Ingredient hub
Beverages, Coffee Substitute, Cereal Grain Beverage, Powder
Cereal grain beverage powder is a caffeine-free coffee substitute made from roasted and ground barley, rye, chicory, and malt, with a density of 0.609 g/ml in dry powder form. One US cup weighs approximately 144 g and one tablespoon about 9.0 g. Products such as Postum, Cafix, and Caro fall into this category. The powder is notably denser than instant coffee (0.203-0.365 g/ml) because the roasted grain particles retain more of their cell structure and natural oils. It dissolves in hot water to produce a dark, malty beverage and is also used dry as a flavoring in grain-based baked goods and caffeine-free desserts. Scooping versus spooning can shift a cup measurement by 15-20 g, making a kitchen scale the reliable choice.
What is Beverages, Coffee Substitute, Cereal Grain Beverage, Powder?
Cereal grain beverage powder is a caffeine-free coffee substitute made from roasted and ground barley, rye, chicory, and malt, with a density of 0.609 g/ml in dry powder form. One US cup weighs approximately 144 g and one tablespoon about 9.0 g. Products such as Postum, Cafix, and Caro fall into this category. The powder is notably denser than instant coffee (0.203-0.365 g/ml) because the roasted grain particles retain more of their cell structure and natural oils. It dissolves in hot water to produce a dark, malty beverage and is.
Powders and ground ingredients shift with grind size and packing pressure. A fluffed spoon can weigh far less than a scooped or pressed spoon, which is why gram values may seem high or low versus expectation. Keep your fill method consistent, then calibrate with weight.
Chef note:Professional bakers standardize one scoop style per recipe and trust grams for repeatability.
Quick convert
- US cup = 236.588 mL
- 1 tbsp = 14.787 mL
- 1 tsp = 4.929 mL
Kitchen Conversion Chart
Cups, tbsp, tsp, mL and oz — all in one printable reference for oils, liquids, dairy and sauces.
Beverages
Sugary drinks and juices are significantly denser than plain water due to dissolved solids. Converting 'cups' to grams is the best way to accurately track sugar intake or mix precise cocktails and punches.
FAQ
- Why is cereal grain beverage powder so much denser than instant coffee?
- At 0.609 g/ml, this powder is roughly 1.7 to 3 times denser than instant coffee (0.203-0.365 g/ml). Instant coffee is freeze-dried or spray-dried into very porous, air-filled granules. Cereal grain powder, by contrast, is simply roasted and ground, retaining the dense starch and fiber matrix of the original barley, rye, and chicory. The result is a heavier, less airy powder.
- How much powder do I need to dissolve per cup of hot water for a standard drink?
- Most brands recommend 1-2 teaspoons (roughly 3-6 g at 0.609 g/ml) per 6-8 ounces of hot water. For baking or recipes calling for a cup of prepared grain beverage, dissolve about 2 tablespoons (18 g) in 237 ml of hot water. The prepared liquid will have a density near 1.018 g/ml, only marginally above water.