CS Instant Coffee

CS Instant coffee is competitive with products like Starbucks Via and Alpine Start instant coffee. It's growing in popularity because it's rich in flavor and simple to brew. Featuring compostable packaging and arabica coffee, it's the perfect companion for any backcountry experience.

Life is hard for backcountry goers who are also coffee fanatics. There aren't many coffee options that are efficient for backcountry use. No one wants to pack out a bunch of coffee grounds. And most instant coffee brands barely resemble coffee at all. But CS Instant Coffee seems to be an exception. Boasting of both quality and simplicity, this instant coffee brand is a surprising find. 

MSRP: $19 / 6 cups

CS Instant Coffee was born in New York. With roots in Brooklyn, the company mimics the grisly culture of the region. The Tarantino family funnels care and dedication into each of their products, and this is particularly evident when it comes to their instant coffee. 

Flavor

Most of the time, when you sip on a cup of instant coffee, the flavors are barely tolerable. This makes backcountry coffee difficult to navigate. But with CS Instant Coffee, we might stand a chance at drinking real coffee while on a remote mountain. One packet of CS Instant Coffee turns into a cup of coffee between the size of 12 and 16 ounces. Compared to competitive products, that's 4-8 ounces more per packet. Once the coffee dissolves, you're left with a foamy and delicious cup of Joe. 

Cost

At about $3 per cup of coffee, CS Instant Coffee is more expensive than most competitive products. Brands like Starbucks and Alpine Start cost about $1 per cup. But CS Instant Coffee also contains nearly twice the amount of coffee per package as competitive brands. 

Caffeine

While I've been unable to find the exact caffeine content per package, I did notice a boost of energy after sipping a cup of this coffee. 

Packaging

One thing that's easy to love about this coffee company is their compostable packaging. Since I was camping in arid Colorado, I still packed out the remnants of my cup of coffee. But it's 100 percent compostable, which is rather unique. 

If you're someone who's looking to add a few cups of coffee to an extended backcountry stay, CS Instant Coffee is worth evaluating. Each cup of coffee is full of arabica flavors, with just a hint of bitterness. Coffee lovers will definitely be satisfied with this backcountry option.  

Background

As a coffee lover and a backcountry goer, I've experimented with many different brands of instant coffee over the years. I've used CS Instant Coffee for a handful of backcountry trips, and its always one of the best parts of my morning.