What Is Instant Coffee? Grind's Ultimate Guide.
Want the lowdown on all things instant coffee? That's what we're here for.
The Ultimate Guide to Instant Coffee
Sometimes, speed and simplicity win. As much as we love our pod machines, V60s, and cafetières, we know that the convenience of instant coffee is pretty unbeatable. It's why we put so much time and effort into making sure our Grind Craft Instant Coffee tastes like a barista-made brew, so there's absolutely zero compromise.
In this guide, we'll break down what instant coffee is, how to prepare it perfectly, and answer common questions around its caffeine and calorie content. We'll also talk through the benefits of instant coffee and (as objectively as possible) why Grind's instant coffee range, crafted to bring barista-level quality to your cup in seconds, comes out on top as the best instant coffee.
What Is Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee is a type of coffee made from real coffee beans that have been roasted, brewed, then dehydrated and dried. Unlike ground coffee, which still needs to be brewed, instant coffee dissolves directly in water, making it one of the most convenient ways to enjoy coffee.
It's a global staple loved for its speed, long shelf-life, portability, and easy of use as it doesn't require any brewing equipment. According to The Grocer, it's still the most popular way to drink coffee at home in the UK.
How Is Instant Coffee Made?
The process of creating instant coffee is surprisingly sophisticated. Here's how:
- Coffee beans are roasted, ground, and brewed to create a coffee concentrate.
- The water is then removed from this concentrate through one of two methods: spray drying, which uses hot air to evaporate the water, or freeze-drying, where the concentrate is frozen and then dried under a vacuum.
- This dehydration process results in a dry coffee powder or granules that can be dissolved in water to make coffee.
The Grind process is unique because we always start by ethically sourcing speciality-grade Arabica beans from small-scale, sustainable farms around the world. We use the same beans in our Craft Instant as we do for our whole bean & ground coffee and coffee pod blends.
Our freeze-drying process is a slow and diligent one—we take a lot of care to preserve the natural flavours and aromas of our coffee to ensure our instant makes a rich and balanced brew when mixed with water.
We pack our coffee granules into recyclable and reusable tins and seal them to lock in freshness.
How to Make Instant Coffee
Barista quality has never been this quick or easy. Here's our 2-step method:
- Stir 1 teaspoon (2.5g) of Grind instant coffee into 200ml hot (not boiling!) or cold water.
- Personalise with your choice of milk, sugar, or syrups.
Grind instant coffee dissolves easily in cold water too so that you can make all of your favourite iced coffee recipes in seconds without a kettle and waiting for your coffee to cool. Find out how to make an iced coffee with instant coffee here.
Tips for best flavour:
- Use filtered water.
- Adjust granule quantity depending on how strong you like your coffee.
- Try out different recipes with flavoured syrups like vanilla and caramel.
- Experiment with oat, almond, or coconut milk for a different texture and taste.
How Much Caffeine Is in Instant Coffee?
The caffeine content of instant coffee varies depending on the brand. Here's ours:
Our regular Barista Blend Instant Coffee contains 50mg caffeine per 2.5g serving, while our decaf Barista Blend Instant Coffee contains 7.5mg caffeine per 2.5g serving.
A freshly-brewed coffee made using coffee grounds usually contains around 90mg caffeine, so instant coffee contains slightly less caffeine than a cup of coffee you’d get from other brewing methods or in a café.
How Many Calories in Instant Coffee?
On its own, instant coffee is virtually calorie-free, typically containing just 2-4 calories per cup. The calorie count only increases when you add extras, like milk (and plant-based alternatives), syrups, and sugar.
So, if you're drinking instant coffee black (and luckily ours tastes great on its own), it's one of the lowest-calorie beverages you can enjoy.
Instant Coffee vs Ground Coffee
What's the difference between instant coffee and ground coffee? We have an entire blog post dedicated to breaking down the differences between the two, which you can read here. But put simply, ground coffee consists of finely crushed coffee beans whilst instant coffee undergoes a unique process to become soluble granules.
Ground coffee does not dissolve in water and requires brewing equipment like a cafetière, whereas instant coffee will mix easily into water.
Learn more about instant coffee vs ground coffee.
Benefits of Instant Coffee
There's a reason so many people still love instant coffee. Here's a list of some of the benefits:
Convenience: It's fast, portable, and requires no brewing equipment.
Shelf Life: Instant coffee stays fresh for longer than ground coffee due to the dehydration process.
Antioxidants: Instant coffee contains similar antioxidant levels to brewed coffee.
Caffeine Content: With slightly less caffeine than other coffee, it’s ideal for those who are caffeine-sensitive or trying to cut down.
Quick Preparation: Perfect for busy mornings, travel, office breaks, or for when you’re feeling a little lazy.
Is Instant Coffee Good for You?
This is one of the most common questions that coffee drinkers ask. The short answer? Yes, in moderation. (How tired are you of hearing that?)
The pros:
- Contains antioxidants.
- Low caffeine content can help avoid jitters and sleep disruption.
- Low calorie and sugar-free.
Overall, instant coffee is a safe, healthy, and practical way to enjoy coffee daily.
What's the Best Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee has come a long way from its early days of bitter, sour, lifeless cups, but there's still a real lack of premium options available. Which is why we created our own.
So if you're curious to try instant coffee at its best, you should probably try Grind Craft Instant Coffee.
We spent a long time meticulously developing our instant blends so that they deliver the same quality as your favourite café coffee, without the wait.
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