I don't drink instant as my daily coffee, but I do use it for baking and cocktails. When you want coffee flavor in something without the grainy texture of coffee grinds, instant coffee is the best solution because it dissolves entirely. It's great for ice cream, frosting, coffee cake, coffee syrup, or anything else of the sort. I've also found that the quality of instant coffee has improved significantly over the years, so it does actually make a pretty decent cup of coffee in a pinch.

Dealing with coffee grinds got annoying. It’s also one of my first grocery store purchases when traveling.

Bonus points for instant iced coffee.

I do. I left my pour-over coffee maker at the office, so I make do with instant coffee. It's... ok, if I drown it in almond milk.

I do when I'm in a hurry. It's not as good as the real one but gets the job done when I really need it.

I do from time to time

If I'm going camping and want to keep things light I'll buy instant coffee and transfer it into a freezer bag.

I do when I can't be arsed otherwise.

On a good day, I slowly simmer oat milk and water in two pans and Aeropress fresh-ground coffee to make something akin to a flat white.

Can't be arsed? Oat milk in a mug in the microwave for 1-2 min and a tablespoon of Medaglia De Oro instant espresso powder.

Generally only when camping. Really like Mt. Hagen, but the canisters of Starbucks Premium Instant are decent.

My father-in-law prefers it. I have pretty good coffee here at the house, not excellent, but pretty good 2nd wave stuff. He hates it and wants Folger's crystals. I use it when backpacking. I'm not carrying beans, a grinder, and an aeropress over a mountain. Fuck that.

Yes. I don't like it but sometimes I don't have time to make my normal pour over. Like lunchtime. Tastes pretty bad. Especially to a pour over coffee snob like me.

Even Costco sells it.

Only when I'm backpacking in the wilderness, otherwise, it's fresh ground for me!

Life is sad, and there are fewer options, when you drink decaf. It's all I can get at work, while the big, sophiscated coffee machine, with all it's flashy buttons, is dedicated to grinding life giving caffeinated beans to the masses.

Does everyone have a Starbucks in their home? Is everyone on large incomes?

The answer to both is no and no. Buying coffee is expensive and retail is at least a long way away for nearly all people. Instant is instant and cheap it will always have a place.

Sometimes. I keep it on hand. I usually do a French press or pour over coffee maker. But sometimes, just some hot instant coffee in theocrowave is good because I'm too tired to wait for the water to boil

Try Korean instant coffee, it's about the best I've had. Check the ingredients carefully if you have food sensitivities, there's often surprise 🌽 in the creamer and sometimes corn syrup powder as sweetener.

I use it, because I have fibromyalgia. So it's easier sometimes to just press the button on the kettle to makes some coffee. When I'm doing well, I always make Turkish coffee, since it feels like it makes me clearer way faster than other coffee does.

We keep a little on hand for coffeemergencies. Say the power's out and we don't have any ground, and we either don't want to start the generator just for the coffee grinder or are out of fuel or something. Or we're camping and didn't grind enough before we left. All this assuming we're out of The Good Tea because that'll do in a pinch. I've used it twice.

I have a 10 year old emergency stash.

I just go to coffee shops. I live in Seattle ffs (though I prefer the smaller and local shops, their food and coffee is more unique and tastes better, and they usually treat their employees way better than starbucks)