Instant coffee is a good and convenient “pick-me-up” for every coffee enthusiast who always faces a busy lifestyle. It can serve as a rushed morning routine for an energetic day, a must-have drink for concentration or alertness. Soluble coffee is easy to make and a time-saving solution, making it common for people to enjoy several mugs during the day.
However, the key question is “How much Instant Coffee Is A Serving? and How much caffeine consumption is suitable daily?”. To answer these questions, let’s take a look at some important information below.
What Is Instant Coffee?
There are many types of coffee around the world, and instant coffee is one of the most convenient ones. Instant coffee is made from real coffee beans through a detailed process. High-quality beans are selected, roasted, and ground into particles, then undergo a high-temperature extraction process (up to 175°C) to produce a concentrated liquid. This liquid is then dried using freeze-drying or spray-drying methods, creating the convenient instant form. Let’s take a look at a detailed production process below:
Instant coffee is often considered to be a powder that does have its advantages in terms of speed, preservation, and convenience especially when there is no brewing equipment available and one craves for just a short quick cup of coffee. It’s served as dehydrated coffee, and the only way to have a cup of coffee is to add water at high temperature into it. Therefore, it’s simple for you to have a delicious, and quick “pick-me-up” coffee mug in only 2 minutes.
How Much Instant Coffee Is A Serving Per Day?
According to The Globe Newswire in 2022, the volume of instant coffee consumption reached 1.81 million tones and is predicted to achieve 2.08 million tones in 20261. This substantial growth demonstrated the popularity and convenience of instant coffee in people’s lives. For ideal daily intake, people should consume 1 to 3 cups of coffee, with each serving being less than 12 fluid ounces.
However, people are not aware of how much instant coffee is ideally consumed per day and the downsides of excessive coffee intake. Therefore, we will cover the standard amount of caffeine consumed daily and useful information on how much caffeine is in instant coffee in each teaspoon.
Ideal Caffeine Content Consumption Daily
To provide you with deep insights into coffee consumption, it’s necessary to know the basic aspects. Specifically, the caffeine measurement can vary between packages, but in commercial settings, it usually revolves around 60 to 80 milligrams for each one. The reason for this inconsistency is because of the type of coffee beans used, the roast level, and the brewing or production process that brands employ for distinctive flavor.
Furthermore, according to the Food And Drug Administration in 2024, 400 milligrams is an ideal coffee intake daily2. It means you can consume one to three coffee mugs a day with less than 12 fluid ounces. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to note that this amount should not be applied to everyone due to the difference in people’s health conditions and caffeine absorption among people.
How Much Caffeine In A Teaspoon Vs Tablespoon of Instant Coffee?
Coffee grams can differ and impact on how many instant coffee is serving based on using teaspoons or tablespoons. One to two coffee tablespoons can contain 90 to 180 milligrams of caffeine, approximately 16 fluid ounces of coffee cup. In contrast, 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee powder contain only 30 to 90 milligrams of caffeine. Depending on your own kitchen tools, you can control the caffeine content with ease.
Health Effect of Too Much Caffeine Consumption
We all understand the health benefits of coffee, it’s normally used for alertness by stimulating your central nervous symptom. Furthermore, drinking coffee can help reduce obesity, or served as a diuretic, but less scientific research demonstrates these upsides. However, people nowadays have a tendency to overindulge. Continuing this habit for a long time can cause some negative effects, including insomnia, headaches, dizziness, fast heart rate, to name but a few3.
How Much Caffeine Is Served In Every Soluble Coffee Brand?
The instant coffee caffeine amount in every coffee shop is served differently. Modern coffee cups are innovated and upgraded to enrich customer’s experience. To delve deeper into how many instant coffee is serving and caffeine volume in each size, let’s discover some popular coffee brands here:
| Coffee Cups | Average Serving Size | Caffeine (mg) |
| Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee with Turbo Shot | Large, 20 fluid ounces | 436 |
| Dunkin’s Donuts Coffee | Medium, 14 fluid ounces | 178 |
| Dunkin’ Donuts Cappuccino | Large, 20 fluid ounces | 151 |
| Dunkin’ Donuts, Panera, or Starbucks Decaf Coffee | 16 fluid ounces | 15-25 |
| Panera Frozen Mocha | 16.5 fluid ounces | 267 |
| Panera Coffee | Regular, 16.8 fluid ounces | 189 |
| Starbucks Caffè Americano | Grande, 16 fluid ounces | 225 |
| Starbucks Espresso Frappuccino | Venti, 24 fluid ounces | 185 |
| Starbucks Iced Coffee | Grande, 16 fluid ounces | 165 |
| Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino | Venti, 24 fluid ounces | 140 |
| Starbucks VIA House Blend Instant Coffee | 1 packet, makes 8 fluid ounces | 135 |
| Starbucks Caffè Mocha | Grande, 16 fluid ounces | 175 |
| McDonald’s coffee | Large, 16 fluid ounces | 133 |
| Keurig Coffee K-Cup, all varieties | 1 cup, makes 12 fluid ounces | 75-150 |
| International Delight Iced Coffee | 8 fluid ounces | 76 |
In addition to instant coffee packets or coffee shop servings, there are also ready-to-drink instant coffee cans available. Each can offers a different amount of, as follows:
| Coffee Bottles or Cans | Average Serving Size | Caffeine (mg) |
| Death Wish Coffee Co. Unsweetened Cold Brew | 8 fluid ounces | 300 |
| Starbucks Black Unsweet Cold Brew | 12 fluid ounces | 195 |
| Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino | 13.7 fluid ounces | 110 |
| Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino | 13.7 fluid ounces | 105 |
| High Brew Nitro Black Cold Brew | 10 fluid ounces | 200 |
| La Colombe Triple Shot Draft Latte | 9 fluid ounces | 175 |
| Chameleon Organic Cold-Brew Original Oat Milk Latte | 12 fluid ounces | 100 |
| Silk Espresso Almond & Oat Latter | 12 fluid ounces | 95 |
The Difference between Instant Coffee And Ground Coffee
| Aspect | Instant Coffee | Ground Coffee |
| Preparation time | 1 to 2 minutes (just add boil water) | 5 to 10 minutes |
| Flavor | Milder, less complex | Richer, more complex |
| Convenience | Highly convenient, no brewing equipment needed | Requires a coffee maker, filter, or brewing method |
| Caffeine Content | 30-90 mg per 1-2 teaspoons | 90-180 mg per 1-2 tablespoons |
| Storage | Easy to store, usually in airtight containers | Needs proper storage to preserve freshness |
| Price | More affordable | More expensive depending on the variety |
The comparison between instant coffee and ground coffee
There are two key differences between instant coffee and ground coffee, the production process and brewing methods. Instant coffee is finely ground, brewed, and then dehydrated into a soluble powder, whereas ground coffee consists of roasted coffee beans ground into small particles. In addition, instant coffee only needs hot water to dissolve, making it fast and convenient, while ground coffee requires a machine, such as a coffee maker or French press.
When it comes to flavor, there’s no doubt that ground coffee will provide a richer, more complex taste, while instant coffee provides a milder option that some individuals may prefer. Moreover, instant coffee is dehydrated so it can have a longer shelf life, while ground coffee seems to lose freshness faster and requires careful storage to maintain its quality.
Final Thought
After reading this article, you will be able to determine how much instant coffee is a serving in any coffee shop. In addition, you can have a clear understanding on how much caffeine you should consume daily, whether it’s your own makings, coffee shops servings, or canned options. It’s essential to know your body absorption, health in order not to overindulge in coffee.
- Research and Markets (2022) Global Instant Coffee Market Report 2022-2027: Growth of high end cafe chains and coffee capsule driving demand, GlobeNewswire News Room. Available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/06/29/2471098/28124/en/Global-Instant-Coffee-Market-Report-2022-2027-Growth-of-High-End-Cafe-Chains-and-Coffee-Capsule-Driving-Demand.html. ↩︎
- Commissioner, O. of the (2024) Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much. ↩︎
- Caffeine (no date) MedlinePlus. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html. ↩︎
