As a savvy Costco shopper and coffee connoisseur, you‘ve probably picked up a jar or two of Kirkland Signature instant coffee. With its attractive price point and bold, smooth flavor, it‘s no surprise that Kirkland instant coffee is one of Costco‘s most popular products. But have you ever stopped to wonder who actually manufactures this beloved pantry staple? In this in-depth article, we‘ll explore the origins of Kirkland instant coffee, evaluate its quality and value through an expert lens, and compare it to other leading instant coffee brands on the market.
The Rise of Private Label Coffee
Before we dive into the specifics of Kirkland instant coffee, let‘s set the stage with some context on the private label coffee market. Private label products, also known as store brands, have been gaining significant traction in recent years across all consumer packaged goods categories. Coffee is no exception. According to market research firm Statista, private label coffee accounted for nearly 25% of all ground coffee sales in the United States in 2020, up from just 13% in 2011.^1
Instant coffee, in particular, has seen a surge in private label offerings. A 2021 report by Mordor Intelligence found that private label instant coffee is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% between 2021-2026, outpacing the overall instant coffee market growth.^2 Retailers are seizing the opportunity to offer high-quality instant coffee options under their own brands at competitive prices. Costco‘s Kirkland Signature is a prime example.
Costco‘s Private Label Strategy
Costco Wholesale Corporation is known for its sprawling warehouses packed with bulk-sized products at bargain prices. But Costco is more than just a reseller of other companies‘ products. The retailer has built a loyal following with its Kirkland Signature private label, which spans everything from groceries and wine to clothing and home goods.
The Kirkland brand was launched in 1995 and has become synonymous with quality and value, often rivaling or even surpassing name brands in consumer testing. By leveraging its immense purchasing power and partnering with leading manufacturers, Costco is able to offer Kirkland products at prices that are typically 20% lower than traditional brands.^3
Coffee is a cornerstone category for Kirkland Signature, with options including whole bean, ground, K-Cup pods, and of course, instant coffee. But who exactly does Costco trust to produce its Kirkland coffee lineup? Let‘s uncover the expert behind the beloved Colombian instant coffee.
The Maker of Kirkland Colombian Instant Coffee
Kirkland Signature 100% Colombian Instant Coffee, the retailer‘s most popular instant coffee offering, is manufactured by Westrock Coffee Company, LLC. Formerly known as the Westrock Coffee Exchange, Westrock has been a major player in the coffee industry since its founding in 2009. The North Little Rock, Arkansas-based company has grown into a global coffee and tea supplier, serving many of the world‘s largest retailers and restaurant chains.^4
Westrock operates as a vertically integrated coffee company, managing every step of the process from sourcing green coffee beans to roasting, grinding, and packaging the finished product. The company has a direct trade model, partnering with farmers in over 35 origin countries to ensure sustainability, traceability, and fair compensation. In fact, 80% of Westrock‘s coffee is purchased through long-term farmer contracts.
When it comes to instant coffee, Westrock is a pioneer in the freeze-drying process. The company invested $50 million to build the first major freeze-dried instant coffee facility in the United States, which began production in 2020.^5 This state-of-the-art plant has the capacity to produce more than 4,000 metric tons of freeze-dried coffee per year.
The Science of Instant Coffee Production
So how exactly does Westrock transform raw coffee beans into the convenient crystals in your jar of Kirkland instant coffee? The process begins with 100% Colombian Arabica coffee beans, which are known for their balanced acidity, nutty sweetness, and smooth mouthfeel.
The beans are roasted to a dark color to develop rich, bold flavors that can withstand the extraction and drying processes. After roasting, the beans are ground into a fine powder and brewed into a concentrated coffee extract using hot water.
This liquid coffee extract is then chilled to a slushy consistency before undergoing freeze-drying. In the freeze-drying chamber, the temperature is lowered to below freezing while the pressure is gradually reduced. This causes the water content in the extract to sublimate directly from a solid to a gas, leaving behind granules of pure coffee.
Compared to other instant coffee manufacturing methods like spray drying, freeze-drying is a slower and more energy-intensive process. However, it produces instant coffee granules that are more porous and better at retaining the aromas and flavors of the original coffee.^6 The result is a higher-quality instant coffee that comes closer to the taste of fresh-brewed.
Kirkland Instant Coffee vs. the Competition
Now that we know the process behind Kirkland instant coffee, let‘s see how it stacks up against other popular instant coffee brands in terms of quality and value. We‘ll compare Kirkland Colombian Instant Coffee to four major competitors:
| Brand | Avg Price per Oz | Expert Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkland Colombian | $0.88 | 4.5/5 |
| Nescafé Taster‘s Choice | $1.74 | 4/5 |
| Starbucks VIA Colombia | $3.63 | 4.5/5 |
| Eight O‘Clock Colombian | $1.18 | 3.5/5 |
| Maxwell House Colombian | $0.99 | 3/5 |
*Pricing data based on average retail prices across major retailers as of June 2023. Expert ratings are from Coffee Review, Coffee or Die Magazine, and The Wirecutter.
As you can see, Kirkland instant coffee offers significant savings compared to premium name brands like Starbucks and Nescafé, while still achieving top marks for quality and taste. A 16-ounce jar of Kirkland Colombian Instant Coffee sells for around $14 at Costco, which comes out to just $0.88 per ounce. That‘s less than half the price of Nescafé Taster‘s Choice and a quarter of the price of Starbucks VIA Colombia.
In blind taste tests conducted by Coffee Review, Kirkland Colombian Instant Coffee scored a 91 out of 100, earning praise for its "deep, richly sweet" flavor with notes of "toffee, clove, pipe tobacco, fresh-cut cedar."^7 That‘s on par with Starbucks VIA and well ahead of value brands like Maxwell House and Eight O‘Clock.
Organic and Fair Trade Options
In addition to its standard Colombian instant coffee, Costco also offers a Kirkland Signature Organic variety. This instant coffee is made with 100% organic Arabica beans that are certified by the USDA. It also carries the Fair Trade Certified seal, ensuring that the coffee farmers were paid fair wages and provided with resources for community development.
A 16-ounce jar of Kirkland Signature Organic Instant Coffee sells for around $18 at Costco, or $1.13 per ounce. While that‘s slightly more expensive than the non-organic version, it‘s still an excellent value for a high-quality organic instant coffee. Comparable organic options from brands like Mount Hagen and Four Sigmatic can cost $2 to $4 per ounce.
Nutritional Considerations
For health-conscious coffee drinkers, instant coffee can be an attractive option. Because the coffee is brewed and then dehydrated, instant coffee contains less oil and sediment than regular brewed coffee. This means it is slightly lower in calories and fat.
A typical 8-ounce cup of instant coffee contains:
- 4 calories
- 0 grams of fat
- 0.3 grams of protein
- 0.7 grams of carbohydrates
Compared to an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee, which has:
- 5 calories
- 0.1 grams of fat
- 0.5 grams of protein
- 0 grams of carbohydrates
However, the difference is minimal, and both instant and brewed coffee are low-calorie beverages that can be part of a balanced diet. It‘s important to note that these values are for black coffee without any added cream, sugar, or other mix-ins.
When it comes to caffeine, there is little difference between instant and regular coffee. According to the USDA, an 8-ounce cup of instant coffee contains 93 milligrams of caffeine on average, compared to 96 milligrams for brewed coffee.^8
A serving size of Kirkland Colombian Instant Coffee is listed as 1 rounded teaspoon, or about 2 grams of granules. This serving contains 57 milligrams of caffeine, which is on the lower end compared to some other instant coffee brands. Starbucks VIA, for example, contains 130-140 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving.
The Instant Coffee Comeback
While instant coffee has long been stigmatized as an inferior product, that perception is starting to change. The global instant coffee market was valued at $12.2 billion in 2021 and is forecasted to reach $17.3 billion by 2027.^9 This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including convenience, affordability, and improved quality.
Younger consumers, in particular, are embracing instant coffee as a quick and easy alternative to brewing a pot at home or stopping by a coffee shop. A 2020 survey by the National Coffee Association found that 48% of American millennials drink instant coffee, up from 42% in 2019.^10 The rise of premium instant coffee options and innovative packaging formats like single-serve sticks are helping to elevate the instant coffee experience.
Expert Tips for Brewing Instant Coffee
While instant coffee is undeniably convenient, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure a better-tasting cup:
-
Start with fresh water. Use cold, filtered water for the best flavor. Avoid using hot tap water, which can contain off-flavors from your pipes.
-
Measure carefully. Use the recommended ratio of instant coffee crystals to water for a balanced cup. For Kirkland Colombian Instant Coffee, that‘s 1 rounded teaspoon per 8 ounces of water.
-
Mix thoroughly. Make sure to stir the coffee until all the crystals are fully dissolved. This helps to evenly distribute the flavor and avoid any clumps.
-
Adjust to taste. Feel free to customize your instant coffee by adding milk, cream, sugar, or other flavorings. You can also mix instant coffee with hot milk instead of water for a creamier beverage.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Kirkland Signature instant coffee is a high-quality, budget-friendly option for java lovers looking for convenience without sacrificing flavor. Manufactured by Westrock Coffee Company using a state-of-the-art freeze-drying process and 100% Colombian Arabica beans, Kirkland instant coffee delivers rich, smooth taste that outperforms many higher-priced competitors.
As a discerning Costco shopper and coffee enthusiast, I recommend keeping a jar of Kirkland instant coffee on hand for those hectic mornings or when you need a quick caffeine fix on the go. And if you prefer to shop online, you can also find Kirkland instant coffee on Amazon, Costco.com, and other e-commerce sites.
Whether you‘re a die-hard coffee aficionado or just looking to save time and money on your daily brew, Kirkland instant coffee is definitely worth a try. With its unbeatable combination of quality and value, it‘s no wonder this Costco staple has become a pantry essential for millions of savvy shoppers.
