The first stable, soluble coffee powder was invented in 1901 by Satori Kato, a Japanese scientist working in Chicago. Earlier versions existed, but they spoiled quickly or tasted poor. However, instant coffee didn't become a household staple until George Constant Washington (not the president) developed his own process in 1906 and marketed 'Red E Coffee.' The real breakthrough for the industry came during World War I, when the U.S. military bought the entire supply of instant coffee to give to soldiers in the trenches for a quick energy boost. In 1938, Nestlé launched Nescafé, which used a more advanced process of co-drying coffee extract with carbohydrates to preserve the flavor. Today, instant coffee accounts for nearly 25% of all coffee consumed globally, prized for its convenience and long shelf life.