The world of wellness products is vast and confusing. In our new series, Well Spent,听国产吃瓜黑料听staffers听recommend the hidden gems that they鈥re unabashedly obsessed with.
My morning routine used to听always include听a cup of pour-over coffee. It set me on the right track each day: I would look forward to听smelling the听freshly ground beans,听pouring听hot water into the grounds, and watching meditatively for two minutes as the java dripped into the carafe. But one morning in late January, I slept past my alarm and rushed to get ready for work. With no time to make coffee my usual way, I grabbed a sample of 听and added water, my caffeine craving outweighing my inner coffee snob.
I didn鈥檛 have high expectations. I thought instant coffee was reserved for backpacking and travel, a听benchwarmer to the original. Most to-go versions have a burnt, one-note flavor that鈥檚 only acceptable on groggy mornings at the campground (and even then it鈥檚 questionable).听But after mixing听the powder with hot water, I took a sip鈥攁nd was sold.
It鈥檚 now my go-to morning drink. It might not have the robust taste you get with an authentic cup, but the beverage, consisting of a smooth coconut creamer mixed with freeze-dried arabica coffee, is semisweet and delightful to sip on the go or when I鈥檓 checking email.
With 13 grams of carbohydrates per serving, it听keeps me satiated until lunchtime听when paired with a light听breakfast.听I also love mixing coffee听with collagen peptides for additional protein. (Collagen may help joint health, but the jury鈥檚 still out听on that听research.)听This听coffee鈥檚 blend of sodium, sugar, and fat听does a better job of masking the collagen鈥檚 bitter taste than a regular cup of joe.
While I鈥檒l never completely abandon my time-intensive pour-overs (they鈥檙e just too good!), I now reserve them for special occasions. The convenience of听Instafuel听($27 for 16 ounces, which makes 16 12-ounce听cups of coffee), coupled with its well-balanced taste, makes it听a great alternative for busy weekday mornings鈥攚hich is why听I recently bought two more bags.
