It has been said over and over again that an instant coffee drink tastes inferior compared to its brewed counterpart. This does not mean however that we cannot make it taste special. If the same product can be used by popular establishments and get the approval of paying customers, then all is not lost with our own instant coffee drinking at home. Here are some ideas to do it.
Choose Quality Instant Coffee
Yes folks, there is such a thing as good quality instant coffee. Instant coffee is coffee powder that readily dissolves in hot water. Because of the process it has to go through, some of the flavor gets lost even if it has been prepared from the same green coffee beans used for brewed coffee.
The quality of the coffee will form the foundation of whatever special concoction instant coffee aficionados come up with. It may be impossible to completely mask what is clearly inferior to begin with. The best bet therefore is to choose the best among the available options.
Pay Special Attention to the Water Used
Although tap water is generally fine to use, less chemically-enhanced water or filtered water works best. Instant coffee lovers swear by the secret of perfect timing of adding water. The water is used before it begins to boil or during pre-nucleation of water. This is the time when bubbles start to appear on water.
Instant coffee drinkers are advised to unplug the water heater before the water reaches its boiling point. Boiling water tends to scald the coffee granules and can also turn the added milk bitter. Reboiling water is not a good idea either since doing so results to an altered taste of the water itself.
How Much Coffee Granules to Use
One slightly rounded teaspoon of instant coffee granules is usually ideal for use in a cup but may be too watered-down when used in a mug. Another secret by which instant coffee lovers swear by is adding the coffee first in a teaspoon of water at the base of the cup or mug before filling up halfway with water. It is said that this would result to froth in the surface and the bonus aroma.
Adding sugar, milk, or cream to the coffee is really a matter of personal preference. Instant coffee drinks can be made more special by adding flavorings such as cinnamon, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder. A shot of flavored syrup can also add zest to your instant coffee drink.
Originally posted on October 9, 2013 @ 12:30 pm