A social media video claims that adding a splash of cold water to instant coffee before pouring in hot water can make it taste like a high-end cafe drink, and commenters say the trick works.
The Cold Water Coffee Hack
Brandon Yang, who shared the video on Instagram, demonstrated the method. He said: "The normal way to make instant coffee is to take your instant coffee, put it in your cup, and then add boiling water. We're not going to do that."
Instead, he advised: "What you're going to do is take your instant coffee, put a little bit of water in there first, swirl it around so it dilutes and mixes all together, and then you're going to add your boiling water."
According to Yang, this "gets rid of all the bitterness and all the tartness that instant coffee has. And that's how you make barista coffee at an instant coffee price."
Why It Works
Adding cold water from the tap before hot water stops the coffee from burning, resulting in a less bitter cup. Commenters who had tried the hack agreed.
One person said: "It's true, I've been doing this for years." Another added: "I thought I was the only one who did this. I get called weird for doing this." A third wrote: "I do this so that when you pour the boiling water on it, it doesn't burn the granules."
For those who take milk, the cold water can be swapped for milk, which also prevents the hot water from burning the coffee and leaves a milky drink.
How to Make It
The method uses 1 tsp instant coffee, optional sugar, boiling water, and cold water or milk. Add the coffee and sugar to a mug, add a splash of cold water or milk, mix thoroughly, top up with boiling water, add more milk if needed, and serve.
