How to Make Instant Coffee the Right (and Easy) Way

Whether you have been drinking instant coffee for years or just discovered it recently, here are a few important tips for making the best instant coffee.

The right water for your instant coffee

Water is the largest component in your cup of instant coffee, so it’s very important to choose the right one. It is recommended not to use distilled water, but water with some natural minerals in it. While easily available, water from the faucet (tap water) may contain traces of aluminum, copper, and manganese, among many other compounds. These can create a slightly acidic or metallic taste of water, which will modify the taste of your cup of instant coffee.

What about mineral bottled water? Well, different brands of bottled water have different mineral contents and pH balances. Some bottled waters are very alkaline, meaning that they have a high pH balance. On the other hand, you can find more acidic water brands as well, which means that they have a low pH balance. These pH levels and other minerals that are added to the bottle can alter the taste of the water and your cup of instant joe.

Our recommended water is water that went through a simple filtration process. For example, water from a Brita pitcher. Brita (and other brands) use activated carbon filters to remove impurities, odors, and chlorine from your tap water, making it ideal for your cup of instant coffee. Filtered water tastes purer with the right balance of minerality and pH.

Water to instant coffee ratio

The best part about drinking instant coffee is that it’s super easy to customize your cup based on your desired flavor. Simply add more granules to make a stronger brew, or less granules for a lighter cup.

While it might take a second, we recommend checking the amount of fl oz your favorite mug can hold. This will help you to determine the best starting point for perfecting your desired instant coffee to water ratio.

We recommend using 1 packet of coffee per 8-10 fl oz of water. Each packet contains 0.1 oz (3 grams) of instant coffee. If you use our instant coffee bag options, it will be about 1-2 heaped tsp of instant coffee for 8-10 fl oz of liquid.

The best water temperature for instant coffee

After choosing the right water for your instant cup of joe and determining how many cups you will be making, pour the water into your favorite kettle. Stove top or electric kettle, it’s up to you.

We recommend drinking your instant coffee at the temperature of 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal flavor (about 91 to 96 degrees Celsius). Noting that generally speaking the boiling point of water is at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius), we suggest boiling the kettle and then waiting about a minute for it to cool slightly before pouring into your mug.

What to add in your instant coffee

We love drinking our instant coffees black (with no milk) to taste the true bold flavor, but we know some of you like to spice things up. Try adding dairy milk or alternative milk to your hot or cold instant coffee. If you like cappuccinos, froth your milk before pouring on top of the brewed instant coffee. You can even use a mason jar to froth your milk if you don’t own an electric frother. If you love your instant coffee sweet, consider adding sugar or organic sugar substitutes.