I tried supermarket coffee from Aldi, M&S, Tesco and more – one beat Nescafé

As a self-confessed coffee addict, the opportunity to taste test some instant coffees from the nation’s biggest supermarkets and compare them with an iconic brand seemed too good to miss. But it turned out to be slightly more difficult than I’d anticipated.

In an effort to keep a level playing field, I bought seven similarly priced supermarket coffees to line up alongside Nescafé. The 300g jar of the classic brand came to £7.25, while alternatives from Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer, were all picked up for less than £3.

But which was the best? And did any of the cheaper options (albeit for 100g less in quantity) do any better than the tried and tested Nescafé? Scroll down to find out…

8) Morrisons’ Full Roast – £2.35 for 200g

Morrisons Full Roast was a coffee that was somewhat less appealing to my taste. It was rich and less watery than others on the list, but its aroma wasn’t as pleasant.

Morrisons had a noticeably bitter taste. While some might appreciate this, it made it less enjoyable for me. Although it is 10p cheaper, I would still choose others if given the option.

7) Tesco’s Classic Instant Coffee – £2.35 for 200g

A distinctly more acidic flavour that left a strong aftertaste comparable to Morrisons’, Tesco’s “mellow and smooth” classic instant doesn’t quite reach the same levels as others.

It’s another option at £2.35, but I find it hard to rate it any higher than Morrisons.

6) Asda’s Rich Roast – £2.45 for 200g

Now we enter the realm of close similarity: Asda and Morrisons’ coffees come in seemingly identical jars and share a similarly light colour, with Asda’s costing 10p more.

In terms of taste, Asda’s “full-bodied” flavours were definitely discernible; it seemed to lack the richness of Aldi’s offering but was perhaps a touch less watery than Lidl’s.

However, as the most expensive choice on the list, it falls slightly below.

5) Lidl’s Bellarom Rich Roast – £2.09 for 200g

A watery coffee with an inviting aroma and rich flavour, this is one of the smoother offerings in the list and earned marks for being one of the cheapest of the bunch – 16p less than Asda, Tesco and Morrisons.

In terms of strength and flavour, it didn’t quite stack up to Aldi’s, but, despite this, I feel like it remains a solid budget option.

4) Aldi’s Barissimo Rich Roast – £2.09 for 200g

Another coffee promising “full and bold” flavours, Aldi’s offering matches cut-price German competitors Lidl’s £2.09, but tastes distinctly richer, with a more pleasing aroma and body.

It doesn’t have the same watery consistency and tastes stronger. Although this might not appeal to some, it pushed it over the finishing line, making it my preferred choice of the two.

3) Sainsbury’s Rich and Full Flavoured Rich Roast – £2.35 for 200g

Switching back to the realms of glass jars and darker granules, Sainsbury’s offering impressed me with its strength while boasting a smooth, full flavour and subtle aroma.

Coming in at the same price as Morrisons, this would easily be my choice if presented with the two options.

2) Nescafé Original – £7.25 for 300g

It seemed sensible to also find a home for the “full and bold” flavours purportedly offered by Nescafé Original in the rankings, and it now seems clear why Nescafé remains such an iconic brand.

I found Nescafé pleasantly strong, rich, and warming, with an inviting aroma. But, there was one supermarket brand that still beat it.

1) M&S’ Rich and Smooth Instant Coffee – £1.20 for 100g

We now arrive at the winner; Marks and Spencers‘ Rich and Smooth boasts all of the rich, full flavoured highlights mentioned above, but it still isn’t the most expensive by grams.

It’s a strong coffee with a pleasant acidic bite that’s not overpowering, balanced by a satisfying body. Indeed, I enjoyed it so much that I’d quite happily rank it even higher than Nescafé.