Instant coffee was never a favorite for me. It brought back memories of hectic mornings, weak coffees and that distinct powdery taste. Over the years I’ve realized the instant-coffee has seen a revival of sorts. It’s not an option for last resorts when your coffee maker is broken or you’re trapped in a hotel room. Instant coffee can be delicious if you are able to do it right and making it at home.
In this tutorial I’ll take you through the lessons that I’ve discovered about instant coffee, from selecting the right type of coffee and understanding how to turning espresso powder to something that’s soluble and shelf-stable. If you’re simply interested in making your coffee more enjoyable or you’re looking for DIY coffee-related projects There’s something here for you.
What Is Instant Coffee, Really?
Instant coffee, in its simplest form is just coffee that has been brewed and then dried to form granules or powder. It disintegrates in water since it’s already been brewed. Consider it as coffee essence dehydrated.
There are two methods used by manufacturers to create instant coffee:
1. Spray Drying
This is the most common and economical method. The way it works is in this method: brewed coffee is sprayed into an air chamber. The droplets evaporate quickly when heated, and then turn into fine powder as they fall.
2. Freeze Drying
This process preserves more of the original flavor and aroma. The coffee is brewed and then made into slabs that are then broken and dried in the vacuum. It’s more expensive, but it produces granules with better flavor.
If you’re purchasing instant coffee at the grocery store most likely, it’s one of these two kinds. The type you choose matters–freeze-dried tends to taste better but comes at a higher price.
How to Make Instant Coffee Taste Great
Let me get this one point off the table Making instant coffee does not simply mean dumping the powder in an mug and placing boiling water on top. It’s the most efficient method to make it certain, but it’s isn’t always the best.
Step-by-Step: Making a Good Cup of Instant Coffee
Step 1: Choose the Right Instant Coffee
Choose freeze-dried products If flavor is your primary preference. Brands such as Mount Hagen, Waka, or Starbucks VIA tend to score very well in taste tests conducted blindly.
Step 2: Heat Your Water–but Don’t Boil It
Boiling water may cause burns to the coffee and cause bitterness. I generally aim for 175 to 185 degF (about the temperature of 80 to 85 degrees Celsius). If you don’t own an thermometer, heat the water and then allow it to sit for around 30 seconds prior to pouring.
Step 3: Add the Right Amount
Make use of between 1 and 2 tablespoons instant espresso per 8 oz of cup, based on how strong you prefer it. You can always start with less. increase the amount however you aren’t able to return it.
Step 4: Stir Thoroughly
Give it a vigorous stirring until the grains have completely dissolving. I typically prefer the spiral method of stirring clockwise, and then counterclockwise, to ensure that the dissolution is even.
Step 5: Customize
This is where it gets exciting. I often add:
- Oat milk in a splash
- A pinch of cinnamon
- A spoonful of maple syrup or honey
- A tiny bit in salt from the sea (you’d be pleasantly surprised, as it smooths out bitterness)
Can I Make My Own Instant Coffee at Home?
It’s true, but it’s not as easy like grinding beans into the size of a fine powder. This isn’t instant coffee; it’s the finely ground coffee that you would normally use, and it doesn’t dissolve in water. I’ve tried it before, and got a gritty slime.
To make instant coffee, you have to initially brew your coffee before drying it in a manner that keeps its solubility.
The DIY Freeze-Drying Method (Sort Of)
There’s no way to have a dryer for my freezer at home. However, here’s a way to will approximate the results with your freezer:
What You Need:
- Strongly strong coffee that is brewed (espresso or double strength drip work best)
- Ice cube tray or baking sheet
- Freezer
- Food processor or coffee grinder
Steps:
- Make it up strong. You want concentrated coffee, think espresso-level strength.
- You can freeze it. Pour the coffee into ice cube trays, or thin layers on baking sheets.
- It is important to dehydrate. Once frozen solid you can put the cubes and sheet in the freezer for a couple of days. The process isn’t truly freeze-drying however the extended freezing process helps to reduce some water.
- Then, grind it. Once it’s brittle and dry enough (this could take as long as 1 week) then grind it into an uncrushed powder.
Does it work as expected? But it’s still a fun experiment, and you’ll come having something that disintegrates fairly well in hot water.
How Is Instant Coffee Powder Created Commercially?
If you’re interested in knowing the process by which your instant coffee jar was created This is a deeper review of the commercialization procedure.
The Industrial Process
- Roasting and grinding: The coffee beans can be ground and roasted just as for regular making.
- Brewing Ground coffee gets brewed into large vats, typically with high pressure to get more flavor.
- Concentration It is concentrated by evaporation.
- Drying The method used will depend on (spray or freezing) the concentrate gets dried into crystals or powders.
- Agglomeration In the case of certain brands the powder is steamed to create larger smaller granules that are more easily dissolvable.
This is the reason instant coffee disintegrates while regular coffee powder does not. It’s gone through a full brew process, and is processed to be water-soluble.
How to turn regular Coffee Powder Instant Coffee
This is one of the questions I am frequently. Although I wish I could reply “just grind it finer,” it’s not so simple.
Regular coffee powder is just ground beans, it hasn’t even been brewed as of yet. This means that regardless of how finely or thoroughly that you crush it it will not dissolve. It’ll float, after which it sinks, leaving you with a gritty dirt.
What You Can Try Instead
If you’re in the middle, you could make instant coffee using an instant-brew technique:
- Pour a spoonful of coffee powder into the cup of a smaller size.
- Sprinkle a little bit of hot water, just enough to moisten the ground.
- Allow it to steep for 30-60 minutes.
- Pour the warm water into a filtering device made of fine mesh, or a paper filter into a cup.
It’s not instantaneous however it’s much faster than a complete machine set-up.
What Can I Use Instead of Instant Coffee in a Recipe?
Sometimes, a recipe requires instant coffee, usually to bake or add the flavor of coffee to sweets. When you’re not able to find any coffee, here are some alternatives that are effective:
Strong Brewed Coffee or Espresso
Reduce any liquid added within the recipe in order to offset. For instance, if you’re making 2 cups of espresso brewed cut down on the amount of amount of milk or water used within the recipe to the equivalent amount.
Coffee Extract
It is extremely concentrated and provides great flavor. Begin with a half of what the recipe suggests to make instant coffee.
Espresso Powder
It’s not the same as instant, it doesn’t fully dissolve but it works perfectly in baking.
Is the Caffeine Content in Instant Coffee Higher?
It’s up to you It’s all in the details, and here’s why.
On Average:
- One cup coffee instant coffee is a good source of 30 to 90 milligrams of caffeine.
- The cup you drink of coffee brewed contains between 70 to 140 mg, based on the quality and method of brewing.
What is the reason for this variation? Because different brands differ in the way they process their coffee, and the amount of the caffeine remains.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine instant coffee could be a better choice. However, don’t think that all instant coffees are weaker. Some brands advertise themselves as being more powerful.
How Do You Use Coffee Powder (Regular and Instant)?
This is important since it’s important to note that not every “coffee powder” is the identical. There’s normal ground espresso powder, coffee, and the instant powdered coffee.
For Regular Coffee Powder:
You can use it in a brewer – drip maker, French press, AeroPress or an espresso machine. It requires hot water and time to release the flavor.
For Instant Coffee Powder:
Simply add hot water. That’s it. It’s already made and dried, which means it will dissolve quickly.
Pro Tips: You can also make use of instant coffee powder in chocolate sauces, marinades, or as dry rub bases. It imparts a strong roasty flavor.
FAQ: Quick Answers to Common Questions
Q Can I take instant coffee throughout the day?
A: Absolutely. Make sure you choose a high-quality brand and be aware of your intake of caffeine if you’re hypersensitive.
Q Does instant coffee have a expiration date?
A Yes, it has a long shelf-life. Keep it in a dry, cool location and then seal it.
Q Do you think instant coffee is bad to you?
A: Not necessarily. Certain cheaper brands might contain additives, while pure instant coffee is dehydrated coffee.
Q Can I use instant coffee from a coffee maker?
A: Nope. It’s already been brewed and will not be able to work with machines. Make it yourself with hot water.
Final Thoughts
Instant coffee will never match the rich scent from freshly-ground beans, or the ritual of a slow pour-over but it’s certainly earned a place within my home kitchen. If I’m hurrying out of the door, hiking through the woods, or not able to wash my French press Instant coffee provides an easy, flexible and delicious option.
If you make the effort to pick the best brand, then learn how to properly prepare it or even create yourself, then you’ll realize that it’s much more than an emergency strategy. It’s an authentic beer by itself.