6 Ideas That’ll Make Instant Coffee Your New Favorite Brew

Instant coffee has been around for centuries, and has been used within various regions and cultures. And while it’s not the most popular way to enjoy a cup of joe these days, instant coffee has come a long way in the last several years in terms of quality, flavor, and how it’s sourced and processed. 

Historically, instant coffee has gotten a bad rap because it often tastes bitter and can have a mud-like consistency; but countless brands have perfected this convenient coffee option by elevating the taste and texture. While there’s nothing quite as good as a fresh, hot cup of java, having a good quality instant coffee in your pantry is always a good idea. And if you’re still not sold on how far instant coffee has come, here are six ways to enhance it, using things that you likely have on hand already.

Add Spices

Adding dried spices is one of the simplest ways to add natural flavor to a cup of instant coffee. If you want to add some warmth and depth to any type of instant coffee, pop into your spice cabinet and choose anything from cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, turmeric, or cardamom to add to your mug. Just be sure to add a small amount of your chosen spice or spices to the instant coffee, and then taste it so you can adjust the drink to your liking. 

Top it With Frothed Milk

Elevate your instant coffee into a tasty home-crafted latte by simply adding your choice of milk and frothing it until it’s thick and creamy. Start by dissolving the instant coffee per the directions on the package, and then add the warmly frothed milk to your mug. The milk will blend with the coffee, leaving the perfect foam layer on top. 

Opt for a Pinch of Salt

Most instant coffees tend to taste biter, especially when they’re lower quality. But there’s one pantry item that can fix this in a pinch—salt. That’s right, the smallest amount of salt can help cut through acidity and balance out the flavor of even the boldest instant coffee. Add a pinch and give it a try!

Use Cold Water

It’s a common misconception that you have to use warm or hot water to properly dissolve instant coffee, but cold water works just as well, too. Although it may take longer for the coffee to break down, using cold water will help eliminate the bitterness, giving it a milder taste.

Try Flavored Syrups 

It’s easy to shake up an ordinary cup of instant coffee with your favorite flavored syrup. Whether it’s French vanilla, hazelnut, brown sugar, or whatever you have on-hand, syrups can help elevate the taste and mask the bitterness of instant coffee. And if you want to use a natural alternative, you can add a bit of maple syrup or honey, too. 

Choose Quality 

If you want a better tasting, ethically crafted instant coffee, you should keep an eye out for where the beans are sourced and how they’re processed. Most high-quality instant coffee uses freeze-dried arabica coffee beans because they’re rich and bold, but have minimal bitterness.