The Best Espresso Powder
Espresso powder is a staple in our baking pantry. We often add it to brownies, cookies, and cakes to enhance rich dark-chocolate notes and to other recipes, such as coffee buttercream, where we expect bold coffee flavor. It can also contribute depth to rubs, barbecue sauces, and other savory foods. To find the best product, we rounded up six and sampled them in our Chewy Brownies and Easy Coffee Buttercream.
Espresso powder is made by spray-drying or freeze-drying brewed espresso. The dried crystals are water-soluble, so they dissolve fully when mixed with liquid. Some products are labeled “espresso powder,” while others are “instant espresso coffee.” We consider them to be the same product, and both can be used for baking and for drinking. The espresso powders in our lineup varied in both color and texture, but in the end they were all good enough to enhance chocolate desserts.
All the brownies were “rich and flavorful” and “very chocolaty,” but tasters especially loved one and liked another a bit less than
