Spotlight Series: What Is Instant Espresso Powder & How To Use It

• What is Instant Espresso Powder?
• Ways to Use Instant Espresso Powder
• Cooking And Baking Tips Using Instant Espresso Powder
• The Best Instant Espresso Powder Substitutes
• Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Espresso Powder

Simply put, instant espresso powder is deep, rich espresso coffee beans that are brewed and then dried to become a powder. This pre-brewed espresso powder readily dissolves in hot, near boiling water, but can also be added to chocolate desserts and baked goods. Its deep complex flavor makes chocolate desserts richer without adding any distinct coffee flavor. Just a teaspoon or two amplifies and complements chocolate flavor without imparting any distinct coffee flavor. If you prefer a mocha-style coffee flavor added to your chocolate recipes, add more espresso powder.

Instant espresso powder is best known for its role in the famed Italian dessert, Tiramisu. With this convenient instant espresso, there is no need to brew a whole pot of espresso coffee for soaking ladyfingers.

Sweet

• • Add instant espresso to anything chocolate: homemade brownies, cookies and cakes. Try it in chocolate mousse, pudding, fudge and homemade ice cream. Even give breakfast treats like pancakes and waffles a bigger chocolatey presence. Along with baked goods, instant espresso is perfect for creating cold coffeehouse-style lattes, hot cocoa and frozen drinks at home without using piping-hot brewed espresso that could weaken your icy drinks.

Savory

• • Instant espresso can be used to accent savory recipes too. Use that rich coffee flavor to enhance meat rubs for steaks, prime rib roasts, poultry, pork chops and baby back ribs. The deep, dark flavor of instant espresso shines paired with spicy and smoky flavors. Try it in chili recipes, sauces and stews to complement their spicy, sometimes fiery flavors. Wow your salsa recipes with just a teaspoon or two.

Sweet and Savory Recipes with Instant Espresso Powder

• A little goes a long way. Too much instant espresso might end up making your baked goods taste overly bitter. Just the right amount will accent chocolate desserts without a distinct coffee flavor. ½ teaspoon – 2 teaspoons is perfect to complement chocolate flavor. Add more than 2 teaspoons for a richer mocha-style coffee flavor.
• Instant espresso is a rich accent. More than just a chocolate booster, instant espresso can be added to a number of recipes to complement sweet caramel, gingerbread spices, deep fruity flavors like fig and blackberry, sea salt, sweet custards, cheeses and even citrus.
• Add to wet or dry ingredients. Instant espresso will dissolve in your wet batter or liquids, but also can be added to the dry ingredients of your baking recipes.

When it comes to instant espresso powder substitutes, you have a couple of options.

You can use instant coffee instead, but you will have to up the amount by 50%, at least. Unfortunately, instant coffee has a harsher, more bitter flavor and adding more can result in a metallic, tinny flavor—so substitute at your own risk!

Brewed espresso can provide your recipes with the same deep, pleasingly bitter notes as espresso powder, but it’s not a perfect swap. If you are using it for baking recipes, be sure to account for the increase in liquid in your batter. Your other ingredients may call for an adjustment.

Like brewed espresso, brewed coffee can serve as an instant espresso powder substitute. This swap will also require attention to the wet and dry ingredients in your baking recipes.

Can You Drink Instant Espresso Powder As A Drink?

While you can dissolve the instant espresso powder in boiling water to drink on its own (as espresso shots), it is not really made for this purpose. Espresso powder is used mostly for baking recipes to enhance chocolate flavors. We do love using DeLallo Instant Espresso Powder to create many at-home coffee drinks, though. Check out our recipe for Dalgona Whipped Coffee.

How Do I Make An Espresso Shot With Instant Espresso Powder?

We don’t recommend using it for your daily cup of joe. It’s super strong and made to accent baking recipes, but in a pinch, it will do. Simply add 1 tablespoon of the powder to 4 Tablespoons hot water.

Does Instant Espresso Powder Have Caffeine?

We guarantee a minimum of 1.8% caffeine in our product. For example, in a serving size of 2g, there would be about 36mg of caffeine. As for the calories, they come from carbohydrates, so there is slightly over 1g of carbs per serving.

Is Instant Espresso Powder The Same As Espresso Powder?

Yes, both are made from dark roast coffee beans that are brewed, dried and ground into a fine powder. Some companies choose to use the word "instant," while others do not. Both are instant, meaning they can be added as dry powder to any liquid or wet batter with no brewing necessary.

Is Instant Espresso Powder The Same As Instant Coffee?

Instant Espresso vs. Instant Coffee. Instant espresso delivers a truer darker coffee flavor than that of instant coffee. Using instant coffee in your baking recipes will not allow the rich notes to pop like instant espresso will. If you try to double up on the instant coffee for a bolder flavor, it might end up making your baking recipes taste overly bitter or tinny.

What Is The Difference Between Instant Espresso Powder And Brewed Espresso?

Instant espresso powder is essentially pre-brewed espresso. While brewed espresso can give your recipes a similar flavor as instant espresso, the flavor will not be as intense. Instant espresso powder is a more concentrated product.

What Is The Difference Between Instant Espresso Powder And Ground Espresso?

Espresso powder is not to be confused with actual ground espresso, which is just roasted beans that require brewing. This espresso is not instant and will not readily dissolve into your recipes.

What Is The Difference Between Instant Espresso Powder And Ground Coffee?

To start, coffee and espresso are two different products. Some seem to think instant espresso is just coffee beans that have been finely ground. This is not the case. The two products are not interchangeable.

Where Can I Buy Instant Espresso Powder?

To buy DeLallo Instant Espresso Powder, shop your local supermarket in the baking aisle or in the coffee aisle. You can also buy online here and we will ship it directly to your door.