How do I make instant coffee taste better?

Instant coffee is freeze-dried brewed coffee, and it can be scorched exactly like ground coffee. The most common mistake is pouring boiling water straight onto it, which is why so much instant tastes bitter and thin.

What you'll need

• Instant coffee
• Kettle (optional)

Step by step

1. Let boiling water stand for a minute.Around 90°C rather than 100°C. Boiling water scorches the granules and produces a harsh, flat, slightly burnt taste.
2. Dissolve the granules in a small amount of cool water first.A teaspoon of cold water stirred into the granules makes a smooth paste. It dissolves more evenly and tastes noticeably smoother.
3. Use the right amount.Usually one to two teaspoons per mug. Under-dosing gives a thin cup that people then over-sweeten to compensate.
4. Store it airtight and dry.Instant coffee absorbs moisture readily, which makes it clump and stale. Keep the lid tight and never use a wet spoon in the jar.
5. Buy freeze-dried rather than spray-dried where possible.Freeze-dried retains more aroma. It is usually stated on the jar and the difference is noticeable.
6. Add a pinch of salt if it tastes bitter.Salt suppresses bitterness perceptually. A very small pinch makes harsh instant coffee noticeably more drinkable.
7. Warm the milk rather than adding it cold.Cold milk drops the temperature substantially and makes the cup taste thin. Warmed milk gives a considerably better result.
8. Try it as iced coffee.Instant dissolves readily in cold water and makes a decent iced coffee, where the differences from fresh coffee matter far less.

Tips

• Whisking instant coffee with a little sugar and a splash of hot water until pale and thick makes a foam that transforms a cup of instant.
• Instant coffee is genuinely useful in baking and in cooking — a teaspoon in a chocolate cake or a chilli adds depth without tasting of coffee.
• Keep a jar for cooking and one for drinking. The one you keep dipping wet spoons into deteriorates fast.

Common mistakes

• Using water straight off the boil — It scorches the granules and produces a harsh, flat, burnt taste. Around 90°C is considerably better.
• Using a wet spoon in the jar — Moisture makes instant coffee clump and go stale rapidly. It is the main reason a jar deteriorates.
• Under-dosing and then adding sugar — A thin cup tastes weak rather than sweet. Using the right amount of coffee removes the need for the sugar.

Questions people ask