- With dehydrated milk,
- With sugar,
- Without milk and no sugar
- With various aromas.
History of instant coffee
Instant coffee was discovered in 1906 by the chemist George C. Washington, an Englishman who lived in Guatemala. A well-known coffee lover spotted a powdery precipitate in his favorite silver coffee pot. He was very curious, so he started experiments to create dehydrated coffee crystals similar to what we call instant coffee today.
How is instant coffee made?
One has to start from the way instant coffee is produced so that they can understand the composition and changes that are happening. After hot water extraction, there are two ways to dry the extract:
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- Spray drying: The coffee extract is injected into hot air, which dries it very quickly into fine powder or small pieces;
- Freeze drying: the coffee extract is frozen and ground and dried in a vacuum.
Each procedure seeks to preserve the aroma, quality, and taste of the coffee. “Ordinary” coffee is only roasted, and ground. Roasting can be done in many ways, and today it is industrial. Instant coffee is obtained by dissolving ground coffee after brewing and ground coffee beans in water. This process is called extraction. This coffee is then freeze-dried or spray-dried. The frosting method is used more often because it produces better instant coffee. After drying, the coffee powder or granules are packed in boxes, after which they are ready for use. In the last ten years, a large number of instant coffee producers have appeared on the market. Most of them also offer pre-packaged milk or sugar bags or various additives. These are the popular two-in-one, three-in-one, and other instant coffee versions. It is also common for us to use instant coffee as a synonym for Nescafe, as it has long been the only coffee maker in our market. Today, most domestic producers offer instant coffee.
Prepare instant coffee the right way
The taste of coffee depends on the quality of the coffee, water, and proper preparation. Use water that has the least amount of mineral salts and chlorine as it affects the taste of the coffee. It is known that the manufacturer gives the exact instructions on the amount of coffee needed to prepare one cup, so if you want the best taste, take care of the proportions.
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It is recommended that you first try as advised and then determine the individual amount that suits your taste. Instant coffee, also called coffee powder, is even easier to brew than Turkish coffee. All you have to do is heat the water (not to boil it), then pour it into a cup with one or two tablespoons of instant coffee and stir. Some coffee lovers use milk instead of water or add milk at the end of the brew.
Instant coffee and health
In addition to enjoying your favorite instant coffee, this coffee also benefits from a health perspective. Instant coffee is filtered and has less of the cholesterol generating ingredient caffeine. That way, if you choose instant caffeine-free coffee, you can enjoy its taste without the fear of insomnia or tachycardia that may occur in some people. Among other biological substances, coffee contains potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B3 (niacin).
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So far, numerous studies have confirmed that moderate instant coffee consumption can have positive effects on human health:
- It improves brain function and keeps us awake,
- It speeds up metabolism and can help with weight loss,
- Reduces the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,
- Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes,
- Improves liver health,
- It contributes to mental health and is also recommended for depression. They say it also contributes to a longer life.
Instant coffee has 60-80 mg of caffeine, while regular coffee has 60-120 mg. Instant coffee is the right choice for people who are sensitive to the negative effects of caffeine – insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, heartbeat, and headaches. For instant coffee, the effect of caffeine is felt 4 hours after consuming the coffee. Instant coffee, as well as filtered coffee, contains a very small amount of caffeine compared to “regular” coffee. That’s why instant coffee is a better choice for people with high cholesterol.
Talking Beans
Although part of our daily routine, most people know little about where coffee comes from and what are the basic ingredients of coffee blends that wake us up, rejoice, and give us extra strength. For the preparation of quality coffee, good varieties are crucial, as well as the process of turning them into the beverage we love. A shrub or coffee tree bears fruit for three to five years. It then takes nine months for the coffee beans to go from green to red, ripe. During the transformation of the red berry into the coffee we drink every day, all attention is paid to preserving the aroma, as the quality of the coffee is usually appreciated.
There are four types of coffee consumed daily around the world:
- Black coffee;
- Espresso;
- Filter;
- Instant coffee
Among the 60 types of coffee that exist in the world, the most used are Arabica and Robusta beans. Currently, 70% of Arabica and 40% of Robusta are produced globally. Both varieties grow in tropical zones with warm and humid climates but at different altitudes. Robusta is also known for containing almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica, and the differences in the aroma and taste of the two most famous varieties in the world are obvious. Robusta has a fuller, more intense taste and earthy aroma with little acidity. Arabica is known for its sweet, fruity aroma and pleasant acidity. It is often used to prepare a classic espresso, for example. Arabica from South and Central America, with a dose of African Robusta, is used for a more intense taste. When producing instant coffee, Arabica is usually treated with freezing, resulting in fine crystals of light color, characteristic of premium quality coffee. Robusta beans are treated with the hot air drying method, which gives the distinctive appearance of instant coffee in the granules. Robusta is recognizable for making a nice cream-foam too, so it’s a great addition to many espresso blends, and fans of the Nescafé Classic will recognize it in the rich foam that is created when we blend this beverage. Instant coffee has become a part of everyday life, slowly and surely replacing “regular” black coffee. Simple and easy to prepare, with good taste in many combinations, it has found its place in everyday consumption by many fans of this favorite beverage.