If you instinctively turn your nose up at the idea of instant coffee, hang with me for a few paragraphs. Reese Witherspoon recently told Travel + Leisure that her go-to travel coffee is Laird’s Superfood Instant Latte.
When my editor asked me to sample it, I winced. I’m just not an instant-coffee person—I almost exclusively drink my coffee black. If anything creamy crosses paths with my mug, it’s oat milk. So, the idea of sipping an instant latte made with coconut creamer, a sprinkle of sugar and four different mushroom extracts felt more like an assignment than a treat.
Laird Superfood Sweet and Creamy Instant Latte with Adaptogens, 5-Pack
Amazon
Don’t worry: This isn’t the part where I about-face and declare that instant coffee has changed my life.
My first challenge was actually getting my hands on the instant latte. The nearest store that carried Laird products was a Target, a good 20-plus minutes away, and according to its inventory, the instant latte wasn’t on the shelves. So if you go hunting for it too, don’t be surprised if you strike out locally. In the end, I did what any mildly impatient person does: I ordered it on Amazon.
EatingWell
Two days later, my package arrived. Inside the box were five packets, which shakes out to about $3 per latte, depending on your retailer. It’s not a steal, nor a splurge. The instructions were pleasantly straightforward: add hot water and stir. Still, I grabbed my trusty handheld frother because if I’m drinking this, I want it to be the best it could be. It took only seconds to get a silky-looking drink.
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At first glance, it looked more like a standard coffee-with-creamer situation than a latte. But it smelled delicious, like coffee with a hint of sweet, toasty coconut. And here’s where I’m glad you stuck around: The taste actually impressed me.
The mouthfeel was creamy—not full-on latte levels of velvety, but definitely richer than your average coffee with milk, and it was just sweet enough. The nutrition panel lists 8 grams of added sugar (about two teaspoons). I couldn’t taste the mushroom extracts at all, and there was zero bitterness lingering in the background. That said, the packaging doesn’t actually specify how much lion’s mane, chaga, maitake, or cordyceps you’re getting per packet—so your guess is as good as mine. And while these mushrooms are often linked to benefits like immune support or improved focus, the evidence for these powdered forms is limited. Without knowing the actual amounts used, it’s impossible to say whether you’re getting any real health boost—or simply a nice cup of coffee with some wellness undertones.
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Overall, I liked Reese Witherspoon’s favorite travel coffee. I genuinely did! I’m planning to toss the rest of the packets into my carry-on for my next early-morning flight. But for everyday life, I remain firmly, lovingly committed to my black drip coffee.
Shop More Coffee and Travel Accessories
Stanley Perfect-Brew Travel French Press Vacuum Mug
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Verve Instant Craft Coffee Sampler, 7-Pack
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AeroPress Go Plus Complete Travel Coffee System
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Nextmug Self-Heating Coffee Mug
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Zulay Kitchen Handheld Milk Frother
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At the time of publishing, the price started at $13.
