Instant coffee is made from coffee beans that have been roasted and ground. Coffee grounds are placed in water to extract their soluble coffee flavours. The coffee extract can then be dried in one of two ways:
Spray-drying
When spray-drying, the coffee extract is sprayed into a stream of hot air at the top of a tall cylindrical tower. As the droplets fall, they dry, becoming a fine powder by the time they reach the bottom. The powder may then be agglomerated into granules to facilitate dosage and dissolution. The quality of the aroma and flavour are preserved thanks to the very fast drying occurring during this process. Spray-drying is the most commonly used drying process.
Freeze-drying
When freeze-drying, the coffee extract is frozen to about – 40°C and cut into small pieces. The frozen coffee pieces are then dried at low temperature and under a vacuum. The quality of the aroma and flavour are protected by the very low temperature and gentle drying conditions.
Finally, the coffee can be packed into jars or sachets for you to enjoy