Instant coffee is a type of dissolvable coffee made from brewed coffee beans. To make a cup of coffee, all you need to do is mix instant coffee powder or crystals with water or milk.
Instant coffee first appeared in Britain in 1771 and was called a “coffee compound.” It wasn’t until 1890 where David Strand invented the first soluble instant coffee powder. It was then changed into a more stable soluble coffee powder in 1901 by the Japanese scientist Satori Kato. The instant coffee crystals were invented by George Constant Louis Washington 9 years later.
There are two main ways to make instant coffee:
- Spray-drying. Coffee extract is sprayed into hot air, which quickly dries the droplets and turns them into fine powder or small pieces.
- Freeze-drying. The coffee extract is frozen and cut into small fragments, which are then dried at a low temperature under vacuum conditions.
Both methods preserve the quality, aroma, and flavor of the coffee.