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Although from childhood until recently, my only exposure to instant coffee, a topic not given much regard in the interim, was using Sanka decaffeinated crystals for a school project to make a poster illustrating the massive meteorite strike that wiped out the dinosaurs—it was a good medium for the rocky texture for the volcano and for the ominous asteroid streaking through the sky, H and I have really started appreciating the dehydrated beverage for camping, the outdoors seeming to imbue it with a certain aroma and flavour profile that we suspect wouldn’t cut it at home for the convenience. Courtesy of Web Curios (lots more to explore there and well worth your time), we found this thoroughly researched history on the development and triangulating factors behind the improvements in reconstitution, global trade, spinoffs from R&D in photography and keeping an army sufficiently caffeinated of course playing a role quite fascinating and illuminating. Advances in the understanding of chemistry and preservation, freeze-drying grounds, led to a more palatable cup, though beggars couldn’t be choosers and the earliest versions of the potable, soluble brew were savoured as well. Much more from The Works in Progress newsletter at the link above.