It's Time to Stop Making Fun of Instant Coffee

I can’t help but think of boxed wine and instant coffee as two proverbial peas in a pod; both oft-maligned and in need of some serious championing, but capable of deliciousness, especially when experienced roasters and winemakers decide to pay closer attention. 

The world of instant coffee has been a fascinating one to watch over the past few years, with well-respected names like Partners Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, Intelligentsia, and Canyon Coffee rolling out traveler-friendly iterations of some of their most popular blends. “When handled carefully, instant can and should have a place alongside any other brewing method,” says Ben Brewer, senior director for global innovation and quality at Blue Bottle Coffee, whose instant espresso is a favorite among Food & Wine editors. “Instant can broaden access to specialty coffee and, in the case of our Craft Instant Espresso, has made Blue Bottle cafe-quality coffee available to people wherever they are without the need for expensive equipment or brewing expertise,” he adds. But how, exactly, is instant coffee made? Read on to learn something new today. 

How is instant coffee made?

Instant coffee starts as whole coffee beans, the same ones you’re likely already buying from your favorite roaster. Those beans are roasted, ground, and brewed before the water is removed, leaving dehydrated crystals or soluble coffee behind. 

“We focused on two key processes for our craft instant coffee products: extraction and drying,” says Brewer. “By taking a gentle approach to extraction by using milder temperatures and pressure, [as well as] treating the coffee more delicately and as purely as possible, the quality of the output improved exponentially.” 

Brewer also notes that his team at Blue Bottle lengthened the freeze-drying process and avoided additives to make the “best tasting” instant coffee possible. 

Does instant coffee taste different than regular coffee?

Want to increase your chances of buying a better-tasting instant coffee? The quality of the beans matters, which is why trying an instant offering from a roaster you already know and love is a great starting point. Beyond the beans, the roast and extraction processes used also play a major role in the final taste and texture of your brew.

“Our goal is always to treat the coffee as gently as possible to maintain its pure flavor and aroma,” says Brewer. “We developed a specific roasting process that takes our learnings from 20 years of small craft roasting and brings it to our soluble production. We then extract a similar ratio to our cafe espresso, which results in a stronger and better-tasting cup.”

In terms of caffeine content, Brewer says that most instant or water-soluble coffee is similar to regular coffee. Used to drinking decaf? Partners Coffee offers an instant, caffeine-free option. Ultimately, instant coffee should taste and (once brewed) look indistinguishable from a traditional cup. The only difference should be convenience.