I only recently started drinking coffee - wasn't interested in it before at all. I've heard that ground coffee tastes way better, but it's also more expensive. Maybe instant will be enough for me while I figure out what I actually like? Or should I jump straight to beans and a coffee machine?
Instant is a great way to start if you're not sure about your preferences: it's cheap, convenient, and doesn't require any equipment. When I first started drinking coffee, I also stuck with instant for a few months until I figured out whether I even liked the drink and what flavors I preferred. Ground coffee really does taste better, but you need a coffee maker or at least a French press for it - switching to beans right away only makes sense if you've already decided that coffee is here to stay.
If your budget allows, skip instant and go with ground coffee and a regular coffee maker (a Moka pot or French press won't cost you much). The taste will be substantially better, and it won't strain your wallet - way cheaper than changing your habits later and buying more gear. Plus ground coffee keeps well and doesn't take up much space.
Maybe try ground coffee in a cezve? 😊 It's honestly the cheapest way to make good coffee - a cezve costs next to nothing, and the taste is already way better than instant. If you figure out later that coffee is your thing, you can always move on to more complicated brewing methods.
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