Top five reasons to use instant coffee

Description

With a long-standing reputation for being bitter, cheap, unsatisfying, and insulting to your taste buds, today’s instant coffee differs significantly from what your grandparents used to drink. 

It was not uncommon that if your first coffee experience was a cup of instant coffee, you probably never drank coffee again. 

Well, that has all changed, and thanks to technology, we can now enjoy a deliciously bold and flavorful cup of instant coffee. 

While it will never replace a well-made cup of coffee, if produced correctly, today's instant coffee can hold its head high and take second place on the winner's podium. The coffee world's once-known adopted middle child is back with a vengeance and demands respect.  

Today, we invite you to rediscover the versatility of instant coffee. It's not just about the coffee itself but the endless possibilities it offers in the culinary world. From desserts to savory dishes, instant coffee can spark your culinary creativity. We will also share some creative recipes that use instant coffee to create something spectacularly delicious, inspiring you to explore its potential. 

As we've mentioned, technology can transform something average into something exceptional. Instant coffee is a prime example of this. 

Five reasons to give instant coffee another shot

1) Reason one is the significant improvement in the quality of coffee products. The switch from spray-drying to freeze-drying and its advancement has elevated the quality of instant coffee. Let's delve into these two methods to understand the difference.

• Spray-drying method: This method is a testament to efficiency and practicality. The coffee extract is efficiently sprayed into a stream of hot air, and as the droplets descend through a tall cylinder, they dry and transform into a fine powder. This powder then undergoes further processing, which texturizes it into granules. This method, renowned for its cost-effectiveness, is a practical choice for those seeking an economical option, even if it may produce a product that some might perceive as lower quality. One of the trade-offs of this method is that the coffee may lose some of its flavor, but it remains a popular choice for its affordability.
• The freeze-drying method, in contrast, is a testament to precision and quality. It begins with meticulous roasting, grinding, and extraction of the beans. The extracted coffee then undergoes a low-temperature water removal and foaming process to enhance its volume and solubility. The product is then placed into a cold room, frozen at a chilling negative 50 degrees, and finally granulated. These smaller granules are dried in a vacuum at a slightly higher temperature; then heat is applied, causing ice crystals to transition into gas, resulting in freeze-dried coffee granules. This intricate process yields a more flavorful and aromatic instant coffee, making it a top choice for coffee enthusiasts. 

As we have emphasized before, the drying process is crucial to creating a better end product. However, the determining factor is the quality of the raw material you start with. 

2) This leads us to the second reason to give instant coffee another try: The change in the quality of the beans used in the process. 

For many years, there has been a debate about which species of coffee beans are superior in terms of antioxidant and flavor profile. While it has always been believed that robusta beans are of lower quality, that is untrue. Over the years, we have learned that each species' growth and processing determine its flavor profiles. Each species has unique characteristics that create an exceptional cup of coffee. Here are some facts about these two species of coffee beans:  

• Arabica beans have a smoother and sweeter taste and are known for their chocolate flavor notes and fruity undertones. It provides a balanced flavor profile. In contrast, robustas' flavor profile is described as deep and bold with nutty undertones.
• These differences in flavor profiles are often due to how the beans are processed. Robusta is naturally processed, and arabica is washed. Arabica is more costly because it requires specific growing conditions (above 3000 feet and only subtropical climates) and is more labor intensive. 
• The difference in flavor profile is also caused by robusta beans having 60% less naturally occurring sugar and fatty acids, which creates its deep and bold flavor.
• While Robusta is hardy and highly resistant to weather, pests, and disease, arabica beans are more delicate and less resistant to those external factors. 
• Robusta has almost twice the amount of caffeine as Arabica. 

Ultimately, both of these drying methods and bean varieties produce a unique cup of coffee in their own right. However, our instant coffee is made from Columbian beans grown (100% arabica) on our manufacturers' farms, ensuring the highest quality freeze-dried instant coffee currently on the market.   

3) Reason three combines the first two reasons (the ideally grown beans and correct process method create an outstanding end product). It has developed a higher-quality, highly versatile product with almost limitless applications. 

Contrary to popular belief, coffee is not just for drinking. These modern-day freeze-drying processes have allowed coffee to spread its wings and significantly impact the culinary world. From the most straightforward application of adding instant coffee to protein shakes and smoothies or sprinkling atop your favorite dessert to infusing or crusting your favorite protein source, you will quickly learn this food’s versatile capabilities. Here are a few simple application suggestions. Please remember that depending on your methods, these suggestions can intensify or add a mild coffee note to the recipe. 

• Pasta: If you love pasta and enjoy making it fresh, adding instant coffee to the pasta dough and tossing it in a browned butter sauce will create a deliciously unforgettable dish. 
• Smoothies/Hot drinks: Adding it to your hot cacao or smoothie is a slightly more straightforward application but will still leave your tastebuds wanting more.
• Nut butter: If you are a nut butter fan or the trendy nut butter ball, simply rolling them in instant coffee grinds makes a perfect flavor profile match. 
• Sauces: Adding instant coffee to chocolate, berry, tomato, or barbecue sauce and allowing it to simmer slowly for several hours will create a delicious coffee note in the background. This method prevents the coffee flavor from overwhelming the sauce.
• Oatmeal: If you start your day with a bowl of oatmeal, add the instant coffee while the oatmeal is cooking. This method perfectly kills two birds with one stone: a hot breakfast and a cup of coffee.
• Salad dressing: If you enjoy making your own salad dressing, blend instant coffee grinds and let them sit for 24 hours. The result will be an unforgettable salad dressing or marinade (especially if you use aged balsamic vinegar). 
• Frozen Treats: Finally, pass on the iced coffee and make a coconut milk instant coffee popsicle for a summertime treat.  

The above list is only the beginning of the vast array of culinary treats you can create. Your lack of creativity is your only limitation. 

4) Reason four is that instant coffee does provide (on a lower level) many of the nourishing qualities of a regular cup of coffee. 

Again, this is a testament to the freeze-drying process. As mentioned in some of our previous articles, according to the Phenol-Explorer database, coffee was ranked #11 in the top 100 best antioxidant foods. While there can be some variation, the average amount of chlorogenic acid found in robusta beans is 7-14% compared to the 4-8% found in arabica beans. Here is a secret tip to increase your instant coffee's polyphenol antioxidant activity: Add some coffee berry extract powder to your instant coffee grinds. Keep in mind the roasting level significantly impacts polyphenol levels.

5) Reason five is that instant coffee can be a quick and easy source of balanced energy when combined with the correct ingredients. 

Adding the proper tonics, such as medicinal mushrooms and Astragalus, or adaptogens, such as Rhodiola, ashwagandha, or one of the various forms of ginseng, can produce a long-lasting balanced energy that can provide nourishment and stable mental clarity. These robust plants support a healthy, balanced state of homeostasis, allowing us to adapt to external stressors more effectively.   

Ultimately, what was once known as “instant coffee” has completely changed its flavor profile. 

It allows its wide array of simple applications to take your favorite classics and recreate something new and exciting that your tastebuds will love. We do not suggest replacing your special morning cup of coffee (hopefully an advanced tonic coffee) with instant coffee. 

However, we see instant coffee's tremendous value and hope you try some of the above suggestions. Let us know if we have changed your mind about the value of high-quality instant coffee because we always look forward to hearing from you. 

In Great Health

Z Natural Foods. 

For more information about our Organic Instant Coffee Powder, go here:

Organic Instant Coffee Powder

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Organic Instant Mushroom Coffee