If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to make coffee, learning how to make coffee with instant coffee is the perfect solution. This method is incredibly straightforward and requires minimal equipment, making it ideal for busy mornings, travel, or when you just need a quick cup.
Instant coffee gets a bad rap sometimes, but it’s come a long way. With a few simple techniques, you can make a cup that’s genuinely enjoyable. This guide will walk you through everything from the basic steps to creative recipes that go beyond just adding hot water.
How To Make Coffee With Instant Coffee
Let’s start with the absolute fundamentals. The classic method is simple, but paying attention to a few details can make a big difference in the taste of your final cup.
What You’ll Need
- Instant coffee granules or powder
- Hot water (not quite boiling)
- A mug
- A spoon for stirring
The Basic Step-by-Step Method
- Boil fresh water. Using filtered water if you have it can improve flavor.
- Let the water sit for 30 seconds after boiling. Ideal temperature is between 195–205°F (90–96°C). Water that’s too hot can scald the coffee, making it taste bitter.
- Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of instant coffee to your mug. Adjust based on your preferred strength.
- Pour a small amount of hot water (about 2 tablespoons) over the coffee. Just enough to cover the granules.
- Stir vigorously for 10-15 seconds. This initial stir with a small amount of water helps dissolve the coffee completely and can even create a slight foam, leading to a better texture.
- Fill the mug the rest of the way with hot water, leaving room for milk or cream if desired.
- Add any extras like milk, sugar, or a sweetener. Stir again and enjoy.
Why the “Bloom” Step Matters
You might have noticed step 5 is specific. Adding just a little water first and stirring isn’t just about dissolving. It allows the coffee to “bloom,” which means it fully hydrates and releases its aromas. This simple trick prevents those dry clumps at the bottom of your mug and ensures a more even, flavorful brew. It’s a small step with a big impact.
Choosing Your Instant Coffee
Not all instant coffees are created equal. The quality of your starting product is the biggest factor in how good your cup will taste.
Types of Instant Coffee
- Spray-Dried: The most common type. Tiny, hard pellets that dissolve quickly. Often has a more traditional, sometimes sharper, instant coffee flavor.
- Freeze-Dried: Made by freezing coffee extract and then removing the ice. It retains more of the original coffee’s aroma and complex flavors. The granules are larger and look like tiny, irregular crystals.
- Agglomerated: A less common type where fine powder is steamed to form larger granules, designed to look more like ground coffee.
For the best flavor, look for 100% coffee with no added ingredients. Single-origin or specialty instant coffees are becoming more popular and offer a significantly better taste experience, though they cost a bit more.
Mastering the Water Ratio
Getting the ratio of coffee to water right is key. Too little coffee and your drink will taste weak and watery. Too much, and it can become unpleasantly strong and bitter.
Standard Ratio Guidelines
A good starting point is one teaspoon of instant coffee granules per 6 to 8 ounces of water. This is for a standard mug. Here’s a quick reference:
- Weak Cup: 1 tsp for 10 oz of water
- Medium Cup: 1 tsp for 8 oz of water
- Strong Cup: 1.5 tsp for 8 oz of water
- Extra Strong: 2 tsp for 8 oz of water (good for iced coffee bases)
Remember, you can always add more hot water to dilute a cup that’s too strong, but you can’t easily fix a weak one. Start with a slightly stronger ratio and adjust to your taste over time.
Beyond the Basic Cup: Creative Recipes
Instant coffee is incredibly versatile. You can use it to make a wide variety of coffee drinks right at home, often without any special machines.
How to Make a Cafe-Quality Instant Latte
- Make a very strong base: Dissolve 2-3 teaspoons of instant coffee in 2 tablespoons of hot water.
- Heat up your milk. You can do this in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Froth the milk. Use a handheld milk frother, a French press (pump the plunger rapidly), or simply shake it vigorously in a sealed jar.
- Pour the strong coffee base into a large mug.
- Slowly pour the hot, frothed milk over the coffee. Spoon the foam on top.
Perfect Iced Coffee in Minutes
Making iced coffee with instant is genius because you don’t end up with watered-down coffee. The trick is to make a coffee concentrate.
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of instant coffee to a glass or pitcher.
- Add just 2-3 tablespoons of hot water. Stir until completely dissolved.
- Add your sweetener or flavoring (like vanilla syrup) at this stage so it mixes in easily.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes.
- Pour cold milk or water over the ice, leaving room for the coffee concentrate.
- Pour the coffee concentrate over the milk and ice. Stir and enjoy immediately.
Instant Coffee Dalgona (Whipped Coffee)
This viral trend is perfect for instant coffee. It creates a sweet, creamy foam that sits on top of milk.
- In a bowl, combine equal parts instant coffee, granulated sugar, and hot water. A standard ratio is 2 tablespoons each.
- Using a hand mixer, whisk, or a lot of elbow grease, whip the mixture for 3-5 minutes until it becomes light, creamy, and forms soft peaks. It will turn a pale caramel color.
- Fill a glass with milk (cold or warm).
- Spoon the whipped coffee mixture on top.
- Stir it into the milk before drinking.
Pro Tips for the Best Taste
These small adjustments can take your instant coffee from okay to great.
Temperature is Everything
As mentioned, avoid pouring boiling water directly onto the granules. Let your kettle sit for half a minute. If you see a lot of steam rising rapidly, it’s still too hot.
Pre-Warm Your Mug
Rinse your mug with hot water for a few seconds before making your coffee. A cold mug will cool down your drink to fast, affecting the flavor extraction and making it lukewarm too quickly.
Consider Your Add-Ins
- Milk/Cream: Adding a splash of fat can smooth out any harsh notes. Whole milk, oat milk, or a bit of half-and-half work wonderfully.
- Spices: A tiny pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom added with the dry granules can add warmth.
- Extracts: A drop of vanilla, almond, or hazelnut extract after stirring can create a flavored latte effect.
- Sweeteners: Dissolve sugar in the initial hot water step for even sweetness. For honey or maple syrup, add them after the main water to preserve their flavor.
Storage Matters
Keep your instant coffee jar tightly sealed in a cool, dark place. Not above the stove or in direct sunlight. Moisture and heat are it’s biggest enemies and will make it go stale or clumpy quickly.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
My Coffee Tastes Bitter or Burnt
This is almost always due to water that is too hot. Let it cool slightly before pouring. Also, check that you are not using to much coffee per cup. A bitter taste can also come from old, stale instant coffee.
There are Undissolved Granules at the Bottom
You’re not stirring enough in the initial “bloom” stage, or your water isn’t hot enough. Ensure you use that small amount of very hot water first and stir until it looks like a smooth paste before adding the rest.
The Coffee Tastes Weak and Watery
You need to increase your coffee-to-water ratio. Add an extra half teaspoon or full teaspoon next time. Also, make sure you’re measuring your water. Mug sizes vary widely.
It Doesn’t Smell or Taste Fresh
Instant coffee does have a shelf life. Once opened, try to use it within a few weeks for peak flavor. If it’s been in the cupboard for months, it’s probably time for a new jar. Always check the best-by date when you buy it.
Why Instant Coffee is a Great Option
While it’s different from freshly brewed coffee, instant coffee has unique advantages that make it worth keeping on hand.
- Speed & Convenience: It’s the fastest way to get a caffeine fix, often in under a minute.
- Cost-Effective: It’s generally much cheaper per cup than coffee beans or pods.
- Low Waste: You make exactly what you need, with no used coffee grounds or filters to dispose of.
- Great for Baking & Cooking: It’s an excellent ingredient in recipes like tiramisu, coffee cakes, or rubs for meat because it provides concentrated coffee flavor without added liquid.
- Portable & Travel-Friendly: It requires no equipment, making it perfect for hotels, camping, or the office.
FAQ: Your Instant Coffee Questions Answered
Is instant coffee real coffee?
Yes, absolutely. Instant coffee is made from real coffee beans that are brewed into a concentrated extract. The water is then removed through spray-drying or freeze-drying, leaving behind the soluble coffee granules.
How much caffeine is in instant coffee?
Generally, a teaspoon of instant coffee contains slightly less caffeine than a standard cup of brewed coffee—about 30-90 mg per 8 oz cup, compared to 70-140 mg for brewed. It depends on the brand and the roast.
Can I use instant coffee in a coffee maker?
No, you should not put instant coffee granules into a drip coffee maker. The machine is designed to pass water through ground coffee beans. Instant coffee is already brewed and will just dissolve and wash into the pot, creating a mess and a very weak, strange-tasting liquid.
What’s the best way to store an opened jar?
The key is to keep it airtight and away from moisture, heat, and light. Screw the lid on tightly and store it in a cupboard, not the refrigerator or freezer, as condensation can cause clumping.
Can I make cold brew with instant coffee?
You can make a cold brew-style drink, but the process is different. Since it’s already soluble, you don’t need to steep it for hours. Simply dissolve the instant coffee in a small amount of cold water or milk (it might take a little more stirring), then add the rest of your cold liquid and ice. It’s ready instantly.
Why does my instant coffee taste sour?
A sour taste can indicate under-extraction, which is unusual for instant since it’s pre-brewed. More likely, it could be the particular brand or roast profile. Some lighter roast instants have brighter, fruitier notes that might be perceived as sour. Try a different brand or a darker roast.
Making a good cup of coffee with instant coffee is all about technique. By starting with a quality product, using the right water temperature, mastering the ratio, and employing a few simple tricks like the initial bloom, you can consistently make a satisfying cup. It’s a reliable, simple skill that ensures you always have access to a decent coffee, no matter where you are or how much time you have.