We’re reaching a sort of convenience peak in the world of specialty coffee. Whereas the finnicky 10-minute bar flow-killing pour-over was de moda, the pendulum has swung back with equal force and what was once passé is now very much en vogue. Thus is the case with instant coffee. Gone are the flavor crystals of yore, and specialty coffee has fully bought in, with Intelligentsia going so far as to open up an instant espresso-only cafe.
And now it’s Blue Bottle’s turn to get into the mix. The Bay Area coffee roaster announced last week the release of their all new Craft Instant Espresso.
Per the press release, the new offering from Blue Bottle has been three years in the works, roasting and R&D. The result is a “custom process” that “captures the true essence of coffee” without any need for expensive brewing equipment.
Per Blue Bottle, it comes down to “two key processes to make its instant espresso: extraction and drying.” In practice, this means “a gentle approach to extracting by using milder temperatures and pressure” as well as “[lengthening] the freeze-drying process, which results in a higher quality product and ultimately a better-tasting cup.”
“Our instant coffee journey has illuminated once more the endless possibilities within the world of specialty coffee,” added [Blue Bottle CEO Karl] Strovink. “We will continue to let curiosity guide our exploration to deliver new and exciting ways to experience coffee, just as we’ve done for the past 20 years.”
Blue Bottle’s Craft Instant Espresso will be offered in two formats: a 12-serving jar retailing at $25 as well as a package of five pre-portioned single-served sachets for $15. They will be available to the public November 7th and 28th, respectively and can be purchased both online and in-store.
For more information, visit Blue Bottle Coffee’s official website.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
