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Each week in the Filter US newsletter we cut through the noise to bring you smart, practical recommendations on how to live better – from what is worth buying to the tools, habits and ideas that actually last.
As the Filter US’s new editorial coordinator, I was thrilled that my first assignment allowed me to write about something I can’t live without: coffee. And I’ll confess, I consider myself quite the coffee snob. Every morning, I sit at my tiny New York City kitchen table, trying (and often failing) to solve a crossword puzzle, while enjoying my first cup of the day.
I’m devoted to Groundwork’s organic medium roast blend, which I brew in my trusty Moka pot. I also froth my soy milk in an electric frother to foamy perfection. If someone had suggested to me that I trade this perfected recipe for instant coffee, I’d probably have scoffed.
But I may need to reconsider.
Our team at the Filter US wanted to know if instant coffee truly deserved its less-than-favorable reputation. So we enlisted the help of Jonathan Deutsch and Rachel Sherman from the Drexel Food Lab, who conducted a series of blind taste tests with 84 people to find the best instant coffee. After testing 24 varieties, they narrowed them down to the best, and then tested those against drip coffees in a second test.
To our collective shock, 77% of participants favored instant coffee over drip. And among the instant coffees, it wasn’t the swanky third-wave options that prevailed.
“I was surprised. I thought they would do better,” Deutsch concedes. “I’m a sucker for a good story and also a sustainability focus, and so I saw some of this packaging and I was like, ‘Good for you!’”
But sometimes simplicity wins. “I feel like there’s certain iconic products where the upscale interpretation of it is almost always a fail,” Deutsch says. “Things like ketchup – it’s really hard to beat Heinz. It’s really hard to beat a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with a pastry chef’s version of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.”
Like those iconic brands, in the end, our best overall instant coffee is a common pick you can find at most grocery stores.
So, what does Deutsch start his day with? 365 Vienna roast from Whole Foods, made in a drip coffee maker set for 5.45am. “I think it’s the best quality-to-price ratio,” he says. “I’ve tried fancier coffee and I’ve been disappointed. I’ve decided life is too short to drink cheap, bad coffee. And that’s where I’ve sort of found our sweet spot at home.”
But having done this test, I wonder if he’ll swap his beloved drip for the convenience of an instant blend.
Best of: bath towels
There’s nothing worse than stepping out of the shower only to wrap yourself in a thin, scratchy bath towel.
So we enlisted the help of longtime product reviewer Jon Chan, who tested out 10 different brands of towels to figure out which ones are actually worth your dollar. He soaked them, dried them, measured them, and even sanded them to test durability.
Ultimately, Jon found a premium towel that “feels like a luxury bathrobe”, thanks in part to its long Turkish cotton fibers. At five times the thickness of our budget option, there’s no question that it’s on another level.
If you decide to splurge, Jon also wrote a guide to keeping your towels softer for longer based on the advice of experts, including one of the pros who handles the towels for a high-end hotel. Still launder your towels with pants and other garments? There are good reasons not to.
Read more: The best bath towels in the US, from fluffy to quick drying – tested
Lauren’s Picks
A few small upgrades I’m enjoying right now
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In the kitchen: Avocado toast with a side of eggs is my breakfast of choice, and this set of Calphalon ceramic nonstick pans makes cleanup a breeze.
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Small space living: This small clothing rack is perfect for my tiny New York City bedroom (and no, I don’t have a closet).
after newsletter promotion
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On the go: Wherever I go, my coffee goes with me. And as someone always on the move, this leakproof tumbler has been an absolute game-changer. Whether you’re drinking an instant brew or the trendy banana coffee, you’ll be rest assured your caffeine of choice won’t spill.
Put to the test: the best sleep masks
Juno DeMelo is no stranger to sleepless nights. After moving to the Pacific north-west, where the sun doesn’t set until 9pm in the summer, and having a baby in 2017, she’s tried everything – from earplugs to bamboo pajamas – to help improve her sleep.
Now, Juno can add sleep masks to her laundry list of methods she’s tried to help improve her sleep. She tested out two dozen varieties for the Filter, and the best overall was much more affordable than you might expect.
At home: a nail-free alternative for hanging picture frames
Hanging photos or an eye-catching new piece of art can be an easy way to spruce up your living space. But this often requires putting a nail hole through your wall, or hoping that adhesive strips will hold the frame in place. Both of these methods have their drawbacks, so we tried HangNailz, a new brand that claims to leave a hole so small, it only needs a dab of paint to cover.
Is it possible to improve on the tried and true hammer and nail? John Brandon sacrificed his own drywall to find out for the Filter, and found that the fishhook-inspired design performs much better than he expected.
Read the full story here: A new way to hang picture frames without leaving nail holes – tested
Get involved: best gift ever?
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Whether it’s a handmade quilt from your grandma, a car with a bow on it, or just the $10 tape measure that’s always there when you need it, we want to hear about the gifts that stood out over the years.
Send your stories to [email protected] with the subject line “Best gift ever”.
