Some would think that espresso is a certain type of coffee bean, but it's really just a small amount of very strong coffee. While you can spend a bit of money on fancy coffee and an espresso machine, you can also make inexpensive espresso using instant coffee. Cups of espresso are essentially concentrated coffee, and you can achieve a similar concept using instant coffee and a small amount of water.

  • Some would think that espresso is a certain type of coffee bean, but it's really just a small amount of very strong coffee.

Heat up about a cup of water in a kettle on the stove until it begins to boil. Do not boil it too long, or some will evaporate and leave you with very little water, or it will be too hot to drink. Beverage Answers states that a shot of espresso should total about 44.4ml. -- 3 tbsp -- of liquid.

Add 1 to 1 ½ tsp of instant coffee into a mug or espresso cup, depending on how strong you want the espresso shot. Dark-roasted coffee is best for a bold flavour.

Pour 3 tbsp of water into the cup and stir thoroughly for at least a minute. Since instant coffee is usually coarse, stir it completely to dissolve the coffee crystals and create a smooth cup of espresso.

Drink the espresso by itself or add it to a favourite coffee drink like a latte or macchiato.