Beverages, coffee, instant, regular, powder
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
This is the dehydrated essence of coffee, a fine, dark-brown powder that dissolves instantly into a hot beverage. It delivers the classic, robust, and slightly bitter coffee flavor without the need for brewing equipment. Nutritionally, it's a concentrated source of carbohydrates, providing a quick energy boost with virtually no fat.
💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its unmatched convenience and speed, delivering a hot cup of coffee in under a minute. Its versatility allows it to be a base for everything from a simple morning brew to complex coffee-flavored desserts and sauces.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high carbohydrate content (75.4g per 100g) can lead to blood sugar spikes if consumed in large quantities or without other nutrients. To counteract this, pair it with a source of protein or healthy fat (like nuts, cheese, or a splash of milk) and practice portion control. Some individuals may also be sensitive to the naturally occurring oxalates in coffee.
Key benefits
- Provides a rapid source of energy from carbohydrates
- Contains a moderate amount of plant-based protein
- Extremely convenient and requires no special equipment
- Has a very long shelf life when stored properly
- Offers a consistent flavor profile from cup to cup
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process for making modern instant coffee was perfected in Japan in 1901 by Satori Kato, a chemist of Japanese descent living in Chicago, but it was later commercialized and popularized by Nestlé in the 1930s.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 3.1 g |
| Energy | 353 kcal |
| Energy | 1479 kj |
| Protein | 12.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.50 g |
| Ash | 8.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 75.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 141 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 4.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 327 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 303 mg |
| Potassium, K | 3535 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 37.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.35 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.14 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 1.7 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 12.6 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.07 mg |
| Niacin | 28.2 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.10 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.03 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 102 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.9 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 3142 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.20 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.15 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.04 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.20 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.18 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.03 g |
| Threonine | 0.14 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.17 g |
| Leucine | 0.48 g |
| Lysine | 0.10 g |
| Methionine | 0.02 g |
| Cystine | 0.20 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.26 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.17 g |
| Valine | 0.28 g |
| Arginine | 0.05 g |
| Histidine | 0.17 g |
| Alanine | 0.34 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.48 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.0 g |
| Glycine | 0.44 g |
| Proline | 0.35 g |
| Serine | 0.13 g |
FAQ
Is instant coffee less caffeinated than brewed coffee?
Not necessarily. Caffeine content varies by brand and type. Generally, a typical cup of instant coffee has slightly less caffeine (30-90 mg) than a cup of brewed coffee (70-140 mg), but this can overlap significantly.
Why does my instant coffee sometimes taste 'flat' or less aromatic?
The freeze-drying or spray-drying process can cause some volatile aromatic compounds to dissipate. To enhance flavor, use slightly cooler water (not boiling) and consider adding a pinch of salt to suppress bitterness.
Can I use this powder in baking?
Absolutely. It's an excellent ingredient for adding deep coffee flavor to cakes, brownies, frostings, and chocolate dishes without adding extra liquid.