Recently Starbucks contacted me to see if I was interested in trying their new VIA Ready Brew. I do not claim to be a coffee connoisseur so I was reluctant. I drink coffee, occasionally, and I think I know what I like, but I am not in the slightest qualified to even give my opinion about coffee as a drink. Then she told me that it also has other uses — such as baking. Well, why not give that a try?
I did drink some in a cup with hot water, as directed, and I thought it was a fine cup of coffee. For a better, more accurate review, I will have to check with my friend the “Coffee Snob” Jacob. Thanks to Jacob I now grind coffee correctly. Yes, apparently there is a correct way to do that. Thanks Jacob.
As far as a baking ingredient I think it worked fantastically well. It is finer ground and much more potent than the usual Italian brand of instant espresso that I usually use in my baked goods. If you are looking for that coffee punch, then this is your stuff. I would use sparingly for just a hint. The VIA packets contain 2 teaspoons of super fine ground coffee. The precise measurement for one 8 oz cup of joe.
Would I drink it? For Sure! It has got to be better than the brew in your coffee pots at work, unless you work at Starbucks
Would I cook with it? Sure, it was easy to use and handy pre-measured. Besides having it in your pantry can be handy for that one guest who wants a cup of coffee to sober up before the drive home (just kidding) Here is the cake I made with it.
***Disclaimer***
I do feel I should come clean, I have a cousin that works for Starbucks. I know. However, after some discussion with other friends I find that is not uncommon due to the fact that Starbucks is everywhere. If you feel that this disqualifies me from leaving a fair review, go out and try some for yourself.
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Derrick tried some of that stuff the other day, he said it was pretty good, but when he went to add sugar, he decided pick up the entire sugar bowl gracefully pour in a teaspoon. This did not work out for him. We ended up with sugar all over the floor. He ended up with about 1/4 cup of sugar in his coffee. Next time he was agreed to use a spoon like the rest of us.
Hilarious! Those Engineer types have a hard time doing things like the rest of us sometimes
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