10 Best Substitutes For Espresso Powder

Have you ever made a dessert whose recipe calls for espresso powder but you don’t know what it is? Well in this article you will learn something more about espresso powder and what to use as its substitute.

Espresso powder is made of finely ground coffee beans. It has a darker color, coffee flavor, and dissolves easily in liquids. It pairs well with chocolate and enhances its flavor.

Therefore, it is usually used as an ingredient in chocolate cakes, cookies, baked goods, dry meat rubs, and many other sweet and savory recipes.

However, if you don’t have espresso powder on hand and your recipe calls for it there are some substitutes you can use instead of espresso powder.

Let’s learn more about each substitute below!

Best Substitutes For Espresso Powder

If you want to add a coffee flavor to your recipe you can use instant coffee as one of the better substitutes for espresso powder. Or you can use some of the non-coffee substitutes and give a different flavor to your desserts and baked goods.

1. Instant coffee

Instant coffee and espresso powder are not the same things but they have a similar flavor. Therefore, instant coffee is a good substitute for espresso powder in desserts and savory dishes.

Espresso powder has a stronger flavor and contains more caffeine than instant coffee. So, you will need to use more instant coffee to get a similar flavor in your recipes.

Substitute espresso powder with instant coffee in a 1:2 ratio. That means if your recipe calls for one teaspoon of espresso powder use two teaspoons of instant coffee.

2. Brewed coffee

Brewed coffee is another substitute you can use instead of espresso powder in your recipes. You can use brewed and cooled coffee in sweet and savory recipes to give them a nice coffee flavor.

For best results use a stronger type of coffee because espresso powder has a strong flavor. If your recipe has liquid ingredients, you will have to reduce their amount for the amount of the brewed coffee added.

3. Natural cocoa powder

Natural cocoa powder is a non-coffee substitute for espresso powder.

Therefore, you will not obtain the coffee flavor like you use to do when using espresso powder. The natural cocoa powder has a bitter, acidic, and strong chocolate flavor.

This substitute is best when used in chocolate-based recipes, but it will also give a nice flavor to other sweet recipes and baked goods. You can use natural cocoa powder as a substitute for espresso powder in a 1:1 ratio.

4. Brewed espresso

Brewed espresso can be also used as a substitute for espresso powder. You will get a beautiful coffee flavor in your recipes similar to the flavor you get from the espresso powder.

However, since brewed espresso is in liquid form you need to decrease the amount of the other liquid ingredients in the recipe for the amount of the brewed espresso added.

5. Dutch-processed cocoa powder

The Dutch-processed cocoa powder has a darker color and is less bitter than natural cocoa powder. This cocoa powder is alkalized to reduce its acidity and increase its dissolving ability.

You can use it in recipes to provide a lovely chocolate flavor. Use this powder in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute for espresso powder.

6. Carob powder

Carob powder is made from roasted and ground pods of the carob tree. It has a sweet, slightly bitter nutty flavor similar to chocolate and works well as a natural sweetener in beverages, desserts, smoothies, and baked goods.

Carob powder is also used as a substitute for cocoa powder in different recipes. You can use it as a substitute for espresso powder in a 1:1 ratio. But you will not obtain the same bitter flavor because carob powder is sweet.

7. Chaga mushroom powder

The Chaga mushroom powder is made of Chaga mushroom. This type of mushroom grows on birch trees in Siberia, Alaska, Northern Europe, and other countries with cold climates.

It comes in extract powder, raw coarse powder, herbal tea, and capsule form. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and nutrient properties, so it has been used for centuries to improve overall health.

Chaga mushroom extract powder is a caffeine-free alternative to coffee, but it can be also added to hot beverages such as a cup of coffee or tea. It has a slightly sweet, earthy flavor similar to coffee.

You can use Chaga mushroom extract powder on its own. Or you can brew a tea from it and use it as a substitute for espresso powder in sweet and savory recipes and beverages.

If you are using Chaga tea don’t forget to decrease the amount of the other liquids in the recipe.

9. Postum

Postum is a caffeine-free type of powdered beverage often used as a healthier alternative to coffee. It is made of roasted wheat grains and molasses and has a roasted, mild coffee flavor with a hint of molasses.

You can prepare postum with hot water and add cream, sugar, or milk to taste. But you can also use postum to make a tasty shake, frappe, or latte.

Substitute postum for espresso powder in desserts and beverages in a 1:1 ratio.

9. Matcha powder

Matcha powder is made of finely ground green tea leaves which are grown and processed. So, matcha powder is more expensive than other types of green tea.

Depending on the quality of the matcha powder matcha tea can have a slightly bitter vegetal and nutty flavor with sweet and umami hints. This traditional Japanese drink is usually prepared with hot water or milk if you want to prepare a matcha latte.

Matcha powder is also used in many cocktails, smoothies, iced drinks, milkshakes, baked goods, savory dishes, and desserts. It has less caffeine than a coffee per serving. However, it has a large number of antioxidants.

If you have this item, you can use it as a substitute for espresso powder in a 1:1 ratio and enjoy its flavor.

10. Chicory coffee

This coffee is a caffeine-free alternative to espresso powder made of roasted, grounded, and brewed chicory root. It is usually used as a substitute or mixed with regular coffee.

Chicory coffee has a slightly nutty and earthy flavor similar to coffee. You can use chicory coffee or ground chicory root in desserts, beverages, and baked goods instead of espresso powder.

How To Make Espresso Powder?

You can make espresso powder with dark roast espresso beans but you will also need a few other items like a baking sheet, oven, coffee grinder, and airtight container.

To prepare 1 cup of espresso powder you will need 1 cup of espresso beans. First, preheat the oven at 200°C. Place the beans in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake them for about 1-hour or until they are dry and lightly toasted.

Then, finely grind the beans in the coffee grinder. Put the espresso powder in an airtight container, where you can store it for about 6 months.

Substitute For Espresso Powder In Chocolate Cake

Espresso powder is a key ingredient in chocolate cake because the coffee boosts the flavor of chocolate. But you can also use natural cocoa powder and Dutch-processed cocoa powder as a substitute for espresso powder in chocolate cake.

They will intensify the chocolate flavor in the cake but you will lack the coffee flavor from the espresso powder. Thus, if you don’t like coffee flavor try natural cocoa powder and Dutch-processed cocoa powder to improve the flavor of your chocolate cake.

FAQs

Is espresso powder just ground coffee?

Espresso powder is not just ground coffee. Espresso powder is finely ground dark roast coffee which is more concentrated than ground coffee. It is usually used in desserts, baked goods, and dry meat rubs.

Can ground coffee replace espresso powder?

You can use ground coffee to replace espresso powder. But you will have to increase the amount of the ground coffee in the recipe because it has a weaker flavor than espresso powder.

Is espresso powder the same as ground coffee beans?

Espresso powder is not the same as ground coffee beans. It is finely ground dark roast coffee that dissolves easily in liquid, has a stronger flavor, and is more concentrated.

Is Nescafe the same as espresso powder?

Nescafe is not the same as espresso powder. It is a soluble powdered coffee made of Robusta and Arabica coffee beans. You can find more than 5,000 products fromNescafe because it comes in many different forms.

Can I use instant coffee instead of espresso powder in baking?

You can use instant coffee instead of espresso powder in baking. Instant coffee has a similar but weaker flavor than espresso powder. So, you will have to use more instant coffee as a substitute for espresso powder in your baked goods to get a similar flavor to espresso powder.

Summary

Espresso powder is an important ingredient in many different desserts, and baked goods. It enhances the chocolate flavor in your recipes and gives them a nice coffee flavor.

However, if you don’t have it on hand you can use some of the substitutes mentioned in this article and use them instead of espresso powder.

They don’t have the same flavor but they will improve the flavor of your favorite desserts and baked goods.