For some reason I think of it as an older concept. Now Starbucks and coffee chains are popular.
Seinfeld on instant coffee https://youtu.be/uDrh5pujB9I?si=VdlVEREjMTNd2Bs7
Highlighting carlcook’s advice:
dissolve in cold water, ONLY THEN add hot water. The rationale behind it is that aromatics evaporate too quickly when the instant powder is infused with too/boiling hot water.
Instant coffee is (typically) packets of what I can only describe as “coffee powder.” It completely dissolves into the hot water unlike typical grinds. Keurigs I don’t believe fall under the instant coffee banner - it’s more like drip coffee.
Yes, instant coffee is what’s left when they make coffee and then evaporate the water. So it’s like desiccated brewed coffee solids.