Instant Coffee: How It Is Made, Freeze-Dried vs Spray-Dried, Caffeine and How to Make It
What is instant coffee? Instant coffee (also called soluble coffee) is real coffee that is brewed into a strong extract in a factory and then dried, either by freeze-drying or spray-drying, into granules that dissolve straight away in hot water. A 237 ml cup has about 62 mg of caffeine, a little less than brewed coffee, and freeze-dried instant coffee is usually the better choice because it keeps more of the coffee’s aroma.
A cup of coffee in under a minute, with no machine and no filter: that is why instant coffee is still the first choice in offices, hotel rooms, on trips and in many homes across the Gulf. But not all instant coffee is the same. This guide explains how it is made, the difference between freeze-dried and spray-dried, how much caffeine it has, how to choose a good one and how to make it hot or iced.
How instant coffee is made
Instant coffee starts like any other coffee: the beans are roasted and ground, then brewed with water in large industrial extractors to make a concentrated coffee. The water is then removed in one of two ways, leaving coffee solids that dissolve again as soon as you add water.1
Freeze-dried instant coffee
The extract is frozen quickly, broken into granules and the ice is removed by sublimation under vacuum, without strong heat. You get glossy, irregular brown granules. The process is slower and more expensive, but it protects more of the aroma and flavour.1
Spray-dried instant coffee
The extract is sprayed as a fine mist into a tower of hot air, where it dries in seconds into a very fine powder that is usually clumped into larger granules. It is faster and cheaper, but the heat costs some of the aroma.1
| Freeze-dried | Spray-dried | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks like | Glossy, irregular granules | Fine powder or small granules |
| Aroma and flavour | Richer, closer to brewed coffee | Lighter, can taste more bitter |
| Heat during drying | Low | High, for seconds |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
How much caffeine is in instant coffee?
A 237 ml cup of instant coffee has about 62 mg of caffeine, compared with about 96 mg in the same size cup of brewed coffee.2 The exact amount depends on the beans and how much coffee you use, and can range from roughly 29 to 117 mg.1 See how it compares in our caffeine chart.
Is instant coffee healthy?
Pure instant coffee is just coffee, and like brewed coffee it contains polyphenols, though a little less of them.1 What usually changes the picture is what is added: many “3 in 1” sachets are largely sugar and creamer. Read the ingredients, choose 100% coffee with nothing added, and add milk and sweetener yourself in the amount you want. For the difference, read what is 3 in 1 coffee.
How to choose a good instant coffee
- Choose freeze-dried if aroma and taste matter most to you.
- Read the label: ideally it says “100% coffee” and nothing else: no sugar, creamer or flavourings.
- Bean type: Arabica is smoother and less bitter, Robusta is stronger with more caffeine. Read Arabica vs Robusta.
- Single-serve sachets are practical for offices, travel and hotels: every sachet makes the same cup and keeps the coffee away from moisture.
How to make instant coffee
| Hot black | With milk | Iced | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 1 sachet (2 g) | 1 sachet | 1 to 2 sachets |
| Liquid | 150–200 ml hot water | 50 ml hot water + 150 ml hot milk | 30 ml hot water + 150 ml cold milk |
| Method | Stir well | Froth the milk for more foam | Dissolve the coffee first, then add milk and ice |
Tip: use water just off the boil rather than fiercely boiling water to protect the flavour. If you love Arabic coffee, read our guide to Arabic coffee too.
Lucarise Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee
Pure instant coffee from 100% Brazilian Arabica, freeze-dried to protect the aroma, with no additives and no sugar. Available as a box of 20 sachets (2 g each) or a 100 g pouch. Made in Sohar, Oman.
Brewing at home? Get exact grams with our coffee to water ratio calculator.
Instant coffee: frequently asked questions
Is instant coffee the same as soluble coffee?
Yes. They are two names for the same thing: real coffee that has been dried so it dissolves straight away in hot water.
Is instant coffee real coffee?
Yes. It is made from roasted, ground coffee beans brewed into a strong extract, which is then dried.
How much instant coffee per cup?
Usually 1 to 2 g for 150–200 ml of water, which is one 2 g sachet or about a level teaspoon. Use more for a stronger cup.
Which is better, freeze-dried or spray-dried?
Freeze-dried keeps more of the coffee's aroma and flavour because it is not exposed to high heat, but it costs more.
Does instant coffee have less caffeine?
A little. A 237 ml cup has about 62 mg, compared with about 96 mg in brewed coffee.
Can I make iced coffee with instant coffee?
Yes. Dissolve one or two sachets in a little hot water, then add cold milk and ice.
Sources
- Instant coffee: production (freeze-drying and spray-drying), caffeine and polyphenol content. Wikipedia
- Mayo Clinic. Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more. mayoclinic.org
- What we will read in this article
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