For some reason I think of it as an older concept. Now Starbucks and coffee chains are popular.
Seinfeld on instant coffee https://youtu.be/uDrh5pujB9I?si=VdlVEREjMTNd2Bs7
Highlighting carlcook’s advice:
dissolve in cold water, ONLY THEN add hot water. The rationale behind it is that aromatics evaporate too quickly when the instant powder is infused with too/boiling hot water.
Look into an Aeropress.
It’d work comfortably in camping or office situations. Not as easy as instant coffee but much, much better.
I’ve seen 'em and I’ve used them in the past. They’re a fine solution, but they still require cleaning and a couple of satchels of Taster’s Choice or whatever is easier on the KP and also much smaller than a giant coffee syringe. Showing up at the pay-for-pitch in the station wagon is one thing, but usually all my stuff needs to either fit in my panniers or my backback.
There are guys I’ve hiked with who have them, though. To each their own.
I’m with you on this one, too. I prefer my jet boil and instant coffee (or matcha) compared to an Aeropress.
you don’t want to spend 10 of your 15 minute break making coffee with the aeropress. I have one and it makes fantastic espresso but it’s a giant pain in the ass to get one cup out of (to be fair I have never tried pre-ground beans I use a hand grinder with it so that might change this calculus).
I haven’t used it in years when I go camping I buy instant espresso instead. Only tastes 80% as good but it’s 90% less effort, mess, space used up etc.
I interpret your mention of pre-ground beans as an item that is bought, but if you need fresh coffee on the go you can just pre-grind them for yourself and take them with you.
I personally have an electric coffee grinder so my pour over is done in about five minutes, then I let it cool and take it with me in a thermos. Though I also only drink 1, max 2 coffees a day.