Instant Coffee Benefits: Is Instant Coffee Good or Bad for You?

Many of the convenience foods we like are bad for us. And we’ve all become used to that sad fact. So when it comes to the instant version of your favourite drink, you’re probably expecting to hear the same. (Spoiler alert – it’s good news!)

We explore the benefits and risks of instant coffee and how it compares to your regular brewed coffee.

Benefits of Instant Coffee: Is instant coffee good for you?

The good news for those of you that like the dried stuff is that instant coffee is simply pre-prepared coffee. This means that instant coffee has all of the health benefits that we associate with our daily cup of joe.

Instant coffee health benefits

As long as you consume it in moderation, instant coffee has plenty of benefits. This counts for both your short-term and long-term well-being.

You’re probably well aware of how coffee helps you on a daily basis. Most people drink coffee for the boost it provides. On the physical side of things, you’ll find your energy and performance are enhanced, and you’ll burn fat faster.

But it’s the long-term benefits that make coffee so good for you. Studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, and diabetes, as well as lower levels of depression (1). Despite the heavy processing involved with making instant coffee, it contains essential nutrients including vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B3, manganese, and potassium. Not bad for a simple cup of coffee, right?

Does instant coffee have antioxidants?

Java enthusiasts have long justified their consumption with the fact that coffee contains plenty of antioxidants

The manufacturing process retains most of the antioxidants in coffee. Not only that, some particular antioxidants, including phenols and flavonoids, become more concentrated (2). It’s believed that antioxidants are responsible for many of coffee’s health benefits, including preventing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Instant coffee health risks

Is instant coffee bad for you? Well, there are health risks with drinking any coffee, one of them being the caffeine’s effect on your body. While the caffeine levels are lower when talking instant coffee vs. ground coffee, it’s not necessarily a good thing.

Studies have shown that people tend to drink more instant coffee to get the kick they would get from the fresh stuff (3). Some people are susceptible to caffeine and may experience tremors, anxiety, and an upset stomach.

Acrylamide

This is one area in which instant coffee deviates from fresh coffee beans – the level of a compound known as acrylamide. Acrylamide is found in many foods, including potato chips and coffee; it is created during the roasting process. Instant coffee contains DOUBLE THE AMOUNT as regular coffee beans. Excessive amounts are shown to cause nerve damage and, in some cases, lead to cancer (4).

Beware of additives

All of the pros and cons above listed refer to plain instant coffee without milk or sugar. If you opt for anything flavoured, you’ll be dealing with additives that may have health risks, or at the very least extra calories. These include sugar, powdered milk, artificial flavouring, and even palm oil.

Final thoughts

In a nutshell, instant coffee has many of the same risks and benefits as regular coffee. But the key to getting the good without the bad is moderation.

Stick to 3-4 cups per day, and you’ll be ok.