I am not a coffee snob, but there are a few name brands that, unfortunately, always taste slightly of burnt beans or, worse, give off a slightly chemical coffee “flavor” unless I add copious amounts of sweetener, which I don’t use when I buy a perfect pour-over at my local coffeehouse.
Alas, as someone whose family loves to road trip, I often end up with coffee I don’t really like, especially if we don’t want to go off-road to find a beverage. I decided to look for an instant coffee to throw in my bag and simply doctor my brew on the road.
Instant coffee has come a long way, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, its popularity began to rise as coffee drinkers sought an affordable way to make good coffee quickly from home. While I started my search post-pandemic, if I had known about Partners Coffee instant sachets, I would have stocked my cupboards with them.
Partners Instant Coffee
Who Makes This Coffee?
Like many things sustainably cool, this coffee company’s origin story starts in 2012 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. They created a coffee company with 100 percent sustainably sourced beans, working in partnership with coffee growers, farmers, producers, roasters, and baristas to create a collection of coffee beans, cold brew packets, and instant coffee–plus a subscription program. I haven’t signed up for it yet, but I am tempted. It’s roasted fresh, shipped, or sold in one of its three cafes: New York City, Brooklyn, and Queens, New York.
Why Should I Drink (This) Instant Coffee?
The convenience of instant coffee shouldn’t be overlooked. You add it to hot (or, in this case, cold) water, stir, and drink. I have used both hot water and half hot water and milk when I make my coffee.
My favorite selection so far is the Manhattan (the roast level is dark) and its tasting notes: caramel, maple syrup, and baker’s chocolate, which resonate in your cup or, in my case, travel mug. Fun fact: The notes change (some have included marzipan and molasses, too) because the brand “rotates” the components seasonally, but always features “a foundation of Brazilian and Central American components,” according to the website.
The instant coffee comes in several roasts, from light to medium to dark. There are four options plus one decaf, which I appreciate since I have extended family members who can’t drink caffeinated coffee. You get six sachets of instant coffee in one cute box (all made out of recycled materials), with a net 5g per unit.
How Do I Make It?
Add 8-10 ounces of hot or cold water or milk and stir. I have tried this coffee with hot water, water, and milk. In addition, I have thrown it into cold water and added ice to my travel mug during summer trips. It is equally delicious although it is not as good as cold brew.
I love that it dissolves in seconds: you don’t get leftover grounds at the bottom of your cup, which other less expensive options seem to do. The first time I tried to make it a cold coffee, I was very skeptical. Would the coffee grounds actually dissolve? Yes. They did. Not all instant coffees can be served hot or cold, making this a versatile choice.
And it mixes up fast. If I’m driving, it takes me under a minute to mix it at the rest stop and be on my way. It doesn’t call for any fancy apparatus; just open, pour, stir, and drink. Manhattan is strong enough for me but doesn’t give me heartburn (which I get from most dark roasts), and it smells good in the cup, which is equally important in early mornings.
Partners Instant Coffee
Serve It Hot or Cold
I like that this instant coffee can be served hot or cold. I’ve made it on a plane to Hawaii and in the backseat of my car, and both times it was equally good. It is $16 for a box of six, which comes out to a little under $3 a cup, definitely cheaper than picking up a cup of ice or hot coffee in many places. Partners also does sell a cold brew, which takes longer to make, but I like making a pitcher of it in the summer and leaving it in my refrigerator. It’s just not a go-to for travel like the instant packets.
The individual servings are larger than sugar packets but flat, so you can tuck them into your travel bag, purse, or even your pocket. The box is square and flat, making it easy to bring along on trains, planes, and automobiles or to take along for a picnic.
Any Downsides?
As a travel companion, this coffee really works for me. If I purchase one box, it usually lasts for one trip, depending on the length and/or how close we are to coffee shops. It would be a great choice if you love camping and want to travel without a portable coffee maker or camp stove for your coffee. If you are sharing your box of instant coffee with another person or more than one, you’d need to stock up. One packet really only makes one cup, and sometimes that isn’t enough. I have tried a name-brand instant coffee in comparison to this, and other than a cheaper price, it doesn’t come close to Partners in taste, complexity, and ease of use (no grounds in your cup).
Partners sells single-origin coffees, but the instant (at least Manhattan) is a “signature blend”, so if you are extremely particular about your beans, the “toss the grounds in a cup and go may not be for you. I’m not too particular, but I’m choosy enough that I am onboard if it tastes and smells good. Plus, with two kids and a large dog on our trips, it can often be a challenge to just “run into a coffee shop” for something strong, and this way, I can make a delicious cup of coffee in seconds.
The Details
You can buy this brand online and in some select stores – I have seen beans but not instant coffee from Partners near my town in the Hudson Valley.
Cost: The four caffeinated options (light to dark roast) are $16 and $17 for its “Ghost Town” decaf.
Cups/serving: Six packets per box (one serving per packet); about 8 to 10 oz of beverage.
Shipping time: Roughly four to eight days.
Subscription: Yes! You can also order this as a recurring subscription service. I plan to keep my cupboard stocked with instant brew this summer.
In My Expert Opinion
This is now a staple in my glove compartment and travel bag, for those times when I want a cup of hot or cold (I’m still amazed it can do both) coffee but don’t want to drink swill or stand in long lines for a joe to go. The boxes also make great small gifts, too. I’ve introduced a few (highly skeptical of instant) friends and family members, and they have not only enjoyed it but asked for more.
