The difference between instant coffee and ground coffee is more than just the jar or bag it comes out of. The distinction is an essential and handy piece of information that all coffee lovers should know. If you’re having a hard time deciding which coffee to get for your home or office, let us narrow it down for you.
Here are the key differences between ground coffee and instant coffee.
What Is Instant Coffee? – Is It Coffee Beans?
Instant coffee is also known as coffee powder, coffee crystals, or soluble coffee. Instant coffee is definitely a type of coffee, for starters. It is made from brewed coffee beans but is not classified as coffee beans.
Instant coffee is made by spray drying or freeze-drying brewed coffee beans that can be rehydrated. Usually, low-quality Robusta coffee beans are roasted and then ground into a fine powder-like form. They are brewed to essentially strip them of their water content. This leaves behind an extract that preserves the lovely bitter taste of the coffee. It is packaged and placed on the shelves of your local stores, ready for consumption.
The process of instant coffee before it gets to the shelf enables people to make coffee quickly. All you need to do is add the crystal or powder to hot water or milk, and you will have a nice cup of coffee to wake up your senses.
Does Instant Coffee Have More Caffeine Than Regular Coffee?
The taste in instant coffee can be quite strong, but this does not mean that it packs a bigger punch. Just one 2-gram packet of any instant coffee contains around 63mg of caffeine. On the other hand, one cup of delicious regular-brewed coffee tends to contain 92mg of caffeine.
However, the amount of caffeine also depends on where you are getting your morning cup of Joe. For example, if you like getting Starbucks, you should note that the Tall cup contains around 260mg of caffeine. This is higher than the average cup of coffee that people have. If you make your instant coffee with a Folgers Classic Roast coffee, you will get 74mg of caffeine for the cup.
If you want to keep an eye on your caffeine intake, you should check the specific nutrition information on the coffee brand’s packaging. Depending on where you get it, the caffeine intake per cup can be anywhere from 50mg to 330mg.
Do Grounds Or Instant Coffee Dissolve In Water?
All coffee dissolves in water, but the amount of solubility can vary greatly. Ground beans do not dissolve in hot water completely. A typical bean is made up of 28% water-soluble, organic materials, and 72% of insoluble cellulose. When you add hot water to coffee beans via boiling or brewing, only 28% of soluble materials will dissolve. This will give the solution a distinct aroma and flavor. However, it may still have coffee beans floating around by the end of it.
Instant coffee goes through a whole process of roast, grind, extract, and freeze-dry or spray dry. This changes the property and composition of the coffee beans entirely. The result is that instant coffee can completely and instantly dissolve in hot water.
Does Instant Coffee Use Different Types Of Coffee Beans?
Freshly brewed coffee from beans tends to keep all of its chemical constituents and essential oils intact. This gives it a more well-rounded but subtle taste. There is also plenty of variety when it comes to fresh coffee.
However, instant coffee has a stronger taste. The raw materials used to make instant coffee have a bigger punch. Coffee manufacturers usually use cheap Robusta coffee beans since they have the right bitter edge. Robusta coffee also has a strong flavor that is preferable for instant coffee, which isn’t brewed for a long time to extract a strong flavor. It can also stand up against large quantities of sugar, milk, or added flavor. For example, if you’re getting an iced latte with whipped cream, you will definitely want to use coffee with a bold flavor.
Robusta is also the cheapest option for manufacturers since its coffee cherries yield twice as much as Arabica. It is highly resistant to pests and diseases, which is why it is commonly produced in many agricultural regions.
This is why instant coffee is mostly made with Robusta beans.
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Is Instant Coffee Higher-Quality Than Regular Grounds?
In short, instant coffee is usually always poorer quality than regular ground beans. For coffee drinkers who just want a quick cup in the morning, it might be routine to sacrifice on the quality. The main reason that instant coffee is usually so bad is that it is made with the cheapest Robusta beans that the manufacturers could find.
Robusta tends to have higher caffeine content as well as a strong taste. Robusta beans have half the amount of fats and sugars as Arabica coffee. This means that the taste is often more bitter and earthy than Arabica. The strong kick can be too much for some people, which is why it is common to use cream or sugar to balance the taste.
The way instant coffee is manufactured doesn’t help the cause either. The coffee beans are brewed before going through further processes of drying and cooling. This can have a severe impact on the final taste of the coffee. Such heavy processes can strip away the natural flavor of the coffee and only leave behind the bitterness. But the much-needed caffeine will remain, which is why people don’t mind the strong flavor.
Does It Take Longer To Make Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee is, of course, instant! All you need to do is measure the granules or powder, add hot water, and enjoy! It takes merely a few seconds, which is why it appeals to so many people. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a hurry to get to work, instant coffee can save the day by giving you the quick caffeine boost you need.
The same cannot be said about ground coffee at all. Whether you have ready ground coffee or whole beans that need to be ground, the entire preparation will take some time. Even without the cleanup time for all the equipment, you will have to stick around for a few minutes.
There are some methods for preparing fresh coffee that are relatively quicker, but none of them can win against instant coffee when it comes to speed. Some people like to use the loaded coffee filter when they want relatively quicker fresh coffee, but even then, it can take a few minutes for the water to drip into the cup.
There is also no learning curve with instant coffee. Anyone can stir instant coffee into a cup of hot water. However, with fresh coffee, you need to choose the right equipment too. Investing in a French press, espresso machine, or Moka pot can means that you have to spend a little time learning the nuances of the machine too.
Can You Make Cold Brew With Instant Coffee?
Any caffeine addict will take their coffee hot or cold. Some people even prefer the cool bitter taste of cold coffee drinks over hot drinks. Rather than going for a watered-down regular iced coffee, it can be great to try the less acidic, smooth flavor of cold brews. However, nobody has time to wait an entire night of brewing to get a cup in the morning. Waiting through the long lines in the café at morning rush hour also may not seem like an entirely viable option. This is where instant coffee cold brew comes in.
There are plenty of cold brew recipes that use instant coffee. With the right recipe, you will be able to make a great drink that will keep you cool all summer long.
Is Instant Coffee Cheaper?
It definitely is! If you look at the gram by gram comparison, it is lighter on your pocket to have instant coffee. While freshly ground coffee may have a more rounded taste, they also require a lot of equipment too. You will have to invest in the right sort of machine to make coffee, too, such as a French press, espresso machine, or Moka pot. This is also an added expense that you should consider when it comes to fresh coffee. With instant, you just need a mug, one packet, and some hot water.
Is Instant Coffee Worse for the Environment?
You might think that the manufacturing process for instant coffee would have a heavier environmental footprint on the world. However, when you factor in the lower ratio of the package to the number of coffees that are being brewed, you will see that instant is actually greener. The waste from ground beans by large factories needs to be handled through the appropriate systems, and you should not be purchasing single-use packages.
If you use whole bean coffee, then there are some ways to make it more eco-friendly. You can ensure that you dispose of the waste properly, reuse or recycle the coffee ground, and use real cups instead of the plastic ones at most cafes.
Is Instant Coffee Worse For Your Health?
Instant coffee is actually neither better nor worse than regular coffee. Despite the rumors that instant coffee can give you cancer, it is not actually bad for you. Many studies suggest a link between cancer and coffee, but there is no conclusive evidence that instant coffee causes cancer at all.
However, you should note that the 3-in1 coffee mixtures can be less healthy. They have sugars and sweeteners added in, which can impact your health.
There actually some health benefits associated with coffee as well. Having a cappuccino or two can:
- Reduce your risk of liver damage by half
- Increase your lifespan
- Kill cancer cells in the body
- Improve performance at the gym
- Prevent dental cavities
- Improve metabolism
In one study, there was also evidence that some instant coffee had more antioxidants than regular ground coffee. Other studies show that the antioxidant ratio is comparable in both.
What does impact your health is the amount of caffeine you are consuming. More caffeine is not necessarily a good thing when it comes down to it, but the effect can be different on every individual. For maximum health, you should indulge in a little bit of caffeine every day, which can lead to several health benefits. However, if you push it too far, you can suffer from side effects as well.
On a positive note, you can experience increased mental alertness, improved cognitive performance, improved physical performance, and decreased fatigue. On the negative side, you may experience headaches, rapid heart rates, irritability, nervousness, jitteriness, insomnia, or irritability. This is why you should be careful about the amount of caffeine you take in on a daily basis.
Final Thoughts
Coffee is definitely the best start for our busy lives. It’s delicious and sometimes necessary to survive the day. Many debates revolve around ground coffee and instant coffee. But, at the end of the day, it all comes down to your needs at the time. If you want a quick boost of caffeine at the beginning of the day, instant coffee can be your best friend. On the other hand, if you want to sit back and relax with a warm, smooth ground coffee drink, it can be pretty great too!
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