For a bold iced coffee at short notice, start by looking at instant coffee: follow the instructions, then cool your drink with ice cubes. Sachets are handy if you want an individual portion to take with you. Cold brew needs to be prepared in advance: Carte Noire’s recipe calls for 18 to 20 hours of steeping in the fridge. In either case, a stated intensity level alone doesn’t tell you how much caffeine the coffee contains.
If you don’t want to use a machine or prepare your drink the night before, start by comparing instant coffee in jars and sachets. The instructions for Auchan and Carrefour products make it easy to see how they differ in preparation and portion size.
If you want the flavour to come through even after adding ice, check the recommended amount and the flavour profile described. As Carte Noire explains, an intensity scale can help you choose a flavour within a range, but it doesn’t measure coffee’s stimulating effect.
If caffeine content matters more to you than flavour intensity, check separately for a ‘decaffeinated’ label. Auchan, for example, offers decaffeinated sachets with an intensity rating of 6/10.
For a quick breakfast, start with how much time you have, then think about the flavour you want once you’ve added ice. If you can prepare your drink the night before, cold brew is another option.
| Factor | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Instructions for the instant coffee, and whether you prefer a jar or individual portions. | When I’m leaving soon after breakfast, I want to make my drink without a long brewing time. Around 36% of consumers rank speed as their top priority. |
| Flavour after adding ice | Recommended amount and what the intensity rating means for the range you’ve chosen. | If I add ice cubes, I don’t want them to dilute the coffee’s flavour. Around 29% of consumers put a bold flavour profile first. |
| Preparing in advance | Steeping time, ground coffee, filtering equipment and space in the fridge. | I can prepare my drink the night before and would rather spend time steeping it cold than make it in the morning. Cold brew is the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Caffeine content | The ‘decaffeinated’ label and the information on the packaging. | I want to choose my iced coffee with caffeine in mind, rather than relying on the intensity rating alone. Around 14% of consumers make this their main criterion. |
Carte Noire distinguishes flavour intensity from the stimulating effect: choosing a bolder profile doesn’t tell you how much caffeine the coffee contains.
Use the intensity rating to guide your choice of flavour, and check separately whether the product is labelled ‘decaffeinated’.
Carte Noire’s recipe calls for 18 to 20 hours of steeping in the fridge, so it’s not suitable if you decide you want an iced coffee just before heading out.
Prepare it in advance. If you need a drink at short notice, check the instructions for an instant coffee instead.
Cold steeping also means you’ll need to set aside a container and something to filter the coffee with.
As they melt, ice cubes can weaken the flavour of a cold drink, even if you enjoy the coffee served hot.
Gradually adjust the amount of coffee and the number of ice cubes to suit your taste. A stronger flavour doesn’t necessarily mean more caffeine.
A product listed in a catalogue may not necessarily be available to buy at your store or through your chosen collection option.
Check that your chosen product is available at your store, for Drive collection or for delivery before planning your breakfast around it.
Auchan offers Intensity 6 instant coffee in a 200 g jar, said to make around 100 cups, as well as Intensity 6 decaffeinated sachets.
Carrefour’s range includes Extra instant coffee in a box of 25 × 2 g sachets, a format worth considering for making a single serving.
The E.Leclerc listing features Plantation freeze-dried instant coffee in a 100 g jar.
Carte Noire offers whole bean, ground, capsule and coffee pod options, and describes different ways to make iced coffee.
These products let you explore several ways to make a coffee drink quickly and serve it cold: instant mix served over ice, instant coffee and coffee made with a compatible machine. For capsules and coffee pods, check that the preparation method suits you before using them to make iced coffee.
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Individual sachets may suit you if you want to make a cold drink just before breakfast. Check the instructions for adding ice.
If you’re looking for unsweetened black coffee, check the ingredients list before choosing this mix.
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These portions of instant coffee are worth considering if you want to make a single serving without using a coffee machine.
If you’re making it with cold milk, check the instructions first. Don’t assume the same method will work with cold water.
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If you have a compatible Dolce Gusto machine, you can use these capsules to make hot coffee and then cool it.
The product name doesn’t specify that it’s for serving over ice. Check the instructions and bear in mind that ice cubes will dilute the coffee.
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This pack of coffee pods is for those who already make their coffee in a machine and are thinking of serving it over ice.
Check that the pods are compatible with your machine and suit your preferred preparation method. ‘N°7’ alone doesn’t tell you how much caffeine the coffee contains.
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This instant coffee is worth considering if you want a black coffee base that’s quick to prepare and can then be cooled according to the product instructions.
If you want to mix it straight into a cold drink, check the instructions first. The product name doesn’t specify this method or give an intensity rating.
No. According to Carte Noire, intensity describes the flavour profile and doesn’t measure the stimulating effect. If you want to limit your caffeine intake, check whether the product is labelled as decaffeinated.
Instant coffee is worth considering if you can’t prepare your drink in advance. The instructions for Auchan Intensity 6 instant coffee in a jar call for hot, but not boiling, water. You can then cool the coffee with ice cubes. Carrefour Extra sachets, meanwhile, offer individual portions that are easy to take with you.
Yes, if you prepare it in advance: Carte Noire’s recipe calls for 18 to 20 hours of steeping in the fridge. Cold brew isn’t a quick, last-minute option for the same morning.
Check the ingredients, any stated allergens and the storage instructions, particularly after opening. For prepacked food in France, the Ministry of the Economy reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted and recommends following the manufacturer’s storage instructions.