didn’t stop America’s largest coffee chain from launching VIA Ready Brew, a new line of instant – excuse me, “soluable” – coffee that hits U.S. stores March 3.

The brew comes in two flavors, Colombia and Italian Roast. It’s also packaged with typical Starbucks panache: On the back of each three-serving pouch ($2.95), a quote reads, “Never be without great coffee.”

I am really quite pessimistic about the whole thing. But Fast Company did a blind taste test, which gave very suprising results. This is what they had to say about Starbucks VIA – Columbia (instant coffee):

It came from coffee powder and hot water. And yet, somehow, this brew garnered all-positive reviews. Tasters raved about its flavor (“balanced, not bitter”), texture (“by far the smoothest”), and aroma (“smells like fancy coffee”). And one called it – irony alert! – “better than the coffee you buy in Starbucks.” ’Nuff said.

All I can say is WOW. Either this instant coffee is really that good OR coffee shop brewed coffee is bad. I’ll wait to try it for myself.