The Surprise Trick to Brewing the Most Antioxidant-Packed Cup of Coffee

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Warning, coffee elitists: You are not going to like this news. Greatist examined the levels of caffeine, antioxidants and oils in five popular brewing methods (standard drip brew, French press, cold brew, single-serve pod coffee maker and instant coffee) and found that the method that packs the strongest antioxidant punch is—drumroll, please—instant coffee. Surprised?

So how on Earth is this watered-down version of coffee packing the most antioxidants, you ask? Well, instant coffee is essentially coffee extract, and during processing, levels of phenols and flavonoids are concentrated, giving this brewing method a high antioxidant count. Antioxidants fend off free radicals which cause cell damage within our bodies, so getting a dose with your morning caffeine-fix certainly doesn’t hurt.

But before you trash your French press, take this into consideration: While instant coffee is loaded with the most antioxidants of all the brewing methods, it also has the least amount of caffeine. And, let’s be real here, when it comes to coffee, the antioxidants are just a bonus. What we really care about is the caffeine count, am I right? The French press brews a relatively strong cup of coffee and, while a cup of this brew doesn’t pack quite as many antioxidants as instant coffee, the antioxidant count is still higher than most of the other methods. So, for those looking for a caffeine kick, the French press might be the way to go.

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