When Was Instant Coffee Invented?

Have you ever wondered when this fantastic powder that dissolves instantly was invented? When we embarked on this soluble coffee journey, little did we know things were starting to brew in 1771 in Britain! It wasn't until the American Civil War that instant coffee found its footing in the U.S.

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An experimental "cake" form of instant coffee was developed and rationed out to soldiers to make coffee when not on the battlefield. It was ultimately made very popular during WWII nearly a century later. "Coffee was as important as beef and bread," a high-ranking Army official concluded after the war. A postwar review of the military's coffee supply concurred, stating that it "restored courage and strength" and "kept up the morale."

"Some Union soldiers got rifles with a mechanical grinder with a hand crank built into the buttstock," he told NPR. "They'd fill a hollowed space within the carbine's stock with coffee beans, grind it up, dump it out and cook coffee that way."

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For the next 70-plus years, instant coffee was synonymous with low quality, something you’d have for emergencies or at Grandma's house. But that all is changing, quickly! From the quality of beans being used to roasting to brewing and packaging.

At House of Word Coffee, our powder is made with a proprietary instant cold brew process. The ground coffee is brewed first as a cold brew: slow steeped in cold water, filtered and clarified, and then dehydrated for an instant cup that is much smoother than a traditional instant brew. The end result is a full-bodied, medium-roast coffee that boasts notes of chocolate and caramel.

Mixing convenience with quality is the perfect combination for a perfect instant coffee cup to enjoy anywhere!