Coffee, instant, pre-sweetened with sugar, not reconstituted
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a fine, dry powder that instantly dissolves into a sweet, robust coffee beverage. Its texture is granular and slightly hygroscopic, often clumping in humid conditions. Nutritionally, it's a concentrated source of quick energy from carbohydrates, primarily sugar.
Calorie split: 2% protein · 97% carbs · 1% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its unparalleled convenience and the immediate, comforting hit of sweet, caffeinated coffee it provides. It's a staple for quick energy, busy mornings, and as a no-fuss treat.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar content can lead to a rapid blood-sugar spike followed by a crash, and the overall nutritional profile offers little beyond calories. To mitigate this, consider using only half the packet and supplementing with a splash of milk for protein and fat, or choosing an unsweetened version and adding your own sweetener to control the amount.
Key benefits
- Provides a rapid caffeine and energy boost
- Extremely convenient and shelf-stable
- Offers a consistent, sweet coffee flavor
- Requires no brewing equipment
- Long shelf life for emergency or travel use
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process for making instant coffee was patented in 1901 by Japanese-American chemist Satori Kato, but it was the 1938 launch of Nescafé by Nestlé that truly commercialized it for the mass market.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 0.62 g |
| Energy | 392 kcal |
| Protein | 2.4 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.36 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 94.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 80.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 28.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.89 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 63.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 59.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 686 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 8.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.08 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.03 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 2.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.03 mg |
| Niacin | 5.5 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.01 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 19.7 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 |
| 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) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.40 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 608 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.04 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 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 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 |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Cream, fluid, light (coffee cream or table cream) — USDA does not publish this profile for Coffee.
| Tryptophan | 0.07 g |
| Threonine | 0.13 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.15 g |
| Leucine | 0.24 g |
| Lysine | 0.13 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.01 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.14 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.14 g |
| Valine | 0.18 g |
| Arginine | 0.07 g |
| Histidine | 0.07 g |
| Alanine | 0.09 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.22 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.59 g |
| Glycine | 0.07 g |
| Proline | 0.31 g |
| Serine | 0.10 g |
FAQ
Why does my instant coffee powder clump together?
Instant coffee is hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the air. This causes the fine particles to stick together. Store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to prevent clumping.
Is there a difference between 'instant coffee' and 'pre-sweetened instant coffee'?
Yes. Standard instant coffee is just freeze-dried or spray-dried coffee extract. Pre-sweetened versions have sugar (and often creamer and flavorings) already mixed in, which is why the carbohydrate and calorie counts are so much higher.
Can I use this powder in baking recipes?
Absolutely. It's excellent for adding coffee flavor to cakes, cookies, frostings, and brownies without adding extra liquid. Simply dissolve it in a tablespoon of warm water first, or sift it with your dry ingredients.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.92 kcal/g · 2% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 80.5 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.01 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.