Starbucks Sticks v. Nescafe Sticks

Starbucks came out with the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Stick packets and then, as always, some one else comes along to create competition.  Who is that competition?  Nescafe Taster’s Choice, who vow that their instant sticks are more flavorful than Starbucks, but perhaps most importantly in this economy, they claim to be four times cheaper.  You read that right 4 times cheaper that Starbucks Sticks!

The Chicago Tribune found that, on average, one packet of Nescafe costs 19cents per packet as opposed to Starbucks which costs approximately 83 cents per packet.  The price is obviously much better, but what about the taste?  The Tribune also conducted a blind taste test with six testers to find out if the money you are saving is equal to the flavor you may or may not be loosing by getting the cheaper product.

The test included not only the the Colombian of both brands of sticks, but also a brewed Colombian.  No surprise, the brewed coffee won hands down, but that is not what we are concerned with.  Back to the sticks! 

Starbucks Sticks came in a close second followed by Nescafe.  One person thought that Starbucks were too bitter and sharp.  Most tasters described Nescafe as being thin, weak or like cardboard. 

When mixed with cold water for iced coffee, Starbucks dissolved easily.  Nescafe also mixed well, but do to the larger granules required more stirring.  So now its time for you to decide, is the flavor worth the cost???  That is the million dollar question.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/chi-tc-food-tastings-0605-0610jun10,0,129961.htmlstory

About christy

Another coffee lover!

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