When you think of New Zealand’s coffee culture, what comes to mind? Sipping a flat white in a tulip cup at a cafe? A mug of Gregg’s instant with sugar and milk, knocked back at your work kitchen? Or maybe it’s a box of Nippy’s from the dairy, the ultimate hangover cure or roadtrip treat.

If you’ve visited Japan, you would have noticed vending machines of canned coffee everywhere. Convenient, portable and cheap, it’s the go-to drink of salarymen, labourers, Uber drivers and uni students. Japan’s Suntory Boss coffee has been on our shelves for a while now, but in the last year or so, we’ve noticed a lot more local coffee roasters launching their own version of the canned stuff.

With the weather warming up - and the price of an oat flattie shooting damn near $7 - we decided to put the supermarket’s canned coffee offering to our highly scientific blind taste test. How did our local brands stack up to the giants like Starbucks and Suntory Boss? Keep reading to see the results!

The method

To keep it fair, and to stop us from favouring any particular brand or can design, this tasting was done ‘blind’ – with a small pour of each coffee added to a single numbered cup.

We tested seven different brands of cold coffee beverages, all latte-style, with a variety of dairy and non-dairy milk. All brands are available in major supermarkets and dairies, and prices range from $3 - $6 per can.

Disclosure: We paid for all except the Coffee Supreme cans that were gifted to us, for the purpose of this tasting.

Meet the judging panel

Thomas, 39, data scientist: “I usually drink black coffee from the machine at work. I occasionally drink a blue Boss coffee can.”

Frances, 45, Life magazines editor: “I drink a long black with a splash of milk. I would drink canned coffee on a road trip to keep me focused. On a day where the horizon is shimmering with Tānerore.”

Nile, 30, Stuff motoring journalist: “I usually drink coffee hot, with milk, but sometimes as a protein shake - easy on the way to work!”

Lyric, 23, Stuff national reporter: “I don’t drink coffee anymore, I’m here for vibes”.

Tyson, 33, Ensemble style reporter: “I go for quantity over quality and drink the free stuff at work, a long black. I’ll drink canned coffee when it’s given out for free at events. Occasionally I’ll buy a Boss at the supermarket as a treat.”

Zoe, 38, Ensemble editor: “I drink a double or triple shot flat white (cow’s milk) every morning before 11am and just thee one otherwise I will not sleep! I always buy, never make at home… I never drink canned coffee but I love an iced coffee, from a cafe, in summer.”

Craig, 34, Stuff journalist: “I usually drink coffee from the machine at work for free. I never drink canned coffee.”

Lara, 29, Ensemble publishing co-ordinator “I drink long black with oat milk normally. I’ll drink canned coffee when they’re handed to me for free, but I will buy a Boss can when I’m desperate.”

Shandelle, 46, NZ House $ Garden features editor: “I drink oat lattes if I’m out and a stove top Bialetti at home. I would drink canned coffee only if I’m overseas, probably from a 7/11… I also love Nippy’s in all flavours. I also enjoy Moccona instant and Vietnamese 3-in-1 sachets - not a snob!”

The results (from worst to best):

Coffee Supreme Iced Oat Flat White, $5.50 

“Not cow’s milk, kind of tasteless?” - Zoe

“Alternative milk bland taste, not pleasant.” - Nile

“Slightly bitter but not in a bad way. Soy milk?” - Craig 

“Cheap coffee. This is also too watery and there is something in there that isn’t too pleasant for me… is it the beans? The milk? I dare not taste more…” - Lyric

“Not too sweet, tastes nutty and has a slightly odd aftertaste but I do like it. Very oat-milky. Coffee flavour could be a bit stronger, but I would drink this.” - Lara

“Milky tones overwhelm the coffee flavour. I’m getting alt milk here. Watery base with a plant overtone. I once went to Wanderlust. Everyone wore very fancy leggings. This is fancy leggings in a cup.” - Frances

Monster Mean Bean Java drink, $3

“Fucking awful. Tastes like stale M&Ms and aspartame.” - Lara

“Would be good as a sauce on ice-cream.” - Craig 

“Dark yet sweet. Reminds me of chocolate! I think this is a mocha? Sorry for being basic but I’m a sweet tooth.” - Lyric

“Wow! Sweet. This will get the party going. Pull out the Pinata. Reminds me of the giant roller coaster at Five Flags in California. Def OTT American style. Sticks to the tongue with toffee.” - Frances

“Blacker liquid than the rest. Quite sweet, Stevia?” - Nile

“I yelped [in disgust] at the first sip. Second sip, better - that’s the sugar.” - Zoe

“This is a dessert. Not offensive, but how would you drink an entire can?” - Tyson

“Caramelly with a dash of chemicals.” - Shandelle

All Press Espresso Latte, $5

“A bit roasty, nice balance. Dairy milk base here, not sweet which I quite like.” - Frances

“Tastes like flavoured water rather than coffee. Reminds me of underwhelming instant coffee.” - Craig

“Watery, but inoffensive.” - Lara

“I disliked this intensely - get it away from me.” - Shandelle

“Slightly metallic (canned?) smooth texture though could be stronger. Watery but not ‘bad’.” - Nile

“Reminds me of an iced coffee that’s sat on the bench and the ice has melted making it weak and watery.” - Zoe

“Nippy’s reminiscent taste-wise.” - Tyson

3rd: Starbucks Double Shot Espresso Latte, $4

“Looks thick and ‘weighty’ - also has a residue on the top. Doesn’t taste like what I expected. Very sweet! ” - Zoe

“Reminiscent of eating sweetened condensed milk.”  - Craig

“Looks suspicious, I see some residue/floaties…” - Nile

“Hideously sweet but with enough coffee flavour that served chilled on a hot day would totally hit the spot. Tastes like the liquid form of those lollies you buy on impulse from the Asian supermarket. Reminds me of my imaginary Vietnamese holiday.” - Frances

“Sweet yet subtle enough, with a pleasant aftertaste.” - Lyric

“Best of the sweetest ones. Reminds me of Vietnamese coffee. Would drink hungover as a treat, but probably couldn’t finish it.” - Lara

“I would seek this out if I was feeling weak at the knees and needed a sugar hit.” - Shandelle

2nd tie: Innerbloom Oat Milk Lion's Mane & L-Theanine Cold Brew, $5.60

“Tastes a bit like the milk left over in the cereal bowl. Quite yum.” - Lara

“Smells like the instant coffee I would gulp before uni classes… tastes unfortunately unremarkable.” - Lyric

“Nutty milkshake vibe.” - Shandelle

“Good texture and attractive colour. Overly sweet for my bitter heart.” - Frances

“Pleasant coffee flavour balanced with oat milk.” - Craig

“Reminds me of the time I poured a latte over my porridge in the name of efficiency - hideous.” - Tyson

“Nutty, bitter aftertaste.” - Nile

“Definitely not cow’s milk, but a nice coffee I’d buy. I would drink this one.” - Zoe

2nd tie: Havana Oat Flat White Cold Brew, $5

“Yum! Good strength, not too sweet or milky. Definitely oat milk. Bit of a tinny aftertaste, but good coffee flavour.” - Lara

“Smells nutty, not very sweet. I would drink this too quickly. Maybe it’s a bit acidic? I think this has oat milk.” - Tyson

“Very smooth and easy to down, but there’s an odd aftertaste to it.” - Lyric

“Soft, pleasant but lacking an edge. Soy vibes, nutty.” - Frances

“Creamy texture, tastes bitter, nutty, almondy… Reminds me of CocoPops with coffee flavour.” - Shandelle

“Alternative milk, strong, not too fake-tasting, easy to drink.” - Nile

“This has a pleasant taste, with a mellow coffee flavour. The nutty addition is nice. Almond milk?” - Craig

“Quite thick and very dark colour. Reminds me of the tang of accidentally drinking Rebecca’s oat flat white.” - Zoe

Winner: Suntory Boss Iced Latte, $4

“Tastes like instant coffee with several spoonfuls of sugar. Reminds me of gas station coffee.” - Craig 

“This one is playing it safe - not too bitter but not too sweet.” - Lyric

“My fave. Watery and sweetened but a delightful coffee smell and some depth. This had a good coffee smell to me. Reminds me of a train coffee from the dispenser machine, Europe in your pocket.” - Frances

“Tastes like fake coffee.” - Zoe

“That’s gross and sweet - would not keep drinking.” - Lara

“Sweet, nice, stronger than the previous one [All Press]. Too sweet? I have a sweet tooth though.” - Nile

“Very sweet and inoffensive. It was fine but I wouldn't seek it out.” - Shandelle

Some final thoughts:

“Didn’t love any. I enjoy the habit and culture of ‘getting a coffee’ and having a proper barista make it - these feel like they’re removing that element? But I sit at a desk in Ponsonby all day, I’m not the target market…” - Zoe

"I don't have a favourite here really - just working up from the bottom to rank them." - Craig

"None of these are really coffees are they? Just milk drinks, some with coffee flavourings. I'm not a coffee snob at all, but it's a massive part of my day. I would opt for a coffee sachet over a can every time, or stick with Nippy's. Nippy's 4 lyfe!" - Shandelle