AS the cost of living continues to soar, caffeine lovers are shunning takeaway coffees from big brand baristas in favour of starting the day sipping a ready-made supermarket version instead.
Sales of the at-home hot drink have risen 12 per cent to £672million in one year.
But how does the self-service caffeine hit compare to a cup from your usual chain?
Laura Stott sampled a selection of cost-saving frothy cappuccinos and gave her verdict and a score out of five for each.
6x17g, £2, Morrisons
12% coffee, 33p a cup
SITTING down for a fresh cappuccino at Costa costs from £4 upwards, so while these sachets were among the most expensive, you’ll still save by switching.
A barista-made brew traditionally contains espresso, steamed milk, foam plus a sprinkling of chocolate.
So there is a lot less faffing around with the home version.
Simply tip into a mug and top up with 200g of boiling water.
No need to add extra milk or sugar.
These are made with skimmed milk and 12 per cent coffee for a good roasted flavour and aroma.
Quick and easy, but not very foamy.
RATING: 3/5
8×14.8g, £1.90, Sainsbury’s
15% coffee, 23p a cup
WITH 15 per cent coffee, these contain a powerful caffeine hit and are great for those needing a morning wake-up.
Made with skimmed milk, just add water and the end result is not bad at all.
A good stir whips up a decent froth without the hassle of steaming a separate jug of milk.
So easy – and you have a lovely, creamy coffee in less than a minute.
Sprinkle with chocolate to finish.
I’d be more than happy with a mug of this, and I’m not sure I’d be able to tell the difference if it was served to me in a coffee shop.
Except on price, of course.
RATING: 4/5
8x17g, 95p, Aldi
11% coffee, 11p a cup
A PERFECTLY decent, ready-mixed offering from Aldi which, once made up in a mug, ticks all the boxes of milky, warm and sweet with adequate coffee flavour.
There’s nothing wrong with the contents, but I found it quite flat and bland.
It feels like everything in this drink needs to be amplified, from the low caffeine to the froth.
Even the smell was mediocre and more sweet than enticing.
And a decent foamy milk to begin with soon dissolved.
A great price, but average results, so not necessarily the sachets for serious coffee lovers.
RATING: 2/5
10×14.2g, £1.19, Lidl
16% coffee, 12p a cup
AT Lidl, you get ten ready-made cappuccinos per box, making these a great- value, barista-style home beverage.
And with 16 per cent instant coffee in each sachet, they provided the most intense caffeine kick.
Once made up with 200ml of boiling water, the drink is very well balanced.
Yes, the coffee is strong, but there’s enough milk to prevent it from tasting too bitter.
Super-frothy and not overly sweet, these look and taste as good as a pricey coffee chain cuppa – but will save you a fortune.
Top marks!
RATING: 5/5
8×15.5g, £1.10, Tesco
10% coffee, 13p a cup
TOP value from these pouches, which hit the spot on taste as well as price.
However, they contain just ten per cent instant coffee – the lowest of all the brands I tried – so there’s a less intense, more mellow drink in your mug.
With 18 per cent skimmed milk – almost double the amount of coffee – you get a really creamy drink, even though making one only requires 180ml of water.
It was a bit like sipping coffee-flavoured hot milk though and, for me, it was far too sweet.
But you’ll likely love this one if you enjoy a smooth and milky cappuccino.
RATING: 4/5
8x17g, £1.10, Asda
14% coffee, 13p a cup
THESE home-brew sachets are exactly the same price as Tesco’s, but give a stronger coffee kick at 14 per cent.
They would be the better option if you like some extra caffeine to get you going.
Great value, but I did find the taste a little muddled.
The flavour from the instant beans is quite harsh and bitter, but the milky portion is extremely sweet, which results in a slightly unbalanced hot drink.
Decent froth when you stir the powder up, and looks professional with some cocoa dusted on top, but not my favourite of the lot.
RATING: 2/5
8×15.5g, £1.75, Tesco
12% coffee, 21p a cup
I WAS rather surprised these sachets from the famous brand only contained 12 per cent instant coffee per serving.
I would have expected the ratio of the roasted kernels to be higher but, in fact, it was among the lowest I sampled.
The pouches do make a very frothy and extremely milky mug, so they are probably more aimed at sippers who like their warm drinks sweet, creamy and comforting, with a hint of bean flavours.
It’s nothing like any coffee I’ve ever ordered to take away, and I suspect a real barista would liken them to a milk-only babyccino for tots.
RATING: 1/5
8×15.5g, £3.50, M&S & Ocado
12% coffee, 43p a cup
THE price of these sachets is steeper than some, working out at 43p per cup.
But they’ll still save you a fortune as you can pick up a whole box for the cost of a typical takeaway cappuccino.
They contain Fairtrade coffee, which is an ethical tick, and have a nice, airy foam on top which, dusted with a little chocolate, gives a drink as good as any you’d find in the store’s own cafes.
A nice strong, roasted aroma and milky flavour, which overpowered the coffee, was a bit much for me, but great if the froth is your favourite part.
RATING: 3/5
