People with a filter coffee maker
If you want to stick with your usual way of making coffee, ground coffee could be a good choice. Carte Noire, for example, offers ground decaffeinated coffee for filter coffee makers.
Who are these formats for?
Shoppers looking to get the right amount
Whether you use a grinder, make coffee directly in a cup or have a pod machine, check the pack size and number of servings, as well as whether the product is compatible with your machine.
People drawn to pyramid tea bags
If you’re interested in a tea-bag infusion, make sure you distinguish it from decaffeinated coffee. The mint and thyme pyramid tea bags shown by Coffee Webstore are an herbal infusion advertised as caffeine-free, not coffee.
What should you check before choosing?
For a budget-friendly shop, first decide what you want to drink and what equipment you have. Then choose a pack size that suits the number of cups you make.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Brewing method | Check whether the product is ground, instant, whole bean, in soft pods or in capsules, and make sure it’s compatible with your machine. | I want to use my coffee maker or make a cup without buying the wrong format. Around 42% of consumers are said to prioritise this compatibility. |
| Pack size | Check the net quantity and, for individual portions or instant coffee, the stated number of cups based on the recommended serving size. | If I make only a few cups, I want to avoid buying too much; if I make more, I check how many servings are in the pack. Pack size is said to be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Coffee or infusion | Read the product name and ingredients: a pyramid tea bag for an infusion is not a decaffeinated coffee pod. | I’m looking for a tea bag to brew, but I want to know whether I’m buying coffee or an herbal drink. Around 25% of consumers are said to prioritise this distinction. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Mistaking a pyramid tea bag infusion for decaffeinated coffee
The mint and thyme pyramid tea bags shown by Coffee Webstore are an herbal infusion advertised as caffeine-free. They won’t meet your needs if you’re looking for decaffeinated coffee.
Check the product name and ingredients before choosing a tea-bag format.
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Choosing pods without checking your machine
Soft pods and different capsule systems aren’t interchangeable. You’ll also need a grinder or a suitable machine to use whole beans.
Check which system your machine accepts, or choose a cup preparation if you don’t want to use a coffee maker.
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Confusing industrial composting with home composting
For its decaffeinated soft pods, Carte Noire specifies industrial composting and says they are not suitable for home composting.
Check the product information and your local authority’s guidance before disposing of the pods.
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Assuming ‘decaffeinated’ means ‘caffeine-free’
‘Decaffeinated’ doesn’t guarantee that a product contains no caffeine at all. Anses notes that people’s sensitivity to caffeine varies.
If you need to strictly limit your caffeine intake, check the information for the specific product.
Brands to know when comparing formats
Carte Noire
The brand offers ground decaffeinated coffee for filter coffee makers, as well as decaffeinated soft pods.
- Carte Noire states that both products are 100% Arabica. The ground coffee comes in a 500 g pack and the soft pods in a box of 36.
- For the soft pods in question, the brand specifies that they are suitable for industrial, but not home, composting.
NESCAFÉ
The brand offers instant decaffeinated coffee that you can make without a coffee maker.
- Auchan lists a 200 g NESCAFÉ instant coffee product said to make 100 cups, based on the serving instructions for that product.
- The stated number of cups for this product may not apply to a different pack size or serving amount.
Carrefour
The retailer also offers Carrefour Extra decaffeinated whole-bean coffee.
- The Carrefour Extra product listed is 100% Arabica whole-bean coffee in a 1 kg pack.
- You’ll need a grinder or a machine suitable for whole beans to use this format.
Decaffeinated coffees available on Joybuy
These products cover several ways to prepare decaffeinated coffee: one product whose preparation method needs confirming, ground coffee, pods and capsules. Choose according to your equipment rather than treating these formats as pyramid tea bags.
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NESCAFÉ Decaf Filter Coffee, 100 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for coffee to make by the cup, but check the instructions before buying: the name says ‘Filter Coffee’, while the description presents it as instant.
Stated pack size: 100 g.
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GIMOKA GRAN RELAX, decaffeinated ground coffee, 250 g
For anyone who makes coffee from ground beans. Check that the grind is suitable for your brewing method.
250 g pack.
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GIMOKA DECAF/DECAFFEINE', Senseo-compatible coffee pods, 36 pods, 252 g
A portion-sized option for machines that accept Senseo-compatible pods. Check your machine’s system before buying.
Box of 36 pods, weighing 252 g in total.
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GIMOKA Espresso Decaffeinated, Dolce Gusto-compatible capsules, 16 capsules, 112 g
For machines that use Dolce Gusto-compatible capsules. Don’t confuse this capsule system with soft pods.
Box of 16 capsules, weighing 112 g in total.
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Lavazza A Modo Mio Decaf, compatible capsules, 36 capsules
For anyone with a machine that accepts the Lavazza A Modo Mio system. Check compatibility before choosing these capsules.
Pack of 36 capsules.
Frequently asked questions
Is decaffeinated coffee always caffeine-free?
No. ‘Decaffeinated’ doesn’t guarantee that a product contains no caffeine at all. If you need to strictly limit your intake, check the information for the product you choose. Anses notes that people’s sensitivity to caffeine varies.
Does a pyramid tea bag make better decaffeinated coffee?
The pyramid shape alone doesn’t mean that the decaffeinated coffee will brew better. The pyramid tea bag shown by Coffee Webstore is a mint and thyme infusion, so first check that the drink on offer is actually coffee.
Can a compostable soft pod go in a garden compost heap?
Not in the case of the Carte Noire decaffeinated soft pods described by the brand: they are suitable for industrial composting, and Carte Noire says they are not suitable for home composting. Follow your local authority’s guidance for this product.
How do you make the NESCAFÉ instant decaffeinated coffee sold at Auchan?
For its 200 g product, Auchan recommends one heaped teaspoon in 100 ml of hot water just off the boil. Check the instructions on the pack you buy if you choose a different NESCAFÉ product.