Have you ever been tempted by an instant coffee? As its name suggests, it’s quick to prepare… so when you’re short on time but craving coffee, you may find yourself choosing a soluble coffee.
Purists sometimes find instant coffee lacking in intensity, yet some are far from ridiculous. Not to mention that they come in handy when camping or traveling and you don’t necessarily have your own coffee maker. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know to choose the right soluble coffee.
The difference between ground coffee and soluble coffee
Soluble or instant coffee is dehydrated coffee mixed in boiling water, where it dissolves.
Note that soluble coffee and ground coffee are distinct: the characteristics of their beans are different:
- ground coffee comes from the grinding of roasted beans, which are then packaged in capsules, pods or conventional packets
- the soluble coffee is obtained after a process of preparing coffee with water, then drying and dehydrating to obtain an instant coffee powder.
How do you make soluble coffee?
Simply add a teaspoon of your soluble coffee to a cup and fill with hot water (not boiling so as not to alter the flavors). Stir (and sweeten if you like) and you’re done!
We also like a few gourmet variations: with milk, chocolate, cardamom, cinnamon…
Soluble coffee: advantages, disadvantages
Here are the advantages of soluble coffee:
- it’s quick and easy to prepare
- it’s economical
- it keeps better and longer than ground coffee
- it’s conveniently packaged in jars.
On the other hand, for soluble coffee the disadvantages are :
- it must be kept away from moisture in an airtight container
- it has a bad historical reputation: the oldest coffees made from robusta were bitter and strong, but brands have made great strides in improving taste.
Which variety of soluble to choose?
To properly choose soluble coffee, here’s a list of the varieties you’ll find on the market:
- pure arabica soluble coffee it offers beautiful gustatory nuances with subtle, gentle tones bringing it closer to those of filter coffee
- pur robusta: intense and powerful, it’s the closest thing to tight, full-bodied coffee.
- robusta and arabica blends: the subtlety of arabica and the strength of robusta.
- decaffeinated: you don’t like the effects of caffeine… then decaf soluble coffee is for you
- flavored soluble coffee: mocaccino, latte, cappuccino are offered in dehydrated versions
- organic soluble coffee: like organic ground coffee, it comes from organic crops that are more respectful of the environment.
Now you’re ready to choose a soluble coffee and get started!
