Starbucks VIA Coffee for Travel

Other posts by MudslideMama

Starbucks VIA Travel Coffee (starbucks.com)

Anyone who’s stayed in a lot of hotels – for business travel, vacations or both – knows that the quality of the hotel doesn’t necessarily correlate with the quality of the coffee served.  You know what I mean; some unassuming little B&B’s serve a fantastic cup of coffee, and some large well-reputed chain hotels serve dreck they call coffee, but really is what David Letterman once called “useless warm brown water.” I love that line! But I DON’T love terrible coffee: It really can mar an otherwise lovely travel experience to have nasty coffee in the morning. That’s why I’m so happy to have found Starbucks VIA, a ready-brew coffee packet that surprisingly comes close to the Starbucks quality coffee I brew at home (and buy, way too often, at Starbucks stores).

Starbucks Coffee Travels Well (starbucks.com)Made of the same 100% arabica beans – freshly ground and sealed, of course – as the full-bodies Italian Roast Starbucks blend, VIA is made in a snap. I’ve used it several times already; just pour the grounds in a coffee cup or mug, add hot water, and stir. That’s it! Add sugar and milk if preferred, naturally. Italian Roast is a bold blend, though. For coffee drinkers with milder flavor preferences, the medium blend Columbia brew is a viable option.

Starbucks VIA comes in 3 or 12 servings to a packet. These packs of three are passport-sized and very Traveling Mamas On The Move Approvedtransportable; perfect for a weekend getaway or quick business travel at a hotel whose coffee is of an unknown quality. The 12-piece pack is a little wider. Because of its ease of travel and superior taste, Starbucks VIA ready brew coffee is Traveling Mamas On the Move Approved.

  • Share/Bookmark

July 18, 2009 | Filed Under Culinary Travel, Travel Gear 

Comments

11 Responses to “Starbucks VIA Coffee for Travel”

  1. Amer says:
    July 19, 2009 at

    Hey! Buddy
    i’m follow you blog from .Blogcatalog
    well..your blog have many interesting info and i’m really Enjoyed reading your blog. Keep up the good work!
    and i’ll be back again in you site
    Keep in Touch

  2. MountainMama says:
    July 19, 2009 at

    Oh my goodness. This product is PERFECT for you Mudslide. :-)

  3. jamie says:
    July 19, 2009 at

    Just got back from an (otherwise perfect) lodge in Yosemite that had no in-room coffeemakers. So I brought my own! Yes, the big one that lives in my kitchen. That’s what’s great about road trips.

    As for these little via packets, I’m checking them out! I got used to instant coffee in England, where it’s not stigmatized. Go figure.

  4. Coast to Coast Mom says:
    July 19, 2009 at

    I just added these to my list of items to pick up for our roadtrip next week. Thanks for the reco!

  5. Coast to Coast Mom says:
    July 19, 2009 at

    I just added these to my list of items to pick up for our roadtrip next week. Thanks for the reco!
    Should say great post! Looking forward to reading your next post!

  6. Rebecca McCormick says:
    July 19, 2009 at

    Amen on the gotta-have-good-coffee, Sister! Via is my new answer for emergency back-up on road trips. R

  7. Marco Polo says:
    July 20, 2009 at

    Not to discourage your excitement about traveling with your coffee, but why exactly would you want the extra baggage on vacation? (Don’t get me wrong, I can think of many busy business trips where that might be an option)

    If the coffee at your hotel sucks, how about trying a local coffee shop around? You might find yourself not only experiencing new flavors, but also meeting new people while you’re out. And if it HAS to be this ONE particular brand – their shop signs now cover nearly every major city in this world – leave alone the United States.

    And if you are out in the wild: BE in the wild! Sometimes a little less comfort can make a trip even more memorable. (Ever made bread from scratch over a campfire? Worth a try and lots of fun!)

  8. Andy Hayes says:
    July 21, 2009 at

    Cool! Sounds fab. Where did you get them – at a Starbucks? Will have to look for them here in the UK.

  9. paul says:
    July 21, 2009 at

    it’s called instant coffee.

  10. Raymond West says:
    September 29, 2009 at

    I think this whole thing about the traveling mom’s and the stiff upper lip people from the UK, making sort of the priority in the list of items to buy,and waiting to be in europe to try the new desperate sale strategy are a desperate add campaing starbucks is managing by paying this persons who knows how much, probably and endless supply of the instant stuff just to make beleive to the rest of us ,that the instant coffee will be like an instant solution for the high priced luxury brew .This is the only reason why the Co. has deviated from their CORE VALUE and has runned out of ideas to counter balanced their greed.
    I hope Shoult’z will read my comment.
    R.W.

  11. Kara Dawson says:
    September 29, 2009 at

    First, great article! I would also like to add that Starbucks VIA can also be added to 8 ounces of cold water, for an iced-coffee. I like to just throw a packet in my water bottle when I am in between meetings. Other suggestions-you can steam up milk and add the packet for a latte (you can do this cold as well but it is difficult to mix!). For those who have a sweet tooth, try adding a packet to a brownie recipe for brownies with a sublte coffee hint. I would also encourage everyone to buy a box and donate it to our troops overseas. The VIA is convenient and tasty and would be a great gift to send our troops.

Leave a Reply