Italian Roast in a Packet
Italian Roast is the darkest everyday coffee Starbucks sells, roasted past the Espresso Roast for deep caramel and dark cocoa, with what the bag calls toasted marshmallow. In a VIA packet that translates to the fullest, roastiest instant on the shelf and the only one that tastes like coffee under a lot of milk. If a packet is going into a latte or a milky mug, this is the one.
The Starbucks VIA Instant Decaf Italian Roast is the same coffee decaffeinated before roasting, and it is the answer to the evening-cup question for anyone who keeps VIA around.
| Item | Caffeine | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Starbucks VIA Instant Italian Roast | n/a | n/a |
| Starbucks VIA Instant Decaf Italian Roast | n/a | n/a |
Regular or Decaf
| Item | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starbucks VIA Instant Italian Roast | n/a | - | - | - |
| Starbucks VIA Instant Decaf Italian Roast | n/a | - | - | - |
Starbucks publishes no nutrition or caffeine panel for the packets in the reference data, so the table shows what is known: the two are the same coffee apart from the caffeine, and neither carries an allergen.
Brewing the Dark Packet
- One packet in 8 oz of hot water for a black cup; it is strong enough to take 10 oz.
- Latte: dissolve a packet in 2 oz of hot water, add 6 oz of hot milk.
- Iced latte: dissolve in 2 oz hot water, pour over ice, add cold milk.
- Mocha: a packet, hot water, a spoon of cocoa and sugar, then milk.
- Decaf half-caff: one regular and one decaf packet in 16 oz for a morning thermos with less caffeine.
Italian Roast vs Pike Place vs Veranda Packets
The three VIA roasts run in a line. Starbucks VIA Instant Veranda Blend is mild and bright, Starbucks VIA Instant Pike Place Roast is the balanced middle, and the Italian Roast is dark and heavy. Black, most people prefer Veranda or Pike Place; with milk, most prefer Italian. The decaf Italian is the only decaf across all three.
Who It Suits
- People who drink lattes at home without a machine.
- Anyone who finds instant coffee thin; this is the fullest VIA.
- Evening coffee drinkers, via the decaf.
- Travelers who take milk in their coffee.
Both packets are coffee only and declare no allergens. Prices are not listed at the reference store; the packets are sold by the box at stores and grocers.