In a surprising turn for the UK's coffee market, discount retailer Lidl has received widespread acclaim for its in-house instant coffee, with numerous shoppers declaring it superior to a popular premium Nescafe product. Coffee remains one of the nation's most cherished beverages, with many Britons consuming multiple cups daily. While coffee shops and chains abound, making coffee at home offers a cost-effective alternative, leading to a constant search for the best instant coffee at the most reasonable price.
Lidl's Bellarom Barista Instant Coffee Gains Favour
Lidl's Bellarom Barista Instant Coffee has been lauded by customers, who note its striking resemblance to Nescafe Azera Americano instant coffee, even down to the packaging—both come in silver tins with orange lids. Nescafe's premium offering is crafted with a blend of soluble coffee and 5% finely ground roasted Arabica and Robusta beans, designed to deliver a barista-style Americano experience at home. However, Lidl's version is being branded as even better by many enthusiasts.
Shoppers' Reviews Highlight Value and Taste
On Reddit, a discussion about the best instant coffee brands in the UK sparked enthusiastic responses. One user exclaimed, "Absolutely love the Lidl own brand version of the Nescafe Azera, it’s under 3 quid and it’s delicious." Another added, "I’m pleased you have suggested that, Nescafé Azera is so expensive unless you get lucky and it’s on offer!!" A third shared a different preference, stating, "I love Lidl’s Colombian roast. Red label. Nothing comes close," while someone else simply endorsed "Lidl’s."
In another Reddit thread, users were equally impressed with Lidl's Azera-inspired coffee. One person remarked, "The Lidl knock off Azera is actually nicer than the thing they copied. I regularly get it, as I tried it 1 week and found it to be nice." Another commented, "Have you tried the Lidl knock off Azera? I used to buy the proper stuff, then one week tried the Lidl version as somebody on here had mentioned it. I’ve never bought Azera since, I actually prefer the knock off, it’s nice. The Aldi one isn’t as nice, though." A third user provided detailed advice, noting, "The Lidl one is just right. They do 2 different ones, there’s the orange lid one which is the Azera knock off, but then there’s another in a virtually identical tin, with a different coloured lid (blue or black) and it’s a darker roast, I didn’t really like that one. The orange lid is worth a go, though."
Other Supermarkets Also Receive Praise
While Lidl garnered significant attention, other supermarkets were not overlooked. Waitrose and Tesco received commendations for their instant coffee offerings. Marks and Spencer's own-brand coffee, in particular, was highlighted by several Reddit users. One said, "My favourite at the moment is M&S own brand instant coffee. It’s comparable in price to others and has a nice rounded flavour." Another agreed, "I'm into M&S Italian blend lately," while a third added, "I love M&S own brand gold roast." An additional user noted, "M&S own brand, as usual, is consistently a good product. Not the best, but worth the price."
This feedback underscores a growing trend where budget-friendly supermarket brands are challenging established premium names in the instant coffee sector, offering consumers quality alternatives without the hefty price tag.
