What is freeze-dried coffee?
Freeze-dried coffee is the result of an upgraded version of instant coffee. It is a powder that is condensed by freezing the extracted coffee liquid at a very low temperature, sublimating it to remove ice, and then drying it.
Is freeze dried coffee considered instant coffee?
The answer is "belongs". First of all, let's talk about the concept of "instant coffee", as long as the coffee dissolves in water, it can be called "instant coffee", whether it is a three-in-one with non-dairy creamer, or the so-called "freeze-dried" black coffee in powder form or large granules.
The processing process of instant coffee can be roughly divided into: green bean processing - roasting - grinding - extraction - concentration - drying, the difference lies in the latter three processes.
The difference is that some are hot extraction, some are cold extraction, some are spray dried, and some are lyophilized. Instant is actually a general term, and there are several classifications under it, hot extract spray drying, hot extract freeze drying, cold brew spray drying, cold brew freeze drying.
5 processing processes for instant coffee
High temperature spray drying
Born in 1938, the first instant coffee invented by Nestlé overcame the problem of not being able to preserve coffee beans for a long time for Brazil, a coffee powerhouse.
Most of the instant coffee in the supermarket is sprayed dry at high temperatures, and the liquid coffee is sprayed in very hot and dry air, and the heat quickly evaporates the water in the coffee, making it instantly a powder or small pieces.
Xiang Xiang
On the basis of the spray drying method, the aromatic substances of coffee volatilized at high temperature are collected and added to the instant coffee product.
freeze drying
In 1965, Nestlé revolutionized the production of instant coffee by using freeze-drying to create a more advanced instant coffee. FD freeze-drying (i.e., vacuum freeze-drying), a widely used instant coffee production technology today, is optimized on Nestlé's freeze-drying method.
The coffee extract is frozen, cut into small pieces, and then dried at low temperatures under vacuum. It avoids the damage of the high-temperature drying process to the coffee quality, and retains the flavor and taste of the roasted coffee intact.
"Cold brew" lyophilization
The popular "cold brew" freeze-dried coffee is different from ordinary freeze-dried coffee, which uses hot water to extract and concentrate.
Instead, low-temperature extraction and concentration are used to preserve the flavor of the coffee to a greater extent, which takes longer and costs more and is more expensive.
Traditional instant coffee
Traditional instant coffee is extracted by high-temperature steam, and the water is evaporated into very fine particles, which is often referred to as "fog-dry" instant coffee powder.
However, the instant coffee processed in this way has very little aroma, and most of it runs away with the evaporation of water.
The taste of the products processed by traditional instant coffee is relatively light, so some additives such as creamer, non-dairy creamer, and white sugar are often added to make the coffee taste better.
Advantages of freeze-dried coffee
Rich taste: Freeze-dried coffee is made by freeze-drying method, and the extremely low temperature processing method can retain the original flavor and nutrients of coffee beans to the greatest extent, and the taste can be comparable to hanging ear coffee.
Long shelf life: The production process of freeze-dried coffee can remove more than 95~99% of the water, and under the sealed packaging, the freeze-dried coffee can be stored for a long time and is not easy to deteriorate.
Easy to carry: small size, light weight, easy to carry. Simply add cold/hot water and drink as you go.
Suitable for all kinds of people: freeze-dried coffee does not contain additives, suitable for all kinds of people to drink with confidence, and individual groups need to pay attention to controlling their intake.
Various brewing methods: freeze-dried coffee can be brewed in a variety of ways, with ice and milk are delicious, and the concentration and taste can be adjusted according to personal taste, and various fancy combinations can be made.