How to make espresso with instant coffee (Easy Recipe!)

To make a perfect coffee drink, whether a Latte or Cappuccino, an Americano or Macchiato, you need an ideal shot of espresso.  

How about making heavenly espresso shots without a fancy espresso machine using just instant coffee?

can you make espresso with instant coffee?

You can’t make Authentic Espresso with instant coffee that has a layer of Crema, and a rich and dense taste but you can make a good instant coffee drink that tastes like espresso. 

Although this Espresso Instant coffee may not appeal to Coffee enthusiasts, but you can at least make a better drink this way using instant coffee all without a fancy Espresso machine.

Also, you can’t add Instant coffee powder to the Espresso machine as Espresso machines only work perfectly with fresh coffee grounds.

Hook to the end to get your go-to tips!

Print Recipe

Espresso Instant Coffee Recipe

Here's how to make Espresso with Instant coffee at home without the need for expensive equipment or long preparation times.

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1

Calories: 3kcal

Author: Johny Morrisson

Equipment

• Instant coffee
• Hot water
• Sugar or Milk (Optional)

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Instant Coffee
• 1-2.25 oz Hot water
• Milk (As per taste)
• Sugar or Sweetner (As per taste)

Instructions

• Add two tablespoons of instant coffee for a solo Espresso shot or 4 tablespoons of intant coffee for a doppio shot.
  2 tbsp Instant Coffee
  
• Boil the water and add 1-1.25 oz for solo shot and 2-2.25 ml for double shot in the cup.

  Tip: If you want a more smooth texture of espresso, pre-add some cold water and mix the instant coffee in it. After stirring for 30 seconds add hot water so that it wouldn’t give a burnt flavor to your beverages.
• Stirr the mixture for 30 seconds and your Espresso instant coffee is ready.
• Enjoy the Espresso as it is or add more water or milk to prepare Americno or Latte.

You can consume this Espresso as it is but I would recommend adding frothed milk over it to make the taste of the drink better.

Since instant espresso is not as rich and creamy as real espresso, I’m not sure if you will like it, but I’m sure you will enjoy the Latte drink after adding frothed milk to it.

Also Read: How to make Espresso in a French Press

Espresso vs Instant Coffee (How are they Different?)

Espresso is basically a brewing process where pressurized hot water is passed over fine coffee grounds to produce concentrated espresso shots.

With its rich flavor and a mesmerizing layer of crema, the brewed shots are very mouthwatering.

On the other side, instant coffee is made from coffee beans that are roasted, ground, and then brewed into a liquid. This liquid is then dehydrated, creating a fine powder or granules that can be easily dissolved in hot water to make a drink instantly.

There are some major differences between both types of coffee:

1) Form of Coffee

Instant coffee is basically a preserved form of coffee that’s why it lacks the magical aroma and Freshness of Coffee.

The espresso is produced from freshly ground coffee. It has a mesmerizing aroma and the rich flavor of roasted coffee beans. 

2) Brewing Method   

Instant coffee is not brewed with any specified method. You just have to dissolve the instant coffee powder in hot water or milk to prepare your drink.

Espresso is brewed with a pressurized extraction process that gives your drink a more fresh and robust taste. You can’t brew an authentic Espresso shot without a machine and Espresso machines are generally very expensive.

3) Concentration and Quality  

Espresso is a highly concentrated drink. It is characterized by its rich, bold flavor, with notes of caramel, chocolate, and a slightly bitter finish. It tends to be more intense and complex than regular brewed coffee due to the type of beans and the high coffee-to-water ratio.

The flavor profile of instant coffee is typically milder and simpler than that of freshly brewed coffee, with a lower level of complexity and depth.

I personally never liked the taste of instant coffee and I am sure most coffee lovers don’t like it either.

Also Read: Why is my espresso bitter

4) Caffeine and Calories   

A typical serving (8 oz) of instant coffee has a caffeine content of 60-80 mg while a single shot of Espresso (1-1.25 oz) also has more or less the same amount of caffeine.

The Calories in Espresso and Instant coffee are almost negligible if you drink them straight without the addition of milk or sugar.

5) Diversity

Espresso is used as a base for many other popular espresso-based drinks. You must have heard of Cappuccino, Latte, Americano, etc. All these drinks and many more are prepared with Espresso shots.

Instant coffee is a ready-made form of coffee. It is used used to make coffee instantly without any machine.

Also Read: Espresso Powder vs Instant Coffee

How do you make instant coffee as good as espresso?

If you are a coffee lover you must have to agree that the taste of instant coffee is nowhere compared to real coffee beans.

But yeah! Sometimes we got stuck with instant coffee or it can be a good option to make coffee while traveling or on camping trips.

In that case here are some tips to make the taste of instant coffee better.

1) Use Quality Instant Coffee

Always choose high-quality instant coffee and make sure it is made of 100% Arabica beans.

Buy instant coffee from trustworthy brands like Nescafe. Premium instant coffee brands often have strict quality control measures in place to ensure that each batch of coffee is consistent in flavor and aroma.

2) Make Instant Espresso

Follow the steps I have mentioned above to make concentrated Espresso-like shots from instant coffee.

3) Prepare frothed milk

Use frothed milk to make Latte with Instant coffee. It will greatly enhance the taste of your beverage.

If you don’t have a frother you can froth the milk manually in a jug or in an electric blender.

Also Read: How to make Espresso with a regular coffee maker

Final Thoughts on Instant Espresso

In all honesty, instant coffee is probably the easiest way to make coffee at home without the use of fancy equipment.

Surely you can’t make an authentic espresso shot with a rich and dense taste out of instant coffee, but you can make the taste of instant coffee better by following the tips mentioned in this article.

I recommend you add frothed milk to Instant Espresso and I am sure you are gonna love it.

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