Is it coffee? Is it dessert? And does the “Specialty Coffee Beverage” actually live up to the label? 

Let’s be honest: in the professional culinary world, “instant coffee” is usually a dirty word. 

I remember my days on the line, prepping for a brutal Sunday brunch service. The espresso machine was a sacred altar. We dialed in the grind every morning, obsessing over the tamp pressure, watching the extraction like hawks to ensure that perfect, golden layer of crema, that holy grail of coffee oils and CO2 that signifies a perfect shot. If you had walked into my kitchen and offered me a tin of powder that promised the same result with just hot water, I probably would have laughed you out of the walk-in fridge. 

But here is the secret that chefs don’t always tell you: when we are at home, or it’s 3:00 PM on a Tuesday and we just want something comforting, we aren’t always firing up a $5,000 La Marzocco. Sometimes, we just want something that tastes good, feels good, and requires zero effort. 

That is the headspace I was in when I first heard about the Starbucks Crema Collection Premium Instant – Salted Caramel. 

I have been hunting for this product since the press release dropped. There is something fascinating about the intersection of high-end branding and “just add water” convenience. However, the grocery gods were not smiling on me. My local shelves were barren for weeks. I was genuinely starting to wonder if it was a regional exclusive I’d missed out on. 

Then, finally, it happened. A couple of weeks ago, tucked away in the coffee aisle, I spotted the sleek metal tin. It immediately found a home in my basket. 

I went in with a healthy dose of skepticism but an equal measure of hope. I mean, it’s Starbucks. They revolutionized the American palate for coffee. But the label said, “Specialty Coffee Beverage.” What does that even mean? Is it coffee? Is it a chemistry experiment? 

Let’s brew a cup and find out. 

The First Look: Premium Vibes with a Side of Chaos 

Before we boil the water, we must talk about the packaging. In the world of food retail, we eat with our eyes first, and that extends to the container. 

The canister itself is lovely. It’s metal, sturdy, and has a premium tactility to it that separates it from the plastic jars of generic crystals sitting next to it. It feels significant in your hand. 

However, once you start reading, the “premium” vibe gets a little confused. The graphics give off a cluttered, “what else can we call out?” energy. As a former chef, it reminds me of a menu designed by committee, where the marketing department, the legal team, and the graphic designer all fought for real estate. You’ve got flavor notes, brewing instructions, catchy adjectives, and an asterisk added for good measure. It feels like the various departments all wanted to make sure their specific contribution made it onto the label. 

But, I’m nitpicking here. We aren’t here to review graphic design; we’re here to review flavor. 

The Ritual: Aroma and Appearance 

The instructions are simple, which is exactly what you want from an instant product. They call for “1.5 teaspoons of mix per 8fl oz of hot water.” 

I grabbed my favorite mug, scooped three half teaspoons (for precision, obviously), and poured. 

The Aroma  

This is where the product shines immediately. The moment the water hit the powder, the aroma of caramel was instantaneous. And importantly, it was pleasant. Often, artificial caramel flavorings can smell chemical or overly saccharine, like burnt plastic. This smelled buttery, warm, and inviting. It triggered that immediate Pavlovian response; my mouth started watering before I even stirred. 

The Appearance 

The mixture bloomed into a creamy caramel color. The instructions explicitly call for you to stir it fully to activate the “crema.” I gave it a vigorous stir, and true to the promise, a foam appeared at the top. 

Now, let’s manage expectations. Is it the thick, rich, persistent crema you get from a pulled shot of espresso? No. It is slight. But it is there. It separates the drink visually, giving it that “latte” look rather than the flat, black look of standard coffee. 

The “Asterisk” Crisis: Flavor vs. The Label 

The label gives you an option: enjoy “as is” or add milk. Being thorough, I decided to test the “Specialty Coffee Beverage” (there is that phrase again) both ways. 

Tasting “As Directed” (1.5 tsp + Water) 

Here is where the heartbreak happened. When prepared exactly according to the instructions, the flavor profile is… ghost-like. There is a hint of coffee, a whisper of caramel, and a suggestion of salt, but it’s incredibly watery. It lacks body. 

Tasting with Milk 

I thought, “Okay, maybe it needs fat to carry the flavor.” I added a splash of milk. Unfortunately, this just diluted the already weak structure. The flavor essentially vanished. 

The Fine Print 

This led me to investigate the label again. There is a bold callout that says the canister “Makes Up To 14 8 Fl Oz Cups”*. 

See that asterisk? That asterisk is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It directs you to microscopic script warning: “When Prepared As Directed.” 

This is a classic industry move. 1.5 teaspoons isn’t enough to deliver a robust flavor experience. However, using only 1.5 teaspoons keeps the caloric count at a marketable 70 calories per serving. It feels like a tug-of-war between the Flavor Scientists (who know it needs more powder) and the Nutrition Compliance team (who want to keep the numbers low). 

The Chef’s Fix: Cracking the Ratio 

I wasn’t ready to give up. The aroma was too good to let this fail. I decided to ignore the instructions and trust my palate. 

I started playing with the ratios. 1.5 teaspoons was weak. 2 teaspoons was better. 

The Magic Number 

I landed on 2.25 teaspoons for an 8oz mug. 

Suddenly, the drink woke up. At this concentration, the promised “Smooth & Buttery Notes” actually arrived. 

• Mouthfeel: This is the biggest improvement. At this ratio, the liquid develops a silky, creamy viscosity that coats the tongue pleasantly. It feels indulgent. 
• Flavor: The caramel becomes distinct, buttery and sweet, balanced by the coffee bitterness. The salt is still subtle, but it does its job of rounding out the sweetness. 

The Foam Reality Check  

Despite my success with the flavor, the visual promise of the label remained elusive. The picture shows a thick, luxuriant layer of foam. I tried everything to replicate it. I stirred. I whisked. I even put the hot mixture into a sealed container and shook it like a cocktail (carefully!). 

The result? I could never achieve more than about an eighth of an inch of foam. It dissipates relatively quickly, too. It’s disappointing if you are buying it solely for that cappuccino aesthetic, but it doesn’t ruin the drink. 

The Verdict 

So, where do we land on the Starbucks Crema Collection Salted Caramel? 

It is a complicated relationship. 

On one hand, with my adjusted ratio, it produces a very nice cup of coffee. The smooth coffee notes are there, the creaminess is satisfying, and the aroma is genuinely comforting. It is a fantastic afternoon treat when you want something sweet and caffeinated but don’t want to drive to a café or make a mess in the kitchen. 

On the other hand, I feel a little bit like Starbucks and Nestlé are gaslighting us with the math. Like they have to know that “as directed,” this drink is a shadow of what it could be. 

The Practical Takeaway  

If you buy this product (and I think you should, if you like caramel lattes), you need to accept that the “14 Cups” claim is a fantasy. 

With my adjusted ratio of 2.25 teaspoons to get actual flavor, you are looking at yielding about 9 full 8oz cups per tin, not 14. That changes the value proposition a bit, but for the convenience and the flavor quality, it might still be worth it for you. 

Who should try this? 

• The “3 PM Slump” Crowd: Perfect for an office drawer or a quick pick-me-up at home. 
• The Sweet Tooth: This is definitely more of a dessert beverage than a serious coffee drink. 
• The Non-Barista: If you have zero coffee equipment but want something that tastes “fancy,” this is your winner. 

At the end of the day, food is about enjoyment. Once I stopped fighting the instructions and made the drink the way my palate wanted it, I genuinely enjoyed it. It’s a velvety, buttery little escape in a mug, even if the foam didn’t quite reach the heights promised on the tin. 

I’d love to hear from you! Have you tried the Crema Collection yet? Do you follow the instructions on instant mixes, or do you measure with your heart (and your tastebuds) like I do? Let me know in the comments below!