What is granulated coffee, difference from other types, production and rating

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

The difference between freeze-dried and granulated drinks is their production technology. As described above, the production technology for powder and granular types is very similar. But the process of making a freeze-dried drink is completely different.

The essence of this process is this. First, a coffee decoction is prepared, which is frozen at a fairly low temperature. The product is then dehydrated in a vacuum at low pressure and broken into small pieces. The result is small pyramids that have the correct shape.

Read: Ristretto – a coffee recipe for pleasure

Types of instant coffee

Instant coffee is divided into three types, which for the average person are not very different from each other, however, each type (powdered, granulated and freeze-dried) is produced using a separate technology.

The article discusses only the two highest quality types. So, what is the difference between granulated coffee and freeze-dried coffee, which one is better to choose for morning preparation in order to cheer up and enjoy the same exquisite quality, taste and aroma?

Calorie content of granulated coffee

Many people are interested in this question. The answer to this question can only make many people happy. The calorie content of granulated and any other type of instant coffee is only 2 calories.

But it’s a little early to rejoice. The thing is that additives are not taken into account. Many people like to add sugar, syrup, cream, milk, etc. to the drink. And these products are a source of calories. The exact caloric content should be found on the label of the product that is added to coffee.

Therefore, to the question: “What calorie content does coffee granules have?” It is necessary to take into account the products added to the cup, because they can be very high in calories.

Freeze-dried coffee: rating by brand

Jardin – Russian representative

The manufacturer's line includes sublimate from different varieties of Arabica. Caffeine content – ​​from 1.41% to 2.35%. The smell is bright, with fruity sourness, weakens when brewed. The taste is soft, with coffee and chocolate notes. Bitterness is inherent, but does not interrupt the aftertaste.

The granules are light brown in color, the same shape, without powder at the bottom of the jar. There is no sediment when brewing. The cost varies depending on the container, volume and variety. The price starts from 260 rubles.

What brands do you buy?

RussianForeign

Premium Moccona with a pleasant aftertaste

The brand is the property of the Douwe Egberts Corporation. Made from different types of Arabica. More often, from a whole blend. The color is slightly darker than Jardin or Jacobs, which makes this type of sublimate perceived as stronger. It contains 4-5% caffeine.

Interesting! How to roast coffee beans at home

The aroma is deep and expressive, and is not lost even after brewing. The drink has an unobtrusive bitterness and a pleasant aftertaste.

When poured with hot water, the granules dissolve well, there is no sediment. The average cost of one can is 260 rubles.

The manufacturer also produces a premium line with different scents: nutty, chocolate. The price starts from 360 rubles.

Grandos – 100% Arabica

German Grandos quality is combined with harmonious taste and aroma. The cost of one can starts from 300 rubles. This is a rare item in stores. Therefore, they purchase it online from specialized resources.

The drink harmoniously combines sourness with bitterness. A pleasant aftertaste is obtained due to the use of natural Arabica coffee.

The mixture consists of light particles of the same size, without powder at the bottom. The smell is pronounced, but not pungent.

Korean Taster's Choice on the Russian market

The brand has three types: decaffeinated, mild and strong with 4% caffeine. The price varies from 250 to 350 rubles, depending on the variety and packaging.

The color of the granules is light, the size is the same, there is no scree. Dissolves without settling. The smell is pronounced, the aftertaste is bitter if we are talking about a strong version. It is suitable for lovers of drinks without sourness.

Have you heard of this brand before?

Not really

Carte Noire – French black card

The name is translated as a black card, but this brand has nothing in common with the Russian “Black Card”. The Carte Noire brand is presented on the market in the form of custard and freeze-dried. The cost starts from 350 rubles.

The sublimate granules are light and identical in size. The aroma is pronounced, pleasant, and persists after brewing. There is no sediment. Carte Noire tastes strong, but without a cloying bitterness. The acidity is also present, since the base consists of Arabica, although it is not very pronounced.

Important! Cost does not always reflect quality. It happens that the consumer pays for the brand, but not for the properties.

"Moscow coffee shop on shares" - Russian representative in the ranking of the best

In the Russian market, this brand is among the leaders. Compared to other brands, its cost is low, but this does not affect the quality. The manufacturer classifies it as premium. The average price is 220 rubles.

The particles of the mixture are identical, with a light tint. The smell is not sharp, rich. The aftertaste is harmonious, pleasant, with a slight bitterness and sourness.

Pure Arabica is a worthy representative

There are several types of brand on the market. The Today brand includes Pure Arabica, Espresso, Enjoy, New City, Premium, Coffee Selection.

Pure Arabica is widespread among consumers. It contains 100% Arabica. The roasting of the beans is medium, which results in a harmonious taste, without excessive bitterness or acidity.

The mixture particles are the same, without powder dust. After brewing there is no sediment, it dissolves quickly. The smell is pronounced, pleasant, and remains even after pouring.

Cost from 220 rubles and above, depending on the amount of mixture in the package and container.

Interesting! Which milk is better for cappuccino?

Japanese UCC for connoisseurs

The price for a small UCC jar is 350 rubles. But the cost does not deter coffee lovers, as the drink is worth it. The use of new technologies (drying and freezing) allows us to preserve a pleasant aroma and taste.

The composition is homogeneous, light brown in color. The mixture particles are identical, without debris at the bottom. The aroma is preserved when brewed. The taste harmoniously combines bitterness with mild sourness. The aftertaste is pleasant.

Bushido with chocolate flavor

This freeze-dried coffee belongs to the premium class. The cost starts from 800 rubles.

The difference between this drink and the others is its expressive strength with chocolate notes. The mixture particles are the same size and light in color. The smell from the jar is pleasant, pronounced. When brewing, it is not lost and spreads throughout the house.

The sublimate dissolves well and does not form sediment. The bitter taste makes it difficult to drink without sugar or sweeteners.

Egoiste – Swiss quality

The cost of one can is 350-500 rubles. But Egoiste is worth it, as it is the best among instant drinks.

Sublimate granules are identical, there are no small particles or dust. The smell is rich, not pungent, and when poured with water it becomes less pronounced. The difference between this type and others is its specific aftertaste, which resembles the taste of chocolate and nuts.

Have you tried Egoiste coffee?

Not really

Jacobs Monarch for sour lovers

This good freeze-dried German coffee has been on the world market for a long time - since 1895. It is distinguished by its affordable price, which is 350 rubles. Jacobs Monarch contains 3.35% caffeine by weight, which is considered average.

The granules are smooth and do not crumble.

Expert opinion

Vadim Kudryavtsev

Coffee expert, professional barista and simply in love with this aromatic drink.

Ask the barista a question

The smell is pleasant, persistent, but when brewing it becomes insignificant. The taste is not very bright, but with pronounced sourness, which is the main difference between this brand.

The solubility of the granules is average, but without sediment and additional inclusions.

Strong Swiss Nescafe Gold

Nescafe Gold is based on Arabica, which gives the drink a high strength of 4-5%. It can be sublimated, granular and powder. Originally brought to market in powder form in 1938.

The sublimate granules are light in color and have scree at the bottom. Dissolve quickly, without unnecessary sedimentation. The smell is strong, but not harsh, and is not lost during brewing. The taste of the drink is strong and bitter.

The average price for a can of this freeze-dried coffee is 360 rubles.

Tchibo Exclusive – a mixture of Arabica and Robusta

The price of this German brand corresponds to the quality and is 300 rubles per jar. Its granules consist of a mixture of two varieties - Arabica and Robusta. This gives the drink strength and a pleasant aroma. There is less caffeine here than in the previous version - 3.1%.

The smell is expressive and remains during brewing. This drink is more harmonious in taste than Jacobs, since the sourness here is less pronounced. At the same time, there is a feeling of sufficient strength. When poured with hot water, the sublimate dissolves quickly, no sediment is observed.

Inexpensive strong MacCoffee

Of the options presented, this brand is the most affordable. The average price is 220 rubles. The manufacturer MacCoffee is better known for its 3-in-1 sachets, which contain powdered coffee with sugar and dry cream. But there is also a sublimate on the market. Supplier country: Brazil.

Interesting! How is raf different from latte and cappuccino?

Freeze-dried coffee is light brown in color, with uniform particles. A distinctive feature is a sharp aroma, but when poured with water it disappears. Solubility is average, without sediment. The taste is expressive due to the inexpensive flavors that are used in the production of the sublimate.

Maxwell House – bitter sublimate from a mixture of coffee varieties

This brand is made from a combination of two varieties - Arabica and Robusta. This gives it an expressive bitterness. It consists of small light brown particles, many small ones are present.

The smell is not very pronounced, and when brewing it becomes even less noticeable. The aroma is subtle. The taste of the drink is also unexpressed, but with an increase in the dose of coffee mixture it acquires intense bitterness. The aftertaste is sour. The cost of one can is from 220 rubles.

Negative influence

The benefits and harms of instant coffee largely depend on the intensity of use. Excessive doses of an invigorating drink lead to unpleasant short-term consequences. What harm does instant coffee cause in large quantities:

• increased blood pressure;
• insomnia;
• increased heart rate;
• nausea.

The harm of coffee increases if you drink it regularly on an empty stomach. Chlorogenic acids contained in the composition irritate the walls of the stomach and have a stimulating effect on the production of hydrochloric acid. When the stomach has nothing to digest, painful cramps occur.

To avoid abdominal pain, you should drink instant coffee with milk or cream, which weakens the effect of caffeine. It is advisable to start the coffee drinking ceremony 30 minutes after breakfast.

Freeze-dried coffee: features, manufacturing technology

The freeze-dried version is created using the dry freezing method. Natural coffee is used as a raw material for the manufacture of this product. By the way, the first stage of creating any instant coffee drink is almost identical:

1. First of all, the coffee beans are roasted, then crushed and filled with hot water;
2. For several hours, the grains are boiled in sealed containers and the accumulated steam is removed;
3. The next stage is the extraction of oils from the semi-finished product. By the way, it often coincides with the stage of removing moisture with steam;
4. Placing coffee grounds in special chambers for flash freezing. The crystals thus obtained are “drained” using vacuum chambers. To ensure that essentially coffee grounds do not lose their properties, the process is carried out very quickly;
5. The finished dry mass is crushed into small heterogeneous pyramidal granules;
6. The last stage is saturating the finished coffee with oils and adding flavorings. Well-known brands claim that they use exclusively natural ingredients for their products. True, it is not possible to verify this, since the full composition of freeze-dried coffee is rarely announced.

So, in simple terms, freeze-dried coffee is frozen, devoid of liquid, brewed natural coffee. The finished product is a dense, dry coffee mass, which is crushed to the state of not very large granules.

How to choose

A high-quality product is packaged exclusively in glass containers. Glass is able to preserve the aromas and taste of the drink.

The fact in which packaging the product is sold says a lot about the quality. For example, a cheaper option is packaged in tin cans. Cans can even give the contents a certain characteristic metallic taste.

The packaging must contain information about the manufacturer, date of manufacture and expiration date. And of course, pay attention to sealing. Return to content

Which instant coffee should you choose – sublimate or granulate?

Main criteria for choosing a product:

• manufacturer - popular brands will not risk producing low-quality products for fear of losing the trust of customers;
• Both drinks contain almost no useful substances, but sublimation allows you to save a small part, in addition, the granules are treated with natural essential oils;
• the packaging must be completely sealed; moisture getting into any of the products will lead to its spoilage; coffee is also distinguished by its ability to absorb foreign odors;
• price – quality products cannot be cheap.

Important! The choice of instant coffee should be made in accordance with personal preferences. The appearance, taste and aroma of freeze-dried and instant products are very different.

Main differences

First of all, sublimated and granulated goods differ from each other in production technologies.
In addition, organoleptic indicators are striking. Freeze-dried coffee granules are large, dense, smooth, light brown in color, and pyromide-shaped. Granular has loose granules, similar to dry coffee lumps of a dark color. The aroma of the granules depends on the additives with which the dried extract was processed. Freeze-dried smells better due to the use of natural essential oils, but the true composition of the flavoring mixture is not known. A high-quality granular product may smell better than a cheap sublimate. Taste qualities also depend on the manufacturer, brand, and product line.

The price of freeze-dried coffee is much higher than granulated coffee, due to the expensive sublimation, raw materials used, and packaging. There is no point in packaging expensive goods in cheap containers. More often, glass jars are used for sublimate, which allow you to see the contents and protect well from moisture. The packaging can also be a gift, and regular plastic bags are also available. The latter are used to reduce the cost of products or low-quality, cheap goods.

So the main differences are:

• manufacturing technology;
• appearance, taste and aroma;
• cost of production.