While instant coffee had a terrible rep until recently, it’s now available in a wide range of quality levels, from budget-friendly to premium, organic to specialty. Dissolvable drinks have been known since the 18th century in Britain, but the notion took off about 1910 when instant coffee had first been commercially distributed. Its popularity soared during WWII, and it has since spread into the more upscale sectors.
There is no instant coffee that can match the flavor of a freshly prepared cup, but our list will help you pick one that comes close. Following are the best instant coffees to buy, whether you’re going camping, traveling, or want something quick and easy to drink.
Our Top Picks For Best Instant Coffees
- The Best Single-Serve Pour-Over Instant Coffee
- VIA Instant Coffee Medium Roast- Starbucks
- Folders Classic Roast Instant Coffee
- Joe Coffee Specialty Instant Coffee Packets, The Daily House Blend
- CAFÉ ALTURA Instant Organic Coffee
- Best Overall- Mount Hagen Instant Coffee
- The Best Flavored Instant Coffee
- ANTHONY’S Organic Instant Coffee
- Nescafé 3-in-1 Instant Coffee Sticks (Original)
- Best for People- Steeped Coffee Dark Roast Odyssey Blend
- WAKA Coffee Medium Roast Colombian- Best for iced coffee
- Best Organic: Four Sigmatic Instant Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane
- DOUWE Egberts Pure Indulgence
- G7 3-in-1 Instant Premium Vietnamese Coffee
- Jacob’s Coffee Kronung Instant
1. The Best Single-Serve Pour-Over Instant Coffee
Let me introduce you to the single-serve pour-over. This organic coffee from Ethiopia’s Yirgacheffe region has notes of blueberry, honey, and citrus. It’s fair trade.
Remove the bag of coffee from the nitrogen-flushed package, attach it to your mug, and proceed as you would with a typical cold brew, leaving the grinds a few seconds to “bloom” before starting your pour-over.
You can purchase them in quantities of six or ten, and they are all packaged at a wind-powered factory.
2. VIA Instant Coffee Medium Roast- Starbucks
A bustling Starbucks filled the air with a powerful, delicious, freshly brewed coffee aroma, and this was one of the best options available to me. Thanks to its dark chocolate hue and nutty flavor, the soft, well-balanced cup tastes just as delicious as it smelled.
Instead of battling the morning rush hour, we’d settle in with a cup of this coffee right here at home.
3. Folders Classic Roast Instant Coffee
These are coffee crystals, which certainly elevate the morning routine. Folgers has been manufacturing coffee since 1850, is committed to environmental stewardship, and has received numerous positive customer ratings as a result. Maybe it’s their catchy jingle that’s doing it?
There are many freeze-dried instant coffees on the market, but Folgers instant coffee crystals are one of the most popular because it’s cheap while yet having a rich flavor. It’s easy to manufacture and doesn’t require any boiling water to dissolve (just warm water will do).
Because it is shipped in a container instead of individual sachets, this jar can yield up to 44 cups of 6 oz. Each, and you can adjust the strength as you see fit. However, there is also the option of doing so.
4. Joe Coffee Specialty Instant Coffee Packets, The Daily House Blend
Joe Coffee is manufactured in collaboration with Swift Cup Coffee, which reveals why it is excellent. Available in a variety of flavors. Even though it is not fresh — it is freeze-dried cocoa powder — somehow tastes as though it has just been roasted.
Each box contains six 5g packets of instant coffee, one of which is a sample. To enjoy, add 8-10 oz of warm or cold water to the container. A nice and easy-drinking blend that balances brightness and body with a hint of sweetness; (milk chocolate & caramel notes).
This combination is made up of two seasonal ingredients from South and Central America. Their passion for high-quality coffee, ethical sourcing, and genuine hospitality began in 2003 in Greenwich Village.
5. CAFÉ ALTURA Instant Organic Coffee
The mouthfeel of Café Altura is velvety and full-bodied, and there is no wateriness to be found. Rain-washed, sun-dried, and perfectly roasted organic, Reasonable Trade Arabica coffees from South America, Africa, and Asia go into the blend.
There are nuts, cinnamon, and chocolate elements in this flavor, but it’s not overwhelming. With just the proper amount of bitterness, it has a silky aftertaste. Both hot and cold versions are available.
However, if you prefer your beverage chilled, add ice cubes or cool it in the refrigerator before serving.
6. Best Overall: Mount Hagen Instant Coffee
Fair Trade Organic Products Mount Hagen is a certified coffee that is smooth and tasty, which is why we selected it as our finest overall brew. In addition, it appears later in the list.
Mount Hagen has been obtaining coffee beans from Papua New Guinea’s lush slopes since 1986 and has specialized in instant blends for three decades.
Mount Hagen’s Organic Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee has received rave reviews from customers, with many ratings it five stars.
A 3.53-ounce jar makes roughly 60 cups. A teaspoon full of coffee grinds in a cup of hot water makes a ready-to-drink coffee that many compare to the real thing.
7. The Best Flavored Instant Coffee
We understand if you desire your coffee sweeter and more flavorful. Copper Cow Coffee, run by women and manufactured in California, offers single-serve pour-overs inspired by Vietnamese coffee. Even their “Just Black” comes with sweetened condensed milk packets.
The cinnamon ground into the Churro latte adds a natural sweetness that may be customized while retaining the added spices’ extra flavor.
The ground coffee does need some time to “bloom” like in a traditional pour-over, but if you’re searching for anything in between an instant coffee and a carefully brewed cup, this is it.
8. ANTHONY’S Organic Instant Coffee
You can now get your fix of organic coffee in the form of instant coffee, thanks to Anthony’s Goods, a company based in Los Angeles. Anthony’s organic instant coffee is made from Latin American Arabica beans ground to a fine powder at the company’s California headquarters before being added to hot water.
While knowing that this coffee is gluten-free and non-GMO is crucial, you should also know what is in it. Antioxidants are those
While giving you the caffeine kickstart you have to get your day starting, this robust coffee also contains beneficial ingredients that safeguard your cells from free radicals, which have been linked to diseases like cancer.
9. Nescafé 3-in-1 Instant Coffee Sticks (Original)
For those who can’t even drink their daily caffeine black like the big kids, here’s another all-in-one choice. Using this coffee powder, you may have a steamy hot cup of coffee at your fingertips in 30 seconds. Thanks to its Malaysian origin and HALAL certification.
While the stick shape is convenient for a no-fuss, no-measuring lifestyle, it restricts you to a 6 oz. Cup of coffee with these beauties. You’ll go through 28 sticks quite rapidly if you’re drinking two or more a day. Cold brew coffee is an excellent option for hot summer days because it keeps well in the refrigerator.
10. Best Instant Coffee for People- Steeped Coffee Dark Roast Odyssey Blend
From French roast to light roast, Steeped Coffee’s instant coffee selection includes something for everyone. With its chocolatey, caramel-y overtones, the dark is my favorite of the two I’ve tried. Because it’s single-serve, this instant coffee tastes fresher than others I’ve tried.
A patent-pending procedure involves sealing each bag with nitro to keep the grind fresh, as stated by the brand.
11. WAKA Coffee Medium Roast Colombian- Best For Iced Coffee
Contrary to popular perception, all instant coffees dissolve in hot water. Waka Coffee, a company, specializes in instant coffee drinks and tea, maybe brewed with cold water, eliminating the need to chill your brew before serving.
Unlike some producers who utilize Robusta beans, Waka uses 100% Arabica beans, softer and sweeter.
The smooth, citrus-forward flavor of the moderate roast Colombian single-serve sachets makes them a favorite. It’s a touch thin, but you can thicken it with flavor sauce or cream of your choosing.
12. Best Organic: Four Sigmatic Instant Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane
Not only is Four Sigmatic coffee organic, but it’s also healthy for you. Because Four Sigmatic foods are among the most nutrient-dense on the earth, this Finland-based company named their product after them.
This proprietary mushroom coffee, for example, is prepared with a mushroom called Chaga, and sure, it’s fantastic. A strong emphasis on quality is placed on mushroom sourcing by the company, which sources mushrooms worldwide.
Then it employs third-party testing to ensure that the purity levels are maintained and that pesticides and mycotoxins are not present.
Four variants of instant coffee are produced by Four Sigmatic, each with a distinct purpose: Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Adaptogen, and Mushroom Mocha. Four Sigmatic is a bit on the pricey side for instant coffee, but its well-known flavor may be worth the extra money.
13. DOUWE Egberts Pure Indulgence Instant Coffee
Due to Douwe Egberts’ more than two-hundred-year history in the coffee industry, they’ve made it a personal mission to enhance the simple pleasures in life, starting with your morning cup of coffee.
This brew is the darkest in the coffee company’s instant coffees since it is made from a robust blend of Robusta and Arabica beans. All you have to do is add water, and you’re done! It takes around 115 cups of the mixture to fill each jar. Each cup will be rich, flavorful, velvety, and smooth.
14. G7 3-in-1 Instant Premium Vietnamese Coffee
When you’re in the mood for something sweet, we recommend the G7 Vietnamese Instant Coffee. G7 is one of the most popular instant coffees in Southeast Asia, but it isn’t made in either of the two ways we’re used to (freeze-dried or sprayed).
Their “patented dry roasting procedure” is probably similar to the recipe for Coca-Cola, in that only two individuals in the entire globe know it, and they are unable to travel together at the same time.
This instant coffee has received rave reviews without getting too serious, and for a sweet drink like this, the 71 calories per serving are impressive. The coffee, cream, and sugar are all already included in this 3-in-1 instant coffee. This is an excellent choice if you’re a regular traveler.
15. Jacob’s Coffee Kronung Instant
From Germany comes this tasty blend for your cup. This instant mix is made from 100 percent ground coffee that has not been compromised by milk or sugar during the drying process.
Even every day, multi-cup drinkers won’t have any trouble with the glass container’s 7 oz. Capacity, mainly because it’s sold in sets of two.
The flavor of Jacob’s Kronung is mild and not overly acidic. Keep a bag in the office and a bag at home for when the afternoon slump hits, and you’ll be prepared whenever the need comes.
Aside from Jacob’s Krunung, another German instant coffee brand we considered was Mount Hagen. While Mount Hagen scored higher overall, the Jacob’s offers an outstanding value for anyone searching for a high-quality, tasty, but less expensive instant coffee.
Also Read: How To Make Coffee Without Coffee Maker?
What is Instant Coffee?
Dried coffee extract is used to make instant coffee. The section is prepared by boiling ground coffee beans in the same way as ordinary coffee, except it’s more concentrated.
Immediately following the brewing process, the water is evaporated from the extract, resulting in dry particles or powder, both of which dissolve when mixed with water.
There are two primary methods for preparing instant coffee:
1. Spray-Drying
Spraying coffee extract into hot air causes the droplets to dry fast, resulting in fine powder or minute fragments of coffee extract.
2. Freeze-Drying
The coffee extract is frozen and then sliced into small fragments, subsequently dried at a constant temperature under vacuum under controlled conditions for a long time.
Both procedures are effective in preserving the quality, fragrance, and flavor of the coffee. The most frequent method to make instant coffee is to mix one teaspoon of coffee into a cup of boiling water.
How to Make Instant Coffee
With no coffee maker, instant coffee is fantastic when you need a boost. The granules are made from dehydrated brewed coffee rather than ground coffee beans.
While you won’t make the natural components, instant coffee can serve as a passable substitute. Making a frozen coffee shake or a fancy latte is a fantastic way to spice it up.
1. Warm a Cup of Water. Microwave a cup of water for one minute to warm it up. Warm it up with a pot or kettle on the stove. Take the water off the fire just as it begins to boil and heat it to medium-high until it reaches the desired temperature.
- One cup (240 mL) of water should be heated for each serving.
- If you wish to prepare multiple servings, increase the amount of water used.
- A kettle makes pouring hot water into your mug easier and faster.
2. Depending on how strong you like your coffee, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of instant coffee. To get the best flavor out of your, follow the directions on the container’s label to discover how much to use. For every cup of water (240 mL), 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda are often recommended.
Use it more if you want a more robust cup of coffee or less if you prefer a weaker cup of coffee.
3. Using a teaspoon of cold water, dissolve the coffee. The coffee is slowly dissolved by combining it with a small amount of cold water. The flavor of the coffee will be improved if the coffee is gently dissolved rather than being scalded by boiling water.
4. Pour the boiling water into the mug and set it aside. Make sure to add the water slowly and carefully, especially if you aren’t using a kettle to brew the tea. Keep in mind to leave room for milk or cream if you want your coffee to be served with milk or cream rather than black.
5. Mix in sugar or spices, if desired. After combining the coffee with lukewarm water, add sugar or sauce for a deeper flavor. Sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, or allspice are optional additions.
You can also use flavored coffee creamer instead of the sugary version. The sweetness of most flavored coffee fresh cream means you won’t need any more sweetener.
6. If you don’t like the taste of black coffee, you may always add some milk or cream to it. Pour dairy milk and almond milk, cream, or flavor cream into your coffee and stir well to combine. How much you should use is determined by how light or black your coffee is preferred to be. You can also sip your instant coffee without any added milk or creamer.
7. Serve your coffee after it’s been stirred. Before you drink it or pass it on to someone else, give the coffee a thorough stir. If you’re using milk and sugar, mix it until it’s a uniform hue before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Pros and Cons
Instant coffee producers and even high-quality coffee sellers profit from this.
The Pros
The ease and convenience with which has grown in popularity are, of course, important factors.
Instant coffee is now available in a plethora of flavors and varieties, making it even more popular. And it’s considerably less expensive to buy instant coffee. Because of its mass production and portability, it’s perfect for shipping. Because of this, it is appropriate for a variety of outdoor activities like traveling and camping.
Also, keep in mind that it has many of the same health advantages as regular coffee. The coffee beans are still in there, so you’ll get your daily dosage of antioxidants for a more muscular immune system.
The Cons
Various research has highlighted the drawbacks of instant coffee use. It seems to be strong in acrylamide. This can cause health issues, while the full scope of the dangers is unknown.
Please make it clear that it does not provide the entire range of coffee’s health advantages. Processing has reduced antioxidants, for example.
Nutritionists and health experts prefer natural coffee over instant coffee! Making your coffee also enhances the flavor. You can also create your mixture by deciding what or how much to add to your coffee.
Final Verdict
Instant coffee is convenient, fast, and can be used in a variety of ways. Easy way to have a morning coffee without going through the typical brewing process: use a coffee maker. You can make coffee right in the glass using this device. Also, make sure you use both warm and cold water and milk if you’re using specific types.
There are several brand names on the market nowadays, making it challenging to select the best-tasting instant coffee to buy. However, to assist you in choosing the best choice, we’ve meticulously examined some of the best-rated instant coffees on the market.
We’ve also included a buyer’s guide outlining the various things to look for while shopping for instant coffee. You may want to think about things like the type of beans and roast, caffeine content, flavorings, and additives you’re using.
Also Read: How To Get Coffee Stains out of Carpet?