Is there any coffee in instant coffee?

Instant coffee is usually berated as it does not taste and smell like the real deal. Nevertheless, millions of people cannot live without this drink. There are fans of particularly instant coffee. The instant drink is fast, efficient and easy to make. The question is - does it contain coffee and how much of it?


According to the standard, there are three types of natural soluble coffee. They are powder, granular (in the form of flat round beads), and freeze-dried (dense particles of various shapes and sizes, with jagged edges). Most samples examined by experts are freeze-dried coffee, and only one is coffee powder. Your choice does not matter as the flavor is not affected by the type. Instant coffee is natural and is made from coffee beans. The powder is a natural extract of roasted coffee. First, coffee beans are ground, then boiled, and then the water is evaporated and instant coffee is created.

Because this product is processed, it has a distinctive taste, which many consumers do not like. But precisely because of the naturalness of instant coffee it has to be treated seriously: many believe that it does not contain as much caffeine as brewed coffee, and this is a mistake. Since the product is concentrated, it may contain even more caffeine. Instant coffee should be consumed in moderation, and people with chronic diseases such as cardio-vascular ones should be especially careful.
Experts drew attention to the indicators that reflect the quality of instant coffee. The first is the mass fraction of caffeine, the rate of the natural product. The more - the better, because we expect coffee to energize us.
The next indicator is the mass fraction of moisture. Of course, it should not exceed the norm, otherwise coffee grows mold and the product spoils quickly and becomes unsafe.

Ash content is another indicator of product quality. It is verified by burning and grinding the raw materials. If the ash content exceeds the norm, then in addition to coffee beans the product contains other plant material - cheap chicory or acorns.. 
No less important is how quickly the coffee is dissolved in the water. The sooner this happens, the better it is for the consumer. In hot water instant coffee should take no more than half a minute to dissolve, in the cold - no more than three minutes. If you purchased coffee that does not dissolve in water, you have a beverage with very different properties.

"In manufacturing of instant coffee Arabica grain variety is usually used," says Roman Gaidashov, an expert with a Consumer Rights Protection Society. "It is cheaper compared to other varieties. Sometimes Robusta is used, which is more expensive. Perhaps the producer mixes the two kinds. However, the packaging does not always reflect this information."
When choosing coffee, be careful. Off-flavors and odors are not allowed. If they do exist, it means that coffee was stored improperly, which could affect the quality of the product. At home a jar of coffee should be stored tightly closed and away from strong-smelling products to prevent the coffee from absorbing odours.

Coffee beverages are a topic for a separate conversation. They are technically not coffee, but are still good for you. Usually they are made from chicory plants. However, many manufacturers, aware of the popularity of healthy lifestyle, add extract of ginseng and other herbs to coffee beverages and sell it at the price of natural coffee. Do not fall for this trick - a coffee drink should cost several times less than natural coffee."


Alexandra Grigorieva