Everything you need to know about Instant Coffee
If you've ever been stuck in the office with no coffee, you'll know that instant coffee can be a lifesaver. It's cheap, easy to make, and convenient for when you're in a rush. But what is instant coffee? Traditionally, instant coffee purchased at the grocery store was a mass produced, dark roasted, low quality coffee option. However, if you’ve been paying attention to the specialty coffee world lately, instant coffee made with quality coffee in mind, is in now an option! If you’ve ever wondered how it was made, hopefully we can shed a little light for you and maybe even change your bias towards it.
Instant coffee is a type of coffee made from dried coffee extract
Instant coffee is made from freeze-dried coffee extract or concentrate. At Weathered Hands, the process begins with the beans, which are roasted to perfection, ground, brewed into a concentrate then freeze-dried. The freeze-dried concentrate is then ground into a powder. Once in this powder form, the coffee will last for a very long time when stored properly.
When was instant coffee invented?
Instant coffee was invented in 1901, by a German scientist named Satori Kato. He was working on a way to preserve coffee beans and developed an extract called "coffee extract," which was sold by Nestle in 1911. The product didn't catch on until World War II when caffeine was scarce and instant coffee became popular with soldiers as well as civilians who were tired of rationing their coffee rations and wanted something stronger than tea or cocoa to get them through the day.
When should you use instant coffee?
Instant coffee was created to be convenient when time is of the essence. Some folks cherish the process of making a fresh cup of coffee. For some, coffee is simply a way to take in caffeine. Either way, instant coffee can come in handy when you least expect it. It's great in situations where you don't have time to brew fresh grounds or for when you're camping, traveling, or working outside the home and want a quick cup of Joe. Now, what’s even more impressive, is the fact that the coffee quality doesn't have to be sacrificed. Many specialty coffee roasters are offering their versions of instant coffee. If you’re used to having your Weathered Hands coffee every morning, now you can have our specialty instant coffee option to take along with you! You can rest assured that the same care and quality of coffee are what you will get in each pack!
What are some benefits of instant coffee?
There are many benefits to adding instant coffee to your life. It's quick and convenient, easy to make, and less expensive than a pour-over of coffee at your local shop. The best part about it is that you can even take instant coffee on the go! Instant coffees are perfect for travel; they're lightweight and compact, so you can carry them anywhere without wasting too much space in your bag or suitcase.
Instant coffees are also environmentally friendly; since instant coffee doesn't require filter papers or grounds (the only thing that needs disposal is the packaging), their carbon footprint is much lower than regular coffee.
Conclusion
We hope you learned something new about instant coffee! Knowing that there’s an option for specialty instant coffee is amazing knowing that coffee quality does not have to be sacrificed! When convenience is a necessity or preference, specialty instant coffee can provide a great solution.
About Weathered Hands Coffee
We are a small-batch coffee roaster based in the Texas Hill Country outside of Austin, Texas. We are committed to sourcing exceptional specialty coffee and roasting in a calculated manner that highlights the inherent elements that make up the coffee’s unique flavor profile.
PRODUCER: Miguel Moreno
REGION: Santa Barbara, Honduras
VARIETY: Pacas, Catuai
PROCESS: Honey
ELEVATION: 1540 Masl
Tasting Notes: Tangerine, Plum, Clove
***EACH BOX CONTAINS SIX PACKETS. ONE PACKET IS INTENDED FOR 8oz.***
STORY: Mario Moreno is a third generation coffee producer. The eldest brother in the Moreno family, and the driving force behind the Morenos’ collective movement to specialty coffee. He purchased La Orquidea in 2014 and began planting in 2015.
The 2005 Cup of Excellence was a turning point for Miguel – his 18th place position at the competition came after years of struggling to make coffee production economically viable for his family. Coffee was so unsustainable that for a time, he felt forced to live and work in the US as an undocumented worker to keep food on the table for his family back home in El Cedral. The CoE wins (there have been many since 2005) have dramatically changed things for the family over the years, as they have wisely and progressively invested that year’s and subsequent auction winnings into better infrastructure for processing and drying.
The family itself continues to evolve with the younger generation growing up and taking on more responsibility over the coffee activities. The Morenos’ commitment to their buyers, with Miguel at the helm, remains steadfastly loyal and forward-looking.
This is the third year we have carried a coffee from the Morenos and to say we are thrilled would be an understatement. This coffee was so lovely on the cupping table that we were thoroughly surprised and decided to purchase all the bags available to us. So we are honored and excited to share this coffee with you!
We roast and ship every Monday & Thursday. Orders must be received by 5PM on Sunday and Wednesday to ensure it gets added to our production. Orders placed after 5PM on on Sunday and Wednesday will be roasted and shipped out the next production day.
Please Note: Taxes have been included in the price.