Despite people's love for natural coffee, the freeze-dried product has become popular among consumers. For its production, coffee concentrate is used, which is dry frozen. This technology helps preserve the original taste and aroma. This drink is not consumed daily due to caffeine and flavorings that worsen health conditions.
Freeze-dried coffee is very popular.
Origin story
Sublimation technology originated with French biophysicist Jacques-Arsene d'Arsonval in 1906, but has been used to produce drugs and vaccines. It was only after World War II that the NRS (an American scientific organization) began experimenting with products. Attempts to create a new type of coffee using freezing lasted more than 10 years.
In 1965, Nestle introduced the first freeze-dried drink, Nescafe Gold. By the beginning of the 1980s. the share of freeze-dried products in the coffee market was 40%. At the beginning of the 21st century. Don Valencia, who worked at Starbucks, created the freeze-dried product Stardust, which is added to Pepsi coffee drinks.
Coffee patent from a lover of dark humor
If you ask who invented freeze-dried coffee, the answer will probably surprise you. The author of the patent for freeze-dried coffee was the French journalist and writer, a lover of dark jokes, Alphonse Allais. He lived and worked in the 19th century, touching a little on the beginning of the 20th. Alphonse was mainly engaged in literary research, but - unexpectedly for everyone - from time to time he came up with various other amazing things. He invented monochrome painting and first introduced the concepts of conceptualism and minimalism into art. But the most interesting thing was his discovery in the coffee industry.
It was Alphonse who was the first in the world to figure out how to create an instant drink by sublimation, which a hundred years later became a bestseller. Alas, in 1881, when the patent was registered, no one was interested in Allais’ invention, so his idea remained for a long time just another trick of an eccentric creator. Only closer to the middle of the 20th century, the “innovative” method of sublimation, which had been waiting in the wings for so long, was introduced at coffee factories.
Concept of freeze-dried coffee
Granules are obtained from natural raw materials - coffee concentrate. It is sent to the freezer, where the liquid is removed from the ice. Beneficial substances and essential oils remain in the sublimate, but it is often additionally treated with flavorings.
Composition and calorie content
Thanks to the production technology, vitamins and minerals (PP, B12, iron, calcium, phosphorus) are preserved. 100 g contains 14-16 g of protein, some fat and carbohydrates. In 1 tsp. freeze-dried coffee contains about 40 g of caffeine. Calorie content varies among different manufacturers, since this indicator is influenced by the type of beans and the degree of roasting.
The lowest amount of calories in 100 g of Nescafe Gold is 49 kcal. Davidoff Dark Espresso has 82.7 kcal, Moccona Continental Gold has 109 kcal (per 100 g).
Production Features
The process begins with roasting and grinding the coffee beans. The powder is scattered into different tanks, filled with water and brewed. Essential oils evaporate through a special pipe. The peculiarity of making freeze-dried coffee is the use of freeze dried coffee. To obtain it, raw materials go through the following stages:
- Freeze the grounds to -6°C until they become viscous.
- Keeping the concentrate in the freezer, where the temperature is -40...-50°C. The faster it freezes, the lighter the coffee and the better the quality.
- Crushing ice and sifting it. The size of the granules depends on the size of the ice floes. Therefore, small pieces are sent for re-freezing.
- Removing water from crystals in a vacuum cryochamber.
The coffee making process begins with roasting.
The dry mass is crushed into even small granules, which are enriched with essential oils. But their concentration is low, so this coffee is additionally flavored.
Advantages
To produce the product, high quality grains are used, so its characteristics are close to a natural drink. Thanks to vacuum freezing, it is possible to preserve 95% of vitamins and minerals. Freeze-dried coffee, unlike ground coffee, just needs to be poured with boiling water and stirred. But its main advantage is long-term storage in a jar without loss of taste and aroma.
How to choose the best product
The stores offer a huge assortment of freeze-dried coffee, which varies by brand, price, and degree of roasting. Recently, demand has begun to grow for a freeze-dried version with the addition of ground, which should seriously compete with granular and powder analogues. With such a variety, it is difficult to choose the best product, so take a few tips:
- Pay attention to the packaging - it must be sealed and undamaged, indicating all the necessary information, including the date of manufacture.
- The particles must be asymmetrical and uniform in color.
- The presence of powder at the bottom of the container is not allowed - this indicates low quality coffee.
- An important point is the country of production. Give preference to coffee from Brazil, Indonesia, Africa and Asia, India. Although Russian goods have now also increased in quality, for example, the Black Card has become quite competitive.
You can look at the rating of freeze-dried coffee before purchasing, although it is very relative:
- American Carte Noire.
- European Egoiste.
- Swiss Bushido.
- Moscow coffee shop on shares.
- Korean Taster's Choice.
Some brands are on sale, others belong to the premium segment and are available only in certain hypermarkets. Don't chase the brand and the high price. It is better to purchase natural coffee in small quantities and enjoy a cup of a wonderful drink at special moments.
Beneficial features
Thanks to nicotinic acid and vitamin B12, cholesterol levels are reduced, blood vessels are cleansed, and blood circulation is improved. They normalize blood pressure, so moderate amounts of coffee are beneficial for patients with hypotension. It reduces the likelihood of the following diseases:
- liver cirrhosis;
- diabetes mellitus;
- gout;
- Alzheimer's;
- Parkinson's.
Freeze-dried coffee reduces the likelihood of diabetes.
Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, increasing the amount of dopamine in the blood. A person feels a surge of vigor, which leads to increased physical and mental activity. The substance suppresses appetite. To lose 100 kcal, it is enough to consume 0.6 g of caffeine daily.
Is there any benefit
Freeze-dried instant coffee, although close to natural coffee, contains no more than 15% of beans. As a rule, the surrogate is made from robusta, which is characterized by a high caffeine content. This means that freeze-dried coffee does not differ in its effect from other instant types of drink.
The benefits of the freeze-dried analogue are due precisely to the action of the alkaloid caffeine:
Why is coffee harmful?
- It increases performance and is a natural energy booster.
- Increases blood pressure, which is useful for hypotensive patients.
- It is an effective pain reliever.
- Due to the antioxidants it contains, it protects the body from free radicals, removes toxins and prevents the development of cancer.
- It has a good diuretic effect and helps cope with swelling.
- Used to prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Another advantage is the low calorie content of the drink, or rather, if you drink it in its pure form without sugar and other additives, it is completely absent. That's why losing weight girls love coffee so much
Fundamental differences from other types of coffee
The freeze-dried product is made using freeze dried technology. The raw materials are first frozen, then the excess liquid is pumped out of the ice. The light brown granules retain the coffee flavor, but are expensive to produce. Therefore, such coffee is highly expensive compared to other instant drinks.
Technological differences
The main difference is the use of freeze-dry technology, which involves freezing the coffee extract in a vacuum. Water is removed from the ice crystals. For powder and granular types, the concentrate is first sprayed with hot air under pressure, then filled with water and evaporated. Then the raw materials are poured with water to obtain granules.
Freeze-dry technology is used to make coffee.
Organoleptic
The caramel-colored granules obtained as a result of dry freezing are the same size. They are dense, so they take longer to dissolve in water compared to a granular product. Despite the mild taste and pleasant aroma of this coffee, it is inferior to a drink made from natural beans.
Price
Sublimate is considered elite, so it is the most expensive in the line of instant products. The price was affected by the preservation of nutrients contained in coffee beans. But the main reason for the high cost lies in the high costs of the company for producing the product using special technology.
How is it different from granular
Coffee granules differ from freeze-dried coffee in price, taste, aroma and production technology.
The first one is much cheaper, since its aroma and taste characteristics are much inferior to “natural” ones. Granules have different sizes and shapes, which cannot be said about sublimates.
Granulated
Sublimated
Their processing does not include freezing. The grains are dehydrated by drying under high pressure. The drinks also differ in color. The granulate is much darker than the sublimate. When brewed, it has a chocolate tint.
The aroma of freeze-dried coffee is richer and more intense than granulated coffee, since during its processing the beans are soaked in fatty oils. This is reflected in the taste of the drink.
The caffeine content in granulate and sublimate is the same. Despite the large number of differences, each of them has connoisseurs.
Popular manufacturers and brands
The freeze-dried product is considered elite and occupies a large part of the coffee market. Some companies use only Arabica beans for production, others mix several blends from different plantations.
UCC
Founded in 1933, the Japanese company maintains leadership in the country's instant coffee market. All factories are located in Japan. The company owns coffee plantations in Indonesia, Ecuador, Jamaica and Hawaii. The grains undergo double quality control and are certified according to the Japanese JAS system, which is considered the most stringent in the world.
UCC is a soft instant coffee with a delicate taste.
UCC produces a premium product (blends 114 and 117). The Russian market is supplied in glass jars (from 45 to 135 g) or soft packaging (70 or 180 g). The line includes 3 types of freeze-dried organic coffee: “Kilimanjaro Organic”, “Mocha Organic” and “Sumiyaki”. For the latter, grains roasted over charcoal using ancient Japanese techniques are used.
Jardin
The elite coffee brand was founded in 2007 by the Russian company together with the Swiss Jardin Cafe Solution SA. For the sublimate, they use mixtures of natural Arabica beans grown on plantations in South America and Africa. The following types of coffee are produced under this brand:
- Filigrano. It uses dark roasted Arabica from Colombia. The taste combines chocolate with the sweetness of maple syrup. Vanilla is felt in the pleasant aroma.
- Gold. Despite the dark roast, the drink is soft with slight acidity. There is a creamy aftertaste at the end.
- Deep Dark. The drink is strong and has a cocoa flavor. It has a rich coffee aroma with notes of dark chocolate.
Colombia Medallin, Kenya Kilimanjaro and Guatemala Atitlan were created based on single varieties. The first drink combines chocolate and floral notes with a long caramel aftertaste. Dark roasted beans give a smoky aroma. Medium roast Kenyan Arabica has a sweet berry flavor and citrus aroma.
Coffee from beans grown in Guatemala is smoother than Colombia Medallin. It has fruity notes with the smell of baking.
Bushido
The trademark belongs to the Russian concern HORS LTD, but production is concentrated in Switzerland. The idea for a Japanese style product was developed by a German marketing firm. Since 2012, the company has entered the international level. Consumers are offered the following types of instant coffee made by dry freezing:
- Black Katana. The granules are made from grains grown in Jamaica and Costa Rica. Thanks to the special charcoal roasting technology, the aroma contains smoky notes. The drink is strong and tart with a nutty aftertaste.
- Red Katana. For the sublimate they use the Paranagua blend from East Africa. It has a rich taste with notes of wine and bitterness. The aroma is dominated by berries and peach.
- Light Katana. Arabica beans are harvested from plantations in Tanzania. The beans are lightly roasted, so the coffee has a light taste and aroma with fruity notes.
- Original. The Buenaventura blend is used for it, in which grains from Tanzania and South America are mixed. The drink has a rich taste with bitterness. The aroma is dominated by notes of chocolate.
Bushido belongs to a Russian concern.
The premium class includes sublimated 24 Karat Gold from Arabica beans grown in Kenya. Its peculiarity is the admixture of food-grade 24-karat gold. It has a chocolate flavor with a slight honey aroma.
Davidoff
In the early 1990s. The Swiss company Zino Davidoff began production of luxury goods. After the death of the leader in 1994, the German company Tchibo bought the trademark. Davidoff Espresso 57 freeze-dried coffee with a rich chocolate aftertaste is considered popular. Fine Aroma has a mild taste with notes of fruit and flowers. Rich Aroma combines acidity with the spicy taste and aroma of baked goods.
Carte Noire
The French brand appeared in 1978 thanks to expert Rene Monnier. Five years later it was acquired by Jacobs. Since 2015, the brand has been owned by Jacobs Douwe Egberts Corporation. Sublimated products are represented by the following products:
- Expresso;
- Millicano;
- Classic Velvety & Rich;
- L'instant.
Carte Noire is a French brand.
Decaffeine has a low dose of caffeine and has chocolate and fruity notes. The granules are made from a mixture of Arabica beans grown on plantations in Ethiopia and Colombia. For lovers of ground Carte Noire Original, a soluble analogue has been created that has retained the original taste and aroma.
Moccona
The famous coffee brand, owned by the Jacobs Douwe Egberts corporation, was registered in the 1960s. in the Netherlands. The most common product is Continental Gold instant coffee, made from a mixture of Robusta and Arabica. Thanks to the medium roast, it is characterized by light acidity without bitterness. In the classic line, Light Roast (Awaken) with a light taste and rich Darke Roast with bitterness are popular. Flavored sublimates Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel are presented on the Russian market.
Egoiste
The trademark belongs to . Products are made to order in Swiss factories. Using freeze dried technology, 2 types of coffee are produced - Platinum and Private. For both use the Veracruz blend. But the first additionally includes Arabica from Colombia, the second from Kenya. Platinum flavors include fruit and flowers. Private has honey and chocolate notes.
Egoiste is a trademark of HORS LTD.
Rating of the best brands
From a huge number of names and manufacturers of freeze-dried coffee, it is not easy to choose the best product. The Test Purchase program compiled a rating of the most popular brands of this drink.
This list included:
- Bushido is the highest quality, but very expensive, freeze-dried dark roast coffee. It has a natural bitter taste and strong aroma. Does not dissolve in cold water. We wrote separately about Bushido coffee from Japan here.
- Carte Noire is a wonderful French coffee, with a balanced, pleasant taste, but it is not cheap. The granules dissolve well even in ice water. We reviewed the range of Carte Noire coffees in this article.
- Tchibo Exclusive previously belonged to the premium price category, but recently manufacturers have reduced its cost. Oddly enough, the price reduction had no effect on the quality of the product.
- Moccona does not have a rich taste, but it is much cheaper than expensive premium brands. Dissolves in cold water.
- Nescafe is the cheapest freeze-dried coffee that does not have an expressive taste, but with a strong and bright aroma.
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Freeze-dried coffee recipes
Black coffee is considered a classic, but some coffee lovers like to add milk, cinnamon, cream and other ingredients. A cold drink made with ice is becoming popular.
With milk and cinnamon
For 2 cups you will need the following ingredients:
- 100 ml milk;
- 4 g freeze-dried coffee;
- 2 tsp Sahara;
- 2 pinches of cinnamon
- 100-150 ml of water.
Black coffee goes well with milk and cinnamon.
The granules are poured into a cup and poured with boiling water. Then add sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Add 50 ml of milk into the container and mix. Finally, sprinkle cinnamon on top.
With ice
To prepare it, 3 tsp. granules pour 120 ml of boiling water. Add honey or sugar to the liquid to taste. It is poured into another container and sent to cool in the refrigerator. Place 3 ice cubes in a tall glass, then pour in the coffee. It is better to drink a cold drink through a straw.
Rules for preparing the drink
Ingredients and instructions
To prepare one serving of an invigorating drink you will need a teaspoon of coffee crystals, 2 sugar cubes, 200 milliliters of water.
Warm the cup under hot water or in the microwave. Add sugar and coffee. To make a fluffy foam, pour 10 milliliters of water and rub the mixture with a spoon. Add remaining liquid.
The sublimate whips into foam more easily than the powder. You can use a mini mixer or cappuccino maker.
Crystals reveal their aroma and taste better if they are brewed with water at 85-90 degrees. Boil the liquid and wait 2-3 minutes. Or use a thermometer.
Interesting! What coffee grind is best for a coffee machine?
Supplements
Milk will soften the bitter taste of the drink. Brew the crystals in 150 milliliters of water and add boiled milk.
Additives will improve the taste. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top and garnish with marshmallows. Or add chopped chocolate. The taste of the drink will be complemented by 30 grams of ice cream.
Find out more in the article “What else is added to coffee for taste and aroma.”
Possible harm and contraindications
Despite its invigorating effect, any instant coffee quickly removes calcium from the body. As a result, the risk of developing osteoporosis increases. If you drink the drink on an empty stomach, the walls of the stomach and kidneys are irritated. You should not use the freeze-dried product if you have the following diseases:
- hypertension;
- glaucoma;
- gastritis;
- duodenal ulcer;
- diseases of the kidneys and pancreas.
With too much caffeine, problems with the nervous system begin. The person becomes irritable and nervous, and stops sleeping normally. An overdose is accompanied by migraines, dizziness, nausea and rapid heartbeat. Pregnant women are prohibited from drinking coffee, as there is a risk of giving birth to a child with pathologies. Studies have shown that chronic use of it can cause erectile dysfunction in men.
What is the most delicious instant coffee?
Many online coffee resources compile their top instant products, but most often these are rather subjective selections. If we talk about official sources, then in 2022 Jardin was recognized as the best instant coffee, which competed in the ranking with brands such as Milagro, Tchibo, Jacobs Monarch, Globus Vita, Today and Black Card. The quality of the drink was recognized by the expert center of the All-Russian Consumer Union “Roskontrol”. However, in the comments to this article you can disagree with this assessment and give your top favorite brands.
