For an espresso during a short lunch break at work, start by choosing a format that suits the machine available: capsules or pods for the right system, beans for a grinder, or ground coffee if the machine accepts it. Then choose a blend to suit your taste. If you want to limit your caffeine intake, look for a product clearly labelled decaffeinated or half-caffeinated rather than relying on the intensity rating.
If you have little time to make coffee during your lunch break, first check which system your machine uses. Lavazza, for example, distinguishes between its A Modo Mio capsules and capsules compatible with Nespresso® Original.
If there’s a grinder at work, you can make espresso from beans on the spot. You’ll also need to think about keeping the machine stocked and storing the coffee properly once the pack is open.
If your lunchtime coffee is in addition to other coffees you drink during the day, a decaffeinated or half-caffeinated option may be worth considering. Anses notes that caffeine can disrupt sleep, although its effects vary from person to person.
When choosing between capsules, beans and ground coffee, start with the machine at work. Then decide on the taste and packaging from the formats it can use.
Choose these: if the machine at work uses this system and you want to make espresso with minimal effort.
Bear in mind: the machine determines the format. A Lavazza A Modo Mio capsule won’t work as a substitute for a capsule compatible with Nespresso® Original.
Choose these: if the office has a machine with a grinder or can grind the beans before brewing.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the grinder, keep it stocked and store the opened pack of coffee.
Choose this: if the espresso machine or moka pot at work accepts a suitable grind.
Bear in mind: the coffee is already ground, so check the recommended use on the pack before you buy.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility and speed | Check the machine’s system and look for exactly the same format on the pack. If you’re buying beans, make sure there’s a grinder. | When my break is short, I want to make my espresso without finding out that the coffee I’ve bought won’t work with the machine. Around 31% of consumers would put compatibility and speed first. |
| Cup profile | Read the roast information and tasting notes for the product. Compare intensity scales from different brands with care. | If I’m going to drink this coffee regularly at work, I want a flavour profile that suits my taste, rather than just a high number on the pack. This would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Caffeine | If you want to limit your intake, look for a product labelled “decaffeinated” or “half-caffeinated”. Taste intensity doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in each cup. | My lunchtime coffee is sometimes in addition to the coffee I’ve already had that day, so I want to choose my coffee type deliberately. Around 19% of consumers would put managing their caffeine intake first. |
| Pack size and replenishment | Check the pack size, the number of capsules or pods, and the storage instructions once opened. | If several people use the same coffee, I want a pack size that suits the pace of our breaks, without leaving an opened pack sitting around for too long. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise having the right supply. |
A Modo Mio, Nespresso® Original and E.S.E. are different formats. The compatibility information published by Lavazza and Carte Noire applies to specific products and systems.
Check the system name on the machine at work, then look for the same wording on the capsule or pod packaging.
An intensity rating describes a coffee’s profile, not the amount of caffeine in each cup. Anses notes that caffeine can affect sleep, with effects varying from person to person.
If you want to limit your caffeine intake, look for a product clearly labelled decaffeinated or half-caffeinated rather than relying on the intensity rating alone.
Beans need to be ground before brewing or used in a machine with a grinder. You’ll also need to store a large opened pack properly.
Check what equipment is available and choose an amount that suits how the coffee will be used at work. For its coffee beans, Auchan recommends resealing the pack and storing it in a cool, dry place.
Lavazza offers its espresso blends in several formats, including beans, ground coffee, capsules and pods.
illy offers 100% Arabica coffees in formats including beans, ground coffee, Iperespresso capsules and E.S.E. pods.
Carte Noire offers espresso products in bean and capsule formats, with a range of profiles and decaffeinated or half-caffeinated options among its capsules.
Carrefour offers coffee beans, ground coffee, capsules and pods, both under its own brand and from other brands.
E.Leclerc offers Plantation coffees under its Marque Repère brand, including beans and ground coffee.
Auchan offers an Espresso coffee made from 100% Arabica beans, with an intensity rating of 8/10.
This selection includes capsules listed as compatible with different systems, as well as coffee beans. Start with the machine at work, then choose the coffee type and pack size you want.
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Worth considering for a break with a machine that uses the capsule system listed on the box. This decaffeinated product comes with 30 capsules; check that it’s compatible with the machine at work.
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For a break with a machine that accepts compatible Dolce Gusto capsules. The box contains 16 decaffeinated capsules, weighing 112 g in total. This format isn’t suitable for other machine systems.
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Worth considering if the machine at work accepts the capsule system listed for this product. The box contains 30 capsules; check the compatibility information on the packaging before you buy.
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This pack of 10 capsules is a smaller option if your machine accepts the compatible capsules listed. The box contains 55 g of coffee; check the exact machine system before buying.
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Worth considering if the office has a grinder or can grind the beans before making espresso. The bag contains 1 kg, so plan how to store it once opened. The 12/13 intensity rating describes the coffee’s profile; it isn’t a measure of its caffeine content.
Check the exact system used by the machine and look for it on the box. Lavazza, for example, distinguishes between its A Modo Mio capsules and those listed as compatible with Nespresso® Original. Two capsules looking alike doesn’t mean they’re compatible.
Choose beans if there’s a machine with a grinder or you can grind them before brewing. Ground coffee is suitable if the coffee maker accepts it and the grind is right for your brewing method. Lavazza, for example, offers ground coffee for espresso machines and moka pots.
No. The intensity rating alone won’t tell you how much caffeine is in an espresso. If caffeine content matters when choosing coffee for your lunch break, look for a product clearly labelled decaffeinated or half-caffeinated rather than comparing intensity ratings alone.
Reseal the bag after use and follow the storage instructions for your chosen product. For its espresso beans, Auchan recommends storing them in a cool, dry place once opened. You should also choose a pack size that suits how quickly the office gets through it.