If you shop less often, don’t choose a box of 80 sticks without checking that it says ‘decaffeinated’. Carrefour describes its 80-stick Carte Noire box as classic instant coffee, while Auchan and E.Leclerc offer decaffeinated sticks in boxes of 25. If you mainly drink decaf at home, a jar you can measure out may suit your stock-up needs. Sticks are better for individual portions, while ground coffee requires suitable equipment.
If you shop less often, you’ll want to stock up on coffee that is definitely decaffeinated. A jar of instant coffee means you don’t have to build up a supply of stick boxes, but you’ll need to measure out each cup. The stated number of cups is not the same as the number of sachets.
Sticks are handy if you make one cup at a time or want to take a few portions with you. The decaffeinated products listed by Auchan and E.Leclerc come in boxes of 25 sticks, so bear this pack size in mind if you’re stocking up.
If you use a filter coffee maker, moka pot or espresso machine, decaffeinated ground coffee is another way to plan your shopping. If you have a particular decaffeination method in mind, check the details on the pack you choose. For example, Auchan’s listing for Malongo DÉCA AQUA BIO describes a water-based decaffeination process.
First, choose the format that suits you — instant coffee to measure out, individual portions or ground coffee. Then compare pack sizes using the right unit: sticks, coffee pods, capsules, grams or stated number of cups.
Choose these if: you want to make a cup without measuring coffee out with a spoon, or take individual portions with you.
Bear in mind: the decaffeinated boxes listed by Auchan and E.Leclerc contain 25 sticks each, not 80.
Choose this if: you mostly make coffee at home and don’t mind measuring out each cup.
Bear in mind: the ‘100 cups’ stated for the 200 g NESCAFÉ jar listed by Auchan refers to the number of cups it can make, not 100 individually wrapped portions.
Choose this if: you want to make ground coffee with your coffee maker and measure out the amount yourself.
Bear in mind: check that you have the right equipment and look at the stated decaffeination method for each product.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Stocking up on decaf | The ‘decaffeinated’ label and the pack-size unit: sticks, grams or stated number of cups. | I shop less often and want to stock up on genuinely decaffeinated coffee without mistaking a box of sticks for a stated number of cups. Around 36% of consumers might put this at the top of their list. |
| Making an individual portion | The number of decaffeinated sticks in the box and the stated preparation method. | I sometimes make just one cup or take my coffee with me. Avoiding the need to measure it out with a spoon matters more to me than the size of a jar. This convenience might be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Using ground coffee | The type of coffee that suits your coffee maker and, if it matters to you, the stated decaffeination method for that product. | My coffee maker uses ground coffee, and I want to choose a pack that suits the way I make it or the stated decaffeination method. Around 21% of consumers might prioritise this option. |
| Using a capsule machine | The machine system stated on the pack and the number of capsules, which is different from the number of sticks. | I have a capsule machine, and decaffeinated coffee will only be useful to me if the capsules work with my system. Compatibility might come before other criteria for around 14% of consumers. |
Carrefour describes its 144 g box of 80 Carte Noire sticks as classic instant coffee. So the number of sticks alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s decaf.
Read the full product name and look for ‘decaffeinated’ before comparing quantities.
A box of 25 sticks contains 25 individually wrapped portions. The ‘100 cups’ stated for the 200 g NESCAFÉ jar listed by Auchan, on the other hand, is an estimated yield for coffee you measure out yourself.
Decide whether you need ready-to-use portions or a jar, then compare quantities between products in the same format.
A decaffeinated capsule is not a substitute for a stick: it requires the brewing system stated on its packaging. For example, Carrefour lists a Carrefour Selection product that is stated to be compatible with Nespresso machines.
Check that the capsules are fully compatible with your machine before buying.
Auchan Bio’s listing says ‘solvent-free’ for a specific ground coffee, while Malongo’s listing describes a water-based decaffeination process for another product. These details don’t apply to all decaffeinated coffees.
If this matters to you, check the listing or packaging of the product you’re considering for details of its decaffeination method.
These products show how formats can differ. The brand alone doesn’t tell you the pack size or whether the product is labelled ‘decaffeinated’.
Auchan lists a 200 g jar of decaffeinated NESCAFÉ instant coffee, stated to make 100 cups. This is a different product from the 100 g NESCAFÉ jar listed below.
Auchan’s freeze-dried decaffeinated instant coffee is sold in a box of 25 sticks, weighing 50 g.
Carrefour lists a 144 g box of 80 Carte Noire sticks under the product name ‘Classic Instant Coffee’.
E.Leclerc lists a 200 g jar of freeze-dried decaffeinated coffee in this range, as well as a 50 g box of 25 decaffeinated sticks.
Auchan’s listing for Malongo DÉCA AQUA BIO decaffeinated ground coffee, 250 g, describes a water-based decaffeination process.
These decaffeinated products are suited to different uses: instant coffee in a jar, ground coffee, coffee-and-milk sticks, Senseo-compatible coffee pods or Dolce Gusto capsules. Start by choosing the format that suits the way you make your coffee. None of these packs should be mistaken for a box of 80 black decaffeinated coffee sticks.
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Worth considering if you make decaf with a Senseo machine. Check that your machine uses this type of coffee pod.
The pack contains 36 coffee pods, weighing 252 g in total. These are coffee pods, not instant coffee sticks.
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This 100 g format may suit you if you prefer to make and measure out your decaf by the cup rather than use sticks.
Don’t confuse this product with the 200 g NESCAFÉ jar stated to make 100 cups. That stated yield doesn’t apply to the 100 g format.
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For making a decaffeinated coffee drink one stick at a time, rather than stocking up on black instant coffee.
The box contains 6 sticks. This is a coffee-and-milk drink, so check the ingredients list if you’re looking for black coffee only or need to avoid certain ingredients.
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Consider this if you have a coffee maker or another brewing method suited to ground coffee and prefer to measure out each serving yourself.
The pack contains 250 g of decaffeinated ground coffee. Compare it by weight and according to how much you use, rather than treating it as a box of individual portions.
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This product is designed for making a decaffeinated lungo with a Dolce Gusto machine. It isn’t a substitute for sticks or capsules for another system.
Check how many capsules are in the box before comparing it with your stocking-up needs.
The 144 g box of 80 sticks listed by Carrefour is labelled ‘Classic Instant Coffee’, not ‘decaffeinated’. If you’re looking for decaf, check the product name before looking at the number of sticks.
Choose sticks if individual portions matter most. A jar is a better fit if you make decaf at home and don’t mind measuring it out. As a guide to these specific formats, Auchan and E.Leclerc list decaffeinated boxes of 25 sticks, while Auchan states that its 200 g jar of decaffeinated NESCAFÉ makes 100 cups.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought, and seal any packaging that needs to be closed carefully. The products listed here include instructions to keep Auchan sticks away from heat and moisture and to close the NESCAFÉ jar tightly.
Yes, if you have a machine that’s compatible with the capsules you choose. They aren’t used in the same way as instant coffee sticks. Check the system stated on the box: for example, Carrefour lists Carrefour Selection decaffeinated capsules that are stated to be compatible with Nespresso machines, while Nescafé Dolce Gusto Lungo Décafe capsules are designed for the Dolce Gusto system.