Instant coffee is nice. It gives you the goodness of coffee with a ton of convenience. You don’t have to mess with coffee beans or have your own morning coffee ritual. But which instant coffee is right for you? Should you go with the instant coffee powder or granules? We’re here to nudge you in the right direction.
What is the difference between instant coffee powder and instant coffee crystals? Instant coffee powder and instant coffee crystals are made differently giving their corresponding end form. Instant coffee powder is made using the spray drying process while crystals are made using the freeze drying process. Instant coffee crystals are superior to powder as they retain more flavor and produce better coffee.
Instant Coffee Powder vs Instant Coffee Crystals
Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between instant coffee powder and instant coffee granules (a.k.a. crystals).
How Is Instant Coffee Powder Made?
Instant coffee powder is the easiest of the two when it comes to production.
To make instant coffee, you have to brew your ground coffee, make it into a concentrate, and then evaporate all the water content to convert it into dissolvable instant coffee.
Coffee powder is made by a process called spray drying. This is a cheap process and uses heat to dry the regular coffee concentrate thereby producing coffee powder.
This is process is not only cheap but is also quite fast. The process is fast as it uses high heat to quickly dry the brewed coffee. As a result, the coffee loses a lot of its good quality.
The aroma and flavor you get from instant coffee powder could be a lot better.
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How Are Instant Coffee Crystals Made?
Instant coffee granules or crystals are made from a process called the freeze drying process.
This process is slower and more expensive than the spray drying process. The final result here is crystallized coffee granules that look very different from fine coffee powder.
Instead of using heat, the freeze drying process freezes the ground coffee concentrate, sucks the air out of it, and then proceeds to cool it down.
The natural flavor and aroma of the coffee are preserved and you will enjoy it much better than instant coffee powder.
Quality
When it comes to quality, instant coffee crystals will beat instant coffee powder any time of the day.
The granules are high quality and lock a high amount of flavor and aroma when compared to the powder form.
Another factor that makes instant coffee granules better quality is the coffee bean selection.
In most cases, coffee crystals are made from Arabica beans. Arabica beans are high-quality beans and produce the best ground coffee you can have.
Since the freeze drying process is expensive and slow, Robusta beans are not used.
But when it comes to the spray drying process, Robusta beans are the preferred bean type. Robusta beans are cheap and are a perfect fit for this procedure.
If you’re looking for higher quality instant coffee, instant coffee crystals work well.
Taste
Instant coffee granules lock the flavor of the brewed coffee much better than coffee powder.
As a result, the coffee you make from coffee crystals is fresh and somewhat closer to brewed coffee than coffee powder.
In some cases, depending on the coffee beans, you might be hard-pressed to find the difference between instant coffee granules and actual regular coffee.
Instant coffee powder is a great way to fill your body with some caffeine. But when it comes to taste, it falls short.
Due to the use of high heat, the instant coffee powder can sometimes even bring a burnt taste to the table which is not desirable.
Also Read: Espresso Powder vs Instant Coffee!
Aroma
Instant coffee crystals win this one again.
The crystals do a much better job of locking the aroma of regular coffee during the process than the coffee powder.
When you open a packet of instant coffee granules, you will be greeted with an amazing aroma. But this will not be the case with instant coffee powder.
Caffeine
The caffeine content in both these instant coffee variants is going to be pretty much the same.
Arabica coffee beans are higher quality beans but they have less caffeine content when compared to Robusta coffee beans.
From this, we can come to an understanding that instant coffee granules might have lesser caffeine as Arabica beans are most used to make them.
But that would be farther from the truth.
The roasting process also plays an important role when it comes to caffeine content. With instant coffee, the caffeine content is almost the same.
So whether you are drinking coffee made from instant coffee powder or crystals, you will get pretty much the same amount of caffeine.
Cost
This is one place where instant coffee powder clearly wins.
Instant coffee powder is quite cheap as it makes use of the spray drying process. It also, in most cases, uses Robusta beans that are a lot cheaper than Arabica beans.
As a result, instant coffee powder is the most commercialized instant coffee on the market.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive coffee that will help you with your caffeine needs, then the instant coffee powder is a perfect choice for you.
But if you are looking for better-tasting coffee and willing to spend some money for it, then instant coffee crystals should be the one on your shopping list.
Some Common Questions
Is Powdered Coffee The Same As Instant Coffee?
Yes, powdered coffee is the same as instant coffee. It is one of the two types of instant coffee you can find on the market. Powdered coffee is made from the spray drying method which gives it the fine and powder form.
Is Coffee Granules The Same As Instant Coffee?
Yes, coffee granules are a type of instant coffee variant available. Instant coffee granules are made from the freeze drying process that is slower and more expensive than the spray drying process. The final result is instant coffee that crystallized.
What Is Crystallized Coffee?
Crystallized coffee is a type of instant coffee that is made with the freeze drying method. Instead of using heat, the freeze drying method freezes the coffee concentrate and keeps it in a vacuum, and then dries it out. The process is slower and also more expensive than the spray drying process.
Which Is Better Quality? Instant Coffee Powder or Granules?
When it comes to quality, instant coffee crystals have the upper hand. They retain more flavor, aroma, and make a better cup of coffee. They are made mostly from Arabica beans and that also contributes to the taste and quality of the coffee.
Which Is Cheaper? Instant Coffee Powder or Granules?
Instant coffee powder is a lot cheaper than coffee granules. Instant coffee powder is made from Robusta coffee beans using the spray drying method. Though the coffee is cheaper, it falls short of coffee crystals when it comes to taste. But if you are looking for the cheapest coffee there is, then the instant coffee powder is the one for you.
Closing Thoughts
We’ve come to the end of this post.
When it comes to instant coffee, instant coffee powder is what people usually prefer as it comes at a super affordable price.
But if you are an instant coffee drinker who wants to take a jab at a better coffee, then instant coffee crystals are a much better choice. It is more expensive, yes, but it also gives you a coffee that is closer to a regular coffee.
We hope we cleared your doubts regarding these two instant coffee variants. If you have any other instant questions (get it?), do let us know and we’ll get back to you.
Till then, Happy Coffee Times!