What is the difference between freeze-dried coffee and granulated coffee?

Expert: Dina Shulman

Every second person has drank instant coffee at least several times in their life. This product can hardly be called exquisite and incredibly tasty, however, many periodically use it for certain reasons and are very careful in choosing the right one. There are several varieties of instant coffee, the most popular of which are freeze-dried and granulated. Which one is better, and is there any difference between them besides appearance? Our experts have found the answer.

What is freeze-dried coffee?

Freeze-dried coffee is a type of instant coffee, for the production of which freeze dried or dry freezing technology is used.

The raw materials for the production of any type of instant coffee are natural beans. The first stage of production is approximately the same for both freeze-dried, granular, and powder forms.

• The grains are roasted, ground and poured with hot water.
• The grains are boiled in hermetically sealed containers for several hours, then the accumulated water vapor is removed.

From the next step there is a difference in technology.

To make freeze-dried coffee, the boiled coffee grounds are placed in flash freezers, and the liquid is removed from the resulting crystals by sublimation in vacuum chambers. In this way, the coffee is frozen, removing the liquid in the process.

The result is a dense and dry coffee mass of light brown color, which is crushed into granules.

At the final stage of production, freeze-dried coffee is saturated with coffee oils and flavors. Manufacturers claim that only natural flavors are used for expensive varieties, but no one is in a hurry to announce their exact composition, citing trade secrets.

How to choose the right option?

It should be immediately clarified that there are simply no particularly strict rules for choosing the best instant coffee. But there are several points that should not be overlooked:

1. The packaging material is very important - it is better to give preference to a glass jar or soft packaging, but it is advisable to avoid plastic ones;
2. Pay attention to the production time of the product - you should not buy one that has been collecting dust on store shelves for more than 2 years;
3. The packaging must be sealed;
4. Also pay attention to the price (especially for the sublimated version) - a cheap product simply cannot be of high quality, which is due to the technology of its manufacture.

What is granulated coffee?

Granulated coffee is a type of instant coffee that is obtained by quickly drying coffee extract.

The initial stage of granulated coffee production coincides with the freeze-dried type: roasting, grinding and boiling of coffee beans, followed by steam removal.

The coffee extract then diverges: to produce granulated coffee, the concentrate is sprayed in an even layer and dried under high pressure. The result is a powdery mass. At the last stage it is treated with steam. Under the influence of water vapor, the powder collects into loose granules with uneven edges. Unlike powdered coffee, granulated coffee does not stick to the spoon.

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! Coffee latte - composition and recipes for making it at home, history of origin

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.”

The main differences between freeze-dried and granulated coffee

As we have seen, the beginning of the production cycle for all types of instant coffee is similar, and natural coffee beans are used as raw materials. What is the difference between the two types of instant coffee?

• Manufacturing technology . Freeze-dried coffee is frozen and dried at the same time, while granulated coffee is only dried under high pressure.
• Appearance . Granulated coffee looks like loose lumps of different shapes, and it is much darker in color. Freeze-dried coffee looks like neat pyramids in a pleasant shade of milk chocolate.
• Taste . Freeze-dried coffee is additionally aromatized with natural coffee oils and extracts, so its taste seems richer and deeper than granulated coffee. In any case, all the taste characteristics of instant coffee are a combination of flavors that are selected by the manufacturer. This has nothing to do with the taste of the natural drink.

As for the caffeine content, granulated and freeze-dried coffee contain approximately the same amount - from 60 to 100 mg per 150 ml cup, which is approximately 15-20% lower than in a natural drink.

As a result of prolonged digestion of grains, most of the essential oils and compounds from them are simply washed away. Therefore, the bouquet of the natural drink is not only richer, but also contains microelements that are absent in the instant ersatz.

Review of manufacturers and brands, how much the products cost

EGOISTE

Egoist coffee is produced using the new In-Fi technology.
Each granule of the Egoist brand contains 20% natural ground Arabica. The new In-Fi manufacturing technology gives a strong, rich, slightly harsh aroma and a wonderful, slightly bitter aftertaste.

Exclusive technology allows us to produce a good premium drink. Light pleasant fruity shades, lack of bitterness and a soft aftertaste allow you to drink this noble drink without sugar. Caffeine-free flavors are also available. Medium roast, a huge range of flavors that will satisfy everyone's preferences. An excellent option for those who watch their body and count calories.

CARTE NOIRE

Freeze-dried coffee CARTE NOIRE It has a high caffeine content - 4%. Pleasant, slightly bitter with a rich, unique coffee aroma. A premium drink for true connoisseurs of strong black coffee.

BUSHIDO

All blends contain ideally selected grains from Africa and Indonesia. Interesting chocolate-coffee aftertaste and high caffeine content - 3.2%. There are no calories. This brand is the most expensive and at the same time popular.

Jardin

Jardin brand coffee from Kenya Delicate flavors of fruit and vanilla, floral aroma. The strength is medium, pleasant, with a slight subtle aroma. Jardin is distinguished by the ability to easily select the degree of roasting and the type of blend based on digital designations.

Davidoff

Davidoff has a clear and bright taste of dark chocolate, a light aftertaste and low calorie content. A good choice for true coffee lovers.

Which coffee is better: granulated or freeze-dried?

This question can be answered from different points of view.

From the point of view of the benefits of the drink, there is no difference . Instant coffee is a product of modern industrial production, which is very distantly related to a natural drink. In this sense, the freeze-dried and granular types are equally questionable. Suffice it to say that all the latest data on the dangers of coffee for the stomach and digestion were obtained specifically for the instant drink.

Taste . The taste is affected by compliance with technology and the composition of flavors. Freeze-dried coffee is additionally processed with aroma and taste enhancers, so many users find it more enjoyable than granulated coffee. There is another aspect of perception - psychological. Neat, light-colored coffee granules are visually perceived by the brain as carriers of a more pleasant and mild taste than untidy dark lumps of granular coffee.

Appearance . Freeze-dried coffee looks better than granulated coffee, and premium packaging further emphasizes the difference.

Price . Freeze-dried coffee is usually more expensive than granulated coffee.

All other things being equal, freeze-dried coffee is still preferable to granulated coffee. Well-flavored varieties have a relatively mild taste and aroma similar to natural ones.

We wrote in detail about choosing a specific brand of instant coffee in the article here.

Possible harm

Medical studies have proven that the harm of freeze-dried coffee is more likely than its benefit. This is especially true for lovers of a morning cup of aromatic drink. The tannins contained in the composition aggressively affect the walls of the stomach, often leading to the development of gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Another unpleasant phenomenon is nerve thinning. In the fight for adrenaline and a surge of vigor, you can easily forget about the dosage, which leads to increased excitability, which ultimately develops into apathy. This condition may be accompanied by dizziness and insomnia.

The harm of the soluble analogue is also manifested in the leaching of potassium and calcium, which are important for the body. The first is necessary to maintain the tone of the heart muscle and the elasticity of blood vessels, and calcium deficiency leads to frequent fractures and loss of external attractiveness.

Hypertensive patients will have to avoid this drink so as not to provoke a sharp jump in blood pressure. For pregnant women, instant freeze-dried coffee is also contraindicated, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. It has been proven that the risk of miscarriage when drinking the drink increases by 30%.

From the history

The very possibility of sublimating substances was discovered in 1906. The authorship of the discovery belongs to the French biophysicist Jacques-Arsene D'Arsnoval. Research has shown that cooling and low pressure cause moisture to evaporate quickly. Under vacuum conditions, the liquid disappears almost instantly. And, as usual, the scientific discovery immediately found application in the army.

Only in the post-war years did they decide to apply innovative technology in the food sector. American researchers have determined that freezing allows products to retain the maximum beneficial composition. This was followed by many years of experiments by Nestle to introduce know-how into the coffee industry.

Experiments on sublimation of coffee were crowned with success only in 1965. This is how the first can of Nescafe Gold was released. All coffee factories were in a hurry to adopt the innovation. At the end of the 80s, almost half of the world's coffee volume was already produced by sublimation.

The best brands

It is impossible to say for sure which instant drink is the most delicious. Some people prefer bitterness in it, while others prefer sweetish sourness. The ranking of the best coffee brands includes:

1. Bushido . This is a popular Japanese brand in Russia, distinguished by high quality. Price – from 800 rubles per 100 grams. It's a lot, but the taste of the coffee is worth it. The peculiarity of Bushido is its strength, pleasant consistency, rich aroma and chocolate aftertaste.
2. Carte Noire . Many people fell in love with the drink due to its bittersweet aftertaste. The product range is represented by a wide selection. Carte Noire has soft, sour, sweet and bitter coffee. But all varieties are made from Arabica. Price – from 350 rubles per 100 grams.
3. Grandos . This German-made freeze-dried product has recently gained popularity in the domestic market. It is distinguished by high quality and rich aroma. Another distinctive feature is the absence of flavors and additives in the composition.
4. UCC . Japanese coffee representative with bright fruity notes in taste. The lack of bitterness has made the brand popular among young women. Its aftertaste is soft, mild, and its smell is pleasant and rich.
5. Russian coffee shop on shares. The quality of this domestic brand is not inferior to foreign ones. This freeze-dried drink is as close as possible to the natural one in terms of taste and aroma characteristics. It contains no additional additives or flavorings.

Bushido

UCC

Moscow coffee shop on shares

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When choosing instant coffee, be sure to pay attention to the packaging in which it is sold. It should be uniform and solid, without chips, cracks or other damage. Also check the expiration date of the product.