It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer variety of coffee options available—from the roast (French, dark, light, classic) to the brew method (drip, French press, cold brew, percolated) and the grind (extra-coarse, coarse, medium, fine). Today, we’re breaking down the production, nutrition, and flavor differences between two of the most common types: instant and brew.
Production differences
Instant coffee starts in the same way that regular, or brewed, coffee does: by brewing ground coffee beans. The differences arise when manufacturers use water-extraction techniques to produce an extract from the soluble contents of the coffee beans. From there, the extract is either freeze-dried or spray-dried.
Freeze drying, while more expensive, effectively breaks down the extract into smaller granules, which are then entered into a drying chamber at a lower temperature under vacuum conditions. On the other hand, spray drying works in a more economical way by spraying the liquid extract into hot air steam which then flash-dries the coffee. In both cases, the result is tiny granules which are packaged in one of three ways: just the pure coffee granules in a jar or plastic pouch, coffee sticks or sachets with sugar and creamer, or ready-to-drink in a can or bottle (often with sweeteners and/or creamers as well). In the case of pure granules, all you have to do is add hot water (usually 1 teaspoon per cup), and voila! You’ve got a cup of coffee.
Nutritional differences
When it comes to comparing instant coffee to brewing coffee, there are a few nutritional considerations to note:
1. Instant coffee contains less caffeine
About half that of brewed coffee, to be exact. According to dietitian Emily Hardman, one cup of instant coffee contains 60-80mg of caffeine, compared to up to 120mg per cup of brewed coffee.
Keep in mind, though, that more or less caffeine isn’t necessarily an objectively good or bad thing—it depends on the person and whether he/she has caffeine sensitivities.
If not, higher doses of caffeine can lead to improved physical and cognitive performance, increased mental alertness, and decreased fatigue. But if so, such levels can cause insomnia, nervousness, irritability, rapid heart rate, and even headaches. And because caffeine has a half-life of about four to six hours, the effects—positive or negative—can continue long after the coffee is consumed.
2. Instant coffee has less potassium
Ground coffee has more than double the amount of potassium—one of the seven essential macro minerals—like instant coffee. Working to regulate fluid balance and control the electrical activity of the heart, potassium also decreases the risk of stroke, lowers blood pressure, protects against loss muscle mass, preserves bone mineral density, and reduces the formation of kidney stones—according to a report in Medical News Today.
3. The antioxidant levels between instant and brewed coffee are about the same
This is one of the key similarities between the two, leading researchers to believe that, for the most part, instant coffee carries the same health benefits as brewed: boosting metabolism, promoting longevity, reducing disease risk, and more.
Flavor differences
Brewed coffee tends to have a fuller taste than instant coffee, not to mention more variety in flavor. The reason is twofold. On the one hand, freshly brewed coffee retains all its essential minerals and chemical constituents because it doesn’t go through the same intense processing as instant coffee. But on the other hand, there’s the question of the choice of beans. Instant coffee manufacturers tend to use cheaper Robusta beans, which carry with them a bitterness not found in the Arabica beans often used for freshly brewed coffee.
When To Use Instant Coffee vs. Brewed Coffee
There are times when having instant coffee on-hand is a real game-changer. We like to carry a bag of our Instant Americano mushroom coffee in a backpack or duffle bag while traveling so we have access to high-quality coffee (instead of the airplane or hotel coffee). The adaptogens in our instant coffee mix provide an immune system-boosting effect that helps ward off potential bugs that anyone is susceptible to catching when using mass transit. Because instant coffee also readily mixes with iced water, having instant coffee on-hand means you can enjoy a pre-workout coffee, or iced coffee anywhere, anytime, usually for a fraction of the price of a coffee shop iced coffee. We recommend keeping a bag of our Instant Americano mix in your daily carrying bag or backpack, at your desk at work, or in your car so you can get a high-quality coffee fix whenever you need it.
Brewed coffee clearly has its benefits, as well. Brewed coffee is generally more robust and flavorful. Our brewing coffees (Classic Roast, Chocolate Hazelnut, and Caramel Pecan Cluster) are made in small batches by our local artisan coffee roaster, so every cup you brew is fresh and flavorful. We recommend keeping a bag or two in your cupboard so you can enjoy a fresh cup of superfood-enhanced coffee in the morning or whenever you have a few minutes to enjoy the ritual of brewing coffee.