Not the real thing, but the best of a bad bunch. (Maxwell House)

Member Name: Zak87

Product:	Maxwell House
Date:	29/10/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tastes almost like filter coffee.

Disadvantages: Still only instant coffee.

Here's my dilemma. I like nothing more than a cup of real filter coffee first thing in the morning. But at the same time I'm an inherently lazy individual. The though of waiting for the liquid to brew, not to mention the time washing up the cafetier, often makes me think that it's just not worth it. I am forced to turn to instant freeze-dried coffee, a poor substitute at best.

Maxwell House Instant Coffee, despite being in this dubious category of pale imitations, does its best to make it up. After extensive research on the subject, and the inevitable sleepless nights, which are an unavoidable side-effect, to think about it, I have found no other instant coffee which comes closer to the real stuff. The balance of bitterness in it is spot on. The product itself describes itself as "rich" and "full", adjectives which are all too often bounded around products of this type without any real meaning. I can, for once, see what these actually mean in Maxwell House coffee, and can think of no other instant coffee which deserves to be described as such. Don't get too excited, though. This is, after all, an instant at the end of the day, and it can't hide the fact in terms of quality.

The price doesn't reflect Maxwell House's superiority in the area. At last check, it was sold at about £4 in tesco - you'll be paying a pound or two more for most branded alternatives. Anecdotally, I also see it on special offer on lots of occasions.

It may not have the reputation as a high quality freeze-dried coffee, but for me, it's the closest you can get to the real stuff.

Summary: Good if you're in a rush (or lazy)