Coffee 101: 20 Reasons Why I Absolutely Love Instant Coffee
I know I’m going to have some mixed reactions for this post, but I can’t hide it anymore I LOVE INSTANT COFFEE. A good instant coffee of course.
Well, I work for an instant coffee company so you probably think it’s not a big secret... And you are right; however, you will be surprised how many people don’t like it, don’t know a lot about it, or have the wrong perception about instant coffee because of some really bad products.
It is my mission to let you know the main reasons why I love instant coffee and maybe even change your mind about this delicious coffee format. Now, don’t get me wrong there are some really bad tasting instant coffees out there, but there are also many bad regular coffees out there. You need to find quality instant coffee you like and give it a try. Waka Coffee is a good option!. Ok, here are my 20 reasons why I love instant coffee:
1. It’s coffee
Many people don’t realize that instant coffee is made, well of coffee! The perception some people have that instant coffee is “not a real coffee” is simply wrong. In fact, instant coffee is made from either Robusta or Arabica coffee beans. Same beans used by specialty roasters and coffee shops around the world.
Yes, the flavor of instant coffee varies and depends on the brand you purchase, but don’t get mistaken -- instant coffee is real coffee! In some cases, instant coffee can taste even better than brewed coffee. I can’t start the day without my regular cup of joe, and can’t skip my afternoon “pick-me-up” cup of coffee. There is something addicting in the aroma, taste, and the feeling coffee gives you. Instant coffee provides me all of that, but in a more convenient way.
2. It saves me time
Speaking of convenience, I can’t think of any other coffee solution that is so fast to make. I have tried it all: capsules, pods, portable tools, and more. Nothing is as fast as just boiling water. Generally it takes about 2-3 minutes to boil water in a kettle, which most people already have at home. If you boil water for one cup, like I usually do, it takes even less time.
Instant coffee saves me time during busy mornings when I’m late to to work, but can’t miss my regular cup of joe. I simply pour out a packet of 0.1 oz of instant coffee into a mug, add 8 FL oz of boiling water and voila -- I made a delicious cup of coffee only from my coffee crystals and water.
3. I can take it on a plane
Hear me out here. Since I read this article on Travel and Leisure Magazine about "Why You Should Think Twice Before Ordering Coffee or Tea on a Plane," I carry my coffee with me whenever I fly. How do I do it without asking for water on the plane? Easy -- I take a packet of instant coffee with me from home. In addition to my instant coffee, I bring an empty traveler mug or thermos with me as well. These are light and I can go through security when the mug is empty with no problem.
When I’m passed security, I ask for hot water from any of the restaurants or get it in the airlines’ lounge. I have yet to have any problems with getting hot water. I pour in the traveler’s mug my delicious instant coffee I carried with me, mix with the hot water, and I’m ready for my flight. It saves me money on buying coffee at the terminal and I can keep it for my entire flight.
4. It has less caffeine
It sounds weird, but sometime I love coffee just for the taste of it and not necessary for the caffeine in it. It makes me calmer and more relaxed. Didn’t I say you can get addicted to it? Well I am addicted. So addicted that I can even drink it at night. When I do drink it at night I don’t need so much the caffeine as much as I need the delicious taste I love so much.
An average amount of caffeine in a cup of instant coffee is around 60-80 mg, whereas an average cup of brewed coffee has 60-120 mg of caffeine. Cold brew/nitro drinks have more caffeine than other forms of coffees. You can find between 250-350 mg of caffeine in most cold brew/nitro drinks. With instant coffee I can get the coffee taste and less caffeine. Coffee also contains many beneficial antioxidants, which do not get lost in the instant coffee making process.
5. It saves me money on buying a coffee machine
The awesome part about instant coffee is that all you need is hot water! You can boil it in a kettle or in a pot over the stove. No matter how you boil it, you probably already have all of the necessary “equipment” at home. I don’t need to spend $30-$200+ on a coffee machine, take care of it, clean it, replace it after a few months when it breaks, and commit to a particular pod or capsule type. Instant coffee allows me to be a machine free!
6. Makes the best office coffee
Before I started working for Waka Coffee I used to have a really bad coffee in my office. If I had this amazing instant coffee then, I could have saved so many trips to the coffee shop! Now, I make sure to give my friends our instant coffee so they can always have a few packets in their office drawer. This great coffee solution will help you get your pick-me-up cup of joe before an important meeting with no time! Also, having instant coffee in your office will ensure you get coffee even when the office manager forgot to order it...
7. Instant coffee lasts for a long time
Because most quality instant coffees are freeze dried, they can last for about 2 years!! To make delicious freeze dried instant coffee, the coffee beans are roasted and grounded. Then, the grounded beans are dissolved in water and brewed into a very concentrated liquid. After filtration, the coffee liquid is then frozen to about -50 degrees celsius at a very thin layer. It is then broken into smaller pieces and placed into a freeze dryer.
The product that comes out is the beloved instant coffee crystals that you see see in instant coffee. The fact that I don’t have to worry about expiration dates (no way I will not drink it in two years...) let me enjoy my coffee whenever I need it and how often I need it. It is also great to save in your pantry for unplanned camping trips with the family. The single serve instant coffee packets are my favorites for coffee on-the-go.
8. It fits in my backpack
Waka Coffee’s little instant coffee packets are less than 3 inches in width and height. It makes them super convenient to carry around. Simply tuck a packet in your purse, laptop bag, backpack or pocket to be enjoyed no matter where your day takes you! Each box has 8 of these packets, which is amazing for on-the-go lifestyle. Planning a trip? Waka Coffee is the best instant coffee for backpacking as well!
9. Makes iced coffee more easily
Before I get into why instant coffee saves me time when making ice coffee, I will also add that I actually prefer making my own cold/iced coffee than buying it outside. By making it myself I can customize it to be as strong as I want and use healthier creamer options. I drink the best instant coffee with creamer and sugar when i’m in the mood for something sweeter or mostly just plain black instant coffee.
If you make your ice coffee as cold brew coffee you'll need to plan ahead. Cold brew is made by steeping ground coffee in cool, filtered water for hours at a time. Experts say it's best to let the cold coffee brew for 12 to 24 hours before you drink it, otherwise you will not get the distinct cold brew flavor you know. A fastest way to make iced coffee is actually from hot coffee using instant powder. You can dissolve the coffee crystals with less water and put your ice cubes into it. That way you won’t need to wait for the coffee to cool down in the refrigerator like with brewed coffee. Check out our recipe of Crazy Tropical Vegan Ice Coffee Shake Using Instant Coffee!
10. It’s better to cook with
My favorite cakes are Hadar’s Pumpkin Tiramisu Using Instant Coffee and Hailey's Peppermint Mocha Black Bean Brownies Using Instant Coffee that we had here on our blog before. What people won’t tell you is that the coffee used in most coffee recipes is actually instant coffee, espresso powder or other flavored coffee crystals.
Instant coffee is used a lot in cooking because it is faster and easier to dissolve than other coffee solutions. Make a delicious coffee cake, a salad dressing or sprinkle it on your ice cream! Check out this "10 Things Instant Coffee Makes Better" for even more instant coffee inspiration. I use only the best reviewed freeze dried instant coffee for my cooking to make sure I serve the most delicious cakes for my guests.
11. Instant coffee has a rich history
From countries battling for the title of the first place to make it, to fascinating facts about the delicious crystals - instant coffee has much more history than you would think. According to the Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink, the first instant coffee was invented by John Dring in England in 1771 and patented by the British Government as "coffee compound." There is no documentation to how successful his product was or even how he made it back then.
New Zealand is also claiming the title of the first country to introduce instant coffee. David Strang of Invercargill, New Zealand, owned a coffee and spice factory called Stang’s Coffee. On January 28, 1890 Strang patented "Strang’s Soluble Dry Coffee-Powder" in New Zealand, which could be made instantly with boiling water. In America, in April 11, 1901 Chicago chemist of Japanese descent, Dr. Sartori Kato, applied for US patent No. 735,777 for his “Coffee Concentrate and Process of Making the Same.” It was what is known as the first stable soluble coffee powder. There is so much history to these beloved freeze dried coffee crystals, which makes me enjoy drinking instant coffee even more.
12. It makes a great present
I have many friends who like going on hiking or camping trips quite often (mostly without me...). When I am in the look for a great gift for campers or a gift for travels instant coffee is always a great choice. The nicely designed package and the cool phrases on Waka Coffee’s instant coffee makes it a unique yet practical gift. If you gift the single serve coffee option, your friends will not even need to measure the amount of coffee they dump into their camp cup, just add water.
13. Instant coffee saves kitchen space
Instant coffee saves me some valuable space! I live in a small apartment with a tiny kitchen. Every inch of my countertop space is occupied or needed for food preparation. I do not have the luxury of placing a coffee machine in my kitchen, and I feel like putting it in the living room is just wrong… Instead, I use instant coffee as my morning joe. I also save more room as I do not need to buy these massive and bulky boxes of capsules or pods, which most coffee machines require (the fast ones at least).
14. It’s the best coffee for camping
Morning in the campground is the worst time (camping is fun!). Everyone is smelling like a bonfire, complaining they had to wake up too early, and want someone else to be responsible of cooking breakfast. Well, if you want to be remembered as the hero that contributed in these hardest moments, offer to be in charge of coffee making. Bring your instant coffee with you, boil hot water and… that’s it. Just boil hot water and serve this tasty coffee. You don’t need to prepare anything or bring additional special equipment. It’s the easiest Cowboy Coffee you will ever make and my go-to coffee solution while camping.
15. More environmentally friendly coffee
In general, instant coffee’s lightweight packaging requires less energy to transport, which cuts down on carbon emissions. Also, you will have less waste remaining after you make your cup of coffee as instant coffee fully dissolves in your water. Waka Coffee instant coffee also created the “Add Water, Give Water” program, and donates 4% of its proceeds to charity: water, which brings clean and safe drinking water to 26 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America.
16. No coffee waste
One of the reasons why I choose instant coffee over drip coffee is the fact that I hate cleaning the coffee waste! We all know it, you make one or two cups of coffee and leave the waste in the machine until the next time you use it. With instant coffee, I take a packet or use a spoon, pour these delicious instant crystals into my mug, add water and stir. No waste, less cleaning, more time to enjoy the things I love. Easy choice isn’t it? Try switching to instant coffee too. :)
17. It’s the best hotel coffee
Whenever I stay at a hotel or Airbnb, one of my biggest concerns is whether it will have coffee (and if the sheets are clean enough) That’s why I bring my instant coffee with me just in case. A few weeks ago I stayed at a nice hotel for 3 nights, which actually mentioned online that it has free coffee in the room. A few minutes after entering the room, I searched for the coffee machine as I usually do. I found it.
Unfortunately… I opened the top lid to add water, and the still water in it had unidentified objects. I hope it wasn’t bugs, but it sure looked like bugs. I researched online to check if there are other people who experienced something similar and found an article from Inc Magazine interviewing hospitality experts which said that: “Don't trust the cleanliness of the coffeemaker in your room. You're essentially trusting the habits of the prior occupants of your room going back to time immemorial.” Their solution is actually what I’m doing on a regular basis -- bring my own instant coffee with me whenever I stay at hotels.
18. It saves me trips to the coffee shop
I love coffee. I love it in the morning, afternoon, and sometime even at night. I live of coffee on a daily basis. This love could become costly and inconvenient if I had to go get my coffee from a coffee shop whenever I don’t have the “right tools” with me. With instant coffee all what I need is hot water, which I can find in most places... It saves me the trips and the money on buying coffee from a coffee shop. I can also make iced coffee with it, which is great!
19. With instant coffee all I need is water
Well I think we went over it in some of my other points, but this is still one of my favorite reasons to love instant coffee so I wanted to have a unique paragraph just for this. I’ll admit -- I can be lazy and impatient sometimes. The fact that all what I need is water to make coffee is just a life saver for me. I don’t need to wait for my coffee to brew, don’t need to grind or store whole beans, and no cleaning after I make one cup of joe. All of it make instant coffee to be my favorite coffee format.
20. I give back
When I drink the best instant coffee out there, Waka Coffee, I also give back! I add water and give water to other countries that don’t have clean and safe drinking water. Through the “Add Water, Give Water” program Waka Coffee donates 4% of its proceeds to charity: water, which helps communities in 26 countries around the world get access to clean and safe drinking water. Access to clean water can improve health, increase access to food, grow local economies, and help kids spend more time in school. The water crisis is huge, but it is solvable and every donation counts.
