Ground vs. instant coffee – which is better to drink?

Previously, this drink was considered carcinogenic, and even some studies were cited as evidence.

Today the same scientists claim

that coffee is one of the healthiest drinks because it is full of antioxidants, improves cognitive function, and is also low in calories.

But when it comes to choosing

Between instant coffee and ground coffee beans, opinions are divided.

In fact, making a clear choice is not so easy.

If baristas talk about coffee, they will definitely choose coffee beans, and call instant coffee poison.

It’s worth noting right away:

instant coffee is also coffee. It was simply turned into a concentrate using one of the moisture extraction methods.

But there are still fundamental differences between these two types of coffee.

The raw materials used (type of beans) are different, each type requires different skills to make, and of course there are differences in taste and cost.

Time and simplicity

Making instant coffee is a simple process in itself. Measure out a teaspoon (or more) of coffee granules, add hot water and that’s it! The whole operation takes a few seconds. If you are in a hurry to get to work, then instant coffee is a great option.

To make coffee from beans you need:

1. Grind the beans (if you did not purchase ground immediately) to the desired size. For example, a French press requires a coarser grind, while a coffee machine requires a finer grind.

2. If you don’t have a coffee machine, pour boiling water over the coffee and wait 3-4 minutes. If you have a coffee machine, you need to clean it regularly.

In short, the coffee may taste better, but it’s also more hassle.

Even with a capsule coffee machine, you will not prepare coffee as quickly as instant coffee.

Differences in taste

The fact that ground coffee tastes better than instant coffee is almost impossible to dispute. The quick drink is sour and has a not-so-pleasant aftertaste. Among the wide range of brands, you can choose items with different flavor bouquets. But often all these characteristics are the merit of flavorings and emulsifiers that are not able to accurately imitate natural shades.

Some expensive brands of freeze-dried coffee are made without the addition of additives. If you manage to find such a copy on a store shelf, you need to take it without hesitation. Of course, nothing can replace the deep, noble taste of ground coffee. But a distant resemblance, if you're lucky, can be acquired.

Taste

Freshly brewed coffee retains all its essential oils

and other chemical components are intact, giving it a fuller taste when compared to instant coffee. Fresh coffee has more flavor variety.

However, the main reason

The difference in taste is the composition of the raw materials used to prepare instant coffee. Instant coffee makers tend to use cheaper Robusta beans, which can have a bitter taste. More expensive and aromatic Arabica beans are used to brew fresh coffee.

The degree of roasting also matters.

Most instant coffees will taste more bitter than medium roast ground coffee.

Another thing worth noting

that the beans retain more caffeine than instant coffee granules, which also affects the taste.

What's with caffeine?

Instant coffee is made primarily from robusta, which is not the best variety. The caffeine content in it is significantly higher than in elite Arabica beans. Logically, granules and sublimate should prevail over grinding in terms of tonic alkaloid content. But that's not true. After undergoing multi-stage processing, the beans lose most of the caffeine.

• This is interesting: Where is there more caffeine, in tea or instant coffee?

A portion of ground coffee brewed in a Turk contains about 100 mg of energy. A cup of instant coffee will contain around 60 mg of this alkaloid. The indicator may fluctuate depending on the brand, but this does not change the picture. Has anyone been looking for the benefits of instant coffee? Here's the first one!

Result:

When it comes to choosing between instant and fresh coffee, it comes down to a choice between convenience and ritual, cost and taste. It's also a matter of lifestyle. From a health perspective, both are equally good for you.

True coffee lovers, of course, prefer grain coffee, as it is more aromatic and has a richer taste.

And if your body simply requires caffeine in the morning, and even more so if time is short, then instant coffee is also suitable.

How much are you willing to invest in your coffee?

Instant vs ground

Most arguments speak in favor of a natural drink. First of all, it has an impact on health. Grains contain a number of vitamins and microelements. In moderation, good coffee is not only not prohibited, but even recommended.

As for powder and granules, their harmful effects on the body have been proven. Acrylamide formed during heat treatment harms the nervous system and promotes the development of cancer cells. Acids have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract. The list is not complete.

Which coffee drink is healthier?

Many drinks are made based on coffee, the most popular of which are:

1. "Espresso". It is prepared (usually in a coffee maker) exclusively from beans with the maximum degree of roasting. It has a low calorie content (7 calories). Served in 30-35 ml cups, it contains approximately 63 mg of caffeine. There are several classic variations: “lango” - diluted with water up to 55 ml, “Americano” - up to 150-160 ml, and “doppio” - double “expresso” (contains approximately 125 mg of caffeine).
2. "Cappuccino". It is also produced on an espresso basis. Whipped milk is added to the drink (70-80% of the drink consists of milk). The caffeine content is similar to espresso. All ingredients are served warm in a cup with a volume of 150-190 ml. Energy value – 105 calories per 150 ml glass.
3. Macchiato is a mixture of espresso and milk foam in a 1:1 ratio. Volume – 60-70 ml. Nutritional value: 66 calories.
4. "Latte" . It is a milk drink. 75% is represented by milk. Served in transparent vessels with a volume of about 200 ml. Energy value – 112 calories.
5. Moccacino is a coffee drink with the addition of chocolate, cocoa powder or chocolate syrup. Served in glasses with a volume of 200-250 ml. Contains about 270-320 calories.

Considering the characteristics of each drink, we can conclude that the most useful are “espresso” in its pure form and cappuccino. They are distinguished by sufficient caffeine content and low calorie content.

Special varieties

1. Bulletproof coffee is a high-calorie product based on regular coffee, unsalted organic butter and MCT oils. Promotes weight loss by putting the body into “ketosis” mode and prolongs life in general.
2. Decaffeinated coffee or “decaf” is a product from which almost all caffeine (up to 97%) is technologically removed. As a result, there is no effect of this biologically active substance, the list of contraindications for coffee is narrowed (acute inflammatory lesions of the digestive system, refractory arterial hypertension, etc.).
3. Cold or iced coffee is a serving option in which the coffee drink is consumed cool, usually in the summer to quench thirst and improve performance. There are 2 main cooking options: diluting with cold milk or cooling.

There are “non-standard” options for drinks based on coffee beans, which are used for a highly specialized purpose. Their difference from “template” forms makes them unique, but they are not suitable for everyone.

Which type of coffee has more caffeine?

Beans can only be of two varieties - Arabica or Robusta. The second option has a much larger amount of caffeine, but at the same time, a small portion of nutrients. The instant drink is made only from robusta. It turns out that this coffee has more caffeine? No, everything is not so simple, since during manufacturing the alkoid simply disappears from the final product. Let us highlight the fact that there is no difference between ground coffee and instant coffee in terms of caffeine.

As for the number of positive elements, Arabica is the clear leader here. So which coffee is healthier, ground or instant? The second option is always made from robusta, which means we have found a winner. But the ground drink can also be made from this type of coffee. If the espresso is based on Arabica, you will get approximately three times more benefits.

Which supplements are best?

Traditionally, additional ingredients are added to coffee to give it a more refined taste and aroma, which allows you to enjoy the drink to the fullest. But not all supplements are created equal.

Below are the most popular supplement options and their effect on the body:

1. Milk. Softens the bitterness of the drink, enriches it with additional antioxidants. Milk also helps maintain the integrity of the musculoskeletal system and prevent fractures, additionally reduces the risk of malignant neoplasms (colon and rectal cancer), reduces the likelihood of early cardiovascular mortality, and prevents the development of type II diabetes.
2. Cream. Cream is the thick, fatty top layer of milk. They improve the taste, but significantly increase the energy value of the drink.
3. Sugar. Allows you to reduce the bitterness of the invigorating drink. Belongs to the group of quickly digestible carbohydrates, which are extremely harmful to the heart and the entire body.
4. Honey. For a long time it was believed that honey is an excellent alternative to “harmful” sugar, but recent scientific research completely refutes this information. It disrupts metabolism and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke due to its negative impact on the lipid profile.
5. Lemon. Adds a special sour taste to the drink. Helps normalize the lipid profile (reduces total cholesterol and the concentration of low-density lipoproteins), prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases and their complications, and is especially effective in lowering blood pressure.
6. Turmeric. Scientific research demonstrates that turmeric is beneficial for blood vessels and the heart, provides reliable prevention of atherosclerosis, type II diabetes, and improves the rheological properties of blood.
7. Cinnamon. This spice inhibits the activity of pathogenic bacteria in the body, reduces the severity of inflammatory processes in the digestive tract, increases the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, reduces blood pressure (mainly the systolic component) and strengthens the immune system in general.
8. Cardamom. It has general tonic properties and enhances the “invigorating” effect. Helps strengthen local and general immunity factors, slightly inhibits the effects of caffeine (recommended for strong coffee varieties).
9. Carnation. The main advantages are a bright rich taste, lowering blood pressure and reducing blood viscosity. Recommended for people with pathologies of the blood coagulation system.
10. Ginger. It increases the amount of lipoproteins with a high specific gravity, and reduces those with a low specific gravity, resulting in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Helps increase the activity of metabolic processes (useful for weight loss).

Coffee additives have different effects on the body. It is recommended to avoid adding honey or sugar. It is better to add lemon, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger.

Ground = all natural

The production of ground coffee begins with berry picking, processing and drying. Then the roasting and blending experts come into play. The final step is grinding the beans, packaging them in vacuum bags or cans. Thus, the ground contains only roasted crushed grains. At most, masters add flavorings to certain types of coffee - extracts obtained from processing plants and fruits. Ground coffee is 100 percent natural product.

Instant coffee - advantages and disadvantages

Remember that brewed coffee can be freeze-dried or made using a different technology. This is very important, because different methods change its composition, benefits and taste. So, the main advantages of instant drink:

• Long shelf life. Brewed coffee can be stored for many years without losing its taste. Scientists say that this period reaches 5 years.
• It's cheaper. Since only crumbs of real beans are needed to make the instant mixture, its price is much lower than that of Arabica.
• Practicality. We woke up, put the kettle on, washed our face, put a spoonful of coffee in a cup and filled it with water. Done, you can drink an invigorating drink in just a couple of seconds of preparation. Ground coffee does not have the same benefits.
• Less caffeine. Instant coffee has much less caffeine, so it is recommended for those who do not want to drink the drink. We are talking about hypertensive patients. If you love drinking coffee so much that you are willing to risk your health, then choose an instant drink; it will be safer in this case.
• Taste. The difference between instant and ground coffee is the taste characteristics. This is a very important point for many lovers of an invigorating drink. Brewed coffee comes in hundreds of different flavor variations, and they are easy to obtain and buy.

As for the cons:

• Which coffee is more harmful - instant or ground? The question is complex, but one thing is for sure, the first option has much less useful substances. To be more precise, instant coffee contains no vitamins at all.
• Additives and preservatives. Many people call instant coffee “chemistry”. This is not entirely true, but there is some truth in it. Flavor enhancers, dyes - it's all in the composition. Regular consumption of instant drinks can remove calcium from the body.
• Acidity increases. People who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract should pay attention to this point. If you love coffee, then switch to the ground type drink as it is even good for the digestive system.
• Instant coffee should not be taken by children. It has been scientifically proven that it is advisable to start drinking the drink after a person turns 16 years old.

Ground coffee - advantages and disadvantages

Which coffee is better to drink - ground or instant? Let's explore the pros and cons of both options. As in the subheading above, let's start with the benefits:

• Ground coffee is made from the highest quality beans, which immediately makes it healthier than instant varieties.
• Essential oils, vitamins, natural taste - all this remains in the ground coffee.
• You can prepare this drink yourself, just buy coffee beans.
• The variability of the grinding itself creates a large number of taste differences and varieties. The aroma can be very different, you need to try and find the perfect drink for yourself.
• You can add spices to ground coffee; there are many interesting recipes from different countries. This once again increases the variability of aromas and creates new varieties.

Flaws:

• This type of coffee costs much more, so it is considered an indicator of wealth.
• Preparing the drink is more complex and takes longer. You need to know the intricacies of the variety you are using so as not to spoil it.
• Storing ground coffee is the main problem. This period of time is very limited. When the grains are ground, the resulting mixture must be stored in an airtight container or jar with a tight lid. Also take into account the roasting period of the beans themselves; if 4 months have passed, the drink begins to lose its beneficial and taste properties.
• Special tools, which are necessary for preparing some types of ground coffee, once again create complications and troubles for its consumers.