Content

• Ingredients
• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Improving your technique
• Part 2 of 2: Adjusting instant coffee
• Tips
• Warnings

Instant coffee dates back to 1890 or earlier and has been a major industry for over a century. Most coffee drinkers find it especially useful, but not really tasty. Learn how to get past "coffee flavored water", but be prepared to try and experiment to get there.

Ingredients

• Water (mineral water or filtered water may be best, depending on the water quality).
• Instant coffee
• Milk or cream (optional)
• Sugar (optional)
• Aromas, such as cocoa powder, vanilla or cinnamon (optional).
• Cream with flavor (optional)
• Flavored syrup (optional)
• Vanilla extract (optional)

To step

Part 1 of 2: Improving your technique

1. Buy good quality instant coffee. Hardly any instant coffee brand can compete with ground coffee, but some brands are pretty decent. Try a brand labeled "freeze-dried," which often produces a more authentic coffee aroma than "spray drying." If the label doesn't tell you to, check the consistency: granules are more likely to be freeze-dried than powder, although this is not a guarantee. Finally, more expensive brands will often taste better.
   • If you're not sure where to start, try Nescafé or Douwe Egberts. These can convince the coffee purists earlier than most other brands.
   • Instant espresso powder is another product designed for baking rather than drinking.
2. Put fresh water on. Do not use water that has been in the kettle for longer, as it may have absorbed other flavors or become "flat" with repeated cooking. If you live in an area with hard water, or if your tap water just tastes bad, filter it first.
   • If you don't have a kettle, put a mug of water in the microwave before adding the coffee. Water heated in the microwave can "explode" if overheated. Prevent this by adding a wooden popsicle stick or teaspoon of sugar to the cup.
3. Measure the instant coffee with a mug. Follow the instructions on the package the first time you try a brand. If it is too strong or too watery for your taste, you can adjust the coffee to water ratio later. The most important thing is to use the same spoon and the same cup every time. If you choose a different cup or mug every time, you cannot stick to the ratio that you enjoy the most.
   • If there is no recommendation on the package, try one slightly rounded teaspoon (5 ml) per 240 ml of water.
4. Stir in a little cold water (optional). Add just enough cold water to wet all of the instant coffee and stir into a paste. This preparation will give your coffee a smoother taste, although the effect will not always be great.
5. Pour the hot water. Instant coffee has already been steeped in water before drying, so the flavor is already there. This means that the temperature of the water is much less important than with normal coffee. Instant coffee drinkers disagree on whether boiling water can affect the taste. If you're concerned about that, let the kettle cool down for a few minutes first.
6. Stir in sugar and milk (optional). Even if you prefer black coffee, most instant coffee blends could use a little extra flavor. Stir in as much or as little as you like, making sure all the sugar is dissolved. If your instant coffee tastes particularly bad, cream will hide it better than milk.
7. Taste and adjust. The most effective way to improve your cup of coffee is to keep experimenting and keep track of what you've tried. Next time, try an extra teaspoon (5 ml) of coffee if the brew is too watery, or add another pinch of sugar if it tastes too bitter. Instant coffee will never be gourmet, but your choices can make it enjoyable.
   • Use the same measuring spoon and cup each time so that you have a measure of the ratio of coffee to water.
8. Store the leftovers in an airtight container. Humidity spoils the taste of your instant coffee. Keep the coffee dry by closing the packaging tightly.
   • If you live in a humid climate, put leftover instant coffee in smaller packages while you use them. This minimizes the amount of air that comes into contact with the coffee. In extra humid tropics, the refrigerator can be drier than your kitchen cupboards.

Part 2 of 2: Adjusting instant coffee

1. Replace water with milk. Some say the coffee itself is a lost cause. If the above techniques don't help, try replacing all of the water with warm milk. Heat the milk over the stovetop until it starts to bubble around the edges. Pour it (instead of water) on top of the coffee powder.
   • Keep an eye on the milk and stir occasionally. Unattended milk can boil over quickly.
2. Froth milk into a cappuccino. Your "instant cappuccino" won't impress an Italian, but a little foam can go a long way. If you don't have a hand frother, froth the milk and instant coffee by whipping or shaking it in a jar.
   • To froth the mixture with a spoon, add the instant coffee and sugar to a cup and then stir in enough water to make a paste. Beat this with a spoon until frothy and then stir in the warm milk.
3. Add flavors. Strong, usually sweet flavors are another way to hide bad flavors. Here are a few suggestions:
   • Replace the milk and sugar with flavored creamers, or homemade flavored milk.
   • Add flavors such as vanilla extract, cocoa powder or ground cinnamon, stirring thoroughly. Caution - it's easy to use too much when making one cup.
   • Replace the sugar with the flavored syrup of your choice. You can even buy liquid coffee essence or extract to add more coffee flavor. Keep in mind that commercial syrups often contain a lot of corn syrup.
4. Add coconut oil or butter to your coffee. Not everyone likes this trend, but you might change your mind trying to get rid of a cup of bad instant coffee. After making the instant coffee, toss it in the blender with a teaspoon (5 ml) of coconut oil or butter and mix it frothy.

Tips

• There is a long-running debate among tea drinkers about whether they should pour the milk or hot water first. This decision can also affect the taste of your instant coffee if you use a lot of milk. Try both to see which one you prefer.
• If you hate the instant coffee you've bought, don't throw it away. It's great to use with recipes!
• Sugars all taste different. Add raw or brown sugar to your coffee for a richer molasses flavor.
• Pat yourself on the back for drinking instant coffee. It produces less CO2 emissions than filter coffee!

Warnings

• Ground coffee is a completely different product. It will not dissolve in hot water, and stirring it in a cup will not give off the correct aromas.