Do you like instant coffee to brewed coffee? While most coffee lovers swear by ground coffee, instant coffee does come with its cup of benefits. For one, it is a lot cheaper and can give you caffeine without any problems. But that also begs the question.
How much instant coffee is too much? A 12-ounce cup of instant coffee can contain anywhere from 90 to 110 mg of caffeine. So it is recommended that you should not have more than 3 to 4 cups of instant coffee a day. This is in line with FDA’s recommendation to keep your caffeine consumption to under 400mg per day.
If you’re a coffee lover who can’t keep their instant coffee on the table, let’s help you bring some perspective so that you can have your favorite instant coffee guilt-free.
Before we get into that, let’s cover some basics.
What is Instant Coffee?
First of all, you need to know what instant coffee is.
Instant coffee is simply dried coffee extract that has been harvested, processed, dried, and ground into powder. Then, the powder is dissolved in cold or hot water (preferably hot) for drinking.
Methods of Making Instant Coffee
Here are two ways manufacturers make instant coffee.
They are
Freeze Drying
This process involves freezing the coffee grounds then cutting them into tiny fragments. After cutting, the fragments are dried at low temperatures to eliminate moisture.
Spray drying
The second method is to spray the ground coffee into hot air. The air dries the coffee and transforms it into powder or tiny bits.
Note: Both methods are very effective because they keep the coffee dry while preserving its quality at the same time.
Also Read: Instant Coffee Powder vs Crystals
Best Way To Make Instant Coffee
Some people like their coffee cold, while most prefer a hot cup.
To make a cup of instant coffee, you simply drop a teaspoon full of the powder or empty a packet into a cup of hot or cold water and legit dissolve before stirring.
Does instant coffee contain antioxidants?
Yes, it does contain antioxidants which provide the body with several benefits.
Compared to other beverages, it contains far more, which helps to stimulate body functions.
On top of that, instant coffee is a low-calorie beverage which best explains why it is possible to take several cups without spiking calorie levels.
It also contains only a tiny quantity of niacin, potassium and magnesium.
How much instant coffee is too much?
While we gave a brief answer above,
To answer this question, we look no further than the organic elements in coffee.
Caffeine
Instant coffee has a stimulative effect on the body, which is why many people use it to stimulate their mental and cognitive functions at work.
This is due to its caffeine content; however, it contains less caffeine than ground coffee. While the difference may not be much, the number of cups you have will give you the final figures.
To put things into proper perspective, a 12-oz cup of instant coffee powder has 90 – 110 mg of caffeine whereas, a cup of regular ground coffee has between 70 – 140 mg.
Instant coffee also has a decaffeinated version for those who don’t want to take in caffeine.
So if you have concerns about caffeine volume, taking a few cups of instant coffee daily will not lead to a caffeine spike.
Especially when it has been proven that too much caffeine contributes to stomach upset, sleeplessness, and fast heartbeat, this is why it is advisable to take instant coffee moderately.
Acrylamide
Instant coffee is known to contain a harmful chemical that is released when it comes under high temperatures during the roasting stage.
This chemical is called acrylamide, and it is a common component in many food items and body care products.
Despite the existence of this chemical, the content is minimal, so coffee drinkers are not exposed to any form of adverse risks or reactions when they use Acrylamide.
So despite the presence of caffeine and acrylamide, instant coffee remains a safe beverage that poses no risks to consumers. Instead, it has several health benefits.
Also Read: Does Instant Coffee Go Bad?
Health benefits of Instant coffee
If you are still unsure about making instant coffee intake a daily routine, here are some health benefits that may convince you to have a change of heart.
Improve Brain Function
Instant coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant. This makes it an effective brain power booster. So if you want to stay alert and alert during the productive hours of the day, instant coffee will help you immensely.
Boost Your Metabolism
Do you constantly have indigestion issues?
Then you might want to try out instant coffee. Its caffeine element also boosts metabolism to aid digestion.
In addition, this beverage will help you burn fat.
Fight Diseases
The growth and spread of certain neurodegenerative diseases can be checked with coffee.
Experts have recommended coffee for ages to prevent or stop the spread of diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Diabetes Regulation
People with diabetes are at greater risk of contracting another ailment due to their weak immune systems.
As a preventive measure, instant coffee can be used to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
In addition, for those who already have diabetes, instant coffee may help check the spread and growth of the ailment.
Other potential benefits of drinking coffee include
- Improving liver functions
- Improve mental health
Note: While these benefits remain circumstantial, the general belief is that drinking coffee daily can help reduce the risk of contracting a disease.
So drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily, does not expose you to any risk. Although the coffee beans used in making instant coffee is Robusta coffee which is not as nutritious as regular coffee.
Regular ground coffee is made with Arabica coffee beans, they both have the same nutrients, more or less. You can go just as far as to call instant coffee a coffee substitute for brewed coffee.
Also Read: Why is Maxwell Coffee So Bad?
Wrap Up
The consensus among medical scientists, dieticians, and researchers is that there is no evidence to prove that coffee poses any risks to human health.
But as with all things in life, too much of everything is bad. While 2 – 3 cups within a 24-hour cycle is not a bad idea, consuming more may be counter-productive, although no research shows any risks to this effect. What we consume will affect us differently.
As a coffee drinker, restricting your coffee intake is not something that’s gonna put a smile on your face. While a couple of cups a day is nothing to worry about, consuming 4 to 5 cups of instant coffee a day for a longer period could mean trouble.
So be wise and take your coffee drink in moderation. If possible, don’t get addicted to it. While you’re at it, take your coffee black whenever possible. Milk adds some more trouble but that’s another post for another day.
