sharke
I got into drinking instant for a while but after a while found that there was some dimension missing from the taste. I also don't want to have a big coffee machine making full pots because I would just drink way too much coffee. A happy medium I found was to buy a small French press. Makes one cup at a time, quick and easy, no filters to buy. The only problem as others have alluded to is in getting rid of the grounds - what to do with 'em? It's a myth that they help keep your drain clear - in actual fact many plumbers will tell you that they are a major cause of blocked pipes because unless you rinse them down with a ton of water then they get mixed up with the grease and thicken to an impenetrable sludge. So I try and throw them in the trash, but I can't get them all out of the press without a little water in there. Don't want to throw water in the trash can, so what to do with them? Down the toilet?
As far as coffees go I always buy Italian when I can. The Italians know a good cup of coffee. I hate anything with a bitter aftertaste. Lavazza is a great brand.
I used to just use a spoon to get out the bulk of the grounds and toss them in the trash then rinse out the rest down the drain (or in the toilet). A bit of grounds isn't going to clog a sink unless you have bad plumbing. Grease will definitely capture crud but a) if you are using a French press or boiling a kettle for tea anyway just dumping the extra boiled water out down the drain helps loosen up grease buildup (or occasionally boiling a kettle full specifically to dump down greasy drain helps) and b) making sure LOTS of grease like from frying bacon or baking chicken goes straight in the garbage (or put in the fridge and used for other cooking) keeps grease clogs down.
I used to do maintenance in a building used by numskull hominid animals with no common sense AND had to live with an absolutely horrifically plumbed kitchen sink that needed constant care to avoid sludgorama (it was nasty).
I really want another French press again. I used to be a coffee FREAK (like multiple pots a day if I had access) but it started totally destroying my health to the point I had to quit and switch to tea (orange pekoe which made a huge difference). I still love coffee though and can handle a cup every now and then but keeping my drip coffee maker setup isn't worth it (not keeping an appliance setup on my limited counter space and brewing pots just to have ONE cup). With a press it's a lot less futzing about and less mess. I also think it tastes better than drip/element coffee (you can never get those drip machines totally clean and even fresh brewed the element burns the coffee slightly... and of course turns skanky almost immediately thereafter).
I recently bought some generic brand instant coffee to satisfy the craving but aside from Taster's Choice (which is way more expensive) I find instant generally has a "gritty/dirty" taste to it. It's alright as a substitute with enough milk but still kind of yuck (even the better instants just ain't quite right).