Instant Coffee Substitutes

Out of instant coffee? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert instant coffee between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the instant coffee converter.

What to use instead of instant coffee

  • Ground Coffee

    Ingredient swap

    1 tsp instant coffee = 2–3 tsp ground coffee

    Ground coffee does not dissolve, so brew it first and reduce the liquid accordingly, or use very finely ground espresso powder. It works best in baked recipes where heat disperses the grounds into the crumb.

    See ground coffee substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for instant coffee?
There are 1 workable substitutes for instant coffee, depending on what you have on hand and which property of instant coffee matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 tsp instant coffee = 2–3 tsp ground coffee. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting instant coffee change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the instant coffee converter
How do I measure instant coffee accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The instant coffee converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the instant coffee converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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