TASTED
What is the best instant coffee? The supermarket brands, rated
Coffees to convince the full-bean snobs by deputy food editor Hannah Evans
The Sunday Times
For purists, instant coffee is an abomination. It tastes burnt, metallic and lacks the complexity and strength that real, filtered coffee or espresso has, they say. While that is true in many cases, instant does have the convenience factor which is why millions of people choose it. Fifty percent of the world’s green coffee beans are used in instant coffee. Beans are roasted, ground, brewed and heated to obtain coffee extract which is either then spray dried or freeze dried. Generally speaking instant coffee demands milk to take the edge off the bitter taste, but it should still be smooth and rounded. Leave the kettle to cool for a minute or so after boiling so that you don’t burn the coffee when you pour it
