*artist rendering of world record cup of coffee*
This date in coffee:
- chemist Satori Kato granted patent for instant coffee process on Aug 11, 1903.
- I wondered if his descendants still got money for that patent, but, nope. Back then, US patents were only good for 17 years from date of issue. So Mr. Kato's patent expired around 1920 and instant coffee went into the public domain more than a century ago.
- Note: For over a hundred years, Mr. Kato got credit as inventor of instant coffee. But then historians discovered that a guy from New Zealand (David Strang) invented/ patented soluble coffee in 1889!
Instant coffee by the numbers:
- Instant coffee sales are through the roof. In 2025/2026, instant coffee generated/ is generating ~ $38 Billion a year. It's especially big in Europe and Asia.
- Top-selling brand? Nescafé is the biggest name instant coffee by far. More than 60% of all instant coffee sold around the world is Nescafé.
Coffee world records:
- Fastest Chug: the record for fastest time to drink a cup of (hot) coffee belongs to Felix von Meibom of Germany. He drank a full cup of black coffee in 3.12 seconds. *do not attempt, professional coffee drinker.
- Largest Cup: the biggest cup of coffee is a 10-foot-tall, 11-and-a-half-foot-wide mug unveiled in Mexico in 2022. The big ol' mug held almost 27,000 liters (over 7100 gallons) of coffee!
Is it good or bad for your health?
- According to studies, plain instant coffee has almost the same amount of antioxidants as regular brewed coffee.
- Research seems to show that having 3 to 5 cups of instant coffee per day is linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and more, but *consult your dietician/ physician/ before embarking on a coffee bender.
What about amount-of-caffeine?
- Instant has slightly less caffeine than regular brewed coffee.
Not all good:
- Instant coffee contains slightly more acrylamide then brewed coffee (chemical formed when beans are roasted). It's a small amount, so experts say instant coffee is safe, but it is a chemical that seems to be not good for you.
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