- 1 tsp espresso powder = about 1½ tsp instant coffee (King Arthur Baking)Espresso powder is darker and more concentrated, so use roughly 50% more instant coffee to match its depth in baking.
- 1–2 tbsp instant coffee + 1 cup hot water = 1 cup strong brewed coffee (King Arthur Baking)Dissolve it fully before adding to a batter so it doesn't speckle.
Instant coffee substitutes
Tested swaps for instant coffee, with ratios and sources.
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Measure substitutes by weight where you can. The Instant coffee converter gives the grams.
Note: our substitutions are direct, not chained — we don't recommend substituting a substitute.