Can You Eat Instant Coffee? (Everything Explained)
Are you always on the run and don’t have time to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee but still need that caffeine motivation in the morning? Have you heard of eating instant coffee instead?
Eating instant coffee does not have any adverse physical effects, so yes, you can eat it. Consider eating small amounts to reduce the bitterness of the coffee powder. Instant coffee is best consumed as a drink. For activities that require you to be active, it can be a good source of instant energy.
Eating instant coffee is perfect for people who are always on the run. If you have to rush and don’t have the time to make coffee, you can get your daily caffeine and antioxidants by eating a small amount of instant coffee.
Is It Safe To Eat Instant Coffee Powder?
Yes, it is safe to eat instant coffee. No issues are developed for consuming coffee powder. Just keep in mind, you should be careful not to consume too much at one time.
Taste-wise, instant coffee is not as good as freshly brewed coffee since it has a bit of chicory blended in. As a result, you might get a bitter taste when you take a spoonful of instant coffee. But if you like bitter, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Because instant coffee contains less caffeine, you might feel tempted to take more at a time. However, your taste buds will not have a pleasant experience, so it is not recommended.
Can You Eat Coffee Grounds?
Yes, you can eat coffee grounds. Coffee grounds still contain dietary fiber, antioxidants, and of course, caffeine, even after they’ve filtered and soaked with water. Those amounts will be smaller than before they were brewed in the first place.
Based on the information provided by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, spent grounds have a higher concentration level of dietary phenolic compounds compared to brewed coffee.
These organic compounds are packed with plenty of benefits. Dietary phenolic compounds boost cardiovascular strength, prevent illnesses like diabetes and cancer, and help fight pathogens and harmful UV rays.
Who Would Benefit From Eating Instant Coffee?
If you enjoy the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, but you don’t take instant coffee or never eat coffee in any form. Then you probably won’t like it.
So, who SHOULD eat instant coffee?
If you have acid reflux and heartburn every time you drink coffee, then you can switch it by taking a small spoon or a bit of instant coffee. You can obtain the same benefits without acid reflux or heartburn just by eating instant coffee directly.
For those a bit more conscious of their calories, eating instant coffee is a great option. If you don’t want to have coffee with cream or milk because you are trying to lose weight, you can eat instant coffee.
If your case is that you want to load yourself with caffeine, but you don’t enjoy milk coffee or black coffee, then having instant coffee is not a bad idea.
Benefits Of Eating Coffee Powder
You Can Absorb Caffeine Faster By Eating Coffee
The active ingredients from coffee beans are absorbed more quickly. The reason for this is that coffee grounds are absorbed through the mucus membranes in your mouth.
Coffee Beans Have Fewer Calories
One ounce of highly concentrated espresso beans only provides three calories. So, you can enjoy the wonderful benefits of coffee without worrying about your diet.
You Get More Antioxidants By Eating Coffee
Eating coffee has a wide range of health benefits. Antioxidants from the coffee clean your bloodstream from free radicals. They are also linked to preventing several illnesses such as immune dysfunction, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
How To Eat Instant Coffee?
If you must take instant coffee, it is recommended that you take small amounts. Do not take one full tablespoon of instant coffee at one time. Half a teaspoon of coffee powder can be overpowering and strong for many people.
Try to figure out what amount works for you and start from there. Some ways to eat instant coffee are:
● To get a better taste, make a proper cup of coffee with creamer or milk.
● Sprinkle instant coffee in other foods.
● When baking, you can sprinkle some instant coffee powder or espresso powder to impart coffee flavor on your cupcakes and other bakery goods.
● You can also add – either blending or sprinkling – instant coffee to cocktails and other drinks.
Other Ways To Eat Instant Coffee That You Probably Didn’t Know
Use It On Milkshakes And Smoothies
When making a shake or a smoothie, if you don’t have time to make some espresso, a spoonful of instant coffee will do the trick and work just as well. Pop it in along with your yogurt, banana, honey, and milk.
As A Savory Condiment For Steaks
Did you know meat and coffee are great together? Add instant coffee as a hidden ingredient in savory condiments for roasts and steaks. Mix instant coffee, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and dried spices.
To know how much instant coffee to add, start small. Make one part coffee to two parts spices and sugar. And adjust to taste (be advised that the intensity of the coffee flavor will increase as the meat cooks).
To Enhance Your Chili
Just a spoonful of instant coffee will be enough to make a pot of chili to the next level. Combined with the spices combo, beans, and beef, it helps tenderize the meat and adds a succulent roasted flavor.
To balance it out, use instant coffee powder finely ground and add salt and sugar (don’t use too much coffee as it could make it bitter).
Even Better Bolognese
Add a flavor boost to your spaghetti bolognese sauce with a spoonful of instant coffee. While it’s bubbling away, add a teaspoon of instant coffee to your tomato sauce, it will help boost its flavor. It will add an intense richness that will oppose the tomatoes’ sweetness.
Coffee Icing, Cakes, And Buttercream
Using instant coffee to add flavor to your cakes gives them a more intense result. That way, you don’t have to add extra liquid to your cake ingredients. You can also make coffee icings and buttercream.
Use It On Your Cookie Batter
Add a bit of instant coffee to a batch of plain batter (for this, don’t use espresso as it can be liquidy).
Sprinkle It On Top Of Ice-cream
Add a sprinkle of instant coffee to your affogatos and iced drinks. You could also add a bit of chocolate sauce for a mocha effect.
Coffee Crumble
Coffee crumbles are extremely easy to make in a food processor. They are irresistible toppings for desserts and pastries, muffins, cakes, and banana bread recipes. To do it:
- Mix ½ cup sugar, 125g unsalted butter, and 1 cup flour.
- Add two tablespoons of instant coffee; then blend until it’s crumbly and coarse.
- Spread on a tray and put it in the oven to bake at 180℃ for 20-30 minutes.
- Break it up and use it to sprinkle over your treats.
Fun Fact: You Can Use Instant Coffee On Your Body
Instant coffee can also be a great ingredient in beauty products, like a DIY body scrub. Mix a few spoonfuls of instant coffee with sugar and add olive oil or coconut oil until you find the ideal consistency for your skin.
Coffee is well known for its antioxidant properties. And instant coffees with their coarse granules create an exfoliant effect that can aid in better circulation.
Final Thoughts
For some, eating instant coffee can be more like a punishment. Mainly because it can get bitter, and to get the same quantity of caffeine, you might have to eat more. So some people will go for a freshly brewed cup of regular coffee instead.
Since there isn’t anything technically wrong with eating instant coffee, of course, you can eat it. Consuming instant coffee will depend entirely on your taste and your needs. However, we’ve seen that it has many uses, for ingestion or not.
