Freeze-dried coffee: characteristics and tips for choosing

Everyone knows that coffee brewed from ground beans is much tastier and healthier, but at the same time, many people daily drink several cups of regular coffee, which can be quickly and easily dissolved in boiling water. Of course, it is convenient when there is no time and opportunity to make a natural drink. But using it, you still need to know what sublimated coffee is. Its characteristics and advice on choosing will help determine for itself which coffee is better, because there are a lot of brands of this product on the market, each has its own differences in taste and price.

Instant coffee is a well-known drink, but it also has several varieties: in the form of powder, granules and sublimated. Just the last type to taste is closer to natural coffee more than other varieties, and also has a higher value among instant drinks. Sublimated is a product that is subjected to dry freezing. This method was invented in the second half of the nineteenth century.

The process of getting many of your favorite drink is long enough and requires considerable expense. It is made in several stages, where the main is sublimation, which means the removal of moisture from products subjected to freezing. So, the production process includes the following steps:

• in the first stage, the grains are fried, and then ground to a powder;
• then the powder is sent to special sealed containers, where it is digested, being under pressure for several hours;
• when the composition is boiled down, essential oils are formed that will be needed in the last stage; therefore, they are collected using pipes through which steam escapes;
• when the freezing stage comes, the peculiarity is that it should occur very quickly; if the technology of this process is violated, the quality of the product will suffer;
• the completely dried mass is crushed into tiny pieces - these are granules, which are then visible when opening the package;
• in the last step, the coffee is supplemented with the previously obtained essential oils, which gives the drink its aroma.

Powdered coffee is different from granulated not only in appearance but also in quality. The difference lies in the process. First, the grains are roasted, and the variant of roasting is selected, which is required for the production of a certain type. The whole process takes place in special drums intended for roasting. Then industrial coffee grinders turn roasted grains into a powder consisting of small granules.

The next stage is called extraction, during which soluble particles of the coffee mass are extracted using hot water. This is similar to when ordinary ground coffee is brewed in coffee machines. The only difference is that in this case it occurs on an industrial scale. Some factories in this process pay attention to the quality of water that can be produced, for example, in artesian wells. After this, water is evaporated from the resulting extract, and then the drying process takes place in special chambers. The stream of hot air sprays the resulting composition, so it turns into a powder. Coffee can be produced in this form or in granules, for this dried powder is subjected to steam treatment.

There is no instant freezing process, but hot water is present. That's the main difference from the production of freeze-dried coffee. From this it follows that in the sublimated variant it is possible to save more useful substances. It is as close as possible to the aroma and taste of coffee beans.

The third variant of coffee is natural, which is considered the most useful, and, of course, surpasses soluble drinks in its taste. Such a long technological process allows you to make a quality product, but a natural drink that is prepared from grains at home. It has completely different characteristics, but the preparation of a drink needs to be given time - to grind the grains, to brew properly.

If we consider that one hundred grams of freeze-dried coffee contains 250 calories, we can conclude that there is a very small amount in a cup of coffee. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are also present in coffee. But for a hundred grams of coffee - it will be about fifteen grams of protein, forty grams of carbohydrates and no more than three grams of fat. On this basis, it can be concluded that in one cup of coffee without various additives in the form of milk, cream and sugar there are quite a few nutrients. Therefore, it can be safely consumed during diets, but provided that it allows health. In addition, coffee contains iron, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, vitamins of group B, PP.

The main thing for which many people value coffee is caffeine, which is necessarily contained in it, but its amount depends on the type of tree grown and the coffee itself. Thanks to caffeine, after drinking a cup of drink, there is a surge of vitality. He also gives coffee a pleasant bitterness, which cannot be confused with anything else, as well as a fortress.

If we talk about the types of wood, then Robusta, for example, is cheaper in comparison with arabica. Therefore, its grains are most often used in the manufacture of instant coffee. It contains more caffeine, and the drink, accordingly, is stronger. It is used in the preparation of freeze-dried coffee, and is sold in beans. A cup of instant drink contains up to 80 mg of caffeine, and a cup of natural drink made from ground beans contains up to 150 mg. If, for example, refer to the well-known arches, which can always be seen on the shelves, in Nescafe Classic caffeine content is about 4.2%, in Cafe Pele - 3.8%, in Jacobs Monarch - 3.3% and in “Black map "- 4.2%. Decaffeinated version always contains very little caffeine, according to the standard its share can not exceed more than 0.3%.

Scientific studies suggest that about 80 mg of caffeine can elevate mood and improve performance, 250 mg can cause a heart rhythm disorder, 500 mg can plunge a person into a state of depression, and 10,000 mg can be fatal. Here is a wide range of effects of caffeine on the human body. It all depends on what dose to take. And if in some cases it acts as an assistant to the body, in others it is poison. The opinion that natural coffee is always more caffeine is wrong. It all depends on many factors - the type of wood, the technology of preparation of the product and how the manufacturer decides, artificial coffee often contains artificial caffeine.

Disputes about the benefits and dangers of coffee have always been and most likely will be. Fans of this drink, who cannot imagine their day without it, will not refuse it under any circumstances. Well, those who do not like and do not understand the taste of coffee, perfectly dispense with it and believe that there is no benefit in it. In fact, healthier from all types of coffee is a freshly brewed beverage made from ground beans. If we choose from soluble options, then the benefits are most of all in the sublimated.Due to the special technology, more useful substances remain in it, in taste and aroma it is much closer to natural than coffee in granules or powder, produced in the usual way. The benefits of freeze-dried coffee are as follows:

• activates the brain;
• is an assistant of metabolic processes, splitting fats, turning them into energy;
• actively converts carbohydrates and proteins into energy and vitamin B2;
• Vitamin PP has a positive effect on the nervous system;
• in freeze-dried coffee, as in grain, there are phosphorus, iron, calcium, sodium and nitrogen, which have a beneficial effect on the entire body;
• nicotinic acid helps vessels, thanks to it cholesterol level goes down;
• antioxidants fight aging and remove harmful substances from the body;
• For those who have low blood pressure, coffee will be useful, as it can bring it back to normal, which makes your well-being better.

For coffee to benefit, not harm, you need to know the measure of consumption. Accepted a large amount of this drink will bring the opposite effect, and all its positive qualities will turn into negative. You can drink no more than two cups per day without harming the body, and it is better to do this in the first half of the day, when your body needs a surge of energy and energy.

Experts in the field of medicine and dietetics are more inclined to believe that instant coffee, no matter how made, is more harmful than useful. But if it is not possible to drink a natural drink, it is better to choose sublimated. The harmful effect on the human body is as follows:

• tannins that are present in coffee, badly affect the work of the liver and gastrointestinal tract;
• excessive use of coffee causes nausea and dizziness, and if the drink is of poor quality, it also causes heartburn;
• coffee is a diuretic, not for all people this effect will be useful; especially with caution need to take it to those who suffer from kidney disease;
• coffee also contributes to the leaching of calcium from the body, which is bad for bones, teeth;
• some types of not very good quality contain artificial aromatic additives, which can lead to allergies, various skin rashes;
• an excessive amount of coffee can lead to disruption of the cardiovascular system;
• drinking coffee at night, and for some even in the afternoon, can lead to insomnia, cause irritability, which in general will have a bad effect on health;
• coffee should not be consumed by pregnant women - this may affect the development of the unborn child;
• it is believed that coffee is addictive, and the more you use it, the more difficult it is later to refuse; but it happens that this is a necessary necessity, in such cases, experts recommend gradually reducing the amount of consumed drink and gradually refuse completely.

If you listen to the opinion of experts and do not act to your detriment, using an unlimited amount of coffee, then you can enjoy this drink for the benefit of yourself. It is only necessary to comply with the measure and choose high-quality varieties, not saving on their health.

For those coffee lovers who cannot do without their favorite drink at all, but cannot prepare it, there is only one way out - to choose a sublimated variant of high-quality varieties. Before there is an optimal coffee that suits both the quality and taste, you will probably have to experiment. But if you can not guess how tasty the contents of the package will be, then you can reduce the risk of purchasing a low-quality product by following some rules when buying.

• Plastic packaging is a bad choice for storing coffee. It is better to choose a product that is in a glass jar or packed in thick paper.
• The packaging must be completely sealed to prevent foreign odors and moisture from entering. If at home it is not possible to close the package so that the coffee is protected from external factors, it is necessary to pour it into a jar with a tight lid. Otherwise, both its quality and taste will suffer.
• Need to pay attention to the expiration date. It is listed on the package. And if coffee is stored for more than two years, it is better to refrain from such a purchase.
• If the coffee is in a glass jar, you can easily see its contents. If the coffee is granulated, only granules should be in the jar. The impurity of the powder suggests that the manufacturing technology has been broken, so this coffee is not worth buying.
• Save on the purchase of coffee can not be. If the price is too low, you should not expect good quality from it. The cost of making freeze-dried coffee is significant, so the price cannot be low.

Shops offer a great variety today, showcases adorn both the well-known and popular brands, as well as periodically emerging new ones, which only have to find their way to the hearts of buyers. With all the variety of products offered, there are those manufacturers that produce coffee for more than a dozen years. Below are just a few of them.

• Not every store can see coffee Bushido Japanese brand, but Swiss-made, but true connoisseurs of coffee know exactly about it. He is from the category of not cheap products. Many consider it the best and appreciate for the fortress, pleasant bitterness and aroma that is difficult to distinguish from freshly brewed coffee. This coffee can not be cheap, the price per hundred grams is about 430 rubles.

• One of the popular and quality options - Carte noire. The range is represented by several varieties. Everyone can choose their own taste - softer or more saturated. This sublimated coffee is made from Arabica only. Cost per hundred grams - within 370 rubles.

• A bit cheaper - 230 rubles for the same amount - German coffee Grandos Quality - on top, no additional additives or flavors are present.

• The South Korean brand is very popular. MaximIt is especially common in the Far East. The presence of additives does not affect its rich taste and great aroma. And it is also expensive. One hundred grams - about 350 rubles.

• Japanese representative UCC has a bright difference in the form of fruit notes. The mild taste and lack of bitterness has gained popularity among a certain circle of consumers; such a drink is offered at a price of 450 rubles for a ninety-gram package.

• Many famous Russian brand “Russian coffee house on shares” not inferior in quality to foreign manufacturers. Additives are not present, made from Arabica, and the cost is much lower, you can buy a package of 95 grams for 130 rubles.

• Premium Drink Egoiste will not leave indifferent even the most demanding gourmets. Coffee is prepared using a special technology. It contains real ground coffee, which is why the aroma and taste is close to coffee beans. One hundred grams is worth paying 350 rubles.

• Several varieties for every taste offers Jardin Swiss-Russian production. Coffee is made from Arabica grown in Colombia, Kenya and Guatemala.Each species is distinguished by the presence of certain notes - chocolate, fruit, berry, flower, cream. The price is quite reasonable - 160 rubles per 100 gram packaging.

For information on how to make instant coffee, see the following video.