Home / Instant & cold brew
Instant coffee and cold brew bags in Taiwan: how much is one cup? (2026)
Updated · by the Today's Coffee Taiwan team
Short answer: on our list, one cup costs NT$10 to NT$42 with instant coffee and NT$12 to NT$14 with a cold brew bag. A drip bag costs NT$11 to NT$50, and brewing your own beans starts at about NT$7 a cup (12 g per cup) but needs gear. Lowest per cup today without gear: Instant Specialty Black (15) NT$10, Premium Drip Bags (50) NT$11 and Gold Blend Drip Gift Box (48) NT$11. Prices checked on 21 October 2026; we check again every 3 days.
Price per cup, by type of coffee
| Type | Per cup | On our list | You need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant sticks | NT$10–23 | 2 | A cup and water, hot or cold |
| Freeze-dried instant | NT$42 | 1 | A cup and water, hot or cold |
| Cold brew bags | NT$12–14 | 2 | A jar or bottle and a night in the fridge |
| Drip bags | NT$11–50 | 13 | A cup and hot water |
| Your own beans (12 g a cup) | NT$7–96 | 35 | A grinder (or ground coffee) and a brewer |
Instant and cold brew coffees compared
Sorted from the lowest price per cup. Tap a name to see how it tastes.
| Coffee | Brand | Type | Box | Price | Per cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Specialty Black (15) | cama cafe | Instant sticks | 15 × 2 g | NT$150 | NT$10 |
| Cold Brew Bags (40) | UCC | Cold brew bags | 40 × 8 g | NT$499 | NT$12 |
| Cold Brew Bags Bulk (50) | 璞珞珈琲 | Cold brew bags | 50 × 10 g | NT$680 | NT$14 |
| Medium Roast Instant (10) | Starbucks | Instant sticks | 10 × 2.3 g | NT$225 | NT$23 |
| Cold Brew Freeze-Dried Set (12) | CUPPY | Freeze-dried instant | 12 × 3 g | NT$499 | NT$42 |
Instant or cold brew: which one fits you?
- Instant sticks: the fastest. One stick in hot or cold water and you're done. Good for the office or travel.
- Freeze-dried instant: still no gear, but closer to a brewed cup. It costs more per cup.
- Cold brew bags: smoother and less bitter for many people, but you need to plan: they soak overnight in the fridge.
- Want something closer to a brewed cup? Drip bags only need hot water and start at a similar price per cup.
How to make cold brew with a bag
- Put one bag in a jar or bottle with cold water. The box says how much; it is usually about 300–500 ml.
- Close it and leave it in the fridge overnight, about 8–12 hours.
- Take the bag out and drink it cold, with ice or with milk. Keep it in the fridge and drink it within a day or two.
How to make instant coffee
Pour one stick into a cup and add about 150–200 ml of water. Most instant coffees today also dissolve in cold water; the box says so. For a latte, use half water and half milk.
Common questions
What is the difference between instant coffee and cold brew?
Instant coffee is brewed coffee that was dried into powder, so it dissolves in seconds. Cold brew is ground coffee soaked in cold water for many hours. Cold brew bags work like a big tea bag.
Is cold brew less sour?
Many people find it smoother and less bitter than hot coffee. How sour it tastes still depends on the beans: fruity Ethiopian coffee stays brighter.
Does cold brew have less caffeine?
Not always. It depends on how much coffee you use and how long it soaks. A strong cold brew can have as much as hot coffee.
Can I use cold brew bags with hot water?
Some boxes say yes. Check the box: on our list, the 璞珞珈琲 bulk bags say they also work hot.
How we make these guides: every 3 days we open each coffee's page on the shop and write down the price it shows that day; the tables on this page update with it. One stick or bag counts as one cup; for beans we count 12 g per cup. We earn a commission when you buy through our links; it never changes your price. We review this page every 3 months.