Are instant coffee and espresso powder the same? There is a reason why this is a common question among people. But the answer to that question is what we’re here for. We are also going to discuss all the differences between instant coffee and espresso powder to settle this debate once and for all. Before that, let’s get to the main question.
What is the difference between instant coffee and espresso powder? Espresso powder and instant coffee are made the same way but espresso powder is a lot more concentrated. The espresso flavor is much stronger and it is also made from high-quality Arabica beans. Instant coffee is mostly made from Robusta beans. Instant coffee is more balanced, quicker, and is a lot more affordable for most people.
Instant Coffee vs Espresso Powder – What Are They?
Before we get into the details, let’s take a look at what they actually are.
What is Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee is made by making brewed coffee, concentrating it, and later drying it into instant coffee powder or instant coffee granules. It is made from two methods namely, spray drying and freeze drying.
Instant coffee is almost instant. All you need is some hot water and your coffee is ready. It is a great coffee substitute when you can’t make regular brewed coffee. Usually made from the Robusta coffee bean, instant coffee carries a slightly bitter taste that can be improved by the addition of milk or sugar.
What is Espresso Powder?
Instant espresso powder is made the same way as instant coffee. The main difference here is that espresso beans are roasted a lot darker and as a result, you are getting a powder that is more concentrated and stronger.
Instant espresso powder is usually made from high-quality Arabica beans and is more expensive as a result. With espresso powder, you don’t have to tamp or pull a shot making it just as instant as instant coffee.
For people who want to try an espresso shot without investing in an espresso machine or visiting a local coffee shop, instant espresso powder is a very good choice. Do keep in mind that espresso powder will make something that is very dark and concentrated.
Taste
The first thing we care about when it comes to coffee is taste.
When it comes to taste, there is a big difference between instant coffee and espresso powder.
Instant coffee, when compared with ground coffee, tastes not that great. It is made for people who are on the run and who can’t spend the time to brew their cuppa joe.
As they are made from Robusta beans, the taste is decent at best. Robusta beans are harsher and come with more caffeine (more on this in the next section). Robusta beans are cheap which is why most instant coffee on the market are very wallet-friendly.
Instant espresso powder, on the other hand, is used to make an espresso shot.
The taste you get from instant espresso powder may not be as good as an original espresso shot, but it is very damn close. An espresso shot is a concentrated liquid that comes with a very strong flavor. That’s exactly what you get here.
Caffeine Content
Caffeine is one of the best reasons for anyone to drink coffee.
Ground coffee will give you the best (and most) caffeine. There is also a ton of flexibility there which passionate coffee lovers would enjoy.
When it comes to instant coffee, the caffeine content is not controllable by the end-user and is fixed during the manufacturing process.
A cup of instant coffee (8 oz) should give you somewhere between 80 to 120mg of caffeine. If you need more caffeine, you are left with no other option than to drink more coffee.
Now, we know that espresso is a concentrated and strong drink. But it is actually the weakest coffee out there in terms of caffeine content.
An espresso shot comes with just 58mg of caffeine. Though the drink is a super concentrated one, its caffeine level does not match even with the likes of regular instant coffee. But it is not uncommon for people to drink or use a couple of espresso shots in which case you would get more caffeine than instant coffee.
Also Read: Coffee Beans vs Espresso Beans
Bean Selection
Arabica beans and Robusta coffee beans are the two of the most produced and utilized coffee beans.
If you’re familiar with the coffee universe, you would know that Arabica coffee beans are the better ones here. They are cultivated at higher elevations and excellent growing conditions. The beans are simply better and are reserved for high-end coffee.
Robusta beans, on the other hand, are not that high quality as Arabica. They are cheaper and harsher than Arabica beans.
So why this crash course in beans?
Well, it will help understand why each powder uses a corresponding bean.
Instant is made for people who want a jolt of caffeine easy and quick. They don’t want to spend a lot of money on coffee so something cheaper would be a good thing. That’s why instant coffee is made from Robusta beans.
Does that mean instant coffee is low-quality coffee?
No, nowadays you can get instant coffee that is made from Arabica beans. If you’re willing to spend some money, you can get high-end instant coffee that tastes a lot better than the cheaper ones.
Instant espresso powder is always made with Arabica beans. This is because espresso is a high-end drink and is usually made from higher-quality beans.
You can search all you want, but you won’t find an espresso shot that is obtained from Robusta coffee beans. Being a concentrated drink, the harsh tones of Robusta will simply not work with espresso. It will overpower it. Hence Arabica is preferred for instant espresso powder.
Related Read: Comparing the drinks – Coffee Vs Espresso!
The Similarities
Did you know that instant coffee powder and instant espresso powder are similar in a lot of ways?
First, they both are made the same way.
Both powders are dried form of their respective concentrated coffees.
To be more precise, the freeze drying process is used to make instant coffee as well as espresso powder.
Second, both instant coffee and espresso powder make it super easy to make the respective coffee drinks. All you need is some powder and hot water, your coffee beverage is ready to go.
Both of them will dissolve completely in water which is not something you can say for ground coffee. Also, there is no waste left behind as well. Not dealing with leftover coffee grounds is more satisfying than you can imagine.
Can You Make Instant Coffee With Espresso Powder?
Even though that is not the purpose of espresso powder, you can still make instant coffee with it. You will make a drink that is super concentrated and is more like a shot. Add as much water as you need to make it closer to instant coffee.
Can You Make Espresso With Instant Coffee?
Yes, you can make espresso shots from instant coffee but it won’t be as good as the original espresso shot.
You need 2 tsp of instant coffee and 30ml of water. Mix them together at a nice temperature, and you have a shot of espresso.
If you’re looking to make 2 shots of espresso, then just double the ingredients. Mix 60ml of hot water and 4 tsp of instant coffee.
Related Read: Instant Coffee vs Ground Coffee
Can You Substitute Instant Coffee For Espresso Powder?
You can but you won’t get the same results.
As they are made from the same process, it might look like their interchangeable, but they are not.
Espresso is a lot stronger in flavor and to replace it with instant coffee, you are going to need a lot of instant coffee and that’s not going to taste great.
When you add the right amount of instant coffee, it works well. But when you add more than what’s necessary, the bitter taste is too much to handle and that’s exactly what would happen in this scenario.
Should you substitute instant coffee for espresso powder in baking? You can because you are not going to use a lot and for such small quantities, instant coffee can work.
Is Espresso Powder The Same As Instant Coffee?
Espresso powder and instant coffee are not the same. They are made from a similar process and might also look the same, but their utilities are different and they make very different coffee drinks.
Espresso powder can also be used in baking but instant coffee is not. Likewise, instant coffee has its own set of specialized applications where espresso powder is not welcome.
Is Espresso Coffee Stronger Than Instant Coffee?
Yes, instant espresso powder is a lot stronger than instant coffee in terms of flavor. Instant coffee is a lot easier to drink. But when it comes to caffeine content, instant coffee comes with more caffeine than a shot of espresso.
Closing Thoughts
When compared to regular coffee, both instant coffee and instant espresso powder are quick fixes. But they do a pretty good job in that. If you’re looking for a quick boost in caffeine without having to perform a coffee ritual, either of these will do a fine job.
If you are looking for a strong coffee, powdered espresso can deliver a super strong one. But if you are looking for more control, then instant coffee is probably that way to do it.
