The Surprising London Origins of Instant Coffee

Picture this: the bustling streets of Georgian London, where powdered wigs bobbed through markets, and the air was a fragrant cocktail of roasted coffee, fresh bread, and the occasional whiff of horse manure. Amidst the chaos of a city at the heart of the Enlightenment and the British Empire, a humble innovation was brewing—literally. Long before the espresso machine or the rise of the hipster café, early versions of instant coffee were being concocted in the capital.

While we often credit the 20th century for popularising instant coffee, its roots trace back to the late 18th century, when Georgian ingenuity collided with caffeine cravings. This is the story of how London helped kick-start the journey from bean to granule, paving the way for the convenience we so desperately clutch at on Monday mornings.


The Rise of London’s Coffee Houses

To truly understand London’s early relationship with coffee, we need to go back to the mid-17th century, when coffee houses began popping up across the city. The first coffee house opened in 1652, in a little alley off Cornhill in the City of London. Run by Pasqua Rosée, a Greek servant, the establishment introduced Londoners to the curious, bitter drink that had been brought from the Ottoman Empire. It wasn’t long before the popularity of coffee houses exploded, with hundreds springing up by the end of the century.

In 1652 the first coffee house in London was opened on St Michael’s Alley, off Cornhill

These were not just places to grab a cup of coffee; they were the beating heart of intellectual and social life. Nicknamed “penny universities”, coffee houses charged a penny for entry, granting access not just to a steaming cup but to spirited debates, political gossip, and the exchange of ideas. The clientele was diverse: merchants, poets, politicians, and scientists all rubbed shoulders, their discussions fuelled by caffeine rather than alcohol.

The coffee houses were so influential that many key institutions had their roots there. Lloyd’s of London, the world-famous insurance market, began as a coffee house where merchants gathered to discuss maritime risks. Similarly, the London Stock Exchange traces its origins to Jonathan’s Coffee House, where traders met to deal in shares and commodities.

By the Georgian era, coffee had become firmly entrenched in London’s daily life. The coffee houses had evolved into more formalised establishments, but the thirst for caffeine only grew stronger. It’s no wonder that inventors and entrepreneurs began dreaming up ways to make coffee more convenient.

A London Coffee House circa 1695

The Georgian Spark: John Dring’s Coffee Experiment

In 1771—during the Georgian era—a man named John Dring filed a patent in London for a “coffee compound.” This proto-instant coffee involved mixing coffee concentrate with sugar to form a solid block that could be dissolved in hot water. Dring’s invention was crude by today’s standards (more like a sticky coffee fudge), but it was a leap forward in making coffee portable and shelf-stable. His patent described it as a “coffee compound that preserves the taste and flavour of coffee in all climates.” In other words, it wouldn’t go bad on long sea voyages—a godsend for the British Empire’s globe-trotting sailors.

Unfortunately, Dring’s concoction didn’t exactly take the world by storm. The coffee was reportedly… not great. But Londoners were intrigued. The idea of coffee that could survive an apocalypse had an undeniable appeal, even if the taste left something to be desired.


Science Meets Coffee: The Industrial Revolution Boost

Fast-forward to the Victorian era, when London’s growing population demanded faster, more efficient everything—trains, post, and yes, coffee. Entrepreneurs and chemists began experimenting with drying methods that could preserve coffee’s flavour while making it easily soluble. Techniques like vacuum-drying and freeze-drying were in their infancy, but the groundwork for instant coffee was being laid in the labs of London.

One standout was Alphonse Allais, a French chemist who showcased an early powdered coffee at the 1881 International Exhibition in London. Though he wasn’t British, his innovation was well-received in the city’s scientific circles, sparking further experiments and debates about how to perfect the formula.

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The War Effort and Instant Coffee’s Big Break

Despite these early efforts, it wasn’t until the 20th century that instant coffee truly took off—and London played a starring role once again. During both World Wars, instant coffee became a wartime essential, thanks to its long shelf life and easy preparation. Factories in and around London worked overtime to produce soluble coffee for soldiers, who needed quick energy on the front lines. By the time peace returned, instant coffee was no longer a novelty—it was a household staple.


From Georgian Coffee Houses to Your Cup

Today, instant coffee divides opinion. It’s the hero of hurried mornings, the saviour of camping trips, and the villain of hipster cafés everywhere. But love it or loathe it, instant coffee owes a debt to London’s inventors, chemists, and caffeine enthusiasts who dared to dream of a faster cup.

And let’s not forget the coffee houses, where it all began. Without those penny universities, where Georgian Londoners sipped, argued, and innovated, the world might have remained stuck grinding beans the hard way. So next time you stir your instant granules into hot water, take a moment to toast the innovators of old London. Without them, your mornings might still involve a sooty fireplace, a hand grinder, and 30 minutes of grumbling before you could face the day. And honestly, who’s got time for that?

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