The present invention is directed to a process for making a soluble espresso coffee powder with improved in-cup foam comprising the steps of:(1) foaming the coffee extract by gas injection;(2) homogenizing the foamed extract of step(l) to reduce gas bubble size to five microns or less; and(3) spray drying the homogenized extract of step (2) under drier outlet temperature and spray pressure conditions effective to produce a soluble espresso coffee powder wherein a majority of void space in the soluble espresso powder is comprised of gas bubbles having a size of 10 microns or less.The resulting soluble espresso coffee powder, upon reconstitution with hot water, produces a foam which simulates the foam formed on espresso made from roasted and ground espresso coffee.