I have found a reasonable use for instant coffee; it's a poor man's latte. Boil some water and pour a coffee cup about 2/3 full of milk. heat up the cup of milk in the microwave; make sure it's good and hot. Then stir in a heaping spoonful of instant coffee, and top it up with the boiling water. To my taste (which I'll admit were irreparably damaged with four years of university caffeteria coffee) this is pretty close to the latte you'll get in many a restaurant. Anyway, it's a damn sight better than trying to make a cup of coffee with the stuff. Cheers   sb