What is instant coffee?
Instant coffee is real coffee, made from real coffee beans (of different varieties, origins, and roasts) that have been roasted and brewed—then dehydrated. As its name suggests, it is quick and easy to make—just add hot water for a delicious cup of coffee.
What is instant coffee perfect for? Instant coffee is especially suited for camping, traveling, or any time you are on-the-go because it is shelf-stable and requires no equipment or brewing. In fact, instant coffee was distributed to U.S. military troops as part of their rations during World War I, providing them with a convenient way to continue to enjoy their daily brew far from home.
Instant coffee is also an easy way to use coffee as an ingredient in recipes, and the dehydrated coffee (known as “soluble” in the business) is also an ingredient in cold brew and ready-to-drink coffees.
Sippable Fact
What’s the difference between instant coffee and ground coffee? Both are real coffee, made from roasted and ground coffee beans. Ground coffee is bagged as is and then has to be brewed before you can enjoy it.
Instant coffee, on the other hand, is brewed to create a coffee concentrate. The brewed coffee concentrate is then dehydrated, removing the water to create a coffee powder or coffee granules that can later be dissolved in hot water—no more brewing required! When deciding between instant coffee and ground coffee for yourself, you should consider if you have access to a brewing method or if you simply prefer a quick and easy way to get your coffee fix.
How is instant coffee made?
Instant coffee always starts with real coffee beans, roasted as usual. It can be light, medium, or dark roast. Here are some of the stages involved in the instant coffee production process:
- Coffee beans are roasted and brewed: Real coffee beans are roasted and brewed, much stronger (more concentrated) than would be used for home-brewed coffee.
- Coffee concentrate is dehydrated: The concentrated brewed coffee is then dehydrated, either by freezing it at -40° C (freeze dried) to form granules or spraying it into very hot air (spray dried), which results in a coffee powder. To make the instant coffee granules most people recognize, the spray-dried coffee powder is steamed to add back a little moisture.
Adding to its convenience, instant coffee comes in a variety of formats including jars, cans, and single-serve packets.
Here’s how to make instant coffee so you can get to sipping your favorite brew fast!
How to make instant coffee
Making instant coffee is simple and convenient —all you need is a cup of hot water. No coffee maker, filter, or grinder needed! How much coffee you use depends on your personal taste.
Sippable Fact
For instant coffee, here are the quick numbers you need to know:
- Coffee-to-water ratio: 1 teaspoon of instant coffee granules for every 6 ounces of hot water.
- Brewing temperature: Instant coffee is already brewed, so the ideal water temperature is slightly below boiling at around 80°C
- Brewing time: Instant—stir and enjoy!
Making instant iced coffee
To make instant iced coffee, first dissolve the instant coffee in a small amount of hot water to allow for better dissolution, then add ice and cold water. There are also instant coffees available that allow you to simply add colder water and ice to make instant iced coffee.
Other uses for instant coffee
Instant coffee is not only convenient, it’s a versatile product that lends itself to creativity in the kitchen. You can bake with it, blend it into smoothies, create flavorful dry rubs, and use it as a dessert topping!
Ready for other ways to make coffee? Explore brewing methods like drip, pour-over, espresso, French press, and cold brew.
Safety should always be a top priority when preparing, serving, or drinking any hot beverage—please take all necessary precautions! Be sure to follow all the specific instructions for use, cleaning, storage and maintenance provided with your brewing equipment and tools (including but not limited to brewing machines and devices, grinders, kettles, scales and filters). Be mindful of how hot liquids and equipment may get during the brewing process, and if you grind your coffee, be particularly careful with the sharp blades.
Pour-over coffee
Drip coffee
