5 Things You Might Not Know About Instant Coffee

Jump to section:
Instant coffee isn’t one-size-fits-all
You don’t have to start from scratch to go soluble
Instant coffee may contribute to a lower carbon footprint per serving
Shelf life and stability open up new possibilities
Quality is catching up. Fast.
Where does Sucafina Instant fit in? 

-- 

Instant coffee hasn’t traditionally been a key focus for most roasters and green coffee buyers, but the instant coffee market is growing at a rapid pace, and in recent years, many have seen it as an opportunity to reach a broader customer base. 

Instant isn’t as straightforward as it might seem, though. A lot is happening beneath the surface of this category. It’s more technical, more versatile and more relevant than many people realize.  

Here are five facts that might change the way you think about instant coffee.

      1. Instant coffee isn’t one-size-fits-all.

There are multiple production methods for instant coffee, each resulting in distinct characteristics that influence solubility, texture, flavor and final application: 

• Spray-dried coffee is created by atomizing liquid coffee extract into a stream of hot air, which quickly evaporates the water. This method is efficient and cost-effective, producing fine powders that dissolve rapidly, making it suitable for 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 product formulations as well as a widely used ingredient in the food industry. 
• Agglomerated coffee is made by partially rehydrating spray-dried powder and drying it again to form larger, more uniform granules. This enhances solubility and creates a more appealing texture for consumers. Agglomeration adds an additional processing step, slightly increasing production cost, but offers a middle ground between spray- and freeze-dried. 
• Freeze-dried coffee involves freezing the liquid coffee extract and using vacuum sublimation to remove water. This gentler process helps preserve more of the coffee’s original aroma and flavor compounds, making it suitable for premium or specialty applications. While more expensive to produce, freeze-drying offers flexibility in smaller batch sizes, allowing for differentiated offerings such as single origins or limited editions.

Choosing the right method depends not only on sensory targets but also on scale, budget and intended end use, from large-volume institutional supply to niche retail concepts.

      2. You don’t have to start from scratch to go soluble. 

Instant coffee isn’t just a finished product; it’s also an ingredient. With its long shelf life, concentrated flavor and consistent solubility, soluble coffee is being used in increasingly diverse formats, including ready-to-drink beverages, coffee concentrates, mixes and functional products*.  

This versatility means that even businesses focused on roast and ground coffee can expand into new categories without radically changing their supply chain. 

Moreover, advancements in extraction and drying technology now allow soluble manufacturers to maintain key attributes of the original coffee, such as origin characteristics, aroma and body, when converting it into soluble form. This makes it easier for brands to extend their identity into convenient, high-quality offerings that meet modern consumer expectations around functionality and sustainability. 

      3. Instant coffee may contribute to a lower carbon footprint per serving. 

While the production of instant coffee involves energy-intensive steps such as extraction and drying, the overall environmental impact per cup can actually be lower than that of roasted and ground coffee. One key reason is efficiency: less green coffee is required to produce a single cup of soluble coffee, reducing the upstream emissions associated with cultivation, processing and transport. Some studies suggest that each cup may require up to 7 grams less green coffee, leading to measurable reductions in carbon emissions across the supply chain.  

      4. Shelf life and stability open up new possibilities. 

Instant coffee’s long shelf life, typically 24 months or more under proper storage conditions, makes it an ideal solution for a wide range of uses beyond traditional retail. Its stability and ease of preparation make it especially valuable in contexts where durability and convenience are essential. From global e-commerce and export markets to travel kits, emergency rations, and outdoor consumption, soluble coffee offers practical advantages across diverse channels. It also plays a critical role in ready-to-drink formulations, where consistent solubility, microbiological safety, and flavor reliability are key to product development. This versatility opens doors for brands looking to innovate while maintaining efficiency and quality.

      5. Quality is catching up. Fast. 

Historically, instant coffee has been associated with lower sensory quality. However, this perception is gradually shifting. Improvements in processing technology, combined with the use of higher-quality green coffee, are enabling the production of instant coffees that better retain origin characteristics and offer more nuanced flavor profiles. 

Some formats now approximate espresso-like intensity or deliver unexpected depth and complexity. As a result, instant is increasingly being explored by specialty roasters and innovators looking to extend access to their coffees, reduce barriers to preparation, or create functional beverages. 

Where does Sucafina Instant fit in? 

While soluble coffee is not intended to replace roast and ground, it can serve as a complementary format, broadening access, improving convenience and supporting innovation across different segments of the coffee industry.   

Our team supports the full value chain, working with a variety of instant coffee types, profiles, origins, and packaging formats. By sourcing certified, traceable green coffee and partnering with multiple manufacturers across coffee producing countries, we can adapt to different market requirements. 

Because we’re not tied to a single facility, we can offer greater flexibility – whether that’s developing custom blends, supporting private label initiatives, or helping to formulate ready-to-drink beverages. This approach is especially useful for businesses looking to expand their product lines or keep pace with changing consumer preferences. 

Interested in exploring the potential of instant coffee further? Reach out. 

* coffees infused with ingredients that claim to provide health benefits