Organisers preparing a batch for everyone
If you want to serve around 2 litres without handing out individual containers, a concentrate lets you mix up a batch. Allow for the liquid specified in the recipe, ice and a suitable serving jug.
Who is this choice for?
Managers looking for a no-mix option
Several ready-to-drink packs can provide the volume you need without having to follow a recipe. However, a 750 ml carton, such as the Starbucks option listed by Carrefour, won’t be enough on its own.
Anyone responsible for ingredients and chilling
Before serving your guests, make sure you can check the ingredients and allergens in the product you’ve bought, then follow its storage instructions and those for any ingredients you add.
What should you prioritise?
Concentrate to dilute
Choose this if: you can measure and mix the coffee before the break to prepare a batch for everyone.
Bear in mind: depending on the product, the recipe may call for water or milk, as well as ice and a serving container.
Small ready-to-drink packs
Choose this if: you’d rather pour or hand out the coffee without preparing a mix.
Bear in mind: you’ll need several packs to serve more than 2 litres, and should check their ingredients and availability with your chosen retailer.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Volume served | Compare the pack size with the volume you’ll get after dilution, or add up the volume of the ready-to-drink packs. | When serving a group, I want to provide around 2 litres without confusing concentrate with prepared coffee. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this need for volume. |
| Preparation | Check whether you’ll have access to water or milk, ice and the equipment needed to mix the coffee. | When there’s little time to prepare drinks during the break, I’d rather be able to serve them straight away; around 33% of consumers would put this convenience first. |
| Ingredients and storage | Check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for the product you actually buy. | If guests need to know what’s in the coffee, I also want to plan how it will be stored before and during the break. This would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing the concentrate’s volume with the volume served
A 50 cl bottle of NESCAFÉ concentrate or a 485 ml bottle of L'OR concentrate needs to be diluted. Its capacity isn’t the same as the volume of cold coffee you’ll end up with.
Work out the final volume using the dilution instructions on the product, then allow for the ingredients and equipment you’ll need to serve it.
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Relying on a single 750 ml carton
One 750 ml carton won’t meet a 2-litre requirement; three cartons give you 2.25 litres.
Work out how many packs you need based on the volume to be served, and check they’re available from your chosen retailer.
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Overlooking ingredients and storage instructions
A recipe made with milk and a ready-to-drink milky coffee both need particular care when it comes to allergens and keeping the drink chilled.
Keep the label for the product you’re serving to hand and follow its instructions, as well as those for any milk you add.
Brands to know for this type of service
NESCAFÉ
Auchan lists 50 cl NESCAFÉ Espresso concentrates, advertised as making 16 servings, for preparing cold coffee by dilution.
- The recipe shown for the vanilla version combines 30 ml of concentrate with 150 ml of milk and ice, making it easier to plan the batch volume.
- You’ll need to provide the milk and prepare the drink. For the Classic version listed by Auchan, the opened bottle should be kept in the fridge and used within 14 days.
L'OR
Auchan lists a 485 ml bottle of L'OR Espresso Pure Black concentrate, which can be prepared with water or milk, hot or cold.
- The suggested recipe lets you choose between making it with water or milk.
- The 485 ml bottle isn’t a ready-to-serve 2-litre drink, so you’ll still need to work out the quantities and plan the serving equipment.
Starbucks
Carrefour lists a 750 ml carton of Starbucks Caffè Latte, among other products, as a ready-to-drink option.
- The ready-to-pour format means there’s no need to prepare concentrate during the break.
- This drink contains milk, and one carton isn’t enough to serve 2 litres. Check the label and what’s available from your chosen retailer.
Joybuy products for serving individual portions
If you’d rather share around 2 litres between guests than prepare a batch in one container, this pack of ten portions offers another way to organise serving.
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CANTABILE SWEET AMERICANO 10 × 230 ml
The ten portions make it easy to share the coffee between guests without measuring out a batch in a shared container.
Pack size: 10 × 230 ml, giving 2.3 litres in total, not one 2-litre bottle.
Before serving, check the label for the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for the product you’ve bought.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a single 2-litre bottle to serve cold coffee?
No. Diluted concentrate or several smaller packs can provide enough for a conference. If a single container is essential for your setup, check the product’s capacity, description and storage requirements carefully.
How much NESCAFÉ concentrate do you need to make around 2 litres?
According to the NESCAFÉ recipe listed by Auchan, mix a 30 ml serving of concentrate with 150 ml of milk and ice. To make around 2 litres of liquid before adding the ice, allow for approximately 333 ml of concentrate and 1.67 litres of milk. Adjust the recipe to suit the portions you’re serving and follow the instructions on the bottle.
What should you check on the packaging before serving guests?
Check the product description, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, relevant date and storage instructions for the product you’ve bought. The DGCCRF highlights the importance of clear information on prepacked foods. If you’re making the drink with milk, make sure it stays chilled while you’re serving it.