To make a cold coffee for around a bike ride, start by choosing based on the ingredients and format. A product labelled “100% instant coffee” lets you add other ingredients separately, while decaffeinated coffee is a good option if you want to limit your caffeine intake. Check the preparation instructions before relying on it to dissolve directly in cold water. The size of the jar tells you neither how much caffeine is in your cup nor what other refreshments you might need for your ride.
If you want to choose the water, ice and other ingredients yourself, check the instant coffee’s ingredients list. For example, Carrefour Extra Gold is described on its product page as a 200 g jar containing 100% instant coffee; this doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in your cup.
If you’d prefer to limit your caffeine, particularly if the time of day or your tolerance is a factor, it’s worth considering a product clearly labelled as decaffeinated. ANSES notes that caffeine can disrupt sleep. Decaffeinated coffee isn’t the right choice if you’re looking for a caffeine boost.
If you use the jar regularly at home, choose a net weight that suits your consumption and a container you can seal securely. The ranges from Carrefour and E.Leclerc include 100 g and 200 g formats.
For a cold coffee to enjoy around a bike ride, check the ingredients first, then decide whether you want caffeine before choosing a jar size to keep at home.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients if you’re looking for instant coffee labelled “100% coffee”, rather than a mix of coffee and other ingredients. | I want to add my own ingredients to my cold coffee without confusing them with the other refreshments I have planned for my ride. Around 39% of consumers prioritise a simple ingredients list. |
| Caffeine | Look for the word “decaffeinated” and consider your serving size as well as your other sources of caffeine. Don’t use the jar size to estimate your caffeine intake. | If I’m sensitive to caffeine or drink coffee later in the day, I want to be able to choose a drink without looking for a stimulating effect. Around 38% of consumers prioritise managing their caffeine intake. |
| Size and storage | Compare the net weight with how often you’ll use it, and follow the instructions for closing and storing the jar after opening. | If I make coffee regularly at home, I need a size I can use up and store properly. Around 23% of consumers prioritise size and storage. |
An instant cappuccino or chicory and coffee mix may have different ingredients from a product labelled “100% instant coffee”. A Carrefour product page for Ricoré, for example, lists instant coffee, chicory fibre and soluble chicory.
If you want to make the drink your own, read the ingredients list for the product you choose.
The taste and weight of the jar won’t tell you how much caffeine is in the prepared drink. ANSES also points out that the effects of caffeine vary depending on the individual and other sources of caffeine consumed.
Check the product information and the serving size you use. Don’t use the jar as the basis for precise caffeine dosing for cycling.
A large jar or refill is only right for you if you can store the coffee as directed after opening.
Choose a net weight that suits your consumption and check how to seal the coffee and protect it from moisture.
Making your coffee differently could change your serving size. ANSES notes that caffeine can affect sleep, among other things.
Try making it at home first and bear in mind any other products containing caffeine that you consume.
Carrefour listed a 180 g jar of Carte Noire Classique among its instant coffees.
The Spécial Filtre range includes L’Original and a Décaféiné option, which NESCAFÉ France lists in a 100 g jar.
Carrefour offers its Café Soluble Gold in 100 g and 200 g jars.
E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range includes a 200 g jar of Plantation freeze-dried instant coffee.
These products suit two of the uses discussed here: choosing decaffeinated instant coffee, or keeping instant coffee in a jar at home so you can make your own drink. The format alone won’t tell you how much caffeine is in a serving or how to prepare the coffee directly with cold water.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to make a cold coffee without looking for the stimulating effect of regular coffee.
Decaffeinated instant coffee in a 100 g format. Check the product instructions for preparing your cold drink.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you regularly make instant coffee at home and have room to store two jars.
Pack of two jars, each containing 200 g. Check the ingredients and preparation instructions if you’d like to use it for cold coffee.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for a single jar of instant coffee to make drinks at home.
200 g format. Check the ingredients, preparation instructions and storage guidance on the product packaging.
No. The “100% instant coffee” label describes the coffee’s ingredients, not any other refreshments you might need for your ride. Choose the ingredients for your drink and the rest of your food and drink separately, according to your plans.
Check the instructions for your chosen product rather than assuming it will dissolve directly in cold water. NESCAFÉ France’s instructions for Spécial Filtre L’Original call for hot water. To serve it cold, you can follow these instructions and add ice afterwards.
Look for products clearly labelled as decaffeinated and check the name of the product you buy. NESCAFÉ France, for example, offers Spécial Filtre Décaféiné in a 100 g jar. This option isn’t intended to give you a caffeine boost.
Seal it carefully and follow the instructions on the packaging. For its 180 g Carte Noire refill, Joybuy recommends an airtight container kept away from light. Bear these conditions in mind before choosing a large format or refill.