Buying instant coffee can be an exciting experience if you know what your choices are. Thankfully, there is a broad selection of instant coffees that you can choose from, but not all of them may be suited for your personal taste. If you’re just starting on your instant coffee drinking journey, you may need some guidance on what type of coffee suits you the best; a great way to do this is by going for the best instant coffee brands.
People more experienced with coffee may have an easier time choosing their instant coffee since they can choose one based on their favorite flavor, roast type, or brand in general. To make your instant coffee experience much easier, we’re going to show you an overview of what instant coffee is, what is their general flavor, how to identify the different roast types, and how to choose the best instant coffee brands based on your taste.
Instant coffee usually gets a bad reputation for “not having enough variety.” However, if you know where to look, you’re going to notice that there are some brands that offer unique blends of coffee that are well-balanced for the average consumer. Some of these brands even offer instant coffee at 100% Arabica beans, which are considered a premium-grade coffee bean.
Overall, instant coffee is one of the best choices for people who are looking to have a quick cup of coffee, but that doesn’t mean that you can explore your options. If you want to learn more about this coffee world, keep reading!
Round-Up – Best Instant Coffee Brands
If you can’t wait to see what the best instant coffee brands are, here is a general list of our top picks. However, if you want more detailed information on the brands and their products’ flavor, type, and roast, we suggest that you keep reading the rest of the page.
- Mount Hagen Instant Coffee (Organic Fair Trade Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee)
- Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee (Decaf Italian Roast)
- NESCAFE Instant Coffee (Taster’s Choice House Blend)
- Douwe Egberts Instant Coffee (Pure Gold Instant Coffee)
- Folgers Instant Coffee (Folgers Classic Roast Coffee)
- NESCAFE (Clasico)
- JACOBS Kronung Instant Coffee
- Alpine Start Instant Coffee (Premium Blend)
- Jiva Instant Coffee (Instant Coffee Packets)
- Cafe Altura Instant Coffee
What is Instant Coffee?
While its name is reasonably straightforward, there are some people who may not know what instant coffee is yet. To put it simply, instant coffee is a type of coffee that was created for people who want to prepare coffee without spending that much time on it.
In a more technical aspect, instant coffee comes from dried coffee extract, which is then packaged and shipped to the market. To prepare a cup of instant coffee, you need a cup of hot water or cold water and a spoon to stir the drink.
This dried coffee extract is acquired by brewing coffee at a more concentrated rate. After this step, the brewed coffee is dehydrated to obtain dry fragments or powder, which is then used to prepare your morning cup of coffee.
Instant coffee is also known as “Coffee Powder” or “Soluble Coffee;” all of them refer to the same product, so keep that in mind when going to the market to purchase your coffee.
This type of coffee is prepared in two different ways: Freeze-drying and spray-drying. The former provides frozen coffee fragments, whereas the spray-drying method offers powder. However, both of them offer similar properties when it comes to instant coffee.
What is Instant Coffee’s Flavor?
As with regular coffee, the flavor may vary depending on the product and the type of beans used to make it. Generally, instant coffee brands use Robusta beans to make their instant coffee, which provides a slightly bitter touch to the general flavor. However, there are some popular brands, such as Starbucks, Mount Hagen, or Four Sigmatic, that use 100% Arabica beans for their coffee products.
Most people prefer Arabica beans because they tend to offer a sweeter touch and a richer flavor, but there are some consumers who also enjoy the bitterness of their coffee cups, so it’s safe to say that there is an option available for everyone.
What is the Main Difference Between Instant Coffee and Ground Coffee?
Regardless of what a person’s preferences are, both instant coffee and ground coffee are real coffee. You may choose to drink the type of coffee you prefer since the love for this drink is the same.
If you want a deeper insight on what makes one type of coffee different from the other, here’s an overview of these differences:
- Instant coffee tends to provide a lower caffeine level than ground coffee; this is because instant coffee loses some of its natural properties when its brewed and dehydrated.
- Ground coffee offers up to double the amount of potassium per serving as instant coffee.
- It takes less time for you to prepare instant coffee than standard coffee.
- Most instant coffee brands use Robusta beans for their products, whereas with standard coffee, there’s a broader variety.
- Instant coffee contains a slightly higher amount of Acrylamide, which is a potentially harmful component for a person’s health (Although it has been proven that it doesn’t pose any serious risk to human health).
What is the Average Amount of Caffeine Per Serving in Instant Coffee?
Some people drink coffee for their flavor, and others because they simply enjoy the experience. However, there is a third group of people who drink coffee to keep themselves alert, energetic, and more awake.
One of the coffee components responsible for keeping you awake is caffeine, which is a natural stimulant. When you drink coffee, caffeine travels through your bloodstream to your livers, where they distribute that component to the rest of your body; this causes your brain to feel alert, which therefore makes you feel more awake.
As mentioned before, instant coffee provides a slightly lower caffeine count for your body, which can be bad news for people who drink coffee to feel awake. However, the difference is not that much, and there are some instant coffee brands that provide a similar caffeine count as standard coffee; they are slightly more expensive, but they do the job.
Instant brewed coffee provides about 27-163 mg of caffeine per serving, depending on the quantity of coffee you consume per day. On the other hand, standard brewed coffee provides approximately 102-200 mg of caffeine per serving. While standard coffee has the upper hand in caffeine count, you can up your instant coffee dosage to get the amount of caffeine you need, as long as you don’t go over the recommended standards for adults.
What Are the Different Roast Types for Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee provides several different options for people, and one of them is its roast type. Coffee roasting is the process responsible for bringing the flavor and smell of coffee to the drink.
There are four main types of roast, and you may choose the one you feel best for your needs, although all of them have something unique to offer.
Light Roast
Light roast offers a light-brown color for the coffee, and its flavor is slightly acid with a touch of toasted grain. Typically, light-roasted coffee provides a high caffeine count per serving.
Medium Roast
A medium-roast coffee is one of the most popular choices among coffee drinkers. Its color is brown, and it provides a well-balanced coffee flavor that isn’t too bitter or sweet. The amount of caffeine per serving in a medium roast coffee is low to medium.
Dark Roast
Dark roast provides a much stronger flavor to your coffee cup with a slight touch of spice, which gives it a particular taste. However, this type of roast doesn’t provide much caffeine per serving than the other types of coffee roast.
Extra Dark Roast
This is the same as the previous one, with the main difference that the coffee flavor goes much more bitter or burnt, which not many people like. Additionally, these have a very low caffeine count per serving.
It’s important to note that there are some variations to these roasts; some manufacturers offer light-medium roasts, “classic” roasts, and more, which make their product a more unique experience.
Which is the Best Type of Coffee for You?
When it comes to the best instant coffees (or coffee in general), there is no right or wrong answer since the best coffee for you depends on your taste. Here are some guidelines that you may follow to know which are the best instant coffee brands for you.
Cost
Instant coffee is usually more affordable than standard brewed coffee; this is because the coffee beans in instant coffee are already processed and dehydrated before you purchase them. In essence, you have your coffee “ready to go,” whereas standard coffee involves selecting your favorite coffee beans, the machine you’re going to use to brew it, and more things that add to the total price.
Time
One of the main reasons why people prefer to buy instant coffee is that it’s much easier and faster to make. Instant coffees generally only require you to take cups of cold or hot water, put in a teaspoon of the instant coffee, and stir until the coffee is ready; this process doesn’t take more than a few seconds, so people who are looking to save time may find this type of coffee better.
Flavor
As mentioned before, both standard coffee and instant coffee have a broad selection of flavors to pick from. You may enjoy Arabica beans better than Robusta beans, or you may prefer an Italian roast coffee to a classic roast one. Overall, there are many options to choose from, so make sure you make your purchase based on what you prefer. If you don’t know what you like yet, grab a few brands and get to know your taste!
10 Best Instant Coffee Brands
In this section, you’re going to take a look at the best instant coffee companies (Based on our top picks). These brands have continuously offered high-quality instant coffee products with a broad selection of flavors to choose from. If you’re ready to discover the best instant coffee for you, keep reading!
#1 – Mount Hagen Instant Coffee
Company Information
Mount Hagen is known for providing some of the best instant coffees on the market. Its products are organic, and they work with Fair Trade, which speaks highly of their production process.
Their coffee is smooth, and it doesn’t offer a bitter or acidic flavor to their instant coffee products, which is loved by many people. On the other hand, they offer a reasonably reasonable caffeine count per serving, which is excellent for people who are looking for an energy boost during the day.
Additionally, their product is classified as single-origin. Instant coffee that is classified as “Single-Origin” means that its coffee is sourced from a single place, which provides a much more special flavor. They’re also known for providing light-medium to medium roast products, which deliver a smooth tone to the coffee.
Popular Product
One of the best products of this brand is the Mount Hagen Organic Fair Trade Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee (Single-Origin). It comes in a glass jar of 3.53 ounces, which accounts for approximately 50 coffee servings. Overall, the Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee (Single-Origin) provides a well-balanced flavor that’s 100% organic, placing it among our top picks for this list.
Where Can You Find It?
You can find the Mount Hagen Organic Freeze Dried Instant Coffee (Single-Origin) through this link to Amazon.com or by going into its official website.
#2 – Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee
Company Information
One of the best (and most popular) instant coffee brands is Starbucks. This company has been around since 1971, which means that it has provided premium-quality coffee for over 49 years. Starbucks is known for offering a huge variety of coffees to its consumers, and since their coffee is sourced from over 30 production sites, it gives a much better experience that’s unique each time.
Popular Product
The Starbucks VIA Instant Decaf Italian Roast is one of our favorite picks for this list since its flavor is something we had never tasted before. This product made from 100% Arabica coffee has proven to offer a strong and rich flavor, and thanks to its Italian roast properties, you’re getting an even better experience. The Starbucks VIA Italian Roast coffee is packaged into single-serve packets, and it only needs hot water and stirs to be prepared. In conclusion, Starbucks VIA is a reliable and delicious choice.
Where Can You Find It?
You can find the Starbucks VIA Italian Roast coffee from this link. Additionally, you may check the Starbucks VIA official website for more information.
#3 – NESCAFE
Company Information
As with Starbucks, NESCAFE has a reputation of being of the best brands for instant coffee since most of their products are well-balanced in flavor. You can find their products in a classic roast, light roast, medium roast, and their most popular one, house blend. This brand has been around for about 83 years, putting it in a high place among coffee brands.
Popular Product
In this case, we’re talking about the NESCAFE Taster’s Choice House Blend Instant Coffee. Coffee made as “House Blend” refers to coffees that are considered reliable for most consumers, and according to NESCAFE’s Taster’s Choice, the house blend is their signature blend. In that sense, this house blend provides everything that you need to get started with your daily coffee. The Taster’s Choice House Blend comes in a jar that provides up to 105-6 ounce cups of coffee, and to prepare it, you only need cups of hot water or cold water.
Where Can You Find It?
You can read more about the Taster’s Choice House Blend here, or you can check NESCAFE’s House Blend official website.
#4 – Douwe Egberts Instant Coffee
Company Information
Douwe Egberts is a Dutch company that has been around since 1753, making one of the oldest coffee brands on this list. Their product is considered one of the best instant coffees to date, so if you’re looking for a great experience and flavor, this is the place to start.
Popular Product
When it comes to popular instant coffees, the Douwe Egberts Pure Gold Instant Coffee is the one. This freeze-dried instant coffee is considered a “premium” experience among coffee owners due to its intense and rich flavor from the 100% Arabica coffee beans. This Douwe Egberts medium roast instant coffee was prepared from 100% Arabica coffee beans, which adds to a unique flavor per serving.
Where Can You Find It?
You can find the Douwe Egberts Pure Gold Coffee here, or you can check the Douwe Egberts official website.
#5 – Folgers Instant Coffee
Company Information
Folgers is also a long-time coffee manufacturer; their product made from excellent freeze-dried coffee makes them have an intense but classic coffee flavor, which most people love. However, the main reason why people classify Folgers as one of the best freeze-dried coffee providers is that it’s affordable but still maintains a good flavor.
Popular Product
The Folgers Classic Roast Coffee can be used with hot water or cold water to prepare your cups. Overall, coffee made from this freeze-dried coffee is guaranteed to provide one of the best flavors you may have experienced in instant coffee.
Where Can You Find It?
You can read more about the Folgers Classic Instant Coffee in this Amazon link, or you can also check the Folgers official website.
#6 – NESCAFE (Clasico)
Company Information
The NESCAFE Clasico is a variant from NESCAFE’s Taster’s Choice, which offers a dark roast instant coffee. This coffee made from NESCAFE is suited for strong coffee lovers, so if you’re looking for a more intense flavor in your coffee, this is the way to go.
Popular Product
The NESCAFE Clasico comes in a seven-ounce jar, and you only need hot water to prepare your cups of coffee each day. Overall, the package can deliver up to 100 cups of instant coffee.
Where Can You Find It?
You can read more information about the NESCAFE Clasico on this Amazon page or by checking NESCAFE’s official website.
#7 – JACOBS Kronung Instant Coffee
Company Information
JACOBS is a brand known for offering high-quality instant coffee while preserving a good flavor. If an intense flavor is what you’re looking for in your coffee, consider giving JACOBS a try. This brand from Germany has been around 1895, which has given them a reasonably good reputation among coffee lovers.
Popular Product
JACOBS Kronung freeze-dried coffee is well-known for its fresh and smooth flavor. Overall, each jar of this coffee contains 200 grams of the product.
Where Can You Find It?
Read more about this coffee brand through this link.
#8 – Alpine Start Instant Coffee
Company Information
Alpine Start is a Colorado-based company responsible for making amazing instant coffee single-serve packets. A remarkable thing about these instant coffee products is that they’re portable and lightweight, meaning that you can take these packets anywhere and enjoy their coffee flavor made from 100% Arabica coffee beans.
Popular Product
If you’re looking for a 100% Arabica coffee, Alpine Start’s Premium Blend is a good place to start. This 100% Arabica coffee is sourced from Colombia, which gives it a fantastic and exceptional flavor. Aside from being a great Arabica coffee product, it’s fairly affordable.
Where Can You Find It?
You can read more about this 100% Arabica coffee in this Amazon link or on Alpine Start’s official website.
#9 – Jiva Instant Coffee
Company Information
Jiva’s coffee brand is still fairly new to the coffee market. It began producing its coffee in 2012, and its specialty relies on instant coffee packets and coffee cubes. Their coffee is mostly sourced from Colombia, which provides a smooth and bold flavor to your instant coffee.
Popular Product
In this case, we’re talking about Jiva’s Instant Coffee Packets. These were made by the company with the promise to get rid of the “instant coffee flavors,” which are known for being fairly bitter. Instead, they claim to provide a smooth flavor in each serving, which is great for the average consumer.
Where Can You Find It?
You can read more about this instant coffee brand at this link or through their official website.
#10 – Cafe Altura Instant Coffee
Company Information
Cafe Altura is recognized for providing two remarkable things: An excellent, 100% Arabica coffee and a GMO-free coffee while keeping a good flavor. This brand has achieved to receive the Fair-Trade certification, which ensures that the coffee was prepared with the right methods and it doesn’t involve any harmful components.
Popular Product
The Cafe Altura Instant Coffee provides a 3.5-ounce jar, which seems small, but it can provide a reasonable amount of coffee cups for you considering its low price. You can enjoy this coffee whether it’s iced or hot, so if you want to mix things up a bit in the healthiest way possible, consider going for this 100% Arabica, GMO-free coffee.
Where Can You Find It?
You can read more about the Cafe Altura Instant Coffee here or by checking the company’s official website.
Conclusion
Whether you like light-medium, medium, or a darker toast coffee, there’s a guaranteed option for you. Instant coffee can be thoroughly enjoyable if you purchase the right products, so if you follow the guidelines we’ve provided for you on this page, you’re likely to find the coffee of your dreams in a much faster way!
