George Washington invented instant coffee?

Yes, George Washington did indeed invent instant coffee, but not the George Washington you’re thinking of. Whilst the first President of the United States had many admirable qualities it is not known how he liked his daily coffee.

George Constant Louis Washington, however, did invent instant coffee. Born in May 1871 in Kortrijk, Belgium he later emigrated to the United States and became an inventor, and his most successful invention was the first mass-produced instant coffee.  At the time, he was living in Guatemala where he noticed dried coffee on his coffee carafe. Experimentation brought him to the creation of “Red E Coffee” – his own brand for instant coffee first marketed in 1909.