As soon as I opened the jar of Maxwell House, the first sniff made me wrinkle my nose. Not a good start. It smelled off, somewhat like chemicals. The texture of the grounds was typical of instant coffee - a mix of fine to medium granules, which dissolve fairly easily without much stirring. But even after stirring, there was still some 'coffee sludge' at the bottom of the mug. That's never pleasant to drink.
Instant coffee doesn't deliver the same fresh flavor as drip or pour-over methods, and some feel it features a stale taste, reminiscent of freezer burn. However, it makes for a handy product to have in the pantry.
The drying process can sometimes result in clumps, which is why instant coffee ranges in texture from fine powder to large granules. I tested more than a half dozen brands and ranked them from worst to best.
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