While instant coffee does not make the best tasting basic black cup of coffee, it is a great ingredient for many instant coffee recipes. Read to find out how.
Easy to find and requiring nothing more than hot water to brew, instant coffee is a convenient and inexpensive product to keep on hand. Unfortunately, the coffee that instant coffee crystals make isn’t as good as brewed coffee made from ground coffee, but it will do in a pinch.
Even if you do not use instant coffee for drinking plain, it is a great component for many recipes, creating recipes for exotic coffee drinks that you may only find at a coffee shop.
1. Dalgona Coffee Recipe
Also known as whipped coffee, dalgona coffee takes instant coffee and whips it into a froth to create a fluffy, creamy drink from just a few ingredients and a few minutes of prep time. This recipe was quite popular on Korean social media for years, and during the 2020 quarantines, videos for making whipped coffee became popular worldwide on apps like TikTok.
Dalgona Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Glass
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp instant coffee crystals
- 8 oz milk or non-dairy alternative
- Ice
Instructions
- Add the hot water, sugar, and instant coffee to a mixing bowl.
- Stir until the coffee and sugar dissolve.
- Use an electric hand mixer to whip the mixture for four to five minutes until soft peaks form.
- Pour the cold milk into a glass over the ice cubes. Spoon several dollops of whipped coffee over the milk.
2. Homemade Latte Recipe
If your favorite Starbucks drink is a latte, you may want to try this recipe. Our latte recipe can be made without any special coffee machines. While a milk frother is helpful, if you don’t have one, you can use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment or a hand whisk.
Homemade Latte Recipe
Equipment
- Large bowl/mason jar
- Milk frother
- Mugs
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup dried milk powder
- 6 oz hot water
- 1/2 tbsp instant coffee
- 2 tsp sugar
- 4 oz boiling water
Instructions
- Add the milk powder to a small, deep mixing bowl or a mason jar and slowly pour the hot water into the bowl.
- Froth the milk until light and fluffy.
- Divide the milk froth between two coffee mugs, but reserve a bit for topping the drinks.
- In a small bowl or jar, stir together the instant coffee, sugar, and boiling water until the coffee and sugar are dissolved.
- Divide this mixture between the two mugs. Use the remaining milk froth to top your beverages.
3. Frappé Recipe
A frappé is a coffee recipe that is lightly sweetened, cool, and creamy. It is a perfect beverage for hot summer days when ice cream or a milkshake seems too heavy and sweet.
Frappé Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
- Tall glass
- Straw
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp instant coffee
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 1 cup cold milk
- 2-3 tbsp sugar
- Ice
- Coffee creamer optional
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a blender and blend until light and frothy.
- Pour the frappé into a tall glass and serve.
Final Word on Instant Coffee Recipes
Don’t turn up your nose at instant coffee. It can be a very useful ingredient for making your own coffee drinks at home, avoiding the cost of going to Starbucks or other coffee shops. With our instant coffee recipes, you can enjoy tasty, beautiful coffee drinks created in your own kitchen with inexpensive, easy-to-find instant coffee.
FAQs About Our Instant Coffee Recipes
Do I have to stick to the instant coffee recipes?
No, you can tweak any of these recipes to make them your own. You can add chocolate syrup to your frappé or coffee dalgona for a mocha twist, or you can add hot chocolate powder to your latte to have a tasty chocolate version of the drink. Adding a splash of vanilla extract will give a vanilla flavor to any of these drinks.
What brand of instant coffee should I use?
You should use the best instant coffee that you can afford. Nescafe is a good brand that is enjoyed all over the world. You may want to try other brands, available on Amazon or at other coffee retailers, and sample which ones you like best.
Why should I mix instant coffee with hot water instead of cold water?
Even if you are making a cold coffee drink from instant coffee, you should still use hot water to dissolve the instant coffee crystals. They may not dissolve as well in cold water.
