# Instant Coffee **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 12, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923 "2005-10-12T18:14:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/1 "2005-10-12T18:14:15Z")
How and why is instant coffee made? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/2 "2005-10-12T19:10:07Z")
How - just add boiling water. Why - dunno, it beats me why anyone would drink it. ---
**Author:** ![teszeract](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9dc877/32.png) [@teszeract](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teszeract)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/3 "2005-10-12T19:16:57Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > How and why is instant coffee made? I watched Princess Bride last night šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/4 "2005-10-12T19:21:46Z")
I believe to make it, they make brew it normally and then take the coffee (liquid) and freeze dry it. (Freeze drying involves placing it under a vacuum and freezing it) whatā€™s left over is ground up into granuals and reconstituted with water by the end user. As for WHY I want to say it was for one of the wars. It was easier to just add water then to try to actually brew it in the field. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/5 "2005-10-12T19:49:09Z")
I think the freeze drying is done by spraying the brewed liquid into a vacuum chamber; the droplets naturally forming granules or powder. Itā€™s more widely used than filter coffee here, largely due to convenience, I believe; some of the more expensive varieties are fairly drinkable. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/6 "2005-10-12T20:40:02Z")
Freeze drying food is done through sublimation; freeze drying is known technically as ā€œlyophilization.ā€ The original foodstuff is placed in a sealed chamber and frozen which essentially separates the water molecules from everything else. Then the chamber atmosphere is pumped out creating a vacuum. Next, heat is applied which causes the ice crystals to sublimate, that is change phase directly from a solid to a gas. Since the foodstuff is in a vacuum, it doesnā€™t require much heat; this helps preserve the original integrity of the food structure. The water vapor is evacuated by the vacuum pump past a condenser where it is frozen again. The whole process takes several hours. Freeze dried coffee first became available in Switzerland in 1934. This is generally accepted as the the first commerical application of the freeze drying technique of preserving foodstuff. That is, if we discount the ā€œnaturalā€ processes used by the Incas in the Andes mountains. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/7 "2005-10-12T20:56:57Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > Freeze dried coffee first became available in Switzerland in 1934. This is generally accepted as the the first commerical application of the freeze drying technique of preserving foodstuff. According to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_coffee), the process was invented in Chicago in 1901. Maybe those tricky Swiss pinched the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/8 "2005-10-12T21:20:20Z")
[From the Nescafe site](http://www.nestle.co.uk/ProductNewsAndOffers/AboutOurBrands/Beverages/History+of+Instant+Coffee.htm) > [@](#): > > NESCAFƉ became the staple beverage of the United States armed forces during World War II when it became so popular that the entire production of its U.S. plant, about a million cases a year, was reserved for military use only. From then, its popularity continued to grow. but then further down the page: > [@](#): > > 1914 ā€“ 1918 > World War I was the main impetus for the production and popularity of instant coffee, with the US Army buying all available supplies for its troops who then wanted instant coffee when they returned home. and my favorite part: > [@](#): > > 1938 > NestlĆ© invents the worldā€™s first **drinkable** instant coffee bolding mine. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/9 "2005-10-12T21:27:37Z")
Instant coffee enables non-coffee drinkers to have something to offer their coffee-drinking friends even though they donā€™t own coffeemakers. (Note: Iā€™d rather go out or bring my own coffeemaker, thanks.) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/10 "2005-10-12T21:57:03Z")
Iā€™m a little surprised at the general level of disdain and zeal expressed in this thread; especially as I suspect that much of this filter coffee will be used to wash down foodstuffs that are far removed from the natural and/or are mediocre examples of their type. I Like filter coffee, but I donā€™t have the facilities to make it at home (actually, thatā€™s not true; I have a cafatiere, but I canā€™t be bothered to use it or keep the supplies in) - Iā€™m drinking instant coffee right now - Douwe Egberts Continental Dark. Itā€™s quite a pleasant, drinkable beverage. Of course itā€™s not the same as filter coffee, but so what? Salt cod is not smoked salmon; battered calamari is not fugu - thereā€™s room in life for more than one experience and preference of one thing does not mean you must reject all othersā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/11 "2005-10-12T21:59:00Z")
I drink instant coffee every morning. Two to three cups. Is that wrong? ---
**Author:** ![MyNameIsEarl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@MyNameIsEarl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyNameIsEarl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/12 "2005-10-12T22:12:40Z")
Why the hell is instant coffee so popular in the UK? I mean, for all of the UKā€™s supposed ā€œsuperiorityā€ in ā€œcultureā€ and ā€œlanguageā€ over the US, it all comes tumbling down like a house of cards as soon as coffee gets invloved. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/13 "2005-10-12T22:42:08Z")
> [@MyNameIsEarl](#): > > Why the hell is instant coffee so popular in the UK? I mean, for all of the UKā€™s supposed ā€œsuperiorityā€ in ā€œcultureā€ and ā€œlanguageā€ over the US, it all comes tumbling down like a house of cards as soon as coffee gets invloved. Ummm, because of _tea_. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/14 "2005-10-12T23:08:24Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > The original foodstuff is placed in a sealed chamber and frozen which essentially separates the water molecules from everything else. Are you sure you meant to say this? ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/15 "2005-10-12T23:44:32Z")
> [@MyNameIsEarl](#): > > Why the hell is instant coffee so popular in the UK? Instant coffee is more convenient and its cheaper. I donā€™t like it myself though. > [@MyNameIsEarl](#): > > I mean, for all of the UKā€™s supposed ā€œsuperiorityā€ in ā€œcultureā€ and ā€œlanguageā€ over the USā€¦ Where did you get this from? Iā€™m British but I donā€™t consider the UK to be superior to the US. Just different. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/16 "2005-10-12T23:48:12Z")
I once saw an interview of Bob Villa, the original host of This Old House. He was asked if there was ever an excuse for aluminum siding. He said No. By the same token, there is no excuse for instant coffee (outside a foxhole, that is). I live alone and drink about 3 cups of coffee during the course of an entire day. I make each one brand-spanking fresh in the same time it takes to make instant, and I do not use a wasteful ā€œcoffeemakerā€ to do it. I have one of those single-cup funnel-shaped gizmos that holds one little filter and sits atop my cup. I fill it with one scoop of grounds ā€“ good olā€™ Maxwell House does the trick for me ā€“ then pour in boiling water from a pot or teakettle. Fifteen seconds later I have a steaming hot cup of fresh joe. How can instant compare to this? It takes the same time. The funnel gizmo costs only a couple of bucks. The filter costs a penny or two. (Tip: The filters they sell to specifically fit the funnel gizmo are overpriced. I buy those stacks of basket filters they make for coffeemakers which work just as well but cost considerably less.) And if you donā€™t drink or serve coffee often you can keep the grounds fresh in the freezer. I tried to convince my olde school parents of the wisdom of my method, but they would have none of it. Day after day until their deaths (probably unrelated to instant coffee, but I still wonder) they would drink their cup of instant swill as an afternoon pick me up. Yech! ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/17 "2005-10-13T02:04:34Z")
When I travelled to Chile on vacation last year, I discovered that brewed coffee is very rare in that country. I would order coffee in a restaurant and a waiter would bring a cup over with a little tube of instant coffee and he would pour some hot water in and, PRESTO!, instant coffee. There is a growing trend to brewing coffee and making espresso in Chile and Starbucks has planted its flag down south. Iā€™m just guessing that coffee beans arenā€™t normally found in Chile because: 1. the English made the Chileans tea drinkers 2. the coffee grown in South America is all on the wrong side of South America and itā€™s easier to send it to North America or to Europe by ship than sending it overland to Chile. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/18 "2005-10-13T03:55:43Z")
> [@MyNameIsEarl](#): > > Why the hell is instant coffee so popular in the UK? I mean, for all of the UKā€™s supposed ā€œsuperiorityā€ in ā€œcultureā€ and ā€œlanguageā€ over the US, it all comes tumbling down like a house of cards as soon as coffee gets invloved. Iā€™ve never heard anyone claim _culinary_ superiority for the UK. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/19 "2005-10-13T06:03:51Z")
My first Japanese boss liked the taste in instant coffee of the real stuff so thatā€™s all we had. ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923/20 "2005-10-13T07:36:53Z")
Itā€™s a _different thing_ to freshly brewed coffee, just like white bread is a different thing to ā€˜realā€™ bread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instant-coffee/325923.md?page=2)