Are you stuck in a coffee rut? Or do you just want something different from your coffee? If so, it might be time to mix things up and explore the differences between ground and instant coffee.
Ground coffee is made from freshly roasted beans that are finely ground and brewed with hot water. This method requires more time but provides an intense flavor and rich aroma.
On the other hand, instant coffee crystals are freeze-dried, pre-ground beans that dissolve quickly in hot water, making them an ideal solution for busy mornings or late afternoons.
In this article, we will explore both sides of the debate and examine the pros and cons of ground coffee and instant coffee. We will look at taste, convenience, and cost in order to help you decide which type of coffee is best for you.
What’s Instant Coffee
Just to start us off, let’s go over what instant coffee is and how it’s made.
To start, instant coffee is real coffee, as it’s made from coffee beans. It has been around for over a century and has gone through many changes in the way it’s made, from the original method of freeze-drying to the newer spray-drying process.
Instant coffees come in a variety of strengths, from mild to strong, allowing you to tailor your cup according to your taste preference.
How is Instant Coffee Made
Instant coffee is made from roasted Robusta coffee beans made into an incredibly fine, nearly powder-like form and then, through dehydration, stripped of their water. This water removal typically follows through evaporating by giving the coffee a freeze-drying treatment or the medium of spraying.
Do you know how your coffee is flavored? To find out, please check out our article; This Is How Coffee Beans Are Flavored: Some unique ways!
Ground Coffee vs. Instant Coffee
It seems like almost everyone loves coffee, and there are many ways to enjoy it. One of the biggest debates when it comes to coffee is whether ground or instant coffee reigns supreme for a quick cup.
I don’t want it to sound like a cop-out, but it really comes down to what you like. I’ve had decent instant coffee and keep some in my house, but I never look forward to it compared to making a regular cup with ground coffee.
The Time it Takes to Make Your Coffee
Simplicity is commonly related to instant coffee. Get a spoon full of instant and add hot water; you’ll have the ability to enjoy piping hot coffee immediately after. Therefore, if you are someone who just cannot stand around with the time and mess involved in making a pour-over, instant coffee will help you out.
With ground coffee, you need to put aside a couple of minutes to make coffee in the morning and then wash your coffee machine or whatever you’re using. I have no problem with this, as it’s well worth my time, but if you value punctuality, nothing can beat the speed of instant coffee.
Brew Method You’ll Use
With instant coffee, every cup you prepare is the same. There is no need to meticulously follow a certain brewing method or ordeal to obtain your cup of perfect coffee. Instant has been through the brewing process before you purchase it, so you can drink it up right away.
Ground coffee must first be added to a basket, pot, or whatever you use to brew your coffee. Then you need to let it steep, percolate, or pressurize. You can do this with a drip coffee maker, French press, Aeropress, or Chemex. Each method will give you an amazing array of tastes and requires a different grind.
The Flavor of Ground and Instant Coffee
Fresh-brewed coffee grounds have lengthy retention of acids, so the flavor of your coffee will be better than instant. The length of your brewing time will be enhanced as the flavor of your coffee is increased. Due to the hot brew process, more qualities of flavor can be extracted from fresh coffee.
Instant coffee companies normally use robusta beans, which have a rather sharp taste. In addition, in the procedure of drying and freezing, instant coffee loses its essential oils and flavors. However, if you are seeking good quality instant coffee, select freeze-dried coffee instead of mix-dried coffee. This method, along with a dried-out coffee, is most beneficial.
Caffeine Content in Your Coffee
Ground coffee retains more caffeine content than instant coffee due to the brewing process. Caffeine content differs by manufacturer, brewing method, and coffee-to-water ratio, based on your preferences. If you’re really looking for more caffeine, stick to light roast and use a Frech press for brewing.
As a general rule, the caffeine content of instant coffee is higher than the caffeine content of regular coffee in order to overcome the caffeine lost during the process of making instant coffee. While the exact amount of caffeine depends on the instant coffee brand, most instant coffee contains about 20 to 45 milligrams of caffeine you will get from a standard cup of coffee.
Check out our article, Does Ground Coffee Lose Caffeine Over Time? We go into more detail about this. You might be surprised!
Shelf Life of Instant and Ground Coffee Beans
Coffee, in general, has a shelf life of approximately 6 months upon reaching you. But remember, the caffeine content will stay for years.
Store your coffee blends in a cool, dark place free of moisture and away from other food with intense flavors and smells. The main thing to remember is that moisture, as a fast change in temperature and exposure to cold temperatures, will change your coffee and make it taste like junk. A coffee container like this one will keep your coffee fresh for longer.
Instant coffee has a very long shelf life that extends from 2 to 20 years. If a sealed package is closed and you keep it in a cool, dark place, the life of instant coffee can be kept for several more years. Exposure to moisture will have the same effect on any coffee, meaning it will make it taste like junk!
Pros and Cons of Ground Coffee
It’s the taste!
This is up to you, but I bet most people would agree that ground coffee tastes better than instant coffee. Whatever brewing method you’re using, you’ll pull more flavor out of ground coffee than instant ever can.
Ground coffee offers more flavor options because it’s made from freshly roasted beans — each type provides its own unique flavor profile. Additionally, ground coffee is more cost-effective than instant because one bag will typically last longer than individual servings of instant.
The cons are straightforward too.
It takes longer to brew a cup of coffee than just pouring hot water into a mug for instant coffee.
It may be the few moments you need to get ready for work, or the wait isn’t worth it in the morning.
That said, some brewing methods, like using an Aeropress, really don’t take that long, and clean-up is quick as well.
Are you interested in some new coffee you’ve never tried before? Well, you can make your own blend. Take a look at our article to find out how.
Pros and Cons of Instant Coffee
Instant coffee is often seen as a convenient way to make a cup of coffee with little effort, and it’s true. But there are drawbacks, especially when compared to freshly-ground beans or something like a K-cup.
Instant coffee is made by dehydrating brewed coffee and then adding hot water or milk back into the powder, creating a cup within minutes. Though this process makes preparation easy, the taste of instant can suffer due to its extensive processing method that strips away flavor compounds in favor of speed and convenience.
Ground beans are certainly more time-consuming for making a single cup, but it also creates an opportunity for enhancing flavors in ways you simply can’t with instant.
Is Ground Coffee or Instant Coffee Cheaper
While you may think that ground coffee is cheaper, there are a few factors to consider when choosing between instant and ground coffee.
The cost of ground coffee depends on the quality of beans chosen, while instant coffee offers a more consistent price point. However, instant coffee tends to be more diluted than ground beans, so it can take several servings to get the same taste as one cup made with freshly-ground beans.
This is why the recommended serving size of instant coffee tastes weak.
Additionally, if you’re environmentally conscious, instant coffee often comes in single-use plastic packages, which may not be ideal for reducing waste. You can buy it in a jar, which is what I have for emergencies, but I see those little individual bags of instant all the time.
It’s All About the Taste
Concerning instant coffee versus brewed coffee, there’s no comparison between their taste: regular coffee is much better.
Likewise, some might even think they’re considered different sorts of drinks. The main reason instant coffee tastes terrible is that it’s often made with Robusta beans, which at higher in caffeine but are lower quality.
Wrapping Up Ground vs. Instant Coffee
Ground coffee offers an unbeatable flavor experience that instant varieties can’t match. I enjoy the aroma and flavor of freshly ground beans and make unique blends to my tastes.
Ground coffee can provide a superior cup every time for those who are okay with grinding beans and measuring grounds before brewing. However, this may not be practical for busy people who prefer convenience over taste or quality.
You can put your freshly brewed coffee and take it to work with you. But how long does it last? Please check out our article, How Long Will Coffee Last in a Thermos?
