Instant coffee - benefits and harms, features and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Many people are skeptical about instant coffee. Coffee lovers do not consider this drink natural and avoid it in every possible way. Nevertheless, manufacturers regularly replenish the lines of instant coffee, improving its taste and aroma. What is this drink really and how harmful or beneficial is it to the human body?

How is it made?

Coffee powder is already pre-brewed and dried coffee. It remains only to add to hot water and mix. The powder manufacturing process is as follows. Green fruits are fried and then ground into large fractions. Further, in a special apparatus, a drink is brewed from the obtained raw materials. As a result, it falls into special containers, from which excess moisture is removed. Raw materials are dried with hot air or frozen. Recently, freezing in a special sublimator has been commonly used.

Raw materials and further preparation

Because a significant amount of caffeine is lost as a result of cooking, manufacturers preferuse robusta, not arabica. The first grade contains six times more exciting substance. Therefore, if it is written on the packaging of inexpensive coffee that it is made from Arabica, then, most likely, they want to mislead the buyer. Even if a small amount of Arabica is still present, however, the main part will still be from Robusta. In addition, the price of Arabica is disproportionately higher than Robusta, which is beyond the reach of most buyers.

Coffee beans almost completely lose their aroma after going through the entire cooking process. Therefore, the powder is flavored with coffee oils. This is an absolutely natural product obtained at the stage of roasting raw materials. Sometimes manufacturers add oil twice: immediately after receiving the powder and before packaging it.

Chemical composition

This drink is extremely low in calories. It contains virtually no fat, and the amount of carbohydrates is only 0.3 grams. There are also few proteins in instant coffee. Typically, the figure ranges from 0.1 grams. It lacks vitamins, and of the trace elements, the largest amount belongs to potassium, which strengthens the heart muscle, as well as magnesium, which helps to improve the nervous system. It also contains small amounts of calcium and sodium.

Origin story

Official sources claim that this drink was invented back in 1890. He has a patent number 3518. The invention belongs to New Zealander David Strang. However, eleven years laterIn Japan, a rather famous scientist Satori Kato also invented a similar drink. And five years later, instant coffee began to be mass-produced.

Coffee powder became most popular immediately after World War II. The Brazilian government had to sign an agreement with Nescafe in order to accommodate the surplus crop. Thus, a huge amount of coffee simply poured into the market of the North American continent, and it began to be consumed in large quantities in the United States. Soon the popular American drink made its way to Europe and spread around the world.

How to cook?

In order for the drink to be tasty, it is worth working on it. Most people don't know how to brew instant coffee at all and prefer to pour a teaspoon of the powder into a cup of hot water and just stir. However, experts advise doing the following. As before making tea, the dishes are preheated and only then one or two teaspoons of powder are placed. Then, if desired, add sugar, and only after the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, pour two or three teaspoons of hot water. Once the sugar powder has dissolved, you can add the rest of the water.

Those who have tried this method claim that instant coffee tastes like custard. Additional ingredients can enhance the taste of the drink and give it a unique aroma. However, please note that when adding cold milk orcondensed milk the smell of the drink disappears. Therefore, only hot milk is poured into the cup.

Coffee with cinnamon or cocoa proved to be excellent. Some people prefer to drink the drink along with a lemon wedge or orange juice. Spices such as anise will give it sweetness, while nutmeg will give it a slight bitterness.

Which coffee is better?

Very often, before buying this product, the buyer is interested in: which instant coffee is better? Today in retail chains you can find a wide selection of this product. However, in order not to make a mistake in choosing, you should follow the advice of experts:

• In order to reduce the cost of their goods, unscrupulous manufacturers add various mixtures to it. For example, it can be ground chestnuts, peas, acorns or oats. You can find out about their presence only after the powder dissolves in hot water. It noticeably changes the taste, and the color gives off a little yellowness.
• If you buy it in glass containers, then even before buying you can see poor-quality powder. It is enough to carefully examine the contents - and then it will be possible to see foreign inclusions.
• Good coffee has smooth, shiny granules with a bright hue. If the powder is cloudy or too dark, then this indicates its low quality.

And you should also take into account the fact that good coffee does not leave sediment at the bottom of the cup and has a more or less acceptable coffee aroma. The complete absence of odor speaks of the huge amounts of impurities thatare distantly related to coffee beans. What are the benefits and harms of instant coffee?

What is the benefit?

Dry coffee powder, even after going through so many procedures, retains a certain amount of useful components in its composition. There are practically no vitamins in it, but potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium are present. In addition, drinking this drink gives strength during a diet and is also a great way to lose weight. It is extremely low in calories, but contains caffeine, which gives energy and helps to exercise.

Drink harm

Instant coffee leaches calcium from the body and leads to bone disease. Therefore, it is advisable to drink it only with milk. The powder is usually made from Robusta, which is very high in caffeine. Moreover, many manufacturers prefer to add additional caffeine at the end of cooking. Thus, as a result, its double concentration occurs. This drink is artificially flavored, because after processing, coffee beans lose their smell. Because of this, a lot of preservatives, dyes and flavor enhancers get into the powder.

Contraindications for use

It is highly undesirable to drink it for people with gastrointestinal problems. Unlike brewed coffee, this type of coffee has an irritant property and negatively affects the pancreas and liver. It is especially dangerous to use powdered coffee in the morning on an empty stomach, becauseas scientists have proven the negative impact of this product on the digestive process. With the abuse of instant coffee, constipation is very common, and some women notice the appearance of cellulite and dry skin.

Despite the fact that this drink leads to arrhythmias and increases blood pressure, many people get used to it and cannot wean for a very long time, despite the obvious harm of instant coffee. Even drinking four cups a day is considered a pretty dangerous signal. With prolonged and repeated use of a powder drink, a lot of problems can arise. Slags and toxins accumulate in the body, and chlorogenic acid enters the bloodstream, which negatively affects the vessels. Therefore, doctors strongly advise to abandon instant coffee and, if possible, switch to custard coffee.

Top brands

What is the best instant coffee? Based on the reviews of coffee gourmets, a list of the best manufacturers has been compiled.

• In the first place, according to many coffee lovers, was the Japanese drink "Bushido". It is sold exclusively in glass jars and has several types. Despite the fact that the trademark belongs to Japan, coffee is produced in Europe. It has large granules, painted in a rich brown hue, and an expressive coffee aroma. In stores, you can find "Bushido" even with the addition of edible gold.
• The German "Egoist" is in second place. Its manufacturers mix instant coffee with ground coffee. He's a little stronger"Bushido" and also has a pleasant aroma. Gourmets find pleasant fruity notes in the drink, which give it a unique taste.
• The third place is again taken by coffee from Japan UCC. It has a caramel flavor and a fairly average strength. This is one of the best instant coffees. Its rather large granules have a beautiful golden-beige hue.
• The fourth place in the ranking of instant coffee is occupied by the German brand Today. According to the producers, the drink is obtained exclusively from Arabica. That is why it has retained a great aroma and great taste, despite the fact that the strength of the product is quite average.
• In fifth place is a French brand called Carte Noir. Coffee is also produced in Russia using original technologies.
• Gourmet's Choice South Korean drink has light granules and an excellent fruity aftertaste. Coffee lovers find some bitterness, which they think is the highlight of the Korean brand drink.

In addition, German Grandos, Dutch Mackona and Swiss Jardine can also be added to the ranking of the best coffees.