Waking up and stumbling your way across the kitchen to make a cup of coffee itself is a lot of work. But the energy the drink can fill you up with makes it all worthy. Adding a bit of flavor, milk, and sugar always brings its taste a thousand levels up.
A single cup of good coffee can change your mood entirely and make you feel unstoppable. But what happens if you suddenly run out of regular sugar? You probably won’t go out and get it yourself since you need to be fully awake for that. And since you didn’t have your energy drink yet, you can easily cross the idea off the list.
There’s no point in jumping to the next point since the list is empty. But don’t you worry because I’m here with the perfect solution. There are high chances that if you look around, you’ll be able to find a pack of powdered sugar.
And so, the question arises: is it okay to use powdered sugar as a substitute for granulated sugar? The simple answer is yes. But you can find a more descriptive answer below. So keep reading to find out the answer to this and many other related questions.
Contents
How Is Powdered Sugar Different From Granulated Sugar?
Granulated sugar is the simple white sugar you will find in every home. It is also called table sugar since it is so widespread. Typically, people use this type of sugar as a sweetener for various drinks, be it tea or coffee. White sugar is made of sugar beet or sugar cane, processed to remove the molasses, and crystallized into granular particles.
On the other hand, powdered sugar or icing sugar is produced by grinding or milling the white sugar. You can also call it icing sugar or 10x sugar. People also confuse this with confectioner’s sugar, but there is a slight difference between the two.
While powdered sugar is white sugar in powdered form, you can produce confectioner’s sugar by adding starch. The purpose of adding starch is to prevent it from caking.
Make Powdered Sugar at Home
Powdered and white sugar are the same except for their form. While white sugar has crystalline particles, crushing those big granules can make powdered ones. Industrially, this may be with large machines and adding a small quantity of starch at the end. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make it at home.
All you need is a blender or a food processor. Add the amount of table sugar you want to turn into powder form, turn the machine on, and watch the magic work. An additional step is to sift the final product to remove any clumps.
Powdered Sugar vs Granulated Sugar
The advantage of using powdered sugar in drinks is that it dissolves completely without a single stir. The consistency of the coffee also becomes more smooth after adding powdered sugar. The disadvantage, though, is the metallic taste it gives off.
When you turn the granulated sugar into a powder, the sugar crystal breaks and rearranges itself. This produces a natural metallic taste that you can ignore. Also, to prevent the icing sugar from caking, you can add starch. While it’s supposed to be a neutral agent, it ends up adding to the sugar’s weird taste. This is the main reason why most coffee drinkers prefer simple sugar, keeping powdered sugar as only an option.
How to Use Powdered Sugar in Coffee?
Although there’s not much difference in the taste, the sweetness varies even in the same quantity. So to add powdered sugar as an alternative to white sugar, you must get the ratios correct. Two tablespoons of granulated sugar are equivalent to about a quarter cup of powdered sugar.
Whether the powdered sugar sifts or not is another factor that determines its sweetness. The process of sifting removes any lumps from the sugar and makes it more fluffy.
To add sugar, brew your coffee like you normally would. Then, measure the amount according to how sweet you want your coffee to be. After that, add a flavor to the cup if you like, and enjoy your cup of joe with extra smoothness.
Other Methods to Add Sweetness to Your Coffee
Stevia
It has a similar appearance to sugar but is way sweeter. So adding a small amount as compared to regular sugar can do the job just fine. Using stevia in your drinks is beneficial for your health as well.
Honey
Honey is not only used as a sweetener in drinks but also to add a unique flavor. However, if you’re someone taking the daily calorie intake into account, this option is not for you. It has way more calories than regular sugar and is not the way for people with diabetes.
Coconut Sugar
With so many coconut products out there, coconut sugar is becoming more popular with each passing day. The number of benefits is limitless, from decreasing cholesterol levels to preventing cancer. However, it isn’t easy to dissolve in coffee. Apart from adding sweetness, it also gives off the taste of coconut. Hence, you can use it to flavor the coffee and enhance your drinking experience, all at the same time.
Conclusion
Coffee, as I know, is naturally bitter. While some people like the taste, many others like to add a little sweetness to help their taste buds. And you don’t have to restrict yourself to granulated sugar to sweeten your drink.
There are many different options to choose from, with powdered sugar bringing the most convenient. Just keep in mind not to add too much. As with regular sugar, moderation is key.
