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What Are the Differences Between Specialty Coffee and Instant Coffee: Their Effects on Human Health

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, We know that drinking coffee, when consumed in moderation, can be extremely beneficial to our health. However, does this apply to all types of coffee? The coffee that FrontStreet Coffee mentioned as being beneficial to human health refers to espresso coffee and the currently popular pour-over coffee. These are not the common instant coffees we find in our daily lives. Today, various flavored instant coffees on the market are receiving great

We know that drinking coffee, as long as it's not excessive, is extremely beneficial to human health. But does this mean all types of coffee are good for you?

The coffee that FrontStreet Coffee refers to as beneficial to human health includes espresso coffee and the currently popular pour-over coffee. These are not the instant coffees commonly found in our daily lives. Today, various flavored instant coffees on the market have gained tremendous popularity because they not only offer the rich aroma of coffee but are also extremely convenient to brew. This is precisely why they have become so popular.

However, experts warn that excessive consumption of instant coffee is extremely detrimental to human health. First, it damages the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. The high incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases among modern people is closely related to their daily habit of drinking instant coffee. Experts point out that the main ingredient in instant coffee is non-dairy creamer, which has a very complex composition consisting mainly of glucose syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and various food additives. None of these additives are beneficial to human health. Even some major coffee brands inevitably contain various additives. Long-term consumption will seriously affect human health. Moreover, these instant coffees also contain large amounts of hydrogenated vegetable oil, which in turn contains high levels of "trans fatty acids." Excessive consumption of such coffee leads to excessive intake of trans fatty acids, thereby severely affecting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.

Second, the quality is inferior. It can be said that regardless of the brand, instant coffee quality is extremely poor. Many times, due to cost considerations, most coffee manufacturers choose Robusta coffee beans, which are primarily grown in countries such as Vietnam, Hainan and Yunnan in China, and various African nations. The raw materials for these instant coffees also contain large amounts of broken beans, spoiled beans, and poorly developed varieties. During production, they are often not screened before being directly roasted and ground. This type of coffee often merely extracts caffeine, thus lacking sufficient aroma. To compensate for this drawback, many manufacturers use large amounts of flavorings and additives to balance the taste, which makes the quality of instant coffee even more inferior.

Third, and more seriously, it can be carcinogenic. Foreign research has found that moderate consumption of pure coffee has anti-cancer effects. However, for some instant coffees, the opposite is true. The latest research shows that regular excessive consumption of instant coffee in daily life is not only extremely detrimental to human health but may even pose carcinogenic risks. Acrylamide is a carcinogenic substance, and it happens to be present in various instant coffees. Long-term consumption poses carcinogenic risks. Among the 100+ samples monitored, foods with higher acrylamide content include, in descending order: fried potato products, fried grain products, baked grain products, and instant coffee. Therefore, to protect human health, such foods should be avoided as much as possible.

Additionally, it can cause insomnia. It can be said that besides numerous additives, the most abundant substance in various instant coffees is caffeine, which is also extremely detrimental to human health. Caffeine has the effect of stimulating the central nervous system, so coffee should never be consumed before bedtime to avoid affecting normal sleep. It's best to drink it 3-4 hours before going to sleep to ensure that sleep is not affected. These are all the hazards of instant coffee.

Therefore, experts remind coffee lovers that it's best to purchase coffee beans and grind them fresh for consumption. This not only allows you to appreciate the unique natural aroma of coffee but also won't harm human health.