How about instant coffee vs ground coffee: which is cheaper? This is a common question among coffee enthusiasts and there are different opinions on this subject. People always prefer instant coffee as compared to ground coffee; however, there are pros and cons associated with both these varieties. So, in order to decide which is better, you need to keep a few things in mind.
Instant coffee is much cheaper than ground coffee too. Usually, the per cup cost of an instant cup is lower than that of brewed coffee at the same level of freshness and flavor. The price of instant coffee depends on the method of brewing it, the brand, the quality of the ingredients, and other factors.
Coffee beans must be roasted at low temperatures for a certain period of time so as to extract the full flavor from them. Roasting coffee at a high temperature destroys most of the essential oils that are present in coffee beans. Instant coffee cannot be made unless powdered or dissolved in hot water and this can make the drink expensive. Moreover, the process of roasting coffee affects its flavor and aroma. For instant preparation, you need to preheat the kettle and pour in warm water so as to boil the coffee beans. At this point, the oils from the coffee start to evaporate and hence the drink tastes bitter.
Ground coffee has been known to have a lot of health benefits, but this cannot be compared with the fresh cup of coffee, which is much healthier for your body. An added advantage of ground coffee over instant coffee in terms of convenience is that it is ready almost instantaneously and does not require any heating, boiling or filtering. You can also store it for some hours to come and enjoy a leisurely cup whenever you get the craving for it.
The instant coffee and ground coffee are both very convenient alternatives that can be made at home in the afternoon. However, when these two are compared, one can clearly see that the former cup is cheaper and more convenient. This is mainly because of its ready availability and low cost. In addition to that, a lot of companies manufacture and supply ready to drink products containing as little as 0.5 percent caffeine, as compared to a full pot of ground coffee that contains about two percent caffeine. In addition to that, freeze dried arabica instant coffee has also become a popular choice in terms of saving money, as it is cheaper and less caffeine than the regular varieties.
On the other hand, the coffee that is ground contains more caffeine and is more expensive than instant. It contains natural coffee flavor, unlike the instant type that does not have any taste at all. This means that, you do not lose out on the delicious coffee flavor, but in fact gain on it, making this option the preferred option to make coffee for your morning pick-me-up. It is also a good option if you prefer stronger flavors and do not want to go for the milder flavors of instant coffee.
In addition to that, the caffeine content in coffee drinks is directly proportional to its roast, which is also related to the amount of Arabica coffee beans used in making that particular product. The Arabica coffee beans that are used to produce this form of beverage have about two times more caffeine than the normal coffee beans that are used to make it. Therefore, depending on your requirements, you can opt for the regular (or regular) brew, but you must ensure that you opt for the caffeine content that is less than the maximum allowed in that particular brew. However, if you wish to experience the coffee with more caffeine, then you can always go in for the decaffeinated kind to achieve that.
In the end, the choice between regular coffee and instant coffee will depend entirely on your preference. If you feel that you need more caffeine to make you awake, then you can always choose the caffeinated variety. However, if you like a smoother coffee taste, then you can opt for the French press variety that uses the natural coffee powder as a medium. You simply need to pour hot water into the device, place the filter holder on top of it and let the press serve the coffee grounds right in front of you.