Why Is Instant Coffee Bad For You (Why Shouldn’t You Drink Instant Coffee + More Information)?
It takes such little time to fix a cup, but there have been warnings about the negative impacts of instant coffee. So, why is instant coffee bad for you? Read on to find out.
Instant coffee is bad for you because it contains a high acrylamide content. Acrylamide is usually formed while roasting coffee beans, and it’s known to increase the risk of cancer and diseases associated with the nervous system. I’ve always known that nothing tastes as good as freshly-brewed coffee, but I couldn’t consistently brew fresh coffee, especially at the office. This was the case for years until an article I recently stumbled upon. In it, there was a comprehensive outline of the potentially harmful effects of instant coffee. Naturally, this was entirely unexpected, and I’ve been off instant coffee ever since. So, in this article, I’m sharing all I’ve learned about instant coffee and why it should be avoided.
Table of Contents
What are the health effects of drinking instant coffee?
Many people have been decrying instant coffee in recent days, but the coffee isn’t all bad. It still has some health effects –positive and negative. Notably, instant coffee is rich in nutrients and antioxidants with several health benefits, not to mention minerals and vitamins like magnesium, potassium, and niacin.
Some of the health benefits associated with drinking instant coffee include:
- Enhanced brain function
- Boost in metabolism
- Lowered risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Improved liver health
- It promotes longevity
Unfortunately, these positive benefits are overshadowed by the negatives associated with drinking instant coffee, especially the fact that the roasting process of the coffee beans that are then processed into instant coffee introduces a high concentration of acrylamide in the instant coffee. Reportedly, instant coffee contains twice as much acrylamide as the acrylamide in fresh, roasting coffee.
The problem with this is that overexposure to acrylamide damages the nervous system. Acrylamide also increases your risk of cancer.
How much instant coffee should you have in a day?
It’s safe to say that you can drink between 3-4 cups of instant coffee safely. Drinking moderate amounts of coffee to maintain a healthy level of caffeine consumption is paramount. The guiding principle is that instant coffee contains less caffeine than regular coffee.
Each cup of instant coffee contains between 30 and 90mg of caffeine, while regular brewed coffee has 70-140mg in each cup. The maximum daily caffeine intake is 400mg, so you’d be safe to drink as much as 10 cups, although you shouldn’t drink that much coffee at a go.
FAQ SECTION
Does ground coffee dissolve in cold water?
Yes, ground coffee dissolves in cold water. However, its solubility decreases as the water temperature drops. So, when the drink is too cold, consider stirring the drink to increase solubility and decrease the clumps that would otherwise form from the ground coffee. However, ground coffee has a 30% solubility, unlike instant coffee, which has close to 100% solubility.
These coffee grounds dissolve because of the dehydration process used in the production of instant coffee, which ensures that the coffee dissolves in the water. The solubility of ground coffee in cold water is slow, but the process also releases oils, which results in more robust flavors and aromas.
Note that dissolving the coffee in cold water reduces the coffee’s solubility, making the coffee safer for persons with sensitive tummies.
How long can coffee grounds sit in water?
The coffee grounds in instant coffee last for a few minutes in the water, but larger particles present in the grounds will not dissolve.