Ground coffee vs. instant coffee: A battle of taste, convenience, and caffeine

To a non-coffee drinker, ground coffee and instant coffee might look the same to the naked eye. Both appear as ground, brown powders. but only from a distance. But for everyday coffee drinkers like me, there’s a big difference between ground coffee vs. instant coffee — both in appearance, use, and, most importantly, taste. To me, instant coffee has a “coffee dust” or crystalized appearance, whereas ground coffee almost appears more like “dirt.”

I like to consider myself an “open-minded” coffee drinker, as I firmly believe there is a time and a place for every type of coffee in my life. This means I’ll gladly use both ground coffee or instant coffee, depending on the scenario. For me, ground coffee is perfect for everyday coffee brewing at home, but instant coffee is the ideal coffee product to take on the go. But what is the reason for the differences between ground coffee vs. instant coffee? Let’s compare.

Ground coffee vs. instant coffee

“Ground coffee is simply roasted coffee beans that have been ground – whether on-demand by the consumer or during the production process – to be used in the consumer’s preferred brewing method. Instant coffee, on the other hand, is brewed coffee that has been dried – the water content is removed either by freeze drying or spray drying, leaving behind granules of soluble coffee,” says Kat McCarthy, Lavazza Coffee’s Corporate Trainer. Some differences between ground coffee and instant coffee include:

Shelf life

Ground coffee and instant coffee differ significantly in their shelf life. Depending on storage conditions, ground coffee’s shelf life spans a few weeks to months. On the other hand, instant coffee can last for up to six months once opened. This makes instant coffee an ideal option for those who want to stock up on coffee ahead of time. However, if you’re looking for a fresher flavor, purchasing fresh coffee beans is likely a better option for you.

Flavor

The flavor of instant coffee and ground coffee differs, too, as instant coffee generally has a more bitter taste than freshly brewed ground coffee. Some describe the taste as charred or burnt. However, I’ve found that instant coffee options have improved quite a bit in the last few years. Options such as Blue Bottle Coffee’s Craft Instant Espresso are not only USDA-Organic certified, but have a higher quality taste than instant coffees you might’ve tried in the future.

The drying process of instant coffee can cause it to lose its volatile oils that enhance its flavor. The aroma between instant coffee and ground coffee is also much different, as instant coffee lacks the aroma that comes from ground coffee (especially coffee that has freshly/recently been ground).

Convienence

In terms of convenience, instant coffee is a clear winner. You can prepare instant coffee fast and anywhere, even when you don’t have a coffee maker around. For this reason, you’ll often find instant coffee packaged in single-serving packets that are easy to take on-the-go.

Caffeine content

While caffeine content varies depending on brand, instant coffee tends to have less caffeine than ground coffee. According to San Francisco Bay Coffee Co., instant coffee contains about 60 to 80 mg of caffeine per eight ounces, whereas brewed ground coffee has about 80 to 120 milligrams per 8 ounces.

Using ground coffee vs. instant coffee

Coffee beans, ground coffee, and a cup of coffee — Ju Sales / Shutterstock

According to McCarthy, ground coffee has several benefits. First and foremost, consumers can choose how they brew their coffee when using ground coffee, such as a drip brewer, moka pot, or pour-over coffee brewing method. For example, using a balanced blend of arabica and robusta beans when brewing in a pour-over method emphasizes the rich and complex notes found in coffee.

On the other hand, instant coffee has already been brewed in production and is ready for consumers to add water and use immediately. With instant coffee, you can have coffee prepared without seconds and eliminate the need to brew coffee altogether. “Of course, some flavors will change while drying the coffee to instant granules, so the profile of instant coffee will be very different. But while this method gives the drinker less control over the flavor of the coffee, it provides a quick and incredibly easy way to create a brewed coffee,” says McCarthy.

When comparing ground coffee vs. instant coffee, it’s clear both products have their pros and cons. “If the drinker is willing to sacrifice some complexity and flavor in favor of speed and simplicity, instant coffee could absolutely be the way to go. For a consumer who wants to have control over the brewing process despite needing more time and effort and prefers to keep the flavor profile of their coffee intact – ground coffee would be the preferred method.” Personally, I find instant coffee to be ideal for traveling, such as making a coffee on a plane.