http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/instant-coffee-definitely-a-kiwi-brew-2015011518#axzz3ThL3V3wq

As the debate over who invented the flat white rumbles on, it’s a good time to highlight that instant coffee was actually invented in Invercargill.

For over a decade a Japanese scientist was credited with the invention, but just recently it’s been revealed that Southland spice and coffee merchant David Strang was actually the first to develop a powdered form of coffee in the 1800s.

“His claim to fame is the invention of instant coffee, an invention he patented in 1890, and that’s the earliest recorded patent for instant coffee in the world,” says Tracey Wedge of Southland Museum.

But Mr Strang’s role in coffee history was basically forgotten, until memories were reignited a few years ago when the Historic Places Trust registered his son James’ house.

Since then the Southland Museum has built an exhibition around Strang memorabilia, including some very old tins of some of the first ever instant soluble powdered coffee.

“It revolutionised coffee consumption around the world. Instant coffee became a household product,” says Ms Wedge.

Mr Strang is believed to have invented the powder by blowing hot, dry air over liquid coffee until it reduced.

While he admits Mr Strang’s invention was ground-breaking, coffee connoisseur Arjun Haszard doubts it would have tasted any good.

“By using heat on that coffee you’d see a lot of flavour deterioration, a lot of over-extraction and very horrible flavours coming out,” says Mr Haszard.

But even so, Invercargill locals were surprised to hear their town had a new claim to fame.

“Wow, there you go, you learn something new every day, don’t you,” said one local.
“It’s very clever, isn’t it,” said another.

While Southlanders have produced a handful of inventions, instant coffee is the only one to have gone completely global.

3 News
source: http://www.3news.co.nz / 3 News / by Kloe Palmer, Reporter / Thursday – January 15th, 2015