• Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
What's On

Missing dad’s remains found in house six years after he vanished as two arrested

2 August 2025

‘I’m 38 and live in a retirement village – I can’t believe how cheap the rent is’

2 August 2025

MIKEY SMITH: 11 unhinged Donald Trump moments as Epstein survivors accuse him of ‘cover up’

2 August 2025

Urgent signs you may have been poisoned and when to seek help

2 August 2025

‘I charge my seven-year-old son rent even though he’s still at school’

2 August 2025

F1 stewards issue statement after Max Verstappen penalty decision over towel incident

2 August 2025

Village known as ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ named as the most beautiful

2 August 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Trending
  • Missing dad’s remains found in house six years after he vanished as two arrested
  • ‘I’m 38 and live in a retirement village – I can’t believe how cheap the rent is’
  • MIKEY SMITH: 11 unhinged Donald Trump moments as Epstein survivors accuse him of ‘cover up’
  • Urgent signs you may have been poisoned and when to seek help
  • ‘I charge my seven-year-old son rent even though he’s still at school’
  • F1 stewards issue statement after Max Verstappen penalty decision over towel incident
  • Village known as ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ named as the most beautiful
  • Lola Young makes emotional confession as she marks reaching major milestone
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
England TimesEngland Times
Demo
  • Home
  • News
  • World
  • Politics
  • Money
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Tech
    • Web Stories
    • Spotlight
    • Press Release
England TimesEngland Times
Home » I tried instant coffee from Asda, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and more – £2.30 one was just as good as Nescafé
Lifestyle

I tried instant coffee from Asda, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and more – £2.30 one was just as good as Nescafé

By staff2 August 2025No Comments5 Mins Read

From Asda and Tesco to Waitrose and M&S, our coffee lover tried to find a supermarket brand that matched up to Nescafé and Kenco – here is how they ranked against the leading names

Morrisons' Savers Instant Coffee
I tried different brands of instant coffee to see which is best(Image: Angela Patrone)

As someone who’s never tried supermarket instant coffees, I was intrigued to see how they’d stack up against big names like Nescafé and Kenco. There’s something special about a fresh brew made with rich, aromatic coffee beans and a good dollop of milk.

But shelling out for three or four Costa coffees a week is starting to make a noticeable dent in my finances. In an effort to cut costs, I’ve decided to explore the world of instant coffee, taking in both leading brands and supermarket own labels.

To keep things fair, I chose similar types of instant coffees – all promising rich and smooth flavours – and added the same amount of coffee and milk as I usually do.

If I were to go for an instant coffee, it would typically be Nescafé, and I’ve rarely strayed from that. As the kettle started to boil, I was keen to get this taste test underway, reports the Express.

Supermarket and branded jars of instant coffee
The different brands of coffee on offer(Image: Angela Patrone)

1. Asda

The Asda coffee didn’t exactly get us off to a flying start. The aroma upon opening the pack left a lot to be desired, but the sight of large chunks of freeze-dried coffee gave me hope that less might deliver more in terms of strength.

Sadly, I was wrong.

While it provides a reasonably smooth sip, if you’re looking for a hearty kick of strong coffee, Asda’s Just Essential Instant Coffee, priced at £1.08, doesn’t quite deliver.

Rating: 4.5/10

2. Morrisons

Morrisons’ own-brand Savers Instant Coffee, coming in at a mere £1.15, is not one I’d readily recommend. On first whiff, it was practically odourless, and the faint smell it did release was oddly chemical.

Rating: 3/10

3. Tesco

Tesco’s own £1.15 coffee didn’t fare much better, emitting an aroma that seemed to confuse chemicals with coffee – hardly the best start.

The scent all but disappeared once hot water hit the cup, and the granules dissolved at breakneck speed, faster than most I’ve sampled. The taste was on the bitter side, but it wasn’t entirely terrible.

Rating: 4/10

4. Lidl

Lidl’s Bellarom Rich Roast instant coffee, priced at £1.79, is marketed as a “full flavoured instant coffee” with a four out of five strength rating – a statement I found quite optimistic.

Opening the jar revealed little to no aroma, and the coffee it produced was notably weak. It was a relief not to encounter any bitterness, but the coffee flavour was so subtle it was more like a lukewarm, milky drink.

Even after mixing two level teaspoons with hot water and adding milk, the flavour failed to make an impression.

Rating: 4.5/10

The Bellarom Rich Roast instant coffee from Lidl
Lidl’s offering scored 4.5 out of 10(Image: Angela Patrone)

5. Aldi

Aldi’s Alcafe Rich Roast coffee, which costs £1.99, caught me off guard with its unexpectedly sweet smell, which didn’t quite match up with its description. The flavour was mild and smooth, not quite hitting the mark of a top-notch coffee, but it was still somewhat pleasant.

Rating: 6/10

6. Sainsbury’s

This £2.30 coffee from Sainsbury’s was delightfully fragrant from the get-go, a characteristic not many others could claim. The coffee took its time to dissolve in water, but delivered a smooth blend with a pleasing coffee hit.

You could easily mistake it for Nescafé just by the taste.

Score: 8.5/10

7. M&S

Upon brewing a cup of M&S’ Rich and Smooth coffee, I noticed it was free of stray granules, much like Aldi’s offering, and had a gentle, smooth profile.

However, it didn’t quite deliver the caffeine kick I was after– but at a modest £1.20, I can’t grumble too much.

Score: 6/10

8. Waitrose

This Waitrose blend boasted a chocolatey aroma with a bitter end note, while undissolved granules lingered at the bottom of my mug. Despite its sweet scent, this £1.65 coffee left a harsh, bitter aftertaste.

Score: 3/10

9. Kenco

Expecting this coffee to be a top contender, given the brand’s popularity and its £7.75 price tag, I was surprised when it failed to impress me. The coffee was smooth but had a very subtle aroma and flavour.

Score: 6.5/10

10. Nescafé

The Nescafé original instant coffee is a familiar favourite. It was pleasant and smooth and – in simple terms – you get what you pay for: a decent brew.

However, in the current climate, £7.25 a jar is not something that many can justify on a stretched budget.

Rating: 8/10

Nescafé coffee
Nescafé is the leading brand when it comes to coffee(Image: Angela Patrone)

Verdict

When it comes to flavour, both Sainsbury’s and Nescafé hit the mark, but Sainsbury’s had a slight advantage for me, considering its cost. The coffee boasted a truly smooth texture and was generally quite pleasing to the palate.

I wouldn’t think twice about grabbing another jar on my next shop.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email

Related News

Tourists book ‘hotel’ for Italian holiday but arrive to something totally different

2 August 2025

Debenhams half price £139 egg chair is ‘so comfortable’ people fall asleep in it

2 August 2025

Six phrases self-centred people use in conversations each day

2 August 2025

15-minute lemon cheesecake recipe is ‘unbelievably moreish’ and requires no baking

2 August 2025

Man shares ‘massive red flag’ when choosing someone to date – and biggest turn-off

2 August 2025

Viral ‘loyalty test’ trend is destroying and breaking up real life couples

2 August 2025
Latest News

‘I’m 38 and live in a retirement village – I can’t believe how cheap the rent is’

2 August 2025

MIKEY SMITH: 11 unhinged Donald Trump moments as Epstein survivors accuse him of ‘cover up’

2 August 2025

Urgent signs you may have been poisoned and when to seek help

2 August 2025

‘I charge my seven-year-old son rent even though he’s still at school’

2 August 2025
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
Don't Miss
Sports

F1 stewards issue statement after Max Verstappen penalty decision over towel incident

By staff2 August 20250

Max Verstappen and Red Bull have been handed a warning for an incident that took…

Village known as ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ named as the most beautiful

2 August 2025

Lola Young makes emotional confession as she marks reaching major milestone

2 August 2025

Tourists book ‘hotel’ for Italian holiday but arrive to something totally different

2 August 2025
England Times
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
© 2025 England Times. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Go to mobile version