Having never sampled any supermarket instant coffees before, I was curious to see how they would fare against the big hitters like Nescafé and Kenco. There's nothing quite like a freshly brewed cuppa using rich and aromatic coffee beans with a generous splash of milk. However, splurging on three to four Costa coffees a week is starting to dent my wallet.

To trim expenses, I've decided to venture into the realm of instant coffee, including both brand leaders and supermarket own brands. To ensure a level playing field, I selected similar types of instant coffees – all boasting notes of richness and smoothness – and added the same amount of coffee and milk as I usually would. Typically, if I were to opt for an instant coffee, it would be Nescafé and I've seldom deviated from that. As the kettle began to boil, I was eager to embark on this taste test.

1. Asda

The Asda coffee got us off to a rather underwhelming start. Upon opening the pack, the aroma left much to be desired, but the sight of large chunks of freeze-dried coffee led me to believe that less would yield more in terms of strength. Unfortunately, I was mistaken.

While it offers a fairly smooth sip, if you're after a robust kick of strong coffee, Asda's Just Essential Instant Coffee, which retails at £1.08, doesn't quite hit the mark.

Rating: 4.5/10

2. Morrisons

Morrisons' Savers Instant Coffee, priced at £1.15, is another supermarket brew I wouldn't particularly endorse. It barely had any aroma upon opening, and the scent it did emit was somewhat chemical.

Rating: 3/10

3. Tesco

This £1.15 coffee from Tesco gave off a scent that was more akin to chemicals mingling with coffee, hardly an auspicious beginning.

Upon adding hot water to my cup, the aroma all but vanished. The granules dissolved in a flash, quicker than most others I've tried. It had a rather bitter taste, though it wasn't completely dreadful.

Rating: 4/10

4. Lidl

Touted as a "full flavoured instant coffee", Lidl's Bellarom Rich Roast instant coffee, priced at £1.79, boasts a four out of five strength rating – a claim I beg to differ with.

The lack of scent upon opening was disappointing, and the resulting brew was decidedly insipid. While the absence of bitterness was welcome, the coffee flavour was so faint it was akin to a tepid, milky concoction.

After stirring two level teaspoons into hot water and adding milk, the taste was disappointingly dull.

Rating: 4.5/10

5. Aldi

Aldi's Alcafe Rich Roast coffee, costing £1.99, surprised me with its sweet aroma, contrary to its description. The taste was gentle and smooth, lacking the robustness expected from a stellar coffee, yet it remained somewhat enjoyable.

Rating: 6/10

6. Sainsbury's

This £2.30 coffee from Sainsbury's was pleasantly aromatic right off the bat, a trait not many others boasted. The coffee took its sweet time to dissolve in water, but offered a smooth blend with a satisfying coffee punch. One could easily mistake it for Nescafé just by the taste.

Score: 8.5/10

7. M&S

Brewing a cup of M&S' Rich and Smooth coffee, I noticed it was free of stray granules, much like Aldi's offering, and had a mellow, smooth profile.

However, it fell short of delivering that caffeine kick I craved–- but at a modest £1.20, I can't complain too much.

Score: 6/10

8. Waitrose

This Waitrose blend had a chocolatey aroma with a bitter end note, while undissolved granules lingered at the bottom of my mug. Despite its sweet scent, this £1.65 coffee left a harsh, bitter aftertaste.

Score: 3/10

9. Kenco

Anticipating this coffee to be a top contender, given the brand's popularity and its £7.75 price tag, I was taken aback when it failed to wow me. The coffee was smooth but had a very subtle aroma and flavour.

Score: 6.5/10

10. Nescafé

The Nescafé original instant coffee is a familiar favourite. It was pleasant and smooth and – in layman's terms – you get what you shell out for: a decent cuppa joe.

However, in the current climate, £7.25 a jar is not something that many can justify on a stretched budget.

Rating: 8/10

Verdict 

In terms of taste, Sainsbury’s and Nscafé were the winners, but Sainsbury’s had the edge for me, given the price. The coffee had a really smooth texture and generally tasted enjoyable. I'd not hesitate to pick another jar up in the future.