Best Instant Espresso Powder for Baking and Drinks
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The best instant espresso powder for baking and quick espresso drinks, with recipes and substitutes.
The best instant espresso powder for baking is King Arthur Espresso Powder: a fine, concentrated powder that deepens chocolate flavor in brownies, cookies, cakes and frostings without making them taste like coffee, sold in a 3 ounce reusable jar. For drinking, NESCAFà Gold Espresso Intense is the best choice, a golden roasted Arabica instant espresso that makes a shot with café style crema from one teaspoon and 2 ounces of water.
Instant espresso powder is espresso that has been brewed and dried into very fine, dark granules. It dissolves quickly and gives a strong coffee flavor in a small amount, which makes it useful for both baking and quick espresso style drinks. Below we compare four options, then explain how instant espresso powder differs from instant coffee, how to use it in baking and drinks, substitutes, storage and answers to common questions. Every pick sells new on Amazon.
Best Instant Espresso Powder: Our Top Picks
Our top pick for baking is King Arthur Espresso Powder, and for drinking it is NESCAFà Gold Espresso Intense, followed by Café Bustelo Instant for bold Cuban style flavor. We compared intended use, roast, grind fineness, bean type, jar size and how widely each product is bought and kept. Instant espresso options are limited on Amazon, so the table focuses on four well documented products.
King Arthur Espresso Powder: Best Instant Espresso Powder for Baking
King Arthur Espresso Powder is the best instant espresso powder for baking because it is made specifically to boost chocolate. King Arthur says it intensifies chocolate recipes and adds depth and richness to brownies, cookies and cakes without imparting a coffee taste.
King Arthur recommends adding 1/2 to 2 teaspoons to chocolate baked goods or frosting, and it also works in sauces. The powder comes in a 3 ounce reusable plastic jar and is Kosher certified. King Arthur has been a baking brand since 1790.
- Made for baking, boosts chocolate flavor
- Use 1/2 to 2 teaspoons per recipe
- 3 ounce reusable jar, Kosher
The limitation is that it is designed as a baking ingredient, not a drink. Skip it if you want instant espresso to sip. Expect to pay around $10.
NESCAFĂ Gold Espresso Intense: Best Instant Espresso for Drinking
NESCAFà Gold Espresso Intense is the best instant espresso for drinking. NESCAFà describes an intense, rich flavor with café style crema for a velvety, smooth taste, made from golden roasted Arabica beans.
To make an espresso, stir one teaspoon into 2 fluid ounces of water; for a larger cup, use 6 fluid ounces. It is a quick way to make an espresso style shot or a latte base without a machine.
- Golden roasted Arabica instant espresso
- Café style crema
- 1 teaspoon per 2 ounces for a shot, 3.5 ounce jar
The limitation is that it is a granulated instant coffee rather than a fine baking powder. It still works in baking if dissolved first. Skip it if you want the strongest possible flavor for desserts. Expect to pay around $10.
Café Bustelo Espresso Style Instant Coffee: Best Bold Instant Espresso
Café Bustelo Instant is the best instant espresso for people who like a dark, bold, Latin style cup. Café Bustelo describes a dark roast espresso style coffee with a full bodied, bold yet nuanced flavor.
It prepares instantly with hot water or milk and a stir, and the 1.75 ounce jar keeps it fresh. It is great for café con leche, cortaditos and mocha style drinks.
- Dark roast espresso style instant
- Full bodied, bold flavor
- Mixes with hot water or milk, 1.75 ounce jar
The limitation is the small jar. Skip it if you use instant espresso daily and want a large container. Expect to pay around $15.
NESCAFĂ Gold Espresso Blonde: Best Mild Instant Espresso
NESCAFĂ Gold Espresso Blonde is the best instant espresso for people who prefer a smoother, lighter shot. It uses golden roasted Arabica and makes a velvety espresso with cafĂ© style crema, according to NESCAFĂ, using the same one teaspoon to 2 ounces ratio.
- Lighter, smoother espresso flavor
- Café style crema
- 3.5 ounce jar
The limitation is that its mild flavor is less effective in chocolate baking. Skip it if you want bold coffee flavor. Expect to pay around $10.
What Is Instant Espresso Powder?
Instant espresso powder is espresso that has been brewed, dried and ground into a very fine, dark powder that dissolves instantly. It is more concentrated than regular instant coffee, so a small amount delivers a strong coffee or chocolate boosting flavor.
Baking powders like King Arthur are finer and darker and are meant to be stirred into batter or dissolved in a recipe's liquid. Drinking instant espressos like NESCAFĂ Gold Espresso are granules designed to make a small, strong cup with crema.
Instant Espresso Powder vs Instant Coffee
Instant espresso powder is darker, finer and more concentrated than instant coffee. Instant coffee is made from regular brewed coffee and tastes milder, so you need more of it for the same flavor. In baking, espresso powder gives a deeper flavor with less volume, while instant coffee can be used in a pinch at about twice the amount. For everyday cups, see our guide to the best coffee beans for espresso if you want to brew real espresso at home.
How to Use Instant Espresso Powder in Baking
Add 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder to chocolate recipes to deepen the chocolate flavor without a strong coffee taste. Use the higher amount if you want a noticeable mocha flavor.
- Brownies and chocolate cake: add 1 to 2 teaspoons with the dry ingredients or dissolve it in the hot liquid.
- Chocolate chip cookies: add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon to the dough.
- Frosting and ganache: dissolve 1 teaspoon in a little hot cream or water first.
- Tiramisu: dissolve 2 to 3 tablespoons in about 1 cup of hot water to soak ladyfingers.
- Spice rubs: add a teaspoon to rubs for beef or pork for depth.
How to Make Espresso Drinks With Instant Espresso
To make a quick espresso, stir 1 teaspoon of instant espresso into 2 ounces of hot water. For a latte, mix 1 to 2 teaspoons with 2 ounces of hot water and top with 6 to 8 ounces of steamed or frothed milk. For an iced latte, dissolve the espresso in a splash of hot water, then add cold milk and ice.
A handheld milk frother makes foam in seconds. For a real espresso machine experience, see our guide to the best espresso machine.
Easy Recipes With Instant Espresso Powder
Instant espresso powder is the fastest way to add coffee flavor to drinks and desserts. These simple ideas each take a few minutes.
Quick Mocha
Stir 1 teaspoon of instant espresso and 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder into 2 ounces of hot water, add sugar to taste, then top with 6 ounces of hot frothed milk.
Affogato
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of instant espresso in 2 ounces of hot water and pour it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It is a classic Italian dessert that takes one minute.
Espresso Whipped Cream
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of instant espresso in 1 teaspoon of hot water, cool it, then whip it into 1 cup of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Serve on cakes, pies or hot chocolate.
Mocha Overnight Oats
Stir 1/2 teaspoon of instant espresso and a spoon of cocoa into oats, milk and a little maple syrup, then refrigerate overnight for a coffee flavored breakfast.
Instant Espresso Powder Substitutes
The best substitute for instant espresso powder is instant coffee at about twice the amount, or finely ground dark roast coffee in small amounts. Strong brewed espresso or coffee can replace some of the liquid in a recipe. Cocoa powder adds chocolate depth but not coffee flavor. Avoid using regular ground coffee in smooth frostings, since it stays gritty.
Can You Make Instant Espresso Powder at Home?
Yes. Spread used or fresh espresso grounds on a baking sheet, dry them in an oven at about 170 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour or until fully dry, then grind them to a very fine powder in a spice grinder. Homemade powder works for baking but does not dissolve like commercial instant espresso, so it is best in batters and rubs rather than frostings or drinks.
How to Store Instant Espresso Powder
Store instant espresso powder in an airtight jar in a cool, dry pantry, away from humidity and heat. Moisture makes it clump and lose flavor. Always use a dry spoon. It keeps its flavor for many months, but replace it if it hardens or smells flat. Our guide to the best coffee canister covers airtight containers for coffee. Browse more coffee in our ground coffee section, or compare brewers in our best drip coffee maker guide.
Common Mistakes With Instant Espresso Powder
The most common mistake is adding too much to a recipe, which makes desserts bitter. Start with a small amount and taste. Another is stirring powder directly into thick frosting, which can leave specks; dissolve it in a little hot liquid first. Using regular instant coffee at the same amount as espresso powder gives a weaker result, so double it. Finally, storing the jar near the stove lets heat and steam ruin it.
How We Chose
We chose these instant espresso powders by comparing intended use, roast, fineness, bean type, jar size and how widely each product is bought and kept. This guide is based on research of product listings and owner feedback rather than in-person trials, and every product sells new on Amazon.
FAQs About Instant Espresso Powder
Is espresso powder the same as instant coffee?
No. Espresso powder is darker, finer and more concentrated. Instant coffee tastes milder, so you need about twice as much as a substitute.
Will espresso powder make my brownies taste like coffee?
Not in small amounts. King Arthur says its powder deepens chocolate without a coffee taste. Use 2 teaspoons or more for a mocha flavor.
Can I drink espresso powder?
Drinking instant espressos like NESCAFĂ Gold Espresso are made for it. Baking powders like King Arthur dissolve too, but they are designed for recipes.
How much instant espresso equals a shot?
About 1 teaspoon of instant espresso in 2 ounces of hot water makes a quick shot, per NESCAFĂ's directions.
Does instant espresso powder have caffeine?
Yes. A teaspoon has roughly as much caffeine as a small cup of coffee, though the amount varies by brand.
Where is espresso powder in the grocery store?
It is usually in the baking aisle near cocoa or the coffee aisle near instant coffee. Online, it is easy to find in small jars.
Final Verdict
The best instant espresso powder for baking is King Arthur Espresso Powder, which deepens chocolate flavor without a coffee taste. For drinking, choose NESCAFà Gold Espresso Intense for a rich shot with crema, Café Bustelo Instant for bold Latin style coffee and NESCAFà Gold Espresso Blonde for a milder cup.