When Was the First Instant Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

Instant coffee has been a staple in breakfasts around the world for decades. But how long has it been around? After all, instant coffee doesn’t grow in nature, so someone had to invent it! Well, instant coffee was invented in 1851 during the American Civil War, where “cakes” of coffee that could be added to water instantly were given as rations to American soldiers. 

There’s so much to know about the rich history of instant coffee! Read on to find out everything you want to know about instant coffee, and get an answer to the question: When was the first instant coffee?

When was instant coffee invented?

Instant coffee was first invented in 1851. This was during the American Civil War, and it was widely distributed amongst the ranks of soldiers on both sides of the conflict. 

Across the sea, David Strang invented and patented instant soluble coffee in 1890 in Invercargill, New Zealand. 

This means that instant coffee was “invented” multiple times, so it’s hard to pin down where it was actually invented. That being said, it was first seen and used, as far as we know, during the American Civil War in the US, so it’s a safe bet that this is where and when it was first invented. 

Why was instant coffee invented?

Instant coffee was invented to be able to be used quickly and on the go. After all, in the 1800s, there was no McDonald’s or Starbucks that you could stop at for coffee. This meant that you always had to brew your own.

For people like soldiers, it was given in rations. However, not everyone wants their coffee at the same time. This created the need for coffee that could be made quickly and easily wherever you were standing, and so instant coffee was born. 

Who invented instant coffee?

Several individuals are credited with the invention of instant coffee. 

John Dring

First, there was John Dring, an Englishman who patented the “coffee compound” in 1771. This was a coffee powder that could make coffee quickly, and so was a predecessor to the instant coffee we know today. 

Satori Kato

A Japanese inventor named Satori Kato also found a way to separate the oils from coffee and create instant coffee between 1890 and 1901 and was awarded a US patent for instant coffee in 1903. 

Alphonse Allais

Then there was Alphonse Allais, the French writer who is also credited with the invention of instant coffee, as he got a patent for it from the French government in 1881. However, whether he actually did invent anything or not is speculation as he was an absurdist humorist who was constantly proposing silly inventions as a gag. 

Others

There was also George Washington. No, not that George Washington. George Constant Washington, a Belgian living in Guatemala, invented his own instant coffee powder in 1906. 

Finally, there was David Strang in New Zealand, whose story we have already gone over. 

As you can see, there are quite a few who are credited with actually inventing instant coffee. However, it’s hard to pin down who to actually give the credit to, as each invention was at a different time and was slightly different than the instant coffee we see today. 

Is Nescafe the first instant coffee?

No, Nescafe was never the first instant coffee to be invented or even to be marketed. However, it is the first to use the spray-drying process, which maintained the flavor of the coffee far better than any instant coffee process before.

This made Nescafe the first instant coffee to be widely popular among consumers, as it still tasted how they wanted their coffee to taste. 

How much did instant coffee cost in 1920?

Instant coffee was extremely cheap in the 1920s, being about 2 cents per cup to brew in the comfort of your own home. To put things in a modern perspective, that would be about 24 cents per cup if you adjusted for inflation today. 

Is instant coffee made from real coffee?

Instant coffee is made from dried coffee extract, which can only be made from real coffee. So yes, although it’s gone through a number of processes, instant coffee is still real coffee. It has all of the same effects on your body such as increased energy and many of the same health benefits as coffee as well. 

What is freeze-dried coffee?

Freeze-dried coffee is instant coffee that is made by taking the coffee concentrate freezing it, then putting it into a vacuum, drying it out. This coffee can then be used on-demand simply by adding hot water. This quickly became an incredibly popular method of mass-producing instant coffee.

When was freeze-dried coffee invented?

Freeze-dried coffee was invented in the early 1960s and first hit the shelves in 1963, being sold by Maxwell House. It quickly came to dominate the market due to the well-preserved coffee taste, good price, and ability to mass-produce. 

Is instant coffee unhealthy?

Instant coffee has a little bit less caffeine and a touch more acrylamide than regular coffee. However, it has many of the same antioxidants and health benefits. Becasue of this, it’s considered usually to be no less healthy than regular coffee you’d brew at home or get from a coffee shop. 

However, every brand and every type of coffee is different, so be sure to read the nutrition facts on the package if you’re concerned. Likewise, it can matter what you’re putting into your instant coffee as well, as things like sugary creamers and whole milk can make instant coffee unnecessarily fatty. 

Is instant coffee widely used today?

Instant coffee is very widely used today as a quick way to make coffee in the morning. It’s not as popular as it once was due to the accessibility of easy coffee machines such as the Keurig, as well as drive-thru coffee shops like Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Dunkin’ Donuts. However, there are still plenty who love the taste and ease of use that comes with a cup of instant coffee.