Instant Coffee

Instant coffee became commercially practical in Switzerland just before World War II. It’s made by brewing ground coffee near the boil to obtain aroma, then a second time at 340°F/170°C and high pressure to maximize the extraction of pigments and body-producing carbohydrates. Water is removed from the two extracts by hot spray-drying or by freeze-drying, which retains more of the volatile aroma compounds and produces a fuller flavor. The two are then blended together and supplemented with aromas captured during the drying stage. Instant coffee crystals contain about 5% moisture, 20% brown pigments, 10% minerals, 7% complex carbohydrate, 8% sugars, 6% acids, and 4% caffeine. As an essentially dry concentrate, instant coffee is a valuable flavoring for baked goods, confections, and ice creams.