Why you'll love it: Each eight-ounce jar of
Folgers Classic Roast instant coffee can make up to 130 cups of joe, so each serving will cost around a nickel.
OK, to be honest, the 130 cups of coffee Folgers claims you'll get out of an eight-ounce jar of Folgers Classic Roast instant? That's something of an exaggeration. The brand's serving size is just six ounces, so not even a whole cup, and even at that six-ounce size, if you use the "rounded teaspoon" of coffee crystals they recommend, you're going to get a pretty weak cuppa. That said, an eight-ounce serving prepared with about 150% that much coffee means a mug of coffee that still costs you less than dime. And it's pretty good stuff, too.
Folgers Classic Roast instant doesn't make great coffee, but it's almost as good as fresh brewed Folgers, a taste many people around the world appreciate as a sort of baseline for decent joe. Beyond the great price and decent flavor when used to make coffee, this stuff is a great choice for use in other culinary practices.
When mixed into cakes, cookies, or pastries, used in sauces or rubs, or even in the homebrew process as you make beer, the quick-dissolving crystals and generic coffee flavor are perfect. Of course, that low price means you can scoop in as much coffee as your recipe calls for an then some.
With dozens of reviews posted online, Folgers Classic Roast instant coffee has a solid 4.2-star averaged rating from shoppers. One reviewer said this affordable coffee "was the best but [that he] found" when browsing instant coffee options. Another said it "tastes like the real thing" and "wakes [her] up in the morning."
While several buyers did call the coffee bitter, still others loved that it was "great for baking and cooking" and praised its "surprisingly versatile culinary use."
Pros: Very low price, great for cooking and baking, dissolves quickly in hot water
Cons: Bitter and burnt flavor notes
Buy a jar of Folgers Classic Roast instant coffee on Amazon for $5.72