I've never been able to find an instant I could tolerate, at least not in the US.
I remember when I was stationed in Korea there was some kind of instant coffee that came in a little tube that already had cream and sugar in it. Pour it into hot water and mix.
It was tolerable, IIRC, although I have to admit that when you're in the field in Korea in February pretty much any hot liquid is going to be acceptable so I'm not sure my standards were very high.
Also, when comparing instant to the coffee that comes out of the percolator in the TOC (Tactical Operations Center), where it just cooks for days and days until it comes out like black tar, almost anything would be an improvement
Nevertheless, after a few years of using a French press and trying to keep the screen and cup clean, I finally just gave up and went back to a plastic Melitta cone with disposable paper filters. While a French press might be "better" for a "coffee connoisseur" the Melitta filtered coffee is "good enough" for me and the best part is, I can throw away the paper filter with the grounds, wipe out the plastic cone and be done - no other clean up is necessary. Filters are cheap and can be found in any grocery store in the country and it can use any coffee.