According to global consumer research, nearly 50% of consumers prefer instant coffee.

As a result of the third wave of coffee, more and more people are choosing to buy green beans, but it is undeniable that there is still a large market for instant coffee.

What difference is between instant coffee and green bean coffee that requires grinding? How does instant coffee come about? Which one should I drink? Before we discuss it, let's have a cup of coffee and experience it!

Is Instant Coffee Made From Real Coffee?

First of all, instant coffee is indeed made of coffee. But coffee beans are not actually beans, and they are seeds.

Coffee is a fruit, often referred to as a coffee cherry because of its round, red appearance. After harvesting the fruit, the coffee farmer performs a series of treatments, which vary depending on how the outer pulp of the seeds is removed. The different treatments affect the flavour of the coffee. The coffee is then dried and roasted in order to make a cup.

It is at this stage that instant coffee is distinguished from green coffee beans.

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What Does Instant Come From?

Whether you drink two-in-one or three-in-one instant coffee, they are all scientific products.

When we come to an instant coffee factory, we will see a vat of coffee liquid that has been boiled and prepared for making instant coffee powder. When the water is removed from the liquid, the instant powder is scooped out of the coffee can. What is retained in the instant powder is the coffee substance that is soluble in water.

The dehydration process can be divided into two main types: freeze-drying and spray-drying.

It is important to note that the process loses some of the substances in the coffee, especially caffeine and aroma molecules. Even the quality of the coffee powder has a lot to do with the drying process. Some manufacturers may even add substances to make up for this loss of flavour.

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Differences In Brewing Methods

Instant coffee is very simple, just combine instant powder and water, and you are ready to drink.

For green bean coffee, there is a different preparation process. You have to grind the beans and brew them (usually using a filter), then discard the grounds afterward. These brewing processes appeal to many coffee lovers, who can experiment with different brewing methods, powder to water ratios, water temperatures, etc., to produce a cup of coffee that they will enjoy.

For a full-bodied coffee, it may be possible to use a French press or an Elle press rather than a V60 filter cup. To reduce the bitterness, sweetness, or acidity of the coffee, lower the extraction rate and brew it with a coarser grind, shorter brewing time, or lower water temperature.

The same instant coffee always tastes the same. Ground coffee, on the other hand, can be tasted with the skill of the brewer.

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So Which One Is Better?

Is that all there is to say about coffee? Is there really a better result?

Here's how instant coffee compares to green bean coffee.

Cost And Convenience

There is no denying that instant coffee is usually cheaper, plus you can just add hot water to it and drink it, which adds to the convenience.

However, although instant coffee is cheap, is it a good value for money? Does it depend on the characteristics you value: convenience? Flavour? Aroma?

Quality And Flavour

When it comes to quality and flavour, green bean coffee is definitely better for several reasons.

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1. The difference in the quality of the coffee beans

The key to coffee quality comes down to the quality of the beans themselves. Obviously, the advantage of instant coffee is that it is usually cheaper, so lower quality Robusta commercial beans are used, which are usually more bitter and have a harsher taste.

In addition, as coffee is an agricultural crop, it loses its flavour once it has been stored for a period of time. Some traders often use old or aged beans, which have been stored for more than a year and have lost their flavour and aroma for their production. These old beans are sold at a lower price and are therefore the first choice for instant coffee.

Although it is possible to make instant coffee from good quality beans, few people actually do so. Likewise, there are poor-quality green coffee beans, but they are always available on the market.

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2. The difference in the brewing process

The coffee brewing process combines physical and chemical changes and can involve many details. One of the most important is the brewing process and the point at which the different flavours are extracted. If the coffee is brewed for too long, it can be very bitter. Although it is possible to use perfectly extracted coffee to make instant powder, it is unlikely to be possible.

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3. Aroma and flavour

Finally, we still need to mention the aromas and flavours mentioned above, which can be lost in the instant coffee making process.

Aroma is heavily influenced by aroma, which means that the loss of aroma affects the taste (note: this is why you need to open the lid when drinking coffee to enhance the tasting experience).

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Health

Are there any health effects associated with instant coffee? No, not really. Although there are some claims that instant coffee causes cancer, these are unproven rumours. There is no clear evidence to suggest that instant coffee has a more positive or negative effect on the human body than whole bean coffee.

Of course, there are health concerns if you are drinking a 3-in-1 instant coffee with added sugar, but the instant coffee process itself does not have any positive or negative health effects.

The Extent Of Environmental Impact

If the environment is the only consideration, instant coffee is the best choice for you.

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Does this surprise you? We generally recognize that the process of making instant coffee is more laborious and has a greater environmental impact. Still, as long as you don't use instant powder in sachets, the amount of waste produced per cup of coffee is much lower. The large amount of coffee grounds produced by the production of instant coffee is also more environmentally friendly when properly disposed of by the factory.

This does not mean that consumers who buy green bean coffee cannot make an effort to be environmentally friendly, as long as they use their waste properly, whether it is reusing coffee grounds or not using paper cups. There are many ways to minimize the environmental impact.

So What Does This Mean For You As A Consumer?

To summarise, if it's the flavour and aroma of coffee that matters to you, you should buy green coffee beans.

If you buy instant coffee, don't worry about health issues, and instant coffee has a lower environmental impact.

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