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Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee vs Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast

Buy Café Bustelo Supreme if you want a bolder, darker cup and the most flavor per spoon; buy Starbucks Premium Instant if you want a smoother, milder cup with chocolate and nut notes and the flexibility of hot or iced. Bustelo scores higher with owners (4.6 vs 4.2) and its freeze-dried form keeps aroma better than standard instant. Starbucks uses microground Arabica and is the easier everyday sip for people who find dark roast harsh.

  • Choose the Café Bustelo Supreme if you drink your coffee black, like a strong dark-roast punch, and want freeze-dried granules that hold their aroma.
  • Choose the Starbucks Premium Instant if you prefer a smooth medium roast with chocolate and nut notes and want to stir it into iced water as easily as hot.

Prices

  • Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee: $8.95 at Uber Eats (checked today)
  • Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast: $9.10 at eBay (last seen Nov 9)
  • Difference: the Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee is $0.15 cheaper than the Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast at the latest prices (Nov 9 and Nov 10)
Café Bustelo
Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee

Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee

4.6(273 ratings)
$8.95at Uber EatsChecked 5 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Uber Eats
Pros
  • Freeze-dried granules keep aroma and flavor intact
  • Strong dark roast that stands up to milk
  • Gluten free and Kosher
  • Highest owner rating of the two
Cons
  • Too intense for drinkers who like mild coffee
  • Only suggested for hot preparation
  • Small 3.52 oz tin empties fast for daily drinkers
Starbucks
Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast

Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast

4.2(166 ratings)
$9.10at eBayChecked Nov 9
See all prices and details
Visit eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

Pros
  • Smooth medium roast with chocolate and nut notes
  • Microground coffee gives more body than plain instant
  • Works in hot or iced water
  • About 35 cups per tin
Cons
  • Lower owner rating than Bustelo
  • No gluten-free or Kosher certification listed
  • Milder flavor can taste thin next to a dark roast

What separates them

Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant CoffeeStarbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast
Roast and flavorDark, strong, medium-bodied cup with a bold edgeMedium roast, smooth mouth-feel with chocolate and nut notes
ProcessingFreeze dried, which locks in aroma and flavorInstant blended with microground coffee
Bean origin100% Colombian ArabicaArabica beans sourced for Starbucks, roasted in North America
Hot vs icedBuilt for hot water or milkStirs into hot or iced water
Owner ratings4.6 out of 5 from 273 ratings4.2 out of 5 from 166 ratings
Tin size3.52 oz3.17 oz, about 35 cups per tin
DietaryGluten free, Kosher, no allergensNo gluten-free or Kosher claim listed
Style matchCuban-style espresso intensity in instant formCafé-style medium roast closer to a drip cup

Price history

$11.99$5.29
Nov 3Nov 10
  • Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee: lowest $5.29 on Nov 10 at Walmart.
  • Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast: lowest $7.99 on Nov 10.

Prices at every store

Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee

  • Uber EatsNew

    In stock

    $8.95Checked 5 h ago
    Visit Uber Eats
  • Vitacost.comNew

    In stock

    $9.36Free shippingChecked 5 h ago
    Visit Vitacost.com
  • TargetNew

    In stock

    $7.79+ $10.99 shippingChecked 5 h ago
    Visit Target
  • ShiptNew

    In stock

    $7.79+ $17.00 shippingChecked 5 h ago
    Visit Shipt

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
All 9 stores and price history →

Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast

  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $10.22+ $5.99 shippingChecked 5 h ago
    Visit Walmart
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by amazingdealsinc3 (98.8% positive, 1,400 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $9.10Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit eBay
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $26.97Checked Nov 9
    Visit Amazon

Also available at

  • Schnuck MarketsCheck price at Schnuck Markets
  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
  • walgreens.comCheck price at walgreens.com

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 3 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecCafé Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant CoffeeStarbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast
multipack_quantity11
size3.52 oz3.17 oz
Roast LevelMedium RoastMedium Roast, Ground Coffee
Weight/pack. (oz)3.523.17
Region Of OriginColombiaNorth America
FeaturesKosher—
Form TypeFreeze Dried Instant—
Roast TypeDark—
AromaAroma stays locked in (due to freeze-dry proces…—
Flavor ProfileMedium—
CertificationsKosher—
Caffeine ContentNaturally Caffeinated—
Show all 27 specsShow fewer specs
SpecCafé Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant CoffeeStarbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast
Free OfGluten Free—
ContainsColumbian coffee—
Dietary RestrictionsGluten Free—
Highlighted Ingredients100% Colombian Coffee—
AllergensNo allergens—
Container TypeJar—
Variety PackNo—
Brewing MethodJust Add Hot Water or Milk—
Grind SizeMedium—
Serving Suggestion

What reviewers say

Café Bustelo Supreme Freeze Dried Instant Coffee

  • 4.6 / 5273 ratings

Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 273 ratings, buyers mostly praise the strong flavor and convenience. Complaints center on the boldness and the small jar size.

What people mention
  • FlavorPraisedBuyers describe it as strong and rich for an instant coffee.
  • DissolvingPraisedReviewers say it dissolves quickly in hot water or milk.
  • StrengthMixedSome find the bold roast too intense or bitter.
  • Jar sizeCriticisedDaily drinkers say the small jar runs out fast.

Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast

  • 4.2 / 5166 ratings

Buyers of Starbucks instant generally rate it above standard supermarket instant for smoothness and flavor, though some find it pricey for what it is.

What people mention
  • TastePraisedBuyers describe it as smooth with chocolate and nut notes, less harsh than basic instant.
  • ValueMixedSome say the per-cup cost is high for instant coffee.
  • ConveniencePraisedStirs into hot or cold water with no equipment.
  • Vs brewedCriticisedSome find it falls short of brewed Starbucks coffee.

Questions and answers

Which is better for iced coffee?
Starbucks Premium Instant. It is made to stir into iced water, and its medium roast stays smooth when cold. Bustelo is built for hot water or milk and turns harsh over ice.
Which tastes stronger?
Café Bustelo Supreme. It is a dark roast with a bold, espresso-like edge. Starbucks is a medium roast with chocolate and nut notes and a softer finish.
Does freeze-dried coffee taste better than regular instant?
Usually yes. Freeze drying removes water without heat, so more aroma survives. Bustelo uses that process; Starbucks relies on microground coffee for body instead.
Which lasts longer in the tin?
Both are dry instant coffee that keeps for months once opened, sealed and kept away from moisture. Bustelo's 3.52 oz tin holds slightly more than Starbucks' 3.17 oz.
Is the Starbucks tin worth stepping up to over Bustelo?
Only if you want a milder cup or drink iced coffee. If you want the strongest black cup and the better owner rating, Bustelo is the pick.

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More comparisons

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  • Starbucks Premium Instant Medium Roast vs Mount Hagen Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best freeze dried coffee
Hot
—
Dietary NeedsGluten-free—
Type—Instant
Roast—Medium Roast
No. of Packs (pack)—1
Flavor—Medium Roast