But while taste alone can guide your choice between an iced caramel latte or piping hot long black, the instant coffee vs. ground coffee debate isn’t quite so straightforward, especially when deciding how to make coffee at home.

With ground and instant coffee sold side by side at the supermarket, you might wonder: what exactly are the differences between these two coffee types? And which one is right for you?

Understanding instant coffee

A spoonful of granules and a cup of hot water are all you need to make instant coffee, a beverage that lives up to its name. Instant coffee is also known as:

● Coffee crystals

● Powdered coffee

● Soluble coffee

Since it lasts longer and is easier to produce in large batches, instant coffee typically costs less than ground coffee.

How instant coffee is made

Like with any coffee, instant coffee is made from roasted coffee beans. These beans are pre-ground and extracted through hot, pressurized water—almost like a large-scale espresso machine. 

The resulting concentrate is then dried through one of two methods:

● Spray drying – High-powered fans blow heated air to dry the concentrate into powder rapidly. 

● Freeze drying – Captures coffee flavor and aroma via cold temperatures and dehydration.

From there, the dried coffee is packaged to retain freshness, ready to be shipped to coffee lovers worldwide.

Pros and cons of instant coffee

It’s important to note that some premium instant coffees aim to provide a fresher, authentic experience, so there are varying levels of quality. But broadly speaking, here are the instant coffee pros and cons: 

Pros

● Convenient – Instant coffee is super easy to prepare. Just add hot water, and it’s ready to drink.

● Long-lasting – If you only drink coffee on occasion or like to stock up, instant coffee has a longer shelf life.

● Portable – With no need for a grinder or other equipment, instant coffee is perfect for traveling or camping.

Cons

● Less fresh – Intensive extraction and drying processes tend to take a toll on the coffee’s depth and aromatics.

● Less flavorful – Generally, instant coffee is made from lower-quality Robusta beans, which have more caffeine but a sharper, less sweet taste.

Understanding ground coffee

Whether pre-packaged or straight from your home cafe’s coffee grinder, ground coffee refers to the fine, gritty particles that result from grinding roasted beans. 

How ground coffee is prepared

There are a variety of ways to prepare ground coffee, including:

● Pour-overs

● Drip machines

● French presses

● Espresso machines

In general, the concept is the same across preparation methods: filter hot water through the grounds to extract the coffee’s flavor and aroma. 

Pros and cons of ground coffee

Many coffee lovers agree that ground coffee offers a more authentic, flavorful cup—especially when ground yourself with fresh coffee beans. Depending on your brewing method, freshly ground coffee may also have a higher caffeine content than an instant coffee powder. 

Of course, doing so takes time, equipment, and (generally) more cost than instant coffee. Here is a breakdown of ground coffee’s pros and cons: 

Pros

● Flavorful – Ground coffee offers an unbeatable taste profile—with greater depth, richness, and complexity.

● Customizable – Fine-tuning factors like the grind size or brew method puts you in control of your cup, allowing you to craft more personalized coffee experiences. 

● Variable – With infinite combinations of bean types and roast levels, ground coffee opens up an entirely new world to explore.

Cons

● More costly – The price for premium beans or high-quality grounds almost always exceeds that of instant coffee.

● Time-consuming – The ritual of coffee-making, from grinding beans to timing pours, requires a bit more time and attention.

How to choose between instant and ground coffee

Having examined both in detail, how do these two measure up in the instant coffee vs. ground coffee showdown? To find out which one is right for you, there are a few questions you might ask yourself: 

● Consider your coffee preferences – Do freshness, flavor, and variety take priority? If so, ground coffee might be the best choice. Or do you primarily value a consistent caffeinated kick? Then instant coffee may be your go-to.

● Consider your lifestyle needs – Do you prefer savoring the ritual of ground brews, or the lightning-fast convenience of instant results? Saving on brewing equipment or a coffee maker could be the deciding factor. 

Overall, the endless debate remains just that: endless. Rather than thinking of instant coffee vs ground coffee, you might even view them as complementary—each with its own time and purpose.

Conclusion and personal recommendation

How do we like our coffee, you ask? At Breville, we believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to enjoy a good brew. You might savor a meticulously crafted cup of ground coffee on lazy weekends while kicking back some convenient instant coffee during hectic weekdays.

But if we had to choose? We can’t help but lean toward coffee made from freshly ground whole beans. There’s just something magical about the ritual of brewing that perfect crema-topped cappuccino with one of our Barista series espresso makers. 

Whether you prefer instant coffee or ground, Breville’s espresso machines, drip makers, and coffee grinders offer everything you need to craft cafe-quality coffee from the comfort of your kitchen. 

Explore our lineup and find the perfect fit for your home cafe today.

 

Sources: 

1. Perfect Daily Grind. How Is Instant Coffee Made? https://perfectdailygrind.com/2017/02/video-how-is-instant-coffee-made/

2. Tasting Table. The Type Of Coffee Bean Most Commonly Used In Instant Coffee. https://www.tastingtable.com/878179/the-type-of-coffee-bean-most-commonly-used-in-instant-coffee/