It's Sunday. You're not Marco Arment. You never bought into proprietary pod-based coffee machines. You're waiting for the AeroPress to solve its stained plastic problem. In the meantime, you need coffee but aren't dead inside enough to buy 3-in-1 mix.

You don't have a problem with global megacorporations. You've been known to enjoy a hazelnut latte. You have a kettle. Good news, Starbucks VIA is pretty good instant coffee.

Only recently launched, the lineup in Singapore is limited to Columbian, Italian Roast, and the seasonal Christmas Blend. This narrow focus actually presents a much more respectable image than the product enjoys in the U.S., where every yuppified sugary variation has been indulged.

Individual packaging means no chance of spoon-in-jar contamination. The differentiating word here, apart from Starbucks™, is "microground". It's a fine, almost inhalable powder that claims to include essential coffee oils that other instants lack. The result is reasonably close to traditional drip or pressed coffee, depending on how much water is used. Here's a thought: sell essential coffee oils at the cost of printer ink. Step 2: Profit!

It's still instant coffee, but also the only instant coffee that doesn't make you want to spend the rest of the weekend in the fetal position. At the very least, It'll tide you over until you cave and get that Nespresso Pixie.

Shop: Starbucks VIA Ready Brew