I have been drinking lots of iced coffees due to the stuffy hot weather, and decided to test taste instant coffee from the biggest UK supermarkets to see which one of the best.15:58, 28 Jun 2026The UK has been sweltering for the past few weeks, but that doesn't mean my coffee has to be piping hot too — I've been keeping cool with iced lattes instead. There's nothing quite like sipping on a creamy, chilled iced coffee, but the costs would soon mount up if you were popping into a coffee shop every single day.‌Most people simply can't afford that, and it would certainly take a hefty chunk out of my budget, so I did a bit of digging into the most affordable way to make my favourite drink. I decided to put the own-brand instant coffees from some of the UK's biggest supermarkets to the test, to find out whether the cheapest option could also be the tastiest.‌As I'm not one for fancy syrups or toppings, my method was straightforward — dissolve the granules in hot water, pour over a glass of ice, and add a splash of cold milk.‌What supermarket has the best instant coffee?TescoPrice: £2.35.‌I'm usually quite fond of shopping at Tesco, but their coffee was without doubt the weakest entry on this list. Despite the jar promising to be "mellow and smooth", it left a very strong aftertaste that I can only describe as rather acidic.I struggled to finish my latte, as it had what I thought was an unpleasant burnt flavour, and I found myself reaching for my toothbrush shortly afterwards.If you're a fan of particularly bold coffee, the Tesco own-brand might suit you, but personally, I won't be picking it up again.‌MorrisonsPrice: £1.35 The Morrisons instant coffee was decent enough, but I found it rather disappointing and can only describe it as somewhat lacking in strength.It's never a good sign when the most prominent flavour in a latte comes from the milk itself. If you prefer a fairly mild coffee, then the Morrisons own-brand might suit you, but I'd only reach for it again if there was absolutely nothing else lurking in my kitchen cupboard.‌It simply struck me as rather bland, so I'd be unlikely to seek it out again unless there was no alternative on offer.CO-OPPrice: £3.00.‌CO-OP isn't a supermarket I frequent regularly, so I was taken aback by how pricey their coffee was compared to the other shops I visited, particularly given that it came in the smallest jar.That said, the coffee was advertised as fair trade, which is brilliant, so I didn't particularly mind paying a little more for a product that's kinder to the planet.This coffee had a pleasant taste but wasn't quite as rich or full-bodied as some of the other brands on this list, and given the price point, I decided to place it third.‌Nevertheless, I did enjoy it and would happily return to CO-OP to pick it up again.AldiPrice: £2.09.‌I could tell straight away that Aldi's coffee would pack a punch before I'd even taken a sip, as it smelled absolutely gorgeous while brewing and filled my entire kitchen with a wonderful, rich coffee aroma throughout the morning.It boasted a gloriously bold flavour and was tremendously satisfying to drink, securing it a well-deserved second place on my list. It wasn't quite as silky as my top pick, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would gladly make a special trip to purchase it again whenever I fancied a delicious instant coffee.Marks and Spencer‌Price: £1.20.Marks & Spencer has long been known for its premium pricing, and it's often joked that you'd need to remortgage your house just to complete your weekly grocery shop there.So you can imagine my astonishment when M&S coffee proved to be the cheapest of all the supermarkets featured on this list.‌The jar's label promises it is "rich and smooth", and it absolutely lived up to expectations.It claimed the number one spot on my list because it boasts a rich, full-bodied flavour that was an absolute pleasure to drink, and I've reached for it numerous times since my initial tasting.I believe the M&S offering stands head and shoulders above the other supermarket brands as it's genuinely quite velvety, and I didn't detect any harsh aftertaste that many instant coffees tend to have.Article continues belowI'd certainly recommend it if you're looking to cut costs on your caffeine habit, and I'd honestly choose it over numerous coffee shop drinks.