Instant Coffee vs. Ground Coffee: What's the Difference?
Have you ever stopped to think about how much we manage to squeeze into each 24-hour day? We get eight hours of sleep (at least we’re supposed to), go to the gym, hang out with friends, spend eight hours at work, and eat three meals a day, not to mention all of the mundane tasks we do along the way.
With so many things vying for our time, most people cut precious minutes from other areas — like coffee, for instance. Instant coffee is popular because it takes practically no time to make and provides a boost of energy that can help us stay motivated for the next thing on our to-do list. Read on to learn more about instant coffee and what makes it different from regular ground coffee.
What Is Coffee Made From?
When we look at instant coffee and ground coffee, one of the most important things to remember is that they ultimately come from the same source — the coffee bean. Coffee beans grow on coffee plants, which, in turn, grow in tropical climates near the equator. This area is commonly known as “the coffee belt.”
There are over 120 different species, opens in a new tab of coffee plants, but two in particular stand out: Coffea arabica (known for Arabica coffee) and Coffea canephora (known for Robusta coffee). These are the most common species used for mass coffee production.
Instant Coffee vs. Ground Coffee: What’s the Difference?
Now that we have a solid understanding of where coffee comes from, let's get into the nitty gritty of instant coffee and ground coffee. Here are some of the main differences between the two.
Production
To make regular ground coffee, coffee beans are picked, dried, and roasted. Some people stop at this step, preferring to grind the beans themselves to enhance the flavor. However, most people aren’t that picky, and buying pre-ground coffee is usually more convenient.
Instant coffee production follows all of these steps but takes it a few steps further. Once the coffee beans have been ground, they are brewed and heated until the coffee becomes a concentrated extract. The coffee is then either dehydrated using a spray-drying technique or flash-frozen, which preserves a bit more flavor. Then, it’s broken into many tiny pieces and packaged up for the market.
Preparation
Making ground coffee is pretty simple, although the exact steps depend on the method you’re using. Generally, though, you simply combine boiling water with the coffee grounds, let it sit for a minute or two, and then remove the coffee grounds. It’s the same idea as steeping tea.
Instant coffee is even easier. To make instant coffee, all you need to do is combine the granules with hot water and stir it all together. Instant coffee can be a little strong, depending on how much of it you use, so you may want to keep some creamer handy to mellow out the taste.
Caffeine Content
Because of the extra steps that go into making instant coffee, it typically has a little less caffeine than regular ground coffee. Instant coffee has around 8 mg of caffeine per ounce, while one ounce of ground coffee averages around 12 mg of caffeine, opens in a new tab.
Of course, the actual caffeine content in a cup of coffee can vary greatly depending on how light the roast is, how much coffee is in your cup, how strong the brew is, and which species of coffee plant the beans came from. Instant coffee typically has much less variation.
How Can You Make Ground Coffee Faster?
One of the main draws of instant coffee is that it’s incredibly easy and quick to make. However, many people prefer the complex flavors of ground coffee. Luckily, there are a few ways you can speed the coffee-making process up a bit.
Use a French Press
French pressing is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make ground artisan coffee. For this method, you’ll pour the coffee grounds into the French press along with some hot water.
Let the mixture sit for a minute or two before plunging the press, and then enjoy your full press of coffee! Not only is this method pretty easy and quick, but it’s also great at extracting the delicious flavors of medium and dark roast coffee.
Try Cold Brew
Cold brew is arguably one of the slowest methods of making coffee. Typically, it involves mixing a bag of coffee grounds with cold water and leaving it in the fridge overnight.
However, the real reason this method is on our list is because of the convenience. If you set it up to brew overnight, you’ll sleep through the wait time.
This is one of the coffee-making methods that requires the least amount of effort. However, cold brew also has substantially more caffeine than hot coffee, opens in a new tab, which can cause side effects for many people.
Brew a Pot of Coffee
This is the best method if you tend to drink a few cups of coffee every day. With a coffee pot, you can simply set the coffee grounds in the machine, fill it with water, and press a button to start the brew. Many coffee pots even have a warmer function that will keep your coffee warm all day long.
Try Instant Functional Coffee
What if you want the rich taste of ground coffee, the benefits of a brain supplement, and the convenience of true instant coffee? Well, that’s where we come in.
Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee+ combines the brain-supporting benefits of L-theanine and lion’s mane mushroom with the immune-encouraging wonders of chaga mushroom, the gut-supporting effects of collagen protein, and the classic flavor of coffee extract.
This fine powder instantly transforms into a smooth cup of coffee without any sediment. Plus, it contains a functional amount of caffeine. There’s enough to help you wake up and stay focused, but not enough to give you the jitters or other side effects, opens in a new tab.
The Bottom Line
Instant coffee and ground coffee both come from the same place, but they have a few major differences. Instant coffee has a few more steps in its production process and instantly transforms into coffee when you add hot water.
Ultimately, the choice is a matter of taste and preference. That said, why settle when you can have the benefits of nootropic mushrooms, the classic taste of coffee, and the convenience of instant coffee? Shop all, opens in a new tab of our mushroom blends today.
Sources:
Beverages, coffee, instant, regular, prepared with water | USDA, opens in a new tab
Beverages, coffee, brewed, prepared with tap water | USDA, opens in a new tab
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