If you’re like most of us, you need a nice, hot coffee to start your day off in the morning.
But, you may not always have the time to brew up a pot.
Instead of stopping off at the local cafe to get your fix, you should consider keeping some instant coffee around the house.
Wait…huh? Instant coffee?
That’s right. There are a number of high-quality instant coffee products out there that allow you to get your caffeine without the added labor of brewing your own.
The Best Instant Coffee Explained
We break down what makes the best instant coffee …
Editor’s Choice
Made of 100% highland Arabica coffee beans, this certified kosher and organic instant coffee has a balanced flavor with notes of fruity acidity and smooth, aromatic finish.
Mount Hagen instant coffee carefully selects and harvests all of its beans responsibly, and their freeze-dried coffee process is made without any preservatives or additives so you can have your morning cup of coffee knowing that everything was sourced fairly and eco-friendly.
Pros
Cons
6/6
Starbucks Instant Coffee
Starbucks Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Coffee
Starbucks steps up their game with their VIA Ready Brew Coffee, an instant coffee sourced from Colombian ground beans with an earthy and robust flavor. You simply pour hot water over the coffee grounds and stir until the consistency is smooth and ready to drink. Though it takes a moment to dissolve, the grounds offer a rich and full flavorful similar to a k-cup.
Unfortunately, past purchasers have seemed to discover issues with the packaging upon delivery and have found that some of the coffee packages were already expired, so check the dates and details before opening.
5/6
Nescafe Instant Coffee
Nescafe Nescafe Instant Coffee Gold 100g (2-pack)
Nescafe’s instant coffee is a quick and easy way to start your morning. Offering deep, rich flavors– hence the title– this coffee is particularly strong and only needs about one teaspoon of grounds per single cup.
This coffee has bold notes and strays far away from weak flavors that instant coffee is sometimes known to have.
4/6
Folgers Instant Coffee
Folgers Folgers Instant Coffee 2-pack; 16 Oz Each
If you’re looking for a reliable classic, Folgers instant coffee is the way to go. Folgers instant coffee features mountain-grown beans and has an AromaSeal canister to ensure the flavor is locked in and the grounds retain their consistency.
It has a mild but well-balanced flavor for easy drinking. This instant coffee comes in a 2 pack to save money and save plastic for the environmentally-conscious coffee drinker.
3/6
Organic Instant Coffee
Anthony’s organic instant coffee is gluten free and made with high aroma Arabica beans that provide plant-based energy to help keep you going throughout the day. Anthony’s beans are known to be particularly aromatic, and dissolve well for a full, rich scent and flavor as you stir the grounds into your cup.
2/6
Best Tasting Instant Coffee
Waka Coffee Waka Coffee Quality Instant Coffee, Colombian, Medium Roast
This instant coffee from Waka Coffee is freeze-dried to preserve the original aroma and flavor of the beans. Made of 100% high quality Arabica beans, this instant coffee is medium-bodied with notes of complex citrus throughout.
And one more bonus about Waka Coffee? 4% of all proceeds go to funding clean water projects through their “Add Water, Give Water” program, so you can help save the world while you sip your morning cup.
1/6
Decaf Instant Coffee
Starbucks Starbucks VIA Decaf Italian Coffee
Starbucks’ take on a decaf instant coffee is delightful to the palette and easy to drink. It offers a rich and smooth aroma like a regularly-brewed cup of coffee, but without the bite of a heavily caffeinated cup. This instant coffee dissolves quickly and is perfect to take along with you if you’re on the go.
How Is Instant Coffee Made
Making instant coffee is done two different ways using science we were taught as kids in school.
The first method is spraying the liquid coffee into an enclosed space. When it is sprayed through hot, dry air. By the time the droplets land below, it has already become a powder.
The next method is freezing the liquid. It is almost the same concept as explained above; however, freeze drying the droplets keeps most of the coffee flavor and aroma in tact. The liquid is forced through chemical processes. The process makes ice vaporize, and produces the powder that can be reconstituted in water.
The freeze drying method preserves more of the properties, such as smell and taste, but both methods are effective in giving us that morning cup of joe.
Research / Frequent Questions
Is Instant Coffee Bad For You?
When debating whether instant coffee is bad for you, I look at how caffeine and ingredients that are not “good” for you according to research.
According to experts, instant coffee contains more acrylamide, which can be harmful and have cancer causing agents. The amount found in instant coffee does still fall under the acceptable levels for diet though. There is more present in instant rather than brewed coffee.
On a good note, there are more antioxidants found in instant coffee because of the processes used to make the coffee. When brewing coffee, some of the properties are lost.
There is significantly less caffeine, however, in instant rather than brewed coffee. While this is great for those of you who have high blood pressure, for others, the main reason for coffee is the caffeine.
On top of being better for those with high blood pressure, instant coffee has been known to enhance brain function and boost metabolism. It can help reduce type II Diabetes, as well as help with liver health. It is even known to help with mental health, and just improve overall longevity.
While instant coffee or even brewed coffee is not always thought of as “good”, I would say that instant coffee is not bad for a person. There are always pros and cons, but the benefits instant coffee offers definitely outweigh the downside.
How Much Caffeine Is In Instant Coffee
How much caffeine is truly in instant coffee? Depending on where you look for information will depend on your answer.
Having reviewed a couple sites, there is roughly sixty milligrams of caffeine in a regular 8 ounce up of coffee. This is using one rounded teaspoon of instant coffee as well. So if you want stronger coffee and more caffeine content, obviously you are going to adjust your quantity of coffee per cup.
The amount of water you add affects the taste and strength. Those who enjoy the coffee that people joke could stand on it’s own because it’s so strong, then obviously those coffee lovers will choose to not add as much water and the fixins that go in a cup.
On average though, you are looking at sixty milligrams for a regular size cup of instant coffee.
Is Instant Coffee Bad For Cholesterol?
Comparing both instant and ground coffee brewing, it is found that instant coffee is significantly lower when it comes to raising bad cholesterol.
Is Instant Coffee Bad For Your Kidneys?
Instant coffee is not bad for your kidneys per se, but the amount you consume obviously will affect anything you put in your body.
Is Nescafe Real Coffee?
Yes, it is freeze dried ground coffee that will become liquid form when you add water to it.