Q: How Is Instant Coffee Made
A: One the coffee extract has been prepared it then needs to go through a further drying process to create the granular, soluble texture of coffee that is characterized as being instant coffee. One technique is known as Spray-drying, and the other is Freeze-drying.
Spray-drying – With spray drying the coffee extract is sprayed directly into a stream of hot air inside a cylindrical style tall standing tower. As the droplets fall, they become a dry, fine powder. In some instances, that powder is then texturized into the familiar granular consistency that is quickly dissolved with hot water. Thanks to the fast drying technique of spray-drying, the quality of both the flavor and aroma are maintained which is what makes this such a popular process adopting by many of the big instant coffee manufacturers.
Freeze-Drying – With this technique known as freeze-drying, the coffee extract is taken and physically frozen at a temperature of about -40 degrees Celsius. It is then literally cut into granules, and those granules are further dried and vacuumed. The more gentle drying conditions and low temperatures protect the quality, taste, flavour, and aroma of the instant coffee produce created.
The Best Instant Decaf Coffee: Our Short List
If you really want to know whats on the list for 2022, here is the quick version. Well go into more detail below, with the highlights of each. Youll note that this list is not rated or ranked, and we do that for a reason. All of our recommended brands are well-rated and loved by many decaf coffee lovers, and, we are all unique individuals with our own preferences.
Check out the list here, the detailed reviews below, and see which brand speak to your coffee palette!
Features To Look For In Instant Coffee
Below are some of the key elements to look out for when selecting your favorite instant coffee.
Beans – There are two main types of coffee beans to look out for. They are known as Coffee Arabica and Coffee Robusta. Many companies will use a blend of both although a more gourmet blend will have a greater concentration of or might be exclusively made up from Arabica beans. Arabica bushes which produce these beans can be found globally. The Robusta bean, however, tends to be planted and cultivated mostly in Asia and is known to have a more acidic and bitter overall taste. It will come down to your personal taste and the intensity of flavor that you enjoy at the end of the day.
Roast – You might also see coffee referred to by its roast. Roasting is the process of bringing out the flavor and aroma from the beans which start out green in color but which end up various stages of intense brown. Roasting produces the coffee oil from the bean, and as moisture and oil are drawn out of the bean, it goes from a spongy green into the crunchier and dark bean you are more familiar with seeing being ground and made into coffee powder. You can find light roasts, medium ones, Medium Dark roasts and the most intense being a Dark Roast. A medium roast is associated with an American coffee whereas a dark roast is typified by a French or Italian blend. They all have their own unique taste and texture, so its entirely a case of personal preference as to the flavor you prefer.
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Stone Street Coffee Company Mayan Water Decaf
A Brooklyn-based, artisanal coffee roaster, Stone Street Coffee Company features freshness as what their business is built on. To make sure that every customer experiences that freshness, Stone Street focuses on small batch quality through their custom roasters that create a consistent taste and tone for every bag. When it comes to sourcing beans, Stone Street Coffee Company partners with an organization called Sweet Unity Farms, whose coffees are grown 100% by family-owned farms. Sweet Unity Farms is the sole marketer and distributor for these cooperatives, business groups, and associations, resulting in a direct trade formula that results in a better quality of life for rural coffee farms.Another company of few words outside of their charitable mission, Stone Street Coffee Company is a favorite among native New Yorkers. Their Mayan Water Decaf is one three decaf options they sell, all of which are decaffeinated through the Swiss Water Process, like many other artisanal coffees. The Mayan Water Decaf, in particular, is a medium roast blend from Central America and delivers a smooth, low-acidity cup with a medium body and full flavor. Top it off with a clean, fresh aroma, and this Stone Street decaf is a very likeable option even for non-New Yorkers.
- Rainforest Alliance Certified
The Best Decaf Coffee
Composed of nine of the finest Arabica coffees sourced worldwide, this medium roast blend has gentle notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine.
Review: “I am an addict for coffee and I have also worked as a barista for 8 months, so I know a little bit about coffee . This is by far the best decaf coffee I’ve ever had.”
A smooth, medium roast with hints of caramel. Taylor’s natural decaffeination process, which uses water instead of solvents, ensures no flavour is washed away.
Review: “Very nice for a decaf coffee. Nice strong taste of coffee without the caffeine.”
This large tub of decaf coffee will surely see you through those late night baby feeds.
Review: “Tried loads of decaff coffees and most lack that rich coffee flavour and smell. This is a lovely roasted strong coffee without being bitter It even has the bits of coffee left in the bottom of the cup like you get in a coffee shop.”
This is a full-bodied espresso with notes of dried fruit and featuring beans from South America and South East Asia. It can be used in a coffee maker machine, moka or French press.
Review: “As a strong coffee addict I found it hard to switch to decaf when I became pregnant. I spent a while trying out different brands and found them all lacking in flavour and strength, to the point I was considering abandoning coffee altogether. Then I came across this one and I’m so glad I did! Can’t tell it’s decaf at all and neither can anyone else I’ve offered it to.”
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Love The Taste Of Coffee But Hate The Caffeine Jitters With The Best Decaf Coffees You Can Have Your Cake And Eat It Too
Even if you love coffee, sometimes you just need a tasty cup of joe that isnt full to the brim with caffeine, in which case only the best decaf coffee will do. While theres no denying the allure of that full-body coffee buzz, there are plenty of health-related reasons why you might want to avoid caffeine. Pregnant women, insomnia and anxiety sufferers and those with high blood pressure are all advised to steer clear of the black stuff in its unaltered form. And, even if none of that applies, nobody is immune to the potential negative side effects of excessive caffeine intake.
Whatever your reason for avoiding caffeinated coffee, you deserve to have a delicious decaf beverage that tastes like the real thing, and there are plenty of options that fit the bill. Coffee connoisseurs have hundreds of decaffeinated options to choose from and can get their fix in just about any form too, from instant granules to whole beans.
Read on for our buying guide on everything you need to know about decaf coffee, followed by a roundup of the best decaf coffees to buy today.
Iinstant Decaf Coffee Benefits And Concerns
There are plenty of health benefits associated with drinking a caffeinated cup of coffee. The decaffeination and instant production processes reduce the amount of caffeine, leaving you with less than 3 mg of caffeine per cup. Espresso, which is prepared differently than regular coffee, varies too. For example, a study found out that decaf espresso shots from the same batch of beans have between 3 and 15.8 milligrams of caffeine. An average instant decaf espresso shot contains 63 milligrams of caffeine.
So what are those benefits that the best instant decaf coffee gives? Here are some:
- Regular consumption of coffee reduces the risk of getting type 2 diabetes mellitus. This is because chlorogenic acid is an insulin sensitizer that potentiates insulin action.
- This plant contains polyphenols organic compound, which helps regulate metabolism, chronic diseases, and cell proliferation.
- Various polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could prevent neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
And like most things in life, there are some side effects too:
- A heightened level of acidity with an incrA heightened level of acidity with an increased risk of heartburn.
- The tendency to cause bowel movements.
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Instant Coffee Vs Freshly Brewed Coffee
Most coffee aficionados are quite hesitant to branch out from their freshly ground and brewed coffee just yet. Thats because of the complexity and flavors that it brings.
However, for those who already reached out to pre-ground coffee every now and then or just looking to improve their quick, on-the-go options, then the best instant coffee is a great idea.
The convenience factor of an instant coffee that can be brewed with cold or hot water and on the go is quite hard to challenge.
Thats all there is.
You simply rip the individual packaging, pour it in your cup, add boiling or cold water, stir, and youre good to go!
No hassle of grinding. No elaborate scheming of the right steeping period and water temperature. No exquisite brewing skills to master.
But, as mentioned, it does compromise the taste and flavor of your coffee.
But, hey, we have a little secret.
While you may not be able to achieve the same flavor and freshness with instant, the flavor and strength of freshly brewed coffee can actually be rivaled if youre buying the right instant coffee.
If you take your time to do your research, you can find the best instant coffee that gives you a tasty and strong brew, nonetheless.
This leads us to our next point
How Much Caffeine Does A Typical Cup Of Coffee Contain
This is determined by the kind of coffee bean, the degree of roasting, and the brewing method.
There are two kinds of coffee beans: arabica and robusta. Arabica beans have less caffeine than robusta beans, which is why they taste softer and sweeter. The present market is composed of 75-80% arabica and 20-25% robusta cafés favor arabica coffees, while robustas are often utilized in instant brands.
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Is Instant Decaf Coffee Bad For Your Health
Coffee has a range of health benefits, so even coffee that has been dehydrated and decaffeinated has some good health elements.
Nowadays, the process of decaffeination is safe, so it comes down to which is the method that offers the most benefits. The FDA has strict standards to guarantee that any solvents used for decaffeinating coffee are safe. For instance, if a manufacturer decaffeinates coffee with methylene chloride, the coffee has a limit of not above 10 parts per million of the methylene chloride following decaffeination .
Also, health authorities worldwide typically recommend up to 400mg of caffeine per adult per day. Because 97% or over of caffeine is removed from decaffeinated coffee, you can rest assured that you wont consume more than the recommended daily amount of caffeine when you drink decaf coffee.
Douwe Egberts Decaf Instant Coffee
The Douwe Egberts Decaf Instant Coffee consists of medium roasted coffee beans. It has a fantastic aroma that complements its smoothness.
This instant coffee also has a full-bodied taste since the beans are freeze-dried. So, every cup of this instant coffee that you will make will taste almost the same as freshly-brewed coffee beans.
Douwe Egberts has been in the coffee industry for more than 260 years. So, you can expect that this coffee will give you nothing less than the best.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Decaf Coffee
Is decaf coffee good for you?
There is currently no evidence to suggest that decaf coffee is harmful to your health. However, generally, with decaf coffee, you obtain all of the advantages that come with drinking caffeinated coffee, without the disadvantage of consuming too much caffeine.
Why do people drink decaf coffee?
People drink decaf coffee for a variety of reasons. The main being that they want to enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee in the afternoon or evening, but not be kept up for hours as a regular coffee full of caffeine would do. Some people are also sensitive to caffeine and therefore can only enjoy the decaffeinated kind.
What is the difference between decaf coffee and regular coffee?
The only thing that is different between decaf coffee and regular coffee is the caffeine content. In an average regular coffee, there is around 70mg of caffeine whilst in a decaf coffee, there are just 7mg per cup. All coffee starts out the same and it is the decaffeination process that the whole beans are put through that results in the lower caffeine content. More experienced coffee drinkers will be able to taste the difference between the two but your everyday drinker will not.
How is Coffee Decaffeinated?
There are actually 4 different ways in which you can decaffeinate Coffee . These four primary methods include:
Is decaf coffee full of chemicals?
Does decaf coffee make you poop?
Will decaf Coffee keep me awake?
Can decaf coffee cause weight loss?
Is Decaf Coffee Actually Caffeine
The best instant decaf coffee has a smooth and full-bodied flavour despite the manufacturing processes it undergoes.
Many people drink coffee to increase their energy and alertness, thanks to its caffeine content. However, there are others who want to avoid or reduce caffeine intake.
In this case, decaffeinated coffee becomes a good option. However, is decaf actually caffeine-free?
News flash! It isnt. Decaffeinated coffee still has caffeine content.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture , decaf should only have a maximum of 0.10 percent caffeine.
That said, instant decaf coffee has approximately 3 percent caffeine. For comparison, a 12oz cup of coffee contains about 180mg of caffeine, while decaf only has 5.4mg.
True enough, the decaffeination process affects the taste of instant coffee, making it milder. But the type of roasted coffee used to make your instant coffee contributes to the flavour more than the decaffeination method.
In addition, the process of decaffeinating coffee beans and turning them into instant coffee does affect the aroma.
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How Caffeine Removal Takes Place
All coffee beans contain caffeine. However, certain techniques can extract between 97% and 99% of the content. Therefore, for people more sensitive to the effects of caffeine, decaf options are a good choice.
The tricky part comes in extracting the caffeine while retaining the taste. Because of this, the flavor of decaf coffee has a poor reputation.
The most cost-effective method is to extract the caffeine from the water using chemical solvents, including ethyl acetate and methylene chloride.
This has led to concerns that the solvents may be toxic. However, with regulatory approval, the assumption is that the method is safe.
Some manufacturers dissolve the caffeine using supercritical carbon dioxide, which is CO2 used at very high pressure. However, generally, the idea of using chemical solvents is frowned upon by the consumer.
Higher-end companies will often employ the Swiss Water Process. This method only uses water to remove the caffeine. However, it is more expensive and complex. The Swiss Water Process is chemical-free and removes 99% of the caffeine. Brands that use this product will invariably promote their decaf beans with this as a selling point.
We have previously examined the best decaf coffee beans, and the majority of the brands use the Swiss Water Process. However, it is less commonly used in instant decaf coffee.
Read Also:Best Coffee Beans To Buy A guide for choosing the right coffee for you.
Instant Coffee: A History Recap
Folgers and Nescafe are the big-name in the industry of instant coffees. However, they were not the very first to invest the drink. As a matter of fact, instant coffee has a long history that dates back to the 1700s.
It is said that the first version of instant coffee dates back to 1771, approximately 200 years after coffee was introduced to Europe. Britain issues a patent for the coffee compound.
In the US, the earliest experiments with instant coffee go back to the Civil War when the soldiers sought out the easy-to-carry energy boosts. It inspires the development of instant coffee cakes for soldiers.
Then, the modern instant coffee was first patented by Frenchman Alphonse Allais in 1881.
But it wasnt until the mid-to-late 1800s that the version of Camp Coffee would hit the market in the UK. In 1903, a Japanese-American chemist named Satori Kato invented a stable instant coffee.
Six years after, the Red E Coffee becomes the very first mass-produced instant coffee brand.
Following a world oversupply of coffee beans in the 1930s, Nestle started tinkering around with the process of making reconstituted and dried coffee. And in the year 1938, the company launches its very first instant coffee.
Then, the rest is history.
Nescafe has pretty much taken the instant coffee market and holding about 70 percent of sales.
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Maxwell House French Vanilla Decaf Instant Coffee
While you are breaking every other convention of hipster-approved good coffee, you may as well go all the way and grab a flavored coffee. This Maxwell House is rather popular among instant coffee lovers, and luckily it is available in a decaf version.
This is a great coffee product for those of you know enjoy making sweet and creamy brews! Some people even make this coffee using milk instead of water for something extra decadent.
But beware, a cup of coffee made with this stuff only has a hint of the coffee flavor and truly leans into the cream and vanilla notes. The blend is made with a powder non-dairy creamer and flavoring mixed with decaffeinated coffee.
Note: Maxwell House is also responsible for producing Sanka instant coffee, another popular instant decaf coffee option.