Different Types of Instant Coffee
Powder, granules, or crystals
This is the most common form of instant coffee. Instant coffee powder or granules (sometimes called coffee crystals) usually come in a cylindrical waterproof paper or plastic packet, or glass jar if you’re going the OG Nescafe or Foldgers route (not recommended, it tastes like burned dirt and will take up a lot of space among your camping gear). Instant coffee packets contain one single serving-sized portion in each packet.
They sometimes even come premixed with creamer and sugar, like this Alpine Start option. The drawback of a single serve packet is the packaging waste and that you cannot easily adjust the strength of your coffee. However, they are convenient to carry in your pack, take up virtually no space, and weigh as little as 0.14 ounces. Just be sure to pack out every little bit of trash you make in the backcountry, even the little tops of the packets that wear off.
Coffee cubes
Coffee bags are like tea bags, a hybrid between freshly ground and brewed coffee and instant coffee, giving you the taste of freshly brewed coffee without the hassle. Simply place the bag in a cup and pour in hot water for a freshly brewed, instant cup of coffee. You could also place the bag over the opening of your cup and pour the water through it, similar to the pour-over style packets KUJU makes. These bags (along with the coffee grounds that they contain) do retain some moisture, making them heavier and messier, and need to be disposed of correctly to avoid any animals getting hold of them.
What Makes Instant Coffee Good for Camping and Outdoorsy Travel
Instant coffee is easy to carry, easy to make, and leaves little trash.
One of the biggest attractions of instant coffee for a backpacking or camping trip is the convenience it brings to early mornings. Simply empty the contents of the packet into a mug, add water, and stir for a proper cup of coffee.
Instant coffee is extremely lightweight.
Equally as important is the lightweight portability of instant coffee—you don’t need to bring any additional brewing gadgets like a coffee pot, v60 pour over, french press, or percolator. All you need is a container to heat water in, like an aluminum kettle or a single-wall titanium mug. Instant coffee sticks or packets also eliminates the need to pack out spent coffee grounds. While packets make the most sense for fast and light hikers, having a resealable container of loose coffee granules, like offered above by Alpine Start and Viola, allow car campers buy in bulk to save cash, and to make coffee to their preferred strength–shout out all you espresso lovers.
Instant coffee has a super long shelf life.
Due to the processes involved in making instant coffee, the product has a longer shelf-life than freshly ground coffee. Still, you need to store it correctly. The best place to keep instant coffee is in an airtight container, packed away in a cool dark cupboard or gear closet. Direct sunlight or heat could negatively affect the flavor of your instant coffee. Instant single serve packets often have an inner aluminum or plastic layer to keep your instant coffee from being exposed to moisture or heat. When packaged like this, your instant coffee could stay tasty for up to ten or even twenty years.
You can also make instant coffee with cold water.
A clever thing about instant coffee is that it can be prepared with cold water, too, making a nice reprieve during a hot day of hiking. Make iced instant coffee by simply dissolving the coffee crystals in cold water. It might take a tad longer to dissolve than if you were using hot water, but still, it is the quickest way to make iced coffee out in nature—ideal for you fast and light thru-hikers.