Anyone serving an afternoon snack without a machine
If you want to make an individual cup of filter coffee without a dedicated appliance, Terres de Café’s Coffee Drip Bag is designed for this brewing method. It is not a pyramid bag.
Who is each format suitable for?
Households with an ESE machine
A pre-portioned soft pod could be a good choice if your machine accepts the ESE standard. Carte Noire offers its Décaféiné N°5 in this format, for use with a compatible machine.
Anyone who likes to adjust their coffee in the cup
Instant coffee lets you choose how much powder to use when serving. NESCAFÉ and Auchan give different preparation instructions depending on the product, so check the instructions for your chosen coffee before making it for your afternoon snack.
What should you check before buying?
For an afternoon snack, first distinguish between the three preparation methods. They require different equipment and offer different levels of control over the amount you use.
Decaf individual filter bag
Choose this if: you want to make a cup of filter coffee without a machine. Terres de Café offers a decaf Coffee Drip Bag.
Bear in mind: the filter bag hangs over the cup and should not be confused with a pyramid bag.
Decaf ESE soft pod
Choose this if: you have an ESE-compatible machine and prefer your coffee to be pre-portioned.
Bear in mind: the pod cannot be brewed directly in a cup. You’ll need a compatible machine to use it.
Decaf instant coffee
Choose this if: you want to make your coffee in the cup and adjust the amount of powder to suit different preferences.
Bear in mind: this is neither a brew-in-the-cup bag nor filter coffee.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Format and equipment | Check the stated preparation method. For a soft pod, make sure your machine accepts the ESE standard. | I want to be able to make a cup using the equipment I already have, without accidentally buying a pod designed for a machine. Around 33% of consumers rank this compatibility as their top priority. |
| ‘Decaffeinated’ label | Check the product name and category. ‘Decaffeinated’ does not mean completely caffeine-free. | If I’m looking to limit my caffeine intake with an afternoon snack, I need to understand what the label on the product means. This is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Amount per cup | Read the product-specific instructions for the amount of coffee and water to use. A pre-portioned serving and instant coffee powder cannot be adjusted in the same way. | I want to be able to change the amount of coffee to suit the person I’m serving. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this flexibility when preparing their coffee. |
| Packaging and waste | If a pod is described as compostable, check the type of composting it is suitable for and your local collection guidance. | For individual portions, I want to know what to do with the packaging and pods after my afternoon snack. Around 17% of consumers prioritise what happens to the product at the end of its life. |
In France, the DGCCRF sets a limit of 0.1 g of caffeine per 100 g of decaffeinated coffee. For coffee extracts covered by the decree of 26 October 2001, Légifrance states that the ‘decaffeinated’ label requires an anhydrous caffeine content of no more than 0.3% of the dry matter derived from coffee. These two figures apply to different product categories, so they cannot be used to work out the caffeine content of a particular cup.
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming all ‘bags’ are the same format
Terres de Café’s Coffee Drip Bag can be prepared without a machine, while Carte Noire’s ESE soft pod requires a compatible machine. Neither format is a pyramid bag.
Before choosing a flavour, read the preparation instructions. If the product is a pod, check that it is ESE-compatible.
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Assuming ‘decaffeinated’ means ‘caffeine-free’
The DGCCRF and the decree on coffee extracts published by Légifrance set limits on residual caffeine for products labelled ‘decaffeinated’; they do not require the complete absence of caffeine.
Check the coffee category and label. If you need to follow a strict individual restriction, don’t infer the caffeine content of a cup from the word ‘decaffeinated’ alone.
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Putting every ‘compostable’ pod in your home compost
Carte Noire states that its Décaféiné N°5 soft pod is intended for industrial composting and should not be put in home compost, the garden or the natural environment.
Check the instructions for the product you’ve bought and your local authority’s guidance before choosing a disposal method.
Brands to know for these formats
Terres de Café
The brand offers Coffee Drip Bags, including a decaf option, for making an individual cup of filter coffee.
- Terres de Café describes a preparation method that requires no special equipment.
- This filter bag, which hangs over the cup, is not described as a pyramid bag.
Carte Noire
Its Décaféiné N°5 is available in ESE soft pods, each containing 7 g of ground coffee.
- The portion is pre-measured for use in an ESE-compatible machine.
- The pod is not a substitute for a brew-in-the-cup bag when you don’t have a machine. For this product, Carte Noire specifies industrial rather than home composting.
NESCAFÉ
NESCAFÉ offers Spécial Filtre Décaféiné instant coffee, which you can make directly in a cup.
- For this product, the brand recommends one teaspoon of coffee and 100 ml of hot water.
- This is instant coffee, not a filter bag or pyramid bag.
Auchan
The retailer offers decaf instant coffee in a 100 g jar, with an advertised intensity of 6/10 for this product.
- The instructions recommend one to two teaspoons per cup.
- The stated intensity applies to this product and does not measure its caffeine content. It is not a pyramid bag.
Decaf instant coffees on Joybuy
These two options are made in a cup: one is decaf coffee in a jar, while the other is decaf café au lait in sticks. If you’re looking for coffee to brew in a pyramid bag or individual filter bag, neither format meets that requirement.
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NESCAFÉ Decaf Filter Coffee, 100 g
A decaf option to make in the cup if you prefer to measure out the powder yourself. It comes in a 100 g jar; it is not a pyramid bag.
‘Decaffeinated’ does not mean completely caffeine-free.
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AGF Blendy stick Cafe au Lait Decaffeinated, 6 sticks
Decaf café au lait in individual portions, made in a cup rather than brewed as filter coffee. The pack contains 6 sticks.
This drink contains powdered cream, sugar and sweeteners, among other ingredients. If you have a milk allergy or intolerance, check the full labelling before buying: the information about dairy ingredients and allergens is contradictory.
Frequently asked questions
Is decaf coffee completely caffeine-free?
No: ‘decaffeinated’ does not mean ‘caffeine-free’. The DGCCRF sets a limit of 0.1 g per 100 g of decaffeinated coffee. For coffee extracts covered by the decree of 26 October 2001, Légifrance gives a limit of 0.3% anhydrous caffeine in the dry matter derived from coffee. These limits do not tell you the caffeine content of a specific cup.
Can you use an ESE soft pod without a machine?
No. Carte Noire’s Décaféiné N°5 soft pod is designed for an ESE-compatible machine. If you don’t have one, choose a format with instructions for preparing it without an appliance.
How much decaf instant coffee should you use for an afternoon snack?
Follow the instructions for your chosen product, then adjust the amount to taste. For its Spécial Filtre Décaféiné, NESCAFÉ recommends one teaspoon per 100 ml of hot water. For its decaf instant coffee, Auchan recommends one to two teaspoons per cup.
Can a pod labelled compostable go in the garden compost?
Not necessarily. Carte Noire says its Décaféiné N°5 soft pods are intended for industrial composting and should not go in home compost or the garden. Check the instructions for the product you’ve bought and the collection options offered by your local authority.