Coffee powder (or instant coffee) can be made in one of two ways. Both methods start with liquid coffee made from coffee beans that have been roasted, ground, and brewed. The first method involves spraying the liquid coffee as a fine mist through extremely hot and dry air (as high as 480 degrees Fahrenheit). This causes the water in the coffee to evaporate and dry into small, round crystals.
The second method, known as freeze-drying, involves creating an extract, like a coffee slushy, which is then chilled until coffee ice is formed. The ice chunks are broken up and sent to a drying vacuum where the ice vaporizes and leaves granules behind.
