Instant ("soluble") coffee starts as a giant brew of percolated coffee made from a blend of green coffee beans. To turn it into instant coffee, the manufacturer must remove the water while keeping as much flavour as possible.
There are two methods of doing this:
- The most common method (because it's less expensive) is spray drying. A fine mist of coffee is sprayed down a high tower while hot air is pumped in. As the droplets fall water evaporates, leaving a fine powder. To make granulated coffee, this powder goes through a process of agglomeration that forms larger clumps.
- Freeze drying is a more complex and costly method. The coffee liquid is frozen at very low temperatures and then placed in a vacuum. The water in the frozen mixture is removed, leaving chunky granules of coffee. Freeze drying avoids the extreme heat of spray drying and is thought to be a better way of preserving a coffee's flavour. But Robert Harris Espresso, the only freeze-dried coffee in our home-test, didn't rate any better than the others.
More from consumer.org.nz
- Coffee beans - There were 3 'best beans' in our expert taste test.
- Coffee grinders - Compare the 9 models in our test for price, fineness of grind, ease of use, and more.
- Espresso machines - Find out what to look for when you're shopping for an espresso machine.
Report by Bev Frederikson
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