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How Much Caffeine In Instant Coffee
About instant coffee and its caffeine content.
Published March 11, 2022
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Erik Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
If you don’t have time to go to your local coffee shop every morning before going to work or are looking to save money on the amount of coffee you buy, the good news is that there are lots of options that you can use to get started with making your own delicious coffee from home. While there are plenty of brewing methods including espresso machines, drip coffee machines, moka pots, and single-serve pod coffee makers, instant coffee is still one of the most convenient and popular options for making coffee at home. And with instant coffee brands improving a lot recently, more and more people are turning to this method of making coffee to save both money and time. However, if you’re considering switching to instant coffee instead of buying your coffee in the morning, does it have the same amount of caffeine? How much caffeine in is instant coffee? Keep reading to find out more about the caffeine in teaspoon of ground coffee and the cup of instant coffee caffeine level.
How Does Instant Coffee Work?
Before diving into the 12oz cup of coffee caffeine levels in different brands of instant coffee such as the caffeine in instant coffee Maxwell House, it’s a good idea to get familiar with what instant coffee is and how it works. Instant coffee is a powdered coffee extract that simply needs to be combined with water to make a cup of coffee straight away. It goes through various production processes to remove the water, so that all you need to add for it to taste great is hot water. However, these processes also reduce some of the flavor and the caffeine content, which is why when it comes to brewed coffee vs instant coffee caffeine, the instant coffee may be a little lower depending on the brand. But, that being said, there is a still a fair amount of caffeine in instant coffee so if you are wondering does instant coffee have caffeine, the answer is yes. It can still be a good way to wake yourself up in the morning, especially if you want the caffeine kick more than the flavor of the coffee.
What’s In Instant Coffee?
Typically, instant coffee is produced by combining ground coffee beans with either oil or water, before processing to remove the water. This process leaves you with around 10% of the caffeine level compared to how many grams caffeine in espresso. So, if you’re wondering does instant coffee have more caffeine than brewed coffee, it does not since a lot of the caffeine is lost during production. However, this will depend on the brand and the type of instant coffee that you buy, with different brands having various caffeine amounts depending on the production processes that they use. It’s worth checking the packaging before buying if you are curious about the caffeine content or want to get the instant coffee brand that has the most caffeine. Some manufacturers will also add some caffeine back into their instant coffee products after the process to compensate for what is lost.
How Instant Coffee is Processed
Manufacturers dry the water in coffee out before selling it as instant coffee using three main ways. These are:
- Spray Drying: This involves suspending the liquid over a dry surface before using high-pressure air to evaporate the water.
- Freeze Drying: Also known as flash drying, this method removes the water quickly by freezing it before placing it in a vacuum.
- Sublimation: This method heats dry ice to turn it into vapor without turning it into liquid first. It is the least common method used and is typically reserved only for very dry substances.
How Much Caffeine is in Instant Coffee?
How many grams of caffeine in a cup of coffee if you are drinking instant coffee will depend on several factors including the coffee serving size and the brand you’re using for your 12 ounce cup of coffee. For example, there may be more or less caffeine in Nescafe compared to other brands of instant coffee such as the Folgers instant coffee caffeine content. Typically, you can expect to get around 25-80mg of caffeine per teaspoon of instant coffee.
How Much Caffeine is in Decaf Instant Coffee?
If you want to cut down on the amount of caffeine that you drink, then decaf instant coffee might be an ideal choice for you. It is made in almost the same way as regular instant coffee; however, the process is slightly different. This coffee allows you to drink multiple cups of coffee on a daily basis without worrying about having too much caffeine in your system or it keeping you awake at night. In comparison with regular instant coffee, you can expect about 2mg of caffeine per teaspoon of coffee from a decaf brand.
How Much Instant Coffee Can You Drink?
When it comes to drinking instant coffee, there’s no one-size-fits all amount for how much you should drink each day. However, if you want to add instant coffee to your daily routine, it’s a good idea to be aware of the safe caffeine limits for adults. Ideally, adults shouldn’t consume any more than 400mg of caffeine per day. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. So, if you are not a regular coffee drinker and are not sure how the caffeine in instant coffee is going to impact you, it’s a good idea to start small and see how you react before you start drinking multiple cups of instant coffee in a day.
Is There Less Caffeine in Instant Coffee Compared to Regular Coffee?
Compared to a regular cup of brewed coffee made with ground beans using a drip or pour over method, for example, instant coffee has around 20-45% of the caffeine in comparison. In general, a regular cup of brewed coffee contains around 60-145mg of caffeine. However, as instant coffee relies on small amounts of water to extract the flavor, it has less caffeine by weight compared to brewed coffee. Bear this in mind if you are used to drinking brewed coffee and are thinking of switching to instant coffee, as you might need to drink more coffee to get the same energy boost that you are used to.
Instant Coffee Vs Energy Drinks and Soda Caffeine Content
You may be wondering if soda and energy drinks might be a better option for getting your caffeine boost compared to drinking instant coffee. However, it is important to bear in mind that however you like to drink it, caffeine should not be ingested in large amounts all at once by your body. Soda and energy drinks often give you a large amount of caffeine at once, which can cause adverse side effects. Sodas that contain caffeine will usually contain round 34-85mg per 12oz, while energy drinks contain around 45-87mg of caffeine per 8 ounces. On the other hand, instant coffee is more customizable compared to sodas and energy drinks since you can control how much coffee you add to your cup. You may also want to consider the caffeine in tea vs instant coffee; tea also contains caffeine – around 47mg in an 8oz cup of brewed black tea.
Is Drinking Instant Coffee Good For You?
Now you know more about the caffeine in a teaspoon of ground coffee and the average mg of caffeine in a cup of coffee, whether you prefer instant or brewed, the main question that you might have is whether or not drinking instant coffee is good or bad for you. Drinking instant coffee in the morning is not bad for you at all, and you can always have more than one cup to get the caffeine that you need since the amount of caffeine in instant coffee is quite low compared to the daily limit for adults of 400mg. Instant coffee also has less caffeine in comparison with other drinks like soda, energy drinks and brewed coffee, which can make it a better choice for those who want to reduce their caffeine intake. Compared to other beverages, it can also be good for your digestion. Coffee has also been shown to affect your brain chemistry in a positive way, which can lower your stress levels and provide you with more energy. Coffee is also a source of natural antioxidants and has several properties that can help your body fight various diseases, whether you drink instant or brewed coffee.
Conclusion
Instant coffee is a convenient and handy option for anybody who wants a quick cup of coffee in the morning. However, since the process of making instant coffee removes quite a lot of the caffeine, it might take some getting used to if you usually drink brewed coffee. Compared to other instant drinks like soda and energy drinks, instant coffee is usually healthier. It can also be a good way to cut down on caffeine if you want to reduce your intake without completely cutting it out.
About the author
Erik Hedlund
With Era of We and The Coffee Lab, I hope to share knowledge, increase the value of coffee – and secure the future of coffee.
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