What is the difference between freeze-dried and granulated coffee?

The benefits of sublimation and the aroma of the powder

Freeze-dried coffee is useful for people with low blood pressure, with vascular diseases and, naturally, for maintaining the youth of the body, because it contains antioxidants.

Powdered coffee is made from the remains of granules and crystals that remain after the production of coffee of a higher level. Powdered coffee is often associated with dust, which is packaged in small bags and sold at a fairly low cost.

The method of its production is quite easy: first the grains are cleaned, then roasted and crushed. After this, the resulting mixture is treated with hot water for several hours, and the whole process occurs under pressure in different atmospheres. The resulting mass was filtered, cooled and dried. And using this simple scheme, a powder was obtained, which was packaged in small bags. But with all this, in this form, coffee actually does not have the necessary substances, and in freeze-dried coffee, on the contrary, the natural components are preserved.

It is this difference that influences the price policy of coffee: the powdered type has a low cost, while the freeze-dried type costs many times more, because its quality truly meets all standards.

Properties and tips for choosing freeze-dried coffee.

Freeze-dried coffee is the best candidate for a brewed natural drink. Manufacturers of this product made sure that it has a pleasant smell and taste.

But before you make a choice in favor of one or another product, you should get acquainted with its composition and production technology.

Which coffee is better

We found out how it is: freeze-dried coffee and how it differs from granules with powder. Now about the selection rules.

Buy instant freeze-dried crystals in clear jars. This way you can understand how high quality the chosen option is.

Don't pay attention to the color. In fact, it depends on the speed of freezing. When the process is slow, the crystals are darker.

Find out the type of beans used to make your chosen brand of coffee. This information is indicated on the label. This delicious drink is made from Arabica or a mixture with Robusta.

Choose freeze-dried instant coffee with natural flavors.

Consider the smell. If the production of freeze-dried coffee was not carried out correctly, the coffee particles smell like burnt cork. Perhaps the factory workers exceeded the roasting time or used low-grade beans.

Choose sealed packaging: glass or soft. A plastic jar allows light to pass through, which will cause the coffee to taste sour over time.

History of appearance

The first attempts to produce instant coffee were made back in 1771 in Great Britain. The taste and aroma of the drink were very different from the natural one for the worse, so work continued to improve the quality of the product. The first technologies were patented at the end of the 19th century in three countries at once: France, America and New Zealand, but the revolution in the production of granulated coffee was carried out by the Nestle company.

Work on the product took almost ten years. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 led to a dire situation in the coffee market. The warehouses of Brazilian manufacturers were filled with unsold products, and falling prices brought companies to the brink of ruin. The director of Nestle at that time was Louis Dapple, who ordered the start of scientific work to create an instant drink with good taste.

Chemist Max Morgenthaler joined the development team. The scientist discovered that coffee with added milk and sugar, turned into powder, retains its taste better and lasts longer. As a result, Morgenthaler concluded that the secret to producing instant coffee was adding enough carbohydrates. It took two years to manufacture and install special equipment. The first batch of coffee was released only in 1938, and already in the 40s the Nescafe brand was sold in 30 countries.

Creator of Nescafe instant coffee, chemist Max Morgenthaler at work

History of origin

New discovery

Sublimation technology was first used during World War II. American scientists from the National Research Corporation used it to create antimicrobial drugs. And also when transporting blood serum to medical centers.

Sublimation technology continued to be used after the war. NRC specialists have made a new discovery - if you freeze dry foods, they retain more useful components than when you fry them.

Demand for the method

The Americans decided to use technology to create instant coffee. The experiments turned out to be successful. In 1965, Nestle presented a new product. Coffee lovers in America and Europe learned about freeze-dried coffee: what it means and how it differs from instant coffee in powder and granules. We'll talk about this below.

The taste and quick preparation made the drink popular among coffee lovers.

Manufacturers in Europe are also interested in how freeze-dried coffee is made. They entered into contracts with the Americans and started the manufacturing process using this method. By 1980, 40% of the coffee produced by Europeans was freeze-dried.

The experiments continued

The sublimate differed from the natural drink in taste. Starbucks spent 20 years looking for a way to eliminate the difference.

Experts used different types of grains. We experimented with roasting methods and freezing temperatures.

Only at the beginning of 2000 was it possible to achieve results. The new product was called “Stardust”.

In 2021, Starbucks entered into a contract with the Swiss company Nestle. She received the rights to sell Starbucks brand products, including sublimate coffee.

We talked about freeze-dried coffee: what it means and how it came about. Now let's look at how it is made.

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Production process

The difference between freeze-dried coffee and other instant types is the quality of the raw materials. No, high-grade Arabica beans are not used to make it, but the basis is still coffee beans, not waste.

How is freeze-dried coffee made and how does it preserve the aroma of coffee beans? The production of this type of drink, although not a secret, entails a complex step-by-step process that not every company is ready to go through. It is much easier to produce granulated coffee on a larger scale and at a more attractive price.

Production stages:

1. The coffee beans are ground and roasted.
2. The prepared raw materials are filled with water and placed in special extraction batteries. There it cooks for a couple of hours. During the boiling process, steam escapes through pipes where condensation forms. It contains essential oils that have been extracted from the grains. The condensate is collected and subsequently used to flavor the coffee.
3. The boiled extract is placed in tanks, where part of the liquid evaporates and the raw material thickens, that is, coffee bars are formed.
4. They are placed in vacuum freezers and blast frozen. At this stage, the coffee sublimates - the liquid evaporates and a pure extract remains.
5. The dried mass is crushed to form uneven particles in the form of pyramids. Now they are combined with evaporated essential oils to create an aromatic drink.

Now we know what freeze-dried coffee is and how it is produced. It remains to figure out how it affects the human body and how freeze-dried coffee differs from granulated coffee, except for the price.

Granulated coffee

The production of coffee granules is easier, so its price tag is lower. The initial technological stage is no different from the process of manufacturing sublimated granules. The grains also go through the process of roasting, crushing and undergoing prolonged cooking.

The concentrated liquid is then sprayed into a thin layer and dried under high pressure at 250°C. The resulting mass is wetted with water, as a result of which it is transformed into loose granules with uneven edges. The product is not subjected to further processing; it is immediately packaged. The manufacturer does not enrich the granules with substances that were lost during the digestion process. This significantly reduces their cost.

Rating of the best brands

From a huge number of names and manufacturers of freeze-dried coffee, it is not easy to choose the best product. The Test Purchase program compiled a rating of the most popular brands of this drink.

This list included:

1. Bushido is the highest quality, but very expensive, freeze-dried dark roast coffee. It has a natural bitter taste and strong aroma. Does not dissolve in cold water. We wrote separately about Bushido coffee from Japan here.

Tchibo Exclusive previously belonged to the premium price category, but recently manufacturers have reduced its cost. Oddly enough, the price reduction had no effect on the quality of the product.

Moccona does not have a rich taste, but it is much cheaper than expensive premium brands. Dissolves in cold water.

Nescafe is the cheapest freeze-dried coffee that does not have an expressive taste, but with a strong and bright aroma.

Review of manufacturers and brands, how much the products cost

EGOISTE

Egoist coffee is produced using the new In-Fi technology.
Each granule of the Egoist brand contains 20% natural ground Arabica. The new In-Fi manufacturing technology gives a strong, rich, slightly harsh aroma and a wonderful, slightly bitter aftertaste.

UCC

Exclusive technology allows us to produce a good premium drink. Light pleasant fruity shades, lack of bitterness and a soft aftertaste allow you to drink this noble drink without sugar. Caffeine-free flavors are also available. Medium roast, a huge range of flavors that will satisfy everyone's preferences. An excellent option for those who watch their body and count calories.

CARTE NOIRE

Freeze-dried coffee CARTE NOIRE
It has a high caffeine content - 4%. Pleasant, slightly bitter with a rich, unique coffee aroma. A premium drink for true connoisseurs of strong black coffee.

BUSHIDO

All blends contain ideally selected grains from Africa and Indonesia. Interesting chocolate-coffee aftertaste and high caffeine content - 3.2%. There are no calories. This brand is the most expensive and at the same time popular.

Jardin

Jardin brand coffee from Kenya
Delicate flavors of fruit and vanilla, floral aroma. The strength is medium, pleasant, with a slight subtle aroma. Jardin is distinguished by the ability to easily select the degree of roasting and the type of blend based on digital designations.

Davidoff

Davidoff has a clear and bright taste of dark chocolate, a light aftertaste and low calorie content. A good choice for true coffee lovers.

Moccona

Freeze-dried coffee Moccona
Quite bitter, interesting pleasant smell. Unique packaging that protects against counterfeiting. Good value for money.

Differences between freeze-dried coffee and other types of coffee

The natural ground or grain product has a rich taste and aroma, a lot of useful properties, as well as side effects and contraindications. The chemical composition depends on the variety, degree of roasting, and quality of the raw materials. There is no point in comparing instant food analogues with it, since it wins in most respects. Among the soluble products there are: sublimated, powder and granular. The manufacturing technology is the same until the extract is boiled. The freeze-dried variety is then dry-frozen.

To produce other soluble analogs, the prepared extract is sprayed in a stream of hot air until it dries completely and turns into a powder. The resulting powder is cooled, mixed with flavorings, flavorings, dyes, stabilizers and other substances. In the case of a product with the aroma of vanilla and other spices, they are introduced at the same stage. The result is powdered instant coffee. The production of granular products does not end there. To give the appropriate appearance, the powder is processed under pressure with steam, due to moisture, granules are formed.

The shelf life of all types of instant coffee is 24 months. Jars of freeze-dried product sometimes indicate a shelf life of 3 years. But moisture must not be allowed to enter, because the dry substance forms lumps or hardens and becomes unsuitable for consumption.

Freeze-dried coffee is more expensive than other instant coffee analogues. This is due to the complexity of the manufacturing technology. It is also often packaged in glass jars to display nice, even pieces. Their cost is higher than tin or plastic packaging, in which you can find powder and granular products.

What is the difference between freeze-dried and granulated coffee?

The main indicators by which the product differs from granulated powder:

• production technology is complex and expensive;
• the organoleptic characteristics of the freeze-dried analogue are close to the natural one;
• the chemical composition of granulated powder is characterized by the addition of moisture to form granules, as well as chemical additives to improve taste and aroma, and increase shelf life;
• the energy value of some brands of freeze-dried drink is lower;
• the taste of the granulated product is worse;
• high price of natural freeze-dried coffee.

Difference from granular and powder

Production technology

We found out what freeze-dried coffee is. Now let's talk about how it differs from simple powder and granules.

The main difference is the manufacturing process. The above describes how instant coffee sublimate is made. The grains are dried and frozen at the same time. The production of granules and powder takes less time. They are simply dried under pressure.

The powder composition is subjected to long-term heat treatment. Therefore, the grain structure is disrupted at the molecular level.

Appearance, taste and aroma

Coffee differs in shape and color. The granular version looks like loose, sloppy particles. Color – dark brown.

The sublimate is made in the form of tiny pyramids. They are light brown.

The sublimate is soaked in essential oils during the manufacturing process. Therefore, it produces a rich and aromatic drink.

Granule manufacturers add artificial flavors. Read more in the article: “The most important things about granulated coffee.”

Caffeine content and price

A drink made from granules or sublimate has the same caffeine content. For 150 milliliters there are about 80 milligrams. Natural coffee contains 20% more caffeine.

When producing granular or powder mass, workers expend less effort. Therefore, the cost of the sublimate is 40% higher.

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TOP coffee producers

Modern stores offer a huge selection of different jars and bags. They differ in cost, volume, brand and much more.

It is important to note that expensive granulated coffee does not always turn out to be truly tasty and of high quality. Therefore, so that you do not get confused in the variety of offers, consider the rating of the best brands

Nescafe Gold

This brand belongs to a Swiss corporation that produces several types of coffee, including granulated coffee. Arabica beans are used as raw materials, and the amount of caffeine in it is quite large - about 4 percent. The drink has a strong, rich taste and pronounced aroma, both after brewing and in powder form. The taste is also distinguished by a slight bitterness and sharpness. Nescafe Gold coffee granules have a light, uniform color. They quickly dissolve in hot water, leaving no sediment. The cost of one jar is quite affordable.

Maxwell House

This coffee is produced on the domestic market. The quality of the raw materials is quite good, but this drink definitely cannot be classified as a premium segment. Granules are made from both Arabica and Robusta. They are distinguished by their small size and uniform light color. Maxwell House coffee does not have a distinct rich aroma. If you use it in small concentrations, the taste is quite pleasant. However, an increase in the number of granules leads to the appearance of bitterness and slight sourness. This coffee dissolves quite quickly, sometimes a small sediment may remain. You won't have to pay much for it either.

MacCoffee

Another fairly large coffee producer in Russia. This brand has become most famous thanks to the well-known small bags of 3-in-1 instant drink, which consists of cream, sugar and coffee powder. McCoffee also makes freeze-dried and granulated coffee. Raw materials for the product are brought from Brazil.

The granules after processing are smooth and large. The smell of the dry substance is quite strong, but after brewing it becomes noticeably softer. This drink is also characterized by bitterness when brewed in high concentration. The price for one jar of such a product does not exceed a couple of hundred rubles.

Regardless of which brand of product you choose, we recommend that you follow these steps before purchasing.

Check the integrity and tightness of the packaging. If you find any damage, it means that the product was stored incorrectly. Consequently, its quality may deteriorate significantly. You should not buy such a product. When you take coffee in a metal container, you must check for signs of corrosion, noticeable dents and damage.

If the jar is made of glass, then it should also not have chips or cracks. Pay attention to print quality - this is a much more significant indicator than you might think. The font must be clear, the barcode data must be the same as that of the supplier country

The packaging of domestic products contains a special symbol that confirms the product’s compliance with the state standard. Be sure to keep an eye on the expiration date of the product. By the way, the shelf life of real high-quality coffee cannot exceed 24 months.

The best brands

It is impossible to say for sure which instant drink is the most delicious. Some people prefer bitterness in it, while others prefer sweetish sourness. The ranking of the best coffee brands includes:

1. Bushido . This is a popular Japanese brand in Russia, distinguished by high quality. Price – from 800 rubles per 100 grams. It's a lot, but the taste of the coffee is worth it. The peculiarity of Bushido is its strength, pleasant consistency, rich aroma and chocolate aftertaste.
2. Carte Noire . Many people fell in love with the drink due to its bittersweet aftertaste. The product range is represented by a wide selection. Carte Noire has soft, sour, sweet and bitter coffee. But all varieties are made from Arabica. Price – from 350 rubles per 100 grams.
3. Grandos . This German-made freeze-dried product has recently gained popularity in the domestic market. It is distinguished by high quality and rich aroma. Another distinctive feature is the absence of flavors and additives in the composition.
4. UCC . Japanese coffee representative with bright fruity notes in taste. The lack of bitterness has made the brand popular among young women. Its aftertaste is soft, mild, and its smell is pleasant and rich.
5. Russian coffee shop on shares. The quality of this domestic brand is not inferior to foreign ones. This freeze-dried drink is as close as possible to the natural one in terms of taste and aroma characteristics. It contains no additional additives or flavorings.

Bushido UCC Moscow coffee shop on shares Cart noir
When choosing instant coffee, be sure to pay attention to the packaging in which it is sold. It should be uniform and solid, without chips, cracks or other damage. Also check the expiration date of the product.

Although ground coffee is considered the most healthy and enjoyable, instant coffee remains popular because it is easier to prepare. Meanwhile, companies are trying to achieve a minimal difference between natural and instant coffee in both aroma and taste. Coffee sublimation is considered the most promising technology in this field. This is a special manufacturing method that produces freeze-dried coffee.

Content

History of instant coffee

Instant coffee, widely known today, was created by the Swiss chemist Max Morgenthaler, who, in July 1938, adopted the experience of his Japanese colleague Satori Kato, who invented the technology for making powdered tea, and made powdered coffee. But then neither consumers nor experts were able to fully appreciate the aroma, taste and ease of drinking. Perhaps no one would have ever appreciated the new product if not for the Second World War. The front needed large quantities of this drink, simple and quick to prepare. This is where we remembered Morgenthaler.

The Swiss chemist's product was a great success among soldiers, since the drink could be brewed right in the trench. The popularity led to the fact that the company where the famous chemist worked was able to conclude a huge number of contracts to supply American soldiers with its product.

Today, more than two billion cups of coffee are consumed around the world every day, most of which are instant.

Popular coffee brands and prices in stores

Among the offered assortment, most coffee lovers choose such manufacturers as:

1. Jardin is a Russian brand that produces a drink from different varieties of Arabica. Coffee with pleasant acidity and creamy chocolate taste. You can buy freeze-dried coffee in soft packaging and glass jars. The average price is 200 rubles. for 100 g.
2. Carte Noire is premium natural freeze-dried coffee from an American manufacturer. It has a slight bitterness and the aroma of freshly ground coffee. Cost - 550 rub. for one jar.
3. Jacobs is a high-quality product with a tart taste and rich aroma, made from selected coffee beans. The average price is not higher than 300 rubles. for 100 g.
4. Tchibo Exclusive is a blend of Arabica and Robusta. The finished drink is rich and soft, has an invigorating aroma with chocolate notes. The average price is 250 rubles. per package.
5. Nescafe is a manufacturer of instant coffee. You can purchase it in either transparent glass or convenient soft packaging. The granules are light brown in color, with a subtle caramel aroma. Cost about 250 rubles. for 100 g.

When choosing coffee, price is not always an indicator of quality, because sometimes expensive coffee can turn out to be tasteless and even dangerous. The main sign of low quality products is the presence of powder among even pieces in the packaging - this indicates an incorrect technology for preparing the sublimate.

Production of freeze-dried coffee

No one among the producers tells the main secrets of coffee production; only the technology is known. High-quality grains are used for sublimation. They are fried, then turned into flour, extracting the aromatic substances.

Next, the powder is boiled in sealed metal containers. Steam along with essential oils goes through the pipes.

Then the concentrate is cooled to -6 degrees so that it becomes viscous. When the liquid becomes half frozen, its deep, shock freezing begins at -40-50 degrees, where all the liquid is frozen out

The faster the freezing speed, the lighter the granules will be. Drying makes the product closer to natural. Then small crystals are made from it.

The last stage involves the return of the specific coffee taste, with the impregnation of essential oils and flavors. Then it is packaged in sealed bags.

How it's done:

• only green grains are taken;
• they are fried;
• immersed in large industrial vats;
• pour liquid and cook for several hours;
• the resulting condensate is removed to act as a natural flavoring agent;
• the cooked element is quickly frozen;
• drying takes place in vacuum chambers.

Next, the product is crushed until golden granules are formed. To obtain a certain taste or aroma, the extract is seasoned at the last stage. They can be artificial and natural. All that remains is to package the finished powder into packages.

Rules for preparing the drink

Ingredients and instructions

To prepare one serving of an invigorating drink you will need a teaspoon of coffee crystals, 2 sugar cubes, 200 milliliters of water.

Warm the cup under hot water or in the microwave. Add sugar and coffee. To make a fluffy foam, pour 10 milliliters of water and rub the mixture with a spoon. Add remaining liquid.

The sublimate whips into foam more easily than the powder. You can use a mini mixer or cappuccino maker.

Crystals reveal their aroma and taste better if they are brewed with water at 85-90 degrees. Boil the liquid and wait 2-3 minutes. Or use a thermometer.

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Supplements

Milk will soften the bitter taste of the drink. Brew the crystals in 150 milliliters of water and add boiled milk.

Additives will improve the taste. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top and garnish with marshmallows. Or add chopped chocolate. The taste of the drink will be complemented by 30 grams of ice cream.

Find out more in the article “What else is added to coffee for taste and aroma.”

Can it be considered natural?

Freeze-dried coffee is no more or less natural than other instant types - granular or powder. In all these cases, the starting raw material is coffee beans, but during the production process the product is supplemented with artificial additives. Each user will determine the limit of “naturalness” for himself, because in principle people have quite different opinions about the naturalness of food products.

Freeze-dried coffee is a truly convenient alternative to boiling ground beans in a coffee pot or using a coffee machine. In addition, sublimation makes it possible to preserve the taste and aroma of the raw material quite well in comparison with evaporation, which is used in the production of powdered and granulated varieties of instant coffee.

But a significant disadvantage and the most important inconvenience is that such coffee will not invigorate as much as boiled coffee. At the same time, wanting to achieve the desired effect, a person will increase the size and number of servings. And this is not good for health - over time, a dependence on caffeine develops, and the gastrointestinal mucosa becomes overly irritated. Drinking coffee frequently on an empty stomach can cause stomach ulcers and gastritis.

Freeze-dried coffee, like other instant types of this drink, can be compared to dried vegetables or herbs. The starting raw materials are natural, but then processed, losing some of the beneficial substances and losing their taste and benefits.

How to make instant freeze-dried coffee

Close your eyes and think for a minute, what would your ideal morning look like? Perhaps everyone would like to wake up to the fragrant and rich aroma of selected coffee.

After all, a cup of such a delicious hot drink will not only help you wake up, but will give you a charge of positivity and a good mood for the whole day.

However, the reality is that we are always in a hurry to get somewhere, so only on the weekends can we afford to soak in bed longer, and then calmly and leisurely go to the kitchen to brew really delicious coffee in a Turkish coffee pot or coffee maker.

Every day you have to get out using other methods - for example, steaming instant coffee instead of traditional brewed coffee.

Yes, this is not surprising. I wanted to relax and drink coffee - I bought a coffee stick or just a package of instant drink, boiled water in a kettle, poured boiling water into a cup - and voila, the coffee was ready. Ehhh, but is this real coffee?

This is why marketers and manufacturers are launching so many new coffee products, so you can choose the best option for yourself. One of these is freeze-dried coffee.

Freeze-dried coffee is one of the varieties of instant coffee, on a par with powdered and granulated coffee, but its quality, taste and smell are most similar to natural coffee. It is clear that it is not cheap compared to other instant drinks.

What is the technology for making freeze-dried coffee?

The process of preparing this type is very interesting and it includes several stages.

At the first stage, the coffee beans are carefully sorted and roasted. Then they are ground to the smallest grains, as a result of which the beans turn into coffee flour.

At the third stage, this flour is packaged in special bags and boiled for four hours. During the cooking process, special tubes are attached to the boilers with the bags, which extract essential oils from the broth, for which you will need them - you will find out a little later.

After brewing, the coffee substance is frozen and the air is pumped out of it using high pressure.

During this freeze-drying process, coffee blocks are crushed into small pieces of various shapes, after which they are flavored using the same essential oils obtained in the first stages. Of course, besides them, others are added.

Of course, after this the coffee is packaged and it ends up on store shelves, where the price is quite high. Manufacturers usually indicate on the packaging that the composition of freeze-dried coffee is 100% Arabica.

Of course, we do not advise you to religiously believe in this, because using such coffee would at least double the cost of packaging the drink. Usually, robusta is used to make coffee pyramids, mixing it with other types of coffee, and only then adding the necessary aromas.

Is freeze-dried coffee harmful?

Experts are divided on this issue. However, we can definitely say the following: a strong cup of coffee on an empty stomach is not very recommended, because the tannins contained in coffee almost immediately enter the stomach, irritating it, and also have a detrimental effect on the liver.

And what should people do if they have constant low blood pressure? Coffee helps them feel good. Coffee also contains a large amount of antioxidants and nicotinic acid, which improves the condition of blood vessels. Therefore, the problem here is not so much the coffee itself, but its daily amount and method of use.

What you should pay attention to?

Before purchasing a drink, pay attention to the manufacturer, composition, and expiration date. By the way, freeze-dried coffee lasts two years.

The packaging must be sealed, and the granules themselves must be irregular in shape, somewhat reminiscent of pyramids. If you notice powder at the bottom of the package or the color of the product is not light brown, it is better not to buy such coffee.

Those who have tried freeze-dried coffee note that it is very similar to natural coffee - both in taste and smell. However, is it worth overpaying and buying this particular type of instant drink? It’s up to you to choose. But I think that you can try it at least once in order to understand whether you will enjoy such a drink or not.

Comparison

Let's start the comparison with the appearance of the products. Freeze-dried coffee is in the form of crystals or pyramids, approximately equal in size. The mass has a pleasant light brown tint, comparable to the color of milk chocolate. Granulated coffee is a powder pressed into small grains. It can have either a light or dark brown tint. As mentioned above, the freeze-dried drink is produced using modern, gentle “dry freezing” technology. Thanks to its use, the product retains up to 95% of the beneficial substances contained in coffee beans. Natural essential oils give the drink a subtle, refined aroma.

The difference between freeze-dried coffee and granulated coffee is that the latter is made using a more crude spray-drying technology. During long-term heat treatment of raw materials, it almost completely loses its beneficial properties. The resulting product does not have a distinct coffee smell and color, which is why dyes, flavors, flavor enhancers, etc. are added to it. Such a drink is very far from its natural grain counterpart. This fact determines its relatively low cost. The price of freeze-dried coffee is much higher. However, it should be noted that it is highly not recommended to abuse this drink. After all, it contains a lot of caffeine. By similar parameters, a granulated drink is much safer. But still, doctors do not recommend drinking it in large quantities and on an empty stomach.

To summarize, what is the difference between freeze-dried and granulated coffee.

Which to choose

When you come to the store to buy a freeze dried product for the first time, you should consider the following points:

• the best storage conditions are an airtight glass jar;
• the mark “100% freeze-dried coffee” is a good sign;
• if the granules are visually the same size, this is a quality product;
• foreign impurities and powdery debris at the bottom of the jar are a compelling argument to pass by;
• Coffee also has an expiration date. And the shorter it is, the fewer harmful additives it contains.

Expensive drinks are made only from the Arabica variety. Such granules dissolve better, have no sediment, and are much tastier. And the caffeine content in Arabica is significantly lower than in the budget Robusta.

• Read more: Which is stronger, Arabica or Robusta

Manufacturer is one of the main selection criteria. If your personal “favorite” has not yet been determined, you can look for it in the ranking of the best freeze-dried coffee brands. Critics' opinions and consumer preferences overlap in several world-famous brands: Egoiste, Bushido, Taster's Choice, Arabica, Carte Noire. This is the best that the frozen pellet market offers.