What is the best instant coffee? Features, varieties, brands and tastes

How instant coffee is made

Skip the information and go straight to the best instant coffee brands.

The preparation of instant coffee is divided into several stages. During the first, the green grains are sorted and cleaned. The next steps are roasting and grinding into not very small particles.

Afterwards extraction is carried out, i.e. brewing. It is similar to the usual processes taking place, for example, in Turk. The ground grains are passed through a stream of hot water under high pressure. As a result, solids and oils are extracted from the coffee beans.

The resulting extract is placed in tanks, where unnecessary liquid is removed from it. This is done in one of two ways.

1. “Srey dry” - this method is used quite rarely now. It involves using hot air to atomize the coffee and turn it into powder.
2. Freeze dry is a more popular method based on freezing. The frozen extract is fed onto a drum at a very low temperature. As the drum rotates, moisture is frozen out of the coffee and the product itself turns into granules.

Moreover, all this time the coffee has no smell. Coffee oils are collected and liquefied between roasting and brewing in the early stages. After the liquid has evaporated, the oil is added back to the product, as well as other ingredients (for example, sugar).

Coffee can have different levels of glucose. It depends on the content of the coffee husk. Since the coffee berry contains sugar, the coffee itself becomes more glucose.

Instant coffee with the addition of ground coffee is also available. The latter is placed fried in granules of a soluble variety. This also affects the taste and which coffee will be better.

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History of appearance

The idea of ​​creating a coffee concentrate that did not require lengthy cooking arose in the mid-18th century. The first patent for an instant mixture was received in 1771 in Great Britain.

In terms of aromatic and taste characteristics, the instant product was inferior to traditional grain, but it turned out to be a profitable acquisition for the War Ministry. The speed and ease of preparing the energy drink have become advantages in the field.

Subsequently, almost all significant technological changes relating to the production of coffee concentrate were initiated by the military departments.

The first commercial product was developed by American inventor George Washington in 1910. Mass production began after Swiss chemist Max Morgenthaler invented the “coffee cube” with the addition of milk and sugar. It had good taste and was stored for a long time.

Discovery of the sublimation process

Researchers, constantly searching for new methods for making a soluble concentrate, first learned to stabilize the substance without the use of carbohydrates, and then came up with a way to granulate it.

In 1965, Nestle introduced Nescafe Gold, a freeze-dried coffee product. In its production, the technology of “freeze drying” and subsequent dehydration of the mixture by sublimation in a vacuum was used.

The new approach helped improve the taste and aroma of the product, bringing it as close as possible to the qualities of natural products.

Types of instant coffee depending on production technology

Manufacturing technology affects the quality of coffee, its taste, aroma, benefits, and cost. There are three types:

• powder;
• granulated;
• sublimated.

Powder is the cheapest type. But this affects the fact that taste and aroma qualities are also at a low level. Using this technology, coffee seeds are boiled for a long time under the influence of hot water. High pressure is also applied. The cooled extract is then passed through filters. The final product looks like coffee powder.

Coffee granules are similar to powdered coffee. The difference lies in one more final stage. During this process, pressure and steam are applied to the powder, causing the coffee to stick together into granules. The unnecessary liquid formed in this case is dried under the influence of special hair dryers.

Founding Fathers

Unfortunately, it is impossible to say who first came up with the idea to create the first instant coffee. But there is documentary evidence of the presence of the product since the mid-nineteenth century. Moreover, it was produced both in the form of briquettes and in the form of thick syrup in bottles.

But a good idea can come to several people at the same time. So already in the first year of the twentieth century, another scientist developed his concept. It was Chicago resident Satori Kato. Before this, he was already known as the author of instant tea.

And just five years later, the namesake of the famous American president named George Washington created his own unique recipe for coffee that does not require cooking. Inspired by his idea, he moved from Guatemala to the United States and released a drink under the Red E Coffee brand. But its products are not in great demand among the civilian population. While in the army it became a mandatory component of dry rations.

Real popularity for instant coffee came only in the late thirties and early forties. This was facilitated by an improved formula developed by the Swiss Max Morgenstaller, an employee of Nestle.

So, on July 24, 1938, the world saw NESCAFE for the first time. This date is considered the official Coffee Day .

Inexpensive instant coffee

This category includes budget coffee varieties that still remain attractive in taste and aroma. The quality also remains at the required level.

Jacobs Monarch

Jacobs is a coffee brand from Germany. This variety is the most popular in the line. It has a rich classic taste and pleasant aroma, which is why it took first place in the ranking. Coffee beans are carefully selected and deeply roasted. Thanks to this combination, high quality of the product is achieved. The composition uses coffee grown in Colombia. Two types are used - Arabica and Robusta.

The drink is easy to brew; all you need to do is put two or three teaspoons in a cup and pour boiling water over it. The shelf life is two years. Coffee comes in a glass jar, which must be stored in a cool place and away from moisture.

Advantages:

• rich taste;
• pleasant aroma;
• affordable price;
• dissolves quickly;
• beautiful packaging.

Flaws:

• there may be an unpleasant aftertaste.

Customer Reviews

Valeria Very GOOD, delicious coffee! Quite rich in aroma and taste. The grind is fine and leaves foam around the edges of the mug, which is a little annoying, of course, since it tends to foam a lot when mixed in a mug. The volume of the jar is standard, enough for exactly a month of use.

Olga Metaeva I decided to try this particular type of coffee, which was recommended by a good friend. I decided on the usual classic Jacobs, without any frills. I can say that the coffee has a good taste, an invigorating and pleasant smell, a beautiful jar, and an affordable price. I also liked that this type of coffee is available in jars of different sizes, small, medium, large, which allows you to take a small jar for testing and not be afraid that you won’t like the coffee.

Jardin Colombia Medellin

This type belongs to freeze-dried coffee, which best preserves its taste and aroma. The composition uses only Arabica grown in Colombia. Therefore, the drink has a light chocolate taste with bitterness, which is characteristic of this particular type of Arabica. There are also floral notes. Sugar goes well with the drink - it adds a taste of caramel or even creme brulee. Thanks to this combination of pleasant tastes, the variety earned second place.

One of the advantages of the product is its rich, bright aroma. It is also easy to brew - just put 1-2 teaspoons in a cup and add hot water. However, it should not be boiling. To achieve the ideal taste, the manufacturer recommends putting 2 teaspoons per 200 ml. water.

Advantages:

• strong;
• not overcooked;
• pleasant taste;
• chocolate note;
• affordable price;
• convenient packaging.

Flaws:

• high consumption.

Customer Reviews

Lala Pleasant taste, smell of coffee, foam when brewing, taste of chocolate. I bought it by chance, out of desperation, there was no choice, but there was a promotion)) But unexpectedly the coffee turned out to be pretty good. It even foams when brewed and has a chocolate flavor. I'll take it until I get tired of it))

Name hidden Strong without feeling overcooked. Delicious. A very worthy option! Very decent instant coffee. I drink more cereal, but at work I keep instant. This variety impressed me, everything was right in terms of taste and aroma. Jardin is definitely one of my favorite coffee brands. I recommend it.

Black Card Gold

Black Card is one of the leaders in coffee production in Russia. The third-place Gold variety has a rich, tart flavor with a hint of milk. For production, only Arabica beans are used, which are subjected to high-quality golden roasting. Thanks to this preparation technology, the manufacturer was able to reveal the full taste of the drink and give it a bright aroma.

The coffee is sold in a beautiful glass jar, which is also suitable for a gift. The shelf life is 2 years. The Gold variety is considered one of the best in the line due to its taste.

Advantages:

• affordable price;
• beautiful packaging;
• soft, rich taste;
• pleasant aroma;
• milky shade;
• invigorates.

Flaws:

• inconvenient lid.

Customer Reviews

Valeria Lubymova I respect this coffee for its taste and packaging. The taste is soft and rich. And the packaging is such that you can take a more economical option for drinking coffee at home, or a glass jar if you need to make a present for someone.

Christina S. Mom knows my love for coffee, so when she comes to visit, she brings a jar of freeze-dried coffee. On her last visit, she brought “Black Card” Gold. I liked the coffee. It has a wonderful aroma. It is also delicious, rich and strong.

We advise you to read: 10 best brands of ground coffee

How to choose quality coffee

High-quality instant coffee may taste virtually no different from grain coffee, especially when prepared correctly. However, there are several characteristics that you should pay attention to in order to purchase good freeze-dried coffee:

• There are three types of instant coffee: consisting only of Arabica, a mixture of Arabica and Robusta, or Robusta beans. The first option is the most expensive, and the last is the cheapest. However, the quality of the product depends not only on what percentage of the grains were used, but also where they were collected. For those who love strong, aromatic coffee, the best option is a drink with 100% Arabica or a robusta mixture, but strongly roasted;
• emulsified, powdered coffee costs less than granulated coffee. For coffee gourmets, granulated coffee without dust and powder in packaging is suitable. Granulated coffee is made by soaking beans in a special solution. High-quality granules must have a porous surface;
• the percentage of caffeine content is not always indicated on the packaging - this is due to the fact that such a requirement was not presented to the manufacturer at the legislative level. However, for the drink to be truly tasty, a caffeine content of at least 4 percent is recommended;
• packaging is of utmost importance. A glass jar is the most popular option, but soft zip-lock bags are also used. According to the rules, a high quality product is always packaged in glass jars. When choosing coffee, you should pay attention to the condition of the can - there should be no visible chips or cracks on it.

By paying attention to several characteristics: type of packaging, type of grinding of beans, percentage of caffeine, you can choose a high-quality, natural drink. In addition, you should pay attention to the price - it is not necessary to choose the most expensive coffee, but the price - 100 rubles per glass jar should alert the buyer.

Video - How to choose good instant coffee

Premium instant coffee

In this list you can find the best varieties of instant coffee that will appeal to almost all lovers of this drink. There are options with different notes.

Bushido Original

In first place is freeze-dried coffee, which contains 100% Arabica. This results in a pleasant taste, rich and bright. It contains a slight bitterness, which makes the drink tart and invigorating. It will be a good option for the morning. A special roasting method is used for preparation. The result is neat granules that do not crumble.

The aroma is also harmonious; it is not inferior in quality to taste. You can feel it already in the jar, and it is a natural smell in which no chemical impurities are felt. The manufacturer has protected the brand from counterfeiting with a special hologram, which can be found on the packaging.

Advantages:

• close to natural;
• rich aroma;
• tart pleasant taste;
• neat granules;
• invigorating.

Flaws:

• price.

Customer Reviews

Viennese waffle iron The aroma of coffee is very rich: you feel it immediately as soon as you open the can. The smell is natural. The aroma of brewed coffee is also quite strong. Even though this is instant coffee, it has a natural taste. There is a bitterness in the taste, this makes it more tart. Important: if you drink only this coffee for some time (at least a week), you will get used to it; other types of coffee will contrast sharply in taste.

Name hidden In my opinion, the best coffee is from the Bushido line of instant coffees, which includes 5 types of coffee! And one of my favorite instant coffees. Arabica "Buenaventura", made in Switzerland. Soft and bright taste. With condensed milk, cream, a spoon or two of good cognac or rum, or whatever, it will bring a lot of positive emotions.

2. Egoiste Special freeze-dried with ground coffee

In second place in the ranking is freeze-dried coffee, which is supplemented with ground coffee. The content of the second is 20%. During production, a special In-Fi technology was used. A very finely ground product is placed into instant coffee crystals, which retains its taste and aroma well. The composition includes two types of Arabica, veracruz and montana. Medium roast coffee is used.

The product has a rich and dense taste. It combines several notes at once. This is first of all a roasted nut with a sweetish taste, followed by dark chocolate. There are also notes of ripe tropical fruit. The manufacturer uses high-quality coffee grown in Colombia.

Advantages:

• pleasant taste;
• strong;
• bright aroma;
• combination of freeze-dried and ground coffee;
• low consumption.

Flaws:

• price.

Customer Reviews

Olga K. Coffee is unique and interesting. Soluble and natural in one glass jar. It turns out to be quite an original taste. It is bitter, but the coffee should be unsweetened, so the consumption is low, you can use much less than what is written in the description. Arabica coffee is therefore aromatic. It's good to add quality cream or milk. It is better not to use sugar so that the taste of the product is fully revealed.

The name is hidden Soft and pleasant taste, a good volume lasts for a long time (even if it’s only a hundred grams), an alluring aroma, just the right amount of caffeine (the effect of a slight encouragement is enough for me as a doctor with frequent night shifts), and finally a decent price (inexpensive for such a person). coffee). To be honest, “EGOISTE” coffee was a first for me, because I wasn’t really into coffee before. But when I tried this masterpiece, I immediately spat on the high price and started buying it every week.

Positive properties

The high demand for instant coffee is due not only to the simplicity and speed of preparation. This drink also has a useful component composition.

Availability of nutrients

Scientific research points to the rich nutritional composition of the drink. It includes important chemical elements: potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus. These substances ensure the normal course of metabolic processes and the body's performance of basic physiological functions.

According to one study from the French University of Auvergne, coffee also contains chlorogenic acids, which reduce blood pressure and blood glucose concentrations.

Caffeine content

The amount of this substance in the soluble product depends on the variety and method of processing the seeds and is in the range of 30-90 mg, which is 30-40% less than natural coffee.

Due to the reduced content of the substance, the instant drink has a less stimulating effect on the nervous system.

Acrylamide concentration

When seeds are roasted, a harmful chemical compound is formed - acrylamide. This substance negatively affects the tissues of the nervous system, leading to the development of dangerous pathologies, incl. malignant neoplasms.

According to a study by the US National Coffee Association, acrylamide is present in minimal concentrations in roasted foods.

Strengthening the effect of drugs

Drinking coffee increases acidity in the stomach, which helps in faster absorption of medications. In this case, it is necessary to control the intake of the drink to avoid an overdose of medications.

Coffee helps lower blood glucose levels.