Tag: Brewed vs instant coffee

According to the USDA, one teaspoon of standard instant coffee powder contains about 4 calories. This might come as a surprise to many who assume black coffee, in any form, is a zero-calorie beverage. These minimal calories exist for a reason, tied directly to the fundamental composition and processing of the coffee bean itself.

On average, a standard cup of brewed coffee contains more caffeine than the same amount of instant coffee. This might surprise coffee drinkers who find instant varieties stronger, but the caffeine difference depends on multiple factors when comparing brewed or instant coffee.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one 8-ounce cup of instant coffee contains about 62 milligrams of caffeine. This powerful stimulant is what drives the energy-boosting effects, meaning, yes, instant coffee gives energy, but the mechanism behind it is more complex than a simple power-up.

Most coffee lovers know that coffee is naturally acidic, with a pH typically between 4.8 and 5.1. However, when comparing instant to brewed coffee, many are surprised to learn that standard instant coffee can often be more acidic, largely due to the type of beans used and how it's processed.

According to a 2022 study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, drinking instant coffee was associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease and mortality. But is instant coffee good for you in every regard? The answer is more nuanced than it may seem.