Nescafe Coffee: From Instant to Dolce Gusto

It's hard not to recognize the Nescafe Coffee brand these days, even if you don't drink coffee! If you turn on the TV, open a magazine or go to the supermarket, you'll quickly discover just how prevalent Nescafe Instant Coffee is in the marketplace. This alone makes Nescafe an important coffee vendor in the US market place, even if they don't sell coffee beans!

But Nescafe Coffee (a blending of two terms Nestle and Cafe) actually compromises three brands you might know: Nescafe, Tasters' Choice and Nespresso. You may even know that Coffee Mate is a Nestle brand, too! The perfect combination: instant coffee with instant creamer! Yuck!

How did Nescafe coffee come about?

Nescafe coffee was originally an idea presented to Nestle by the government of Brazil.  In 1930 they were looking for a way to preserve their large surplus of coffee beans and asked if Nestle could figure out a way to produce a quality cup of coffee that could be brewed by adding hot water. 

Nestle researchers Max Morgenthaler and Vernon Chapmen worked for seven years before discovering just the right process for making instant coffee.  In 1938, Nescafe (a combination of Nestle and café) was unveiled in Switzerland.

Nescafe's success was stymied in Europe at first by World War II which crimped demand for such luxury products. But the American military realized the value of this opportunity and included it in their food rations for the troops.

Freeze-Dried Coffee Invented

were patronizing coffee houses where they could listen to the new music called Rock.  By 1965 Nestle introduced freeze-dried coffee that they named Gold Blend.  As technology advanced, Nestle found ways to allow more natural coffee aroma to be captured and Nescafe's popularity increased.

Nescafe now comes in many varieties and claims that 4,000 cups are drunk every second of every day.  They offer Black Gold, Half Caff, Classico, Blend 43, Café Parisian, Instant Espresso, French Roast Instant and many other varieties. 

There is also a line of specialty flavored coffees such as Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Vanilla, Irish cream, Hazelnut and others.  These specialty coffees provide a very pleasant interlude, especially on cold winter days, but don't have much real coffee taste. 

You'll aslo find that Nescafe is marketed under the name Taster's Choice, mainly in the United States, which comes in both glass and plastic packaging. 

Nescafe Coffee: is it acceptable?

People say that as instant coffees go, Nescafe is one of the best.  Most instant coffees are weak when mixed as directed and undrinkable when they are mixed stronger—adding more coffee merely emphasizing the bitterness and doesn't add any more taste.  Nescafe coffee is the most flavorful of all the instant coffees available on the market today.

Instant coffee is usually used for convenience but it helps if it's tasty, too.  While Nescafe coffee can't hold a candle to a freshly brewed cup of coffee made from freshly ground beans, it is a decent substitute in some circumstances, and may give you a good morning jolt without offending your taste buds.

There are many situations in which Nescafe coffee is a useful accompaniment, esp. if you work in a place where there is no real coffee making equipment, such as an office kitchen or office coffee maker. You can keep this in your desk, and just add hot water, coffee-mate, and perhaps a little sugar, too!

Rainforest Alliance Relationship

Nestle has worked with the Rainforest Alliance for the past ten years to improve farming methods and the lives of farmers.  The RA looks for ways to implement the conservation of natural resources, protecting ecosystems, giving benefits to workers and respecting their rights, and improving the quality of their bean crops.

While Nescafe and Tasters' Choice are both instant coffee brands, and may be useful for making iced coffee, they are hardly the stuff of coffee beans blog/site, or are they? What do you think? Or would you prefer to something a little better tasting?

Then there's NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto

One option that coffee bean drinkers might want to try is the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Coffee Maker. This is a single cup style coffee maker that makes one portion of coffee, at a price that is more affordable than regular coffee houses. The machines themselves come at a variety of price points from $89 to $169 and the capsules are an affordable $0.60 each.

These machines are suprisingly attractive, quite affordable and make great coffee. In fact, Nestle worked with Delonghi to produce this range of equipment and designed the coffee machines to precisely make a great cup of coffee each time. Every time.

Dolce Gusto: Coffee Range

There are a range of coffees available including House Blend, Espresso, Caffe Lungo (also Decaff), Dark Roast. Then you will also find that the Latte, Cappuccino, Latte Macchiato, Chococino, etc. also come with a milk capsule that you must use to finish off your drink. Though the milk capsule is intended for use in your drink, it is not a milk substitute itself.

The only downside to this machine that I can see is that you are limited only to purchasing these flavors of coffee capsules, you cannot reuse the coffee capsules, nor can you use any other coffee capsule from any other system.

Nespresso: Variety of coffees

Nescafe is also famous for another range of coffee makers, the Nespresso system, which is a range of Nespresso single cup coffee makers that make great coffee from a variety of coffee beans.

There seem to be some crucial differences between the Dolce Gusto and Nespresso systems:-

• The machines for Nespresso seem to be more expensive
• The capsules are NOT interchangeable with the Gusto models or other models
• The capsules are more varied for Nespresso, but you cannot purchase them in-store. You have to order direct or buy them from a limited number of Nespresso retailers.
• The Nespresso machines do not froth milk or make the same range of drinks as the Dolce Gusto

If you are interested in the single cup coffee makers, both the Dolce Gusto and Nespresso makers make good quality drinks. You may find that the limitations each imposes on its owners may dictate which model you leave on the store shelf!

Nescafe, Taster's Choice or Dolce Gusto? Which?

Overall, Nescafe Coffee is a world famous brand. While you may feel that Nescafe Instant Coffee is not for you, why not consider giving the Dolce Gusto Coffee Maker a whirl... and see if it can make great coffee that YOU like.

The machine is affordable, if a little pricier than other systems, and the capsules may be more expensive than real ground coffee, you may find it a great way to make coffee in a rush or when you fancy a nice cuppa without trudging out to the coffee shop in the cold snow!

Let me know what you think. Why not leave a comment below or drop me a line about your own experience with Nescafe Coffee, Nespresso Coffee makers or any other Nescafe products.

And finally...

Wherever you are, remember "Only Coffee Beans Make Great Coffee"! And enjoy that cup of coffee!

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