We taste tested Cometear coffee: Is flash-frozen the future of home coffee?

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Try as I might, I’ve never been able to understand my parents’ devotion to Folgers instant coffee. And, despite many attempts, they could never be pryed away from the convenient clutches of their beloved freeze-dried beverage.

Luckily, help is on the way. A relatively new player in the world of specialty coffee, Cometear, has taken the concept of premium instant coffee to the next level. The brand offers a unique experience by flash-freezing Hyper-Concentrated Brood Shots Specialty beans from top tier roasters like Counter Culture, joe coffee, bird rockAnd, my personal favorite, onyx.

With a frozen capsule, you can instantly turn hot water or milk into a barista-level pour-over or espresso-style drink in seconds – or at least that’s what Cometeer claims. This, plus the convenience of not needing expensive brewing equipment at your counter, makes it a very interesting proposition.

Let’s look at the hard costs, how it grows, and, ultimately, the value of Cometear coffee, to see if it lives up to the hype.

What is Cometeer Coffee?

Cometear is a flash-frozen, hyper-concentrated brew of coffee delivered in an aluminum capsule. Here’s how it works: Cometear makes its super concentrated coffee from special bean roasters that are then frozen at minus 321 degrees for instant brewing. The company says flash-freezing locks the coffee’s flavor compounds and aroma at peak freshness.

Each puck contains ~18 grams of coffee, which is equivalent to one shot of espresso. Since the coffee is already fully brewed and extracted, you don’t need a coffee maker, espresso machine, or grinder. Store the capsules in your freezer until you are ready to use them. The little aluminum capsules are certainly cold to the touch (surprising, I know) but they are easy to remove by warming them with your hands or running them under a hot tap. There is a slight indentation on the base that will help “push” the frozen puck out.

There are many ways to enjoy cometeer. To test, I prepared all the suggested methods of making coffee: I made an iced latte, a hot coffee, poured it over a cup of cream, and, of course, made an espresso martini for science.

What does flash-frozen coffee taste like?

For testing, I brewed a fresh batch of coffee with the Onyx Southern Weather and brewed a cup with my trusty Moccamaster. Then I prepared a cup made of hot water and a brew of Onyx’s Southern Season Cometear edition.

Cometear coffee tastes great. It’s a far cry from the flat, bitter or stale taste of traditional dehydrated instant coffee crystals or the plasticky taste of standard countertop pods My experience with the Cometear has been extremely positive. Of course, I preferred my homemade cup, but the difference wasn’t huge. In fact, I enjoyed both cups.

In both preparations, Southern Weather’s milk chocolate and nutty notes came through beautifully, even with milk. When defrosted in hot water, Cometear coffee delivers an incredibly clean and refreshing taste. For its price, Cometeer is especially great for iced coffee lovers. By pouring the defrosted coffee puck straight into cold milk or water, your drink is ready almost instantly – you just have to make sure you move it from the freezer to the fridge the night before.

However, there is one small criticism. Comitaer coffee is too concentrated to be enjoyed like an espresso shot. Instead you actually have to drink it with something else. It mimics the experience of boiling hot water – without all the hassle. v60 And any kind of technology. This made a tart, delicious espresso martini and topping it with vanilla ice cream was a treat, especially for a coffee ice cream fan like me.

Whether it’s worth the investment depends entirely on your priorities when you wake up in the morning.

How much does it cost?

Cometeer primarily operates on a direct-to-consumer subscription model, while one-time boxes are available for those who want to explore before committing.

The subscription, which sends 40 capsules every 4 weeks, costs $80 but a one-time purchase costs $25 more. Quick math shows that Cometeer costs at least $2 per cup, though it’s worth noting that like most DTC brands, Cometeer regularly holds sales. You can also use the code MensJournal for $20 off subscription orders.

If you visit a café every day, Cometeer can be a cost-effective option. The price per cup at a café is generally higher than the price offered by Cometeer. Plus, Cometeer can cut your morning costs in half. It offers a comparable quality beverage experience without the hassle of waiting in line, tipping, or commuting.

However, compared to buying a bag of whole beans from a local roaster and grinding them yourself, comitaer is undeniably more expensive. The cost per serving is about double to triple that of home brewing. If your primary goal is the lowest possible cost per cup for high-quality caffeine, investing in a solid home setup and purchasing whole beans is a better long-term financial move.

Are Cometeer Capsules Worth It?

Ultimately, the decision to invest in a Cometear depends on your personal preferences, budget, and coffee drinking habits. For anyone trying to break the $6-a-day expensive café habit without sacrificing the nuances and flavor of premium roasters, Comitaer is a tasty middle ground that more or less justifies its price tag.

If you really enjoy the meditative morning ritual of weighing beans, monitoring water temperature, and mastering the technique of pouring, the Cometear is not for you.

I, for one, see Comteor as a proper treat – a luxury for busy (or lazy) mornings when I can’t be bothered. I appreciate that I get the chance to explore different roasters without needing to dial in the espresso grind, or be in a rush to use up a bag of beans before they’re past their peak.

The Cometear is a convenience that true coffee lovers can really get behind, but will it lure my parents away from Folgers? It certainly won’t happen in an instant.