Ultimately, it’s a matter of taste. Heather Perry, CEO at Klatch Coffee, says drip coffee is absolutely better than instant—but when she’s camping and only has a fire, instant tastes pretty good. “In all seriousness though, instant has come a really long way and is much more than just something to fill in when you don't have electricity—but in my opinion, a fresh pot of drip coffee is definitely superior.”   Sean Stewart, founder and director of Good Citizen Coffee, also admits that he would generally respond with a resounding yes. “However, with the rise of specialty coffee in the instant market, the drop is not as noticeable as it once was.” In fact, he says drip-quality instant coffee is soon going to be a market standard. But for right now, Greg Dawson, director of coffee at Bellwether Coffee, says drip coffee is fresher and can deliver a much more nuanced and richer flavor. “Most instant coffee is made by brewing large batches of coffee and then crystalizing the liquid with large flash freezers.” He admits that boutique coffee roasters have really made strides in the instant-coffee market but says, “even the best quality instant doesn’t give you the depth of flavor, freshness, or customizability that fresh brewing does.” This is due, in large part, to the fact that you can grind beans before making drip coffee. “Freshly ground beans make all the difference in the world,” Dawson says.