Everyday filter coffee drinkers
If you use ground coffee, start by comparing like-for-like packs and checking their net weight. Carrefour Classic and Plantation from E.Leclerc both offer decaffeinated ground coffee in 250 g packs.
Who are these options for?
Those who care about ingredients
If you’re looking for a clearly stated bean variety, check the ingredients for each product. Auchan and Carte Noire, for example, offer 100% Arabica decaffeinated ground coffee. The intensity shown on their product pages is a separate detail.
Those who want an easy way to make coffee
Instant coffee such as NESCAFÉ Special Filter Decaffeinated can be prepared without a coffee machine. If you prefer pods, check your machine’s manual to make sure they meet the right standard before choosing a product.
What should you look for?
When shopping on a budget, start with the equipment you have: it determines which formats you can use. Then compare quantities within the same format and check the ingredients of the specific coffee you’re interested in.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and type of coffee | Check the net weight and compare products of the same type, such as two packs of ground coffee. | When I do my usual shop, I want to know how much ground coffee is in each pack without confusing it with instant coffee or pods. Around 46% of consumers would put comparing quantities at the top of their list. |
| Declared ingredients | Check the stated variety and consider intensity separately; don’t assume the blend from the word ‘decaffeinated’ alone. | If I’m looking for a specific composition, I want to tell 100% Arabica apart from an Arabica–Robusta blend before choosing. For around 36% of consumers, the declared ingredients would be the top priority. |
| Preparation and compatibility | Check how to prepare the instant coffee or which pod standard your machine accepts. | I want to make my decaffeinated coffee with the equipment I have, without ending up with incompatible pods. Ease of use would come first for around 18% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming the blend from the word ‘decaffeinated’
Ingredients vary between products: Auchan and Carte Noire state that some of their ground coffees are 100% Arabica, while NESCAFÉ describes its Special Filter Decaffeinated as an Arabica–Robusta blend. The Carrefour Classic product page lists ground decaffeinated coffee but doesn’t specify the varieties.
Check the ingredients for the product you choose. The intensity shown on the product page doesn’t replace this information.
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Choosing pods without checking your machine
Carte Noire says its soft pods use the ESE standard. Don’t assume that pods or capsules using another system will be compatible.
Check your machine’s manual and model, then look for the stated standard on the pack.
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Confusing industrial composting with home composting
Carte Noire says its Décaféiné N°5 pods should not be put in home compost, the garden or the countryside.
Check the disposal instructions on the packaging and those provided by your local council before throwing the pods away.
Brands to consider for decaffeinated coffee
Carte Noire
The brand offers decaffeinated ground coffee for filter coffee machines, as well as soft ESE pods.
- Carte Noire states that its decaffeinated ground coffee is 100% Arabica, with an intensity of 7/10. Its Décaféiné N°5 pods are listed as 100% Arabica, with an intensity of 5/10.
- The Décaféiné N°5 pods require a machine that accepts the ESE format. They are intended for industrial, not home, composting.
NESCAFÉ
The brand offers Special Filter Decaffeinated instant coffee, which can be prepared without a coffee machine.
- NESCAFÉ describes this 100 g jar as a decaffeinated Arabica–Robusta blend, decaffeinated using water.
- Instant coffee isn’t prepared in the same way as ground coffee for a filter machine, so follow the recommended amount for this product.
Carrefour Classic
Carrefour offers ground decaffeinated coffee in a 250 g pack.
- The Carrefour Classic product page states ‘100% ground decaffeinated coffee’.
- This doesn’t specify whether it is 100% Arabica or an Arabica–Robusta blend.
Auchan
The retailer offers several decaffeinated ground coffees, including a 100% Arabica option and an organic variety.
- Auchan states that its standard option is 100% Arabica, has an intensity of 5/10 and comes in a 250 g pack. Its Auchan Bio product page describes an organic decaffeinated coffee that has been decaffeinated without solvents.
- Don’t assume the details given for the organic option also apply to the standard product.
Plantation / Marque Repère E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc describes Plantation as traditional-style decaffeinated ground coffee in a 250 g pack.
- The pack size makes it easy to compare its net quantity with other packs of ground coffee.
- E.Leclerc says the coffee’s origins may vary depending on supply or flavour characteristics. This product isn’t described as 100% Arabica.
Decaffeinated coffee on Joybuy
This selection includes pods compatible with Senseo machines, ground coffee and capsules for the Lavazza A Modo Mio system. Start by choosing a format that suits how you make your coffee; quantities and ingredients are compared differently for each type.
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GIMOKA decaffeinated pods compatible with Senseo, 36 pods, 252 g
Worth considering if your machine accepts pods compatible with Senseo. The pack contains 36 pods, with a stated total weight of 252 g. Check your machine’s system before choosing.
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GIMOKA GRAN RELAX decaffeinated ground coffee, 250 g
Compare it with other decaffeinated ground coffees, taking the 250 g pack size into account. Check the preparation instructions for this product before using it with your equipment.
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Lavazza decaffeinated capsules compatible with A Modo Mio, 36 capsules
Worth considering if you have a machine that accepts the Lavazza A Modo Mio system. The pack contains 36 capsules; check your machine model is compatible before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How can you compare decaffeinated coffee formats when shopping?
First, compare coffees of the same type by checking their net weight. Then check the number of pods or capsules if you’re interested in that format. A pack of ground coffee, a jar of instant coffee and a box of pods are designed for different ways of making coffee.
Does ‘decaffeinated’ mean there’s no caffeine at all?
No. The word ‘decaffeinated’ alone doesn’t mean that there’s no caffeine at all. If the residual caffeine content matters to you, check the details for the product you’re considering.
What should you look for on a decaffeinated coffee label?
Check the product name and net quantity, as well as the ingredients if a bean variety or blend is stated. The DGCCRF reminds sellers that food labelling must be clear and precise. Don’t infer the variety from the word ‘decaffeinated’ alone.
Can a compostable pod go in the garden compost?
Not necessarily. Carte Noire says its Décaféiné N°5 pods are intended for industrial composting, not home compost, the garden or the countryside. Check your local council’s guidance on how to dispose of them, too.