The Best Espresso Powder Substitute List for Your Cooking and Baking Recipes

Have you been using instant espresso powder to bake rich, decadent chocolate cakes, brownies, and other chocolate desserts? Or is it your secret to enhancing the flavors of your marinades, spice rubs, and barbecue sauces?

But wait; you suddenly find out that you run out of espresso powder, and your guests are arriving!

Worry no more; thanks to my list of the best espresso powder substitutes, you have an ingredient to use. You will find caffeine-based and caffeine-free replacements I have tried and tested in my recipes.

Jump to:

• 7 Instant Espresso Powder Substitutes
• 3 Caffeine-Free Espresso Powder Substitutes
• Cooking and Baking With the Best Espresso Powder Substitute
• Recipe

7 Instant Espresso Powder Substitutes

Whenever I need to replace instant espresso powder in my recipes, and I don't have to worry about caffeine content, here are my go-to ingredients:

1. Espresso Grounds

Well, what is the best way to substitute espresso powder in your recipes rather than an ingredient from the same source, right?

Although both are made from espresso beans, espresso grounds have a coarser texture than espresso powder. It's why I make sure I turn the espresso grounds into finer grounds when I use it in baking and making icing or frosting.

Surely, you or any of your guests wouldn't want to munch on a chocolate dessert or treat that feels sandy. Yikes!

But for your dry spice rub, marinade, and savory dishes, the coarse texture of the coffee grounds won't really matter. After all, it's just like adding whole or coarsely ground black peppers to them.

Espresso grounds also have a strong coffee flavor and higher caffeine content than instant espresso powder because they hadn't undergone brewing before they were ground. Hence, you must add a lower amount of the grounds than what your recipe requires for the powder.

Depending on how strong you want the chocolate and coffee flavor to be, add half or three-fourths the amount of what the recipe calls for espresso powder. If you're unsure, start with half the amount and then gradually add more of the coffee grounds until you achieve the taste that you want.

Best for just about anything.

2. Brewed Espresso

If you're too worried about the espresso grounds' texture affecting your dessert's texture, I suggest you brew the coffee grounds before using it in your recipes. Brewed espresso will bring the same rich flavor and decadence and enhance the flavors of the other ingredients, especially chocolate.

However, using brewed espresso as a substitute for espresso powder can be a bit tricky. You can't really follow a standard ratio because you would have to add it gradually. Plus, you also have to be mindful of the amount of other liquid ingredients you add to your baked goods or desserts.

The best tip I can give you is to start adding one-fourth of the amount of the powder required in the recipe to your dry ingredients. Then, add one-fourth of the amount of the other liquid ingredients.

Mix the ingredients and check if you already have the right batter consistency. If not, add more liquid and brewed espresso until you have the perfect batter.

Best for baking.

3. Finely Ground Coffee Beans

The lower-strength, finely ground coffee beans you love brewing in the morning or when you need a caffeine kick is also one of my favorite espresso powder substitutes. Just make sure you have the unflavored variety before using it, especially in your savory recipes.

Nevertheless, you can use flavored ground coffee beans, like hazelnut and macadamia, for other desserts and baked goods that require the same ingredients or will work perfectly with the coffee's flavor.

Now, to substitute your instant espresso powder with ground coffee, simply follow a 1:1 ratio.

Best for just about anything.

4. Brewed Coffee

What if you no longer have coffee grounds but have brewed coffee in your fridge? Well, you can go ahead and use that brewed coffee to replace the powder in your recipe.

When using brewed coffee in your recipes, simply follow the same tips and tricks I shared in the brewed espresso section.

Best for baking.

5. Instant Coffee Powder

While some of you might not have espresso beans or grounds and coffee grounds in your home, all of you surely have instant coffee powder, even if you're not a coffee drinker. After all, it's one of the beverages we offer when we have visitors.

What I love about instant coffee powder is it has the same texture as espresso powder unless what you have is the coarse-granule variety. If the latter is the case, I advise you to place the coffee in your spice or coffee grinder and pulse it into a fine powder.

To use instant coffee powder to replace the espresso powder, double the amount of what's listed in your recipe. For instance, add two teaspoons of instant coffee powder to your recipe when your recipe calls for one teaspoon of espresso powder.

One issue with instant coffee powder that I want you to remember is that it has a bitter taste, especially when using the dark-roast variety. It's why it's only a good substitute for instant espresso powder if you only need a tiny amount. I found that when I use a cup of more, the bitter flavor becomes overpowering and distinct.

But, of course, I have a solution to the bitter taste issue; I add a tiny drop of caramel or honey to my recipe.

Best for just about anything.

6. Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder

If the purpose of espresso powder in your recipe is as a flavor enhancer, Dutch-processed cocoa powder is a perfect substitute.

Not only will it give your food the same level of richness and decadence, but Dutch-processed cocoa powder has the same color and texture as espresso powder. It also adds fruity and nutty notes to your goodies and treats, making them more appetizing.

Cocoa powder is also an excellent espresso powder substitute if you're trying to tone down on the caffeine and acidity you get from coffee.

Even better, you won't have to do any math when using it in your recipe because a teaspoon of espresso powder is equivalent to a teaspoon of Dutch-processed cocoa powder.

To further enhance the chocolate flavor, I sometimes allow the cocoa powder to bloom. The blooming process means allowing the cocoa powder to soak into one of the liquid ingredients in your recipe before adding it.

For instance, if you need a teaspoon of cocoa powder, let it soak in the amount of water or milk listed in your recipe, then add them together after a minute or two.

Best for chocolate-flavored desserts and baked goods.

Related: 15 Best Cocoa Powder Substitutes for Brownies, Cakes, and More

7. Natural Cocoa Powder

Another one of the best flavor enhancers made from cocoa beans, the natural cocoa powder works similarly to Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Thus, you also simply need to replace espresso powder with the same amount of natural cocoa powder.

One difference is that natural cocoa powder is acidic, which is good because it has a stronger, richer flavor. You can also allow it to bloom if you want to enhance the sweetness and chocolate flavor of your natural cocoa powder. That is especially since it has distinct bitter notes compared to the Dutch-processed variety.

It's also worth noting that natural cocoa powder is lighter than espresso powder, but you may add brown food coloring if it is an issue with your resulting product.

Best for chocolate-flavored desserts and baked goods.

3 Caffeine-Free Espresso Powder Substitutes

When I'm serving kids or friends and relatives with caffeine restrictions or who are limiting their caffeine intake, the following are my favorite instant espresso powder substitutes:

1. Postum

Some of you might be unfamiliar with postum, but it has been used as a healthier alternative to brewed coffee and instant coffee for centuries.

Made from roasted wheat grains and molasses, postum has a mild coffee taste with hints of nutty notes. It means that no one will even notice that espresso powder is missing from your recipes.

That said, make sure that none of your guests has grain allergies before using this espresso powder substitute.

So, how do you replace espresso powder with postum? Simply follow a 1:1 substitution ratio!

Best for just about anything.

2. Chicory Coffee

Don't let the term "coffee" deceive you because it truly is a caffeine-free alternative to espresso powder. Instead of being made from coffee beans, it's made from the chicory plant's root.

The ground chicory root has an earthy, nutty flavor that closely resembles the coffee flavor. Yes, no one will suspect that your food has no coffee in it! Some even use chicory to replace coffee in the beverage mixes.

Even better, ground chicory root has a subtle sweet, sugar taste, perfect for your sweet treats, baked goods, pie fillings, icing, and frosting. Texture-wise, it closely resembles coffee granules.

When substituting espresso powder with chicory coffee, simply follow a 1:1 substitution ratio. However, I advise you to let it bloom, like Dutch-processed and natural cocoa powder.

Best for no-bake sweet desserts, fillings, frosting, icing, and baked goods.

3. Carob Powder

Obtain from the carob tree pods, carob powder has a flavor profile similar to chocolate. It's a bit sweet, bitter, and nutty, making it an excellent natural substitute for espresso powder.

Carob powder has a fine-powder texture similar to espresso powder, so you don't have to worry about the texture and moistness of the baked goods produced. While it has a brownish color, it turns darker when exposed to heat.

To use this substitute for instant espresso powder, add the same amount of carob powder as what the recipe calls for espresso powder.

Best for no-bake desserts and baked goods.

Cooking and Baking With the Best Espresso Powder Substitute

Start substituting espresso powder in your baking and cooking recipes, even in your beverages, with any of the ingredients I have shared with you today. Whether you need to cut down or remove caffeine in the picture or simply run out of instant espresso powder, there is a suitable ingredient for you.

Just make sure you're aware of the main purpose of the espresso powder in your recipe so you can choose an ingredient substitute that will work perfectly.

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