If you’ve ever had problems sourcing espresso powder at your local grocery store, you’re not alone. Even if you have access to fresh, Italian-grown coffee beans, the powder itself can be hard to find outside of an import shop that stocks specialty products.
It doesn’t have to be this way! Read on to learn about 10 top substitutes for espresso powder that you can find in your local supermarket or online retailer.
The Best Substitutes For Espresso Powder
1. Instant Coffee
The most popular substitute for espresso powder is instant coffee. It can be used as a substitute in many recipes, including sweets and savory dishes, and those that require milk.
Instant coffee does not dissolve as well as espresso powder in cold drinks like iced coffee or iced tea and will produce a different flavor or taste in the finished product. However, it is an easy and inexpensive way to replace the powder if you don’t want to buy or make it yourself.
Espresso powder has a richer taste and a higher caffeine content than instant coffee. To achieve a similar flavor in your dishes, add extra instant coffee. To substitute one teaspoon of espresso powder, use two teaspoons of instant coffee.
You might want to try experimenting with different types of instant coffee brands and flavors to find one that works best for your recipe’s flavor profile.
2. Brewed Coffee
Brewed coffee is a great substitute for espresso powder because it produces the same amount of crema (froth on top) that espresso powder does.
Brewed coffee is strong and has a rich, earthy flavor. This type of coffee is suitable for many recipes, such as mocha or latte. If you are looking to make iced coffee, then you can use it to make an iced Americano.
The downside to using brewed coffee as your substitute is that it doesn’t have the same bold flavor as espresso powder, so you might need to use more than what is called for in a recipe. Therefore, for optimal results, use a stronger coffee. If your recipe calls for liquid ingredients, adjust their quantities to account for the brewed coffee.
3. Natural Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder does have some distinct differences from espresso powder when used in a drink and may produce a less desirable flavor, but if you’re in a bind and need your morning fix, then cocoa powder will do the trick.
This substitution works best in chocolate-based dishes, but it also adds a wonderful flavor to other sweet and baked items. It’s best to use natural cocoa powder, as this type has no added sugar or other additives.
In a 1:1 ratio, natural cocoa powder can be used in place of espresso powder. You can also experiment with adding things like cinnamon or vanilla extract to change up the flavor of your drink or baking project.
4. Brewed Espresso
Brewed espresso is the base for many different types of coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos. The drink is made by adding hot water to finely ground dark-roasted coffee beans. The brewed coffee is then filtered through a filter, which removes all of the solids from the liquid. When it’s done brewing, you can use it in place of regular espresso powder in your favorite recipe.
Just like with regular espresso powder, make sure that the brewed espresso doesn’t contain milk or cream (unless otherwise specified). And, because brewed espresso is a liquid, you must use less of the other liquid components in the recipe to balance out the amount of brewed espresso if you’re using it for baking.
Most people think that using brewed espresso as a substitute for regular espresso powder will yield less flavorful results. However, this isn’t true! In fact, some people say that if you have an espresso machine with steam wands and milk frothers, using brewed espresso is better than using instant or traditional powdered espresso.
5. Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder
In a pinch, Dutch-processed cocoa powder can be used as an espresso powder substitute. However, because Dutch-processed cocoa powder is processed with an alkali, it has a different taste than ground espresso. The alkali gives it a more mellow and rounder flavor than espresso, which has been roasted with its natural acidity.
If you use Dutch-processed cocoa powder to make an espresso substitute, the coffee will come out less acidic and have a smoother taste. In addition, it will have a much softer mouthfeel in comparison to coffee made with roasted espresso beans.
So if you’re looking for a substitution that won’t disappoint your taste buds or leave you unsatisfied, then try Dutch-processed cocoa powder for making espresso substitutes. However, you might want to add extra sugar to make up for the lack of sweetness in the cocoa.
You can use this powder in place of espresso powder in a 1:1 ratio.
6. Carob Powder
While it’s true that carob powder can be used as a substitute for espresso powder, it will not give you the same caffeine boost as espresso.
Carob powder is a bit milder in flavor than coffee and has less caffeine content. It has a chocolate-like sweet flavor that is comparable to chocolate. It’s also worth noting that carob powder is made from roasted carob beans and not ground coffee beans like espresso powder is.
Carob powder can also be used in place of cocoa powder in a variety of recipes. It can be used as an alternative to espresso powder in a 1:1 ratio. However, since carob powder is sweet, you won’t get the same bitter flavor.
7. Chaga Mushroom Powder
Chaga is a wild mushroom that grows on birch trees found in Eastern Europe, North America, Siberia, and other cold-weather locations. It has become more well-known for its medicinal properties, but it also makes for a great substitute for espresso powder if you’re brewing at home.
To make your coffee with chaga, add a tablespoon of chaga powder to one cup of water, bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half (about five minutes). Add sugar or milk to taste before serving.
Chaga mushroom powder can be used on its own. You can also make tea out of it and use it in place of espresso powder in sweet and savory dishes and beverages.
Chaga is particularly rich in many trace minerals and antioxidants that can be beneficial to human health. The mushroom’s dense black color comes from an abundance of melanin, which contains powerful antioxidant properties that may help strengthen immunity.
8. Postum
Postum was first introduced in 1895 as an alternative to coffee and tea. Postum is a roasted grain beverage that is a popular substitute for espresso powder in the United States. It provides 12% of your daily calcium needs without the caffeine found in coffee or tea. It also contains more fiber than most other substitutes on this list!
You can use it as an ingredient in recipes to replace espresso powder. However, one drawback may be that some people find it a little bitter-tasting. Like coffee, you can use milk and sugar with postum.
In a 1:1 ratio, Postum can be used in place of espresso powder. You should taste notes of malt flavors along with cocoa undertones.
9. Matcha Powder
Matcha is a powerful and healthy tea that provides the same kind of caffeine as espresso. It also has many different health benefits and a slightly sweet taste.
However, the flavor profile of matcha won’t be the same as that of espresso. Depending on the matcha powder’s quality, matcha tea may have a little bitter, vegetal, nutty flavor with notes of sweetness and umami, so you may need to add more matcha than usual.
Another downside of matcha as an espresso substitute is the cost. Matcha can be pricey, but the price goes down drastically if you buy it in bulk online.
You can use either a 1:1 ratio of matcha powder to coffee or you can use 2 teaspoons of matcha for every 1 teaspoon of coffee for a less intense flavor.
10. Chicory Coffee
Chicory is a coffee substitute that can be used in both cold brew and hot coffee. Unlike other substitutes, it’s made from roasted chicory root, which is not the same as chicory flower (a common salad topping).
Chicory has a milder flavor than espresso powder and is less acidic. It also won’t leave an aftertaste like some other substitutes do.
Chicory coffee or ground chicory root can be substituted for espresso powder in desserts, drinks, and baked goods. Chicory will not work for frothy drinks, but it does work well for iced coffee or in espresso-based dishes like French toast.
FAQs
How To Make Espresso Powder?
Luckily, espresso powder is quite easy to make on your own. All you need is coffee beans, and a grinder. 1 cup espresso beans are required to make 1 cup of espresso powder. Preheat the oven to 200°C first. Place the beans on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 1 hour, or until dry and slightly browned.
Grind up the coffee beans until they turn into a fine powder. You can also add sugar or other flavorings like cinnamon if desired. Make sure that there are no lumps in the mixture before putting it in an airtight container for storage. It should be stored away from heat sources to maintain its quality and freshness as long as possible.
Is Espresso Powder Just Ground Coffee?
The main difference between espresso powder and regular ground coffee is that the latter contains both a darker-roasted Arabica bean (usually medium-to-dark) as well as lighter Robusta beans. In contrast, espresso powder only includes Arabica beans roasted to a light or medium-dark color.
Can Ground Coffee Replace Espresso Powder?
Espresso powder is often used to make espresso, a strong coffee with a rich taste.
When looking for substitutes, ground coffee will often be the closest thing to espresso powder and can typically produce a similar flavor. That being said, it’s important to note that the strength of ground coffee is not as concentrated as that of espresso powder.
Ground coffee is often brewed in a drip machine or other pour-over device, whereas espresso is usually made in an Italian-style coffee maker. The main difference between these two brewing methods lies in the amount of water that passes through the grounds during extraction. The more water that passes through, the stronger your brew will be.
As mentioned above, because ground coffee isn’t as strong as espresso powder, it may not yield a similarly robust taste when using this substitute. There are some exceptions, such as black beans, which are more caffeinated than regular ground coffee beans, so you might want to experiment and see what you like best!
Is Espresso Powder The Same As Ground Coffee Beans?
Ground coffee beans are not the same as espresso powder. Ground coffee beans come from a variety of sources, including roasted whole beans, roasted ground beans, and pre-ground. The most popular type of grind is called “coarse.”
Espresso powder is made from finely ground, darkly roasted coffee. It dissolves easily in water to make an espresso drink that’s strong and slightly bitter with a thick layer of creamy foam on top.
Is Nescafe The Same As Espresso Powder?
Nescafe is not the same as espresso powder. Nescafe is a brand of coffee, while espresso powder is a type of coffee. Espresso powder has a higher caffeine content and contains finely ground coffee beans.
When using Nescafe to make an espresso-like drink, you should use more water than when using espresso powder. You may also need to add sugar or sweetener if you are looking for a sweeter taste.
Can I Use Instant Coffee Instead Of Espresso Powder In Baking?
You can use instant coffee instead of espresso powder in baking. The result will be a less intense flavor, but it’s still a good choice if you don’t have the espresso powder on hand.
You’ll need to use more instant coffee than you would espresso powder, so add 2 tablespoons of instant coffee for every 1 tablespoon of espresso powder called for in your recipe.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a lot of substitutes for espresso powder out there that don’t require a coffee grinder or an expensive espresso machine.
Whether you’re looking to save money on a budget or just want to get your morning fix without going through all the trouble of brewing coffee and frothing milk every day, these substitutes should help give your mornings the kick they need!
After all, it’s always better to have a nice cup of black coffee than no cup at all! So, next time you want a jolt of energy but need to keep things simple and cost-effective, try one of these substitutes instead. Your taste buds will thank you!
