Can Instant Coffee Be Used in a Coffee Maker
Coffee is a beverage that everyone frequently consumes. However, if you’ve been keen on brewing coffee at home and have started researching, you may have noticed that it’s more complicated than it looks. Of course, instant coffee is the easiest way to drink coffee at home. Apart from that, coffee machines can also prepare coffee quickly.
However, you should choose the coffee you will use in the coffee machine well. Let us warn you that there are many different types of coffee, and not every coffee should be used in a coffee machine. So, as one of the easiest options, can instant coffee be used in a coffee maker? Let’s see.
Whole Coffee Beans
First of all, you should know how we produce coffee. Coffee beans are collected from trees. They are called green coffee beans because they are still raw when first picked. Then, green coffee beans turn into whole coffee beans after being roasted. Finally, whole coffee beans must be processed to reach a drinkable form. As a result of the different production processes, instant coffee or ground coffee is obtained.
Instant coffee requires some processes to form, and making it at home is impossible. However, purchasing whole coffee beans and a coffee grinder can get ground coffee. You can buy it directly from the market if you don’t want to deal with it. Coffees also differ in aroma and degree of hardness. Let’s look at the production of instant and ground coffees, which are exposed to different preparation processes.
Structure of the Instant Coffee
Instant coffee is obtained from whole coffee beans. These beans are roasted first and then ground. Ground coffee is brewed, and instant coffee is obtained by removing the water from these coffee beans. There are two types of instant coffee, powdered and crystallized. These are produced with different methods. You can easily find these two varieties in the markets.
Since it is obtained by removing the water from the beans, it dissolves when water is added again and takes the form of coffee that we consume with pleasure. Instant coffee can be produced by spray-drying and freeze-drying. In spray drying, the water in the bean is evaporated. In this method, coffee may lose its quality, and its aroma is reduced. For this reason, it is mixed with same-sized coffee particles to provide a better aroma.
Crystallized instant coffee is obtained by freezing the liquid in it. Freezing extends the shelf life. However, it is a more time-consuming process. As a result, some people do not enjoy instant coffee very much. This may be due to the low amount of caffeine in it. We should also say that instant coffee contains some chemicals to prevent it from getting stale. That is why it is recommended not to consume too much.
Structure of the Ground Coffee
It is obtained by grinding whole coffee beans. It requires brewing since it does not have a dissolvable structure; it should be brewed with a coffee maker or a french press. There are different grind sizes for ground coffee. Generally, coffee lovers try different grind sizes to find the most suitable one for them. It is a great way to understand coffee taste.
Ground coffee is obtained by grinding the bean directly and does not contain chemicals. It should be noted that since it does not contain preservative chemicals, it can easily go stale. It does not become intoxicating or harmful, but you will feel its aroma has decreased while drinking. To enjoy coffee, you should consume it quickly and buy a new package.
Which Coffee to Use in the Coffee Machine?
Ground coffee should be used in coffee machines. Coffee is formed by combining coffee particles and water in a pot. The machine also filters the coffee particles so that the fine powder does not mix with our coffee. Undissolved coffee should be used in coffee machines. So, instant coffee is not suitable for use in the device.
Instant coffee has a structure that dissolves when combined with water. It mixes with the water, and no coffee particles are left behind. If you put instant coffee in the filter part of the machine and wait for it to brew, you will notice that the coffee remains stuck together in the filter. Most likely, a terrible smell will accompany this image.
Instant coffee dissolves easily when combined with water, but if you consume it frequently, you may have witnessed that when they are not fully dissolved, they become stuck to each other and become very difficult to clean. Therefore, we can say that if you try to use instant coffee in a coffee machine, it can be pretty difficult to clean this mess from your device.
Incompletely dissolved instant coffee will stick and harden as it dries. Afterward, you have to spend a lot of effort cleaning your filter. You may even need to buy a new one. The best part of instant coffee is that it is straightforward to prepare. You don’t need anything but hot water. You can get your coffee in seconds by pouring hot water on the instant coffee.
Conclusion
You can use various types of coffee in coffee makers, but instant coffee is not one of them. Trying to brew instant coffee in your machine can ruin your coffee machine. Instead of instant coffee, you can find ground coffees with different flavors that you can brew in your coffee machine on the internet or in coffee shops.
In our article, we talked about what instant coffee is and why it is not used in the coffee maker. In addition, we wanted to warn you about what could happen to your coffee maker if you try to use instant coffee in it. We also provided brief information about which coffees you should prefer in the coffee maker. We hope it was helpful. See you in other articles.
