Choose ground coffee if you want to brew a cup using a compatible coffee maker. If you want to make a cup without a coffee maker, choose instant coffee, which is often sold in a jar. For ground coffee, check the brewing method and flavour profile shown on the pack, then store it in an airtight container away from light once opened.
If you’re making ground coffee to enjoy with biscuits, the brewing method and flavour notes shown on the pack can help you choose. Lavazza recommends checking the brewing method for each product.
If you want to keep coffee in the cupboard and prepare it by dissolving it in water, compare instant coffees in jars rather than packs of ground coffee. Carrefour and E.Leclerc, for example, offer products in this format.
If you don’t finish a pack of ground coffee quickly, how and where you store it matters. Carte Noire recommends using an airtight container after opening and points out that air and light can affect the flavour.
For a tea-and-biscuits break, these priorities are aimed at people choosing coffee to suit their main needs.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Format and preparation | Look for “ground coffee” or “instant coffee”. For ground coffee, check that the stated brewing method suits your coffee maker. | Without a coffee maker, I want to make a cup by dissolving the coffee in water. With a coffee maker, I’m looking for coffee suited to its brewing method. Around 31% of consumers would put this match first. |
| Storage | For opened ground coffee, check that the container closes securely and store it away from light and heat. | If my pack stays open between breaks, I want to limit the coffee’s exposure to air and light. Storage would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Flavour profile | Compare the tasting notes, roast and recommended brewing method. Consider the intensity in the context of the particular range. | To enjoy with my biscuits, I’m looking for a flavour profile that suits my taste, rather than choosing on intensity alone. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Origin and commitments | Check the origin details and any certifications on the specific product, rather than assuming they apply to the whole brand. | I want to be able to identify the commitments stated on the coffee I buy. This would be the main consideration for around 19% of consumers. |
Instant coffee in a jar isn’t prepared in the same way as ground coffee in a pack: instant coffee dissolves in water, while ground coffee needs to be brewed.
Check the product name and, for ground coffee, the stated brewing method before you choose.
According to Carte Noire, exposure to air and light can affect the flavour of ground coffee after opening. A lid alone won’t protect a clear jar from light.
Use an airtight container and keep it in a cupboard, away from heat and moisture.
An intensity rating doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s flavour notes or brewing method.
Also read the flavour profile, roast and brewing method recommended by the brand.
Carte Noire offers ground coffees suited to filter coffee makers, moka pots and cafetières, among other brewing methods.
Lavazza’s ground coffee range includes products suited to different brewing methods.
Malongo offers ground coffees from different origins, as well as blends, including decaffeinated options.
Carrefour offers Carrefour Bio instant coffee in a 100 g jar. It’s different from ground coffee.
E.Leclerc offers 200 g of ECO+ freeze-dried instant coffee for brewing without a coffee maker.
These products let you compare instant coffee in a jar with ground coffees that need suitable equipment. You’ll also need to store ground coffee properly after opening.
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For a break without a coffee maker, choose this format if you want to prepare your coffee by dissolving it in water. 100 g jar; check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging.
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For coffee brewed by extraction, check that the grind suits your equipment. 250 g pack; use an airtight container after opening.
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For a cup of ground coffee, check that the stated brewing method suits your coffee maker. Intensity 9 is the rating shown for this product; consider it alongside your flavour preferences.
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If you brew your coffee by extraction, check which method suits this product before choosing. The pack contains two 250 g bags; store the coffee in an airtight container after opening.
Not if you want to make coffee with a coffee maker: instant coffee dissolves directly in water, while ground coffee needs to be brewed using a suitable method. Choose based on your equipment and how you want to make your coffee, not just the container.
Keep it in an airtight container, away from light, moisture and heat. Carte Noire recommends this to help preserve the flavour. You should also follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy.
Check the product name, net quantity, date information and storage instructions, as well as the ingredients if a list is provided. The DGCCRF advises that food labelling should be clear and precise. To choose between ground and instant coffee, start with the product name.
Yes. The Anses states that tea and coffee naturally contain caffeine. If you’re comparing drinks to enjoy with biscuits, consider the type of tea and coffee you choose rather than assuming that tea is always caffeine-free.