5 Reasons Why Instant Coffee is Harmful For You

For most of us, coffee is fuel for life and this fuel is available in a variety of forms. Instant coffee has been a convenient way of preparing coffee since the 1900’s. Instant coffee is typically prepared by brewing roasted and ground coffee beans, after which this brewed liquid is either spray-dried or freeze-dried. This process is carried out to ensure moisture removal and yield coffee granules that are easily soluble in hot water or milk. Its popularity comes with its obvious benefits. It is not only cheaper than ground or bean coffee but also quicker and easier to prepare. But not everything about instant coffee is that good.

* Freshness and Flavor

There is simply no comparison in flavor and feel of instant coffee with fresh coffee. Once you’ve tasted freshly brewed, there is no way you will ever want to go back to instant coffee.

Most instant coffees have a bad taste because they are typically made of poor quality ingredients and a higher yield process that is economical. Cheaper and inferior quality Robusta beans are used that might even have mold or defects. These beans are then dark roasted to achieve a consistent flavor across huge batches and cover up defects, removing all uniqueness and complexity of the beans flavor.

* Less Caffeine

Caffeine is the main reason why this beverage is so popular. The way it makes us energetic and alert throughout the day is phenomenal.

Instant coffee usually contains less caffeine than regular coffee. So if you have a higher tolerance level for caffeine, instant coffee might not work out for you at all.

* Acrylamide

Instant coffee contains large amounts of a toxic compound called Acrylamide, which is a known carcinogenic. Acrylamide appears naturally in some foods during high-temperature heating, mostly fried foods. Because the presence of acrylamide wasn’t known until recently, scientists are still analyzing the extent of its dangers.

* Oxalates

Though oxalate is a natural constituent of coffee, instant coffees contains more oxalates than regular coffee. These are organic acids found in plants, animals and humans. Oxalates contribute in the formation of kidney and bladder stones. Individuals with a condition called hyperoxaluria, in which there are excessive oxalates in the urine, are restricted from eating oxalate-containing foods and drinks like instant coffee.

* Know what you Drink

When you buy freshly roasted beans from a coffee roastery you know what exactly is in them. But when you get a jar of instant coffee, you’re buying a processed product and you can never know what exactly is in it.