- 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.
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.