The Coffee Machine

 
Have you ever wondered how instant coffee came to be? We’ve all used it at one time or another, even though coffee snubs would turn their noses at the thought. So who created this dark, mysterious, water soluble powder?

Instant coffee is said to have been invented in Britain in the 1770s. During the Civil War an experimental version is believed to have been tested on the field. In 1901 a Japanese man developed the first successful technique for manufacturing instant coffee.

In America instant coffee was mass produced for the first time in 1910, where the general public opinion was that it had quite a disagreeable taste. Around 1938 Nescafe began co-drying coffee extract along with an equal amount of soluble carbohydrate – this improved the taste dramatically. Instant coffee is now freeze dried to retain optimum taste; this process began in the 1960s.

The biggest niche market for instant coffee was the military. A much-needed caffeine boost on the battlefield could now be easily consumed. By the time World War 2 was in progress, instant coffee had become very popular with the soldiers.

Instant coffee still has its place in today’s market. How many times have unexpected visitors popped around, when you’ve had no fresh coffee in your pantry? Instant coffee is great in recipes like mocha cookies or cappuccino frosting. Always readily available, it’s a good substitute when you can’t get the real thing.