Coffee culture

What's the Difference Between Coffee Grounds and Instant Coffee? How Do Their Brewing Methods Differ?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style) Coffee grounds are coffee beans ground into powder, containing a large amount of insoluble substances; instant coffee is water-soluble granules made through special processes using extracted coffee. The most basic brewing method for coffee grounds is the drip method, using filter paper or flannel etc. for filtering

Professional Coffee Knowledge Exchange

For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

Coffee Powder vs. Instant Coffee

Coffee powder is ground from coffee beans and contains a large amount of insoluble substances; instant coffee consists of water-soluble granules made from extracted coffee through special processing techniques.

Brewing Methods

The most basic brewing method for coffee powder is the drip method, where filter paper or flannel filters hold the coffee powder while hot water flows through it to extract the coffee; instant coffee can be directly dissolved in hot water for drinking.

Composition Differences

Coffee powder is made by grinding roasted coffee beans. Water (either hot for brewing or cold for cold extraction) passes through the coffee powder, extracting aromatic substances, caffeine, and other compounds from the ground coffee, which dissolve in the water to form coffee liquid, while solid substances remain insoluble in water.

Instant coffee is produced by evaporating the water from already extracted coffee liquid and then processing it into granules.

Extraction vs. Reconstitution

Therefore, brewing with coffee powder is generally called extraction. There are many extraction methods for coffee powder: pressure extraction (espresso), pour-over, siphon, cold brew, cold drip, and so on.

Brewing instant coffee, logically speaking, should be called reconstitution.

Temperature Requirements

Coffee powder has specific requirements for extraction water temperature (90-95°C). Instant coffee has no such requirements.

About FrontStreet Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online shop services: https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

0