What Is Instant coffee and How Can I Use It?

Instant coffee rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 298 recipes to cook with it.

What is instant coffee?

Instant coffee, also called soluble coffee, and coffee powder, is a beverage derived from brewed coffee beans.

Instant coffee is commercially prepared by either freeze-drying or spray drying, after which it can be rehydrated. At least one brand of instant coffee is also available in concentrated liquid form.

Advantages of instant coffee include speed of preparation (instant coffee dissolves instantly in hot water), lower shipping weight and volume than beans or ground coffee (to prepare the same amount of beverage), and long shelf life—though instant coffee can also spoil if not kept dry.

Instant coffee is available in powder or granulated form contained in glass jars, sachets or tins. The user controls the strength of the resulting product, by adding more or less water (for a weaker or stronger brew).

Instant coffee is also convenient for preparing iced coffee like the Greek frappé, which is popular in warmer climates and hot seasons.

In some European countries such as Spain, instant coffee is commonly mixed with hot milk instead of boiling water.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving (1 round tsp) (1g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 2Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.0g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 0.4g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 0.1g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 0% • Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find instant coffee: Instant coffee is usually found in the coffee & tea section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Instant coffee is a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 速溶咖啡
British (UK) term: Instant coffee
en français: le café instantané
en español: el café instantáneo

How much does instant coffee weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 tsp dry	0 grams
1 tsp, rounded	1 grams
1 serving (1 round tsp)	1 grams

Beverages

Beer 431 Creme de menthe 43 Brandy 416 Rum 290 Vodka 132 Cognac 125 Tequila 80 Gin 28 Whiskey 80 Bourbon whiskey 86

Recipes using instant coffee

There are 298 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Chocolate Ice Cream With Chocolate Chunks & Pistachios

The chocolate chunks and pistachios added extra yumminess. I couldn't stop eating it. So good!

Chocolate Coffee

Chocolate coffee melts unsweetened chocolate into strong instant coffee with milk and sugar for a frothy stovetop mocha. Old-fashioned cafe au lait meets chocolate, finished with whipped cream and cocoa.

Mayan Truffles

Mayan truffles roll dark chocolate ganache spiked with Kahlua and instant coffee into rich cocoa-dusted bites. The coffee deepens the chocolate, the liqueur warms it, and the double dip in melted chocolate gives each truffle a snap.

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Learn how to make natural Easter egg dyes such as Spring Chicken Yellow and Easter bunny brown natural Easter egg dyes. Quick and easy egg coloring.

Hot Mocha Milk

Hot mocha milk made in the microwave with chocolate syrup, instant coffee, a dash of cinnamon, and steamy milk. A cozy 5-minute coffeehouse drink at home.

Best Chocolate Bar Fondue

Very, very good. I used 1/2 semi sweet and 1/2 bittersweet - more of a sophisticated flavor. It was yummy. Stick to the milk chocolate or semi-sweet for the kids though. Besides a variety of fruit, I bought those little creme puffs in the freezer section - they were delicious dipped in the chocolate!

Cappuccino Truffles

No-bake cappuccino truffles rolled in cocoa-sugar or coconut, made with instant coffee, marshmallow cream, chocolate wafer crumbs, and pecans. Makes 60 bite-sized treats in 30 minutes.

Mocha-Walnut Cookies

Mocha walnut cookies bake coffee-spiked, cinnamon-warmed butter cookies and finish each warm cookie with melted chocolate chips smeared on top. Coffee-shop cookies with a frosted finish.

Kahlua Mousse Brownies

Kahlua mousse brownies, a thin sheet brownie spiked with coffee liqueur and instant coffee for deep chocolate-mocha flavor. Bake in a jelly roll pan and sandwich with ice cream for a fancy dessert.

Mocha Chip Muffins

Low-fat mocha chip muffins with cocoa, instant coffee, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Applesauce replaces most of the oil for a tender, fudgy crumb under 100 calories per muffin.

Mocha Brownies

Fudgy chocolate brownies amped with instant coffee for deep mocha flavor, studded with walnuts, and finished with optional creamy coffee-cream-cheese frosting.

Mocha Brownies

Fudgy chocolate brownies amped with instant coffee for deep mocha flavor, studded with walnuts, and finished with optional creamy coffee-cream-cheese frosting.

Frozen Tiramisu

Frozen tiramisu made with coffee ice cream, ladyfingers, and whipped topping. Easy make-ahead Italian dessert that's lighter than traditional tiramisu, perfect for summer.

Chili Ala Capt. James Mcdonnell

Beef and Italian sausage chili with a tablespoon of instant coffee for depth, two kinds of beans (kidney and refried), and a Monterey Jack topping. Captain's recipe.

Family Favorite Fudge Brownies

Dense fudge brownies with a half pound of unsweetened chocolate, chocolate chip top, and a hit of instant coffee crystals to deepen the chocolate flavor. Baked low and slow.

Viennese Spiced Coffee

Viennese spiced coffee steeped with whole cloves and cinnamon sticks, topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. A cozy holiday coffee drink with old-world cafe charm.

Kahlua Cheesecake Bars (Healthier Version)

Super moist, chocolaty and rich. These delicious kaulua cheesecake bars will for sure satisfy your sweet tooth but without letting you feel too guilty.

Mocha Pecan Pie

Mocha pecan pie layers semi-sweet chocolate, Kahlua and espresso into the classic Southern filling, topped with decorative pecan halves. A coffeehouse twist on Thanksgiving dessert.

Wake - Up - Smell Coffee Cheesecake

Love this lower-fat cheesecake. It well satisfied my cheesecake cravings but without giving me too much guilt afterwards. LOL.

Coffee Brickle Ice Cream *

Coffee brickle ice cream churns sweetened condensed milk and half-and-half with strong instant coffee, toasted almonds, and almond brickle chips. No-cook custard for the home ice cream maker.

Mocha Truffles

Mocha truffles: melt-in-your-mouth chocolate ganache balls infused with instant coffee and Kahlua, rolled in cookie crumbs or chopped nuts. Five ingredients, no candy thermometer.

Chocolate Marbled Angel Food Cake with Coffee Cream & Raspberry Jam

A deliciously light chocolate marbled angel food cake is filled with raspberry jam, and topped with coffee cream. It's sweet and rich enough to please your sweet tooth, but without too much guilt.

Coffee Chocolate-Chip Cookies

Coffee chocolate chip cookies with toasted almonds, made with concentrated instant coffee dissolved in hot water for deep mocha flavor in every bite. The grown-up cookie jar staple.

Mocha Frosting

Mocha frosting: cocoa, instant coffee, butter, and powdered sugar whipped into a silky chocolate-coffee glaze. Pipes, spreads, and stays put on cakes, brownies, and cupcakes.

Maple Coffee Glazed Bacon & Eggs

Bacon glazed in maple syrup and bacon cooked perfectly crispy in the oven.

Chocolate Mocha Mud Cake

Chocolate mocha mud cake: a dense, fudgy Australian-style cake baked low and slow, then finished with a glossy chocolate-butter icing. Instant coffee deepens the chocolate without tasting like coffee.

Black Bean Coffee Brownies

The combination of black beans and sweet potato gives these brownies a moreish, moist quality. These are great for kids as they contain no added sugar or trans-fats (you may wish to omit the coffee and substitute cacao powder if serving to youngsters, though).

Coffee Liqueur Ice Cream

Coffee liqueur ice cream churns a rich evaporated milk custard infused with instant coffee and a half cup of Kahlúa for a creamy, grown-up frozen dessert. Boozy enough to soften past freezing, smooth enough to scoop on demand.

Classic Russian Black Rye Bread

Indulge in the rich, aromatic flavors of Black Russian Rye Bread with this easy-to-follow recipe. This bread will satisfy your craving for hearty and flavorful artisan bread, made with a blend of rye and wheat flour, molasses, caraway seeds, and a few secret ingredients.

Alice's Biscotti Cioccolato

Wow, love these biscotti. They are so chocolaty and the almonds add a layer of delicious nuttiness. Perfect to enjoy it with a cup of tea.

Bbq Meatloaf Aussie Style

Aussie-style BBQ meatloaf with beef, sausage, and curry powder, basted with a dark, complex BBQ sauce featuring instant coffee, red wine, and Worcestershire. The meatloaf that earns its place at any cookout.

Denver Chocolate Pudding Cake (Healthier Version)

A few small twists make a much healthier but still decadent chocolate pudding cake. Wole wheat flour adds some fibre, using half butter and half olive oil cuts down the amount of saturated fat without losing the buttery flavor and moist texture. Spoon the warm and rich chocolate sauce over the pudding cake before serving.