You prepare your coffee before setting off
You have a grinder, coffee machine or moka pot and want a format that suits your method. Check this before choosing a blend based on its flavour profile alone.
Who is this guide for?
You choose your coffee to suit your meal
You might prefer smooth, aromatic notes after a light meal, or a stronger espresso after a dish with bolder flavours. illy and Carte Noire’s descriptions illustrate these profiles, but they won’t determine your preferences for you.
You want to limit your caffeine intake
For a late journey or personal preference, you’re looking for a product clearly labelled as decaffeinated, while checking its format and flavour separately. The Anses notes that caffeine affects sleep differently from person to person.
What should you look for?
If you want your own espresso during the journey, start with what you can prepare before boarding. Then compare the flavour profile and check the caffeine content separately if it matters to you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Format and preparation | Whole beans to grind, coffee ground to suit your method or a capsule system that is explicitly compatible. | If I prepare my espresso before boarding, I need a format that works with my equipment. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
| Flavour and food | Ingredients and tasting notes, considered alongside the flavours in your meal and your preferences. | Whether I’m having dessert or a savoury dish, I want to choose flavours I enjoy with my food. Around 25% of consumers put this pairing first. |
| Body and intensity | Roast, Arabica-Robusta blend and the rating scale used for that specific product; don’t assume different brands use the same scales. | I’m looking for a smooth cup or, conversely, a particularly bold one, regardless of the tasting notes alone. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this quality in their cup. |
| Caffeine | Check that the product is labelled as decaffeinated; if the residual caffeine content is important, check the specific product details. | On a late journey, I prefer to limit my caffeine intake without compromising on taste or format. Around 19% of consumers put this concern first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming intensity ratings from different brands use the same scale
illy gives Classico a rating of 5/9, Auchan rates its 100% Arabica espresso 8/10, and Carte Noire gives Espresso Puissant a rating of 11/13. These ratings refer to different products on different scales.
Look at the blend, roast and tasting notes too, rather than simply choosing the highest number.
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Choosing capsules without checking your machine
Compatibility refers to a specific system, not every capsule machine.
Check your machine’s system and compare it with the compatibility information on the product you’re buying.
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Buying a large pack to try a new blend
If you don’t like the flavour, you’ll have coffee left to store after just one journey. Lavazza recommends keeping opened ground coffee in an airtight container, away from light, moisture and heat.
If the product you’re considering comes in several sizes, a smaller pack lets you try the flavour before choosing a larger one.
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Relying on onboard catering to serve your usual blend
SNCF Connect describes a drinks service on some trains, but this doesn’t guarantee that your chosen product or espresso preparation will be available.
If this coffee is an important part of your meal, prepare it before you set off or check what’s available on your train.
Brands and retailers to know
Lavazza
Worth exploring if you want to choose between beans, ground coffee, capsules and coffee pods to suit your equipment before travelling.
- Lavazza offers blends with a range of roast profiles and in several formats.
- Check the specific product and machine system: the fact that the range includes capsules doesn’t mean they’ll work with every machine.
illy
Worth a look if you want to compare 100% Arabica products with different flavour profiles.
- illy describes its whole-bean Classico as 5/9, with notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine, and its ground Forte as 9/9, with notes of toasted bread and dark chocolate.
- These details apply to two specific products in two specific formats; they don’t indicate what other illy coffees will taste like.
Carte Noire
Worth considering if you’re looking for bold, roasted profiles among its whole-bean products.
- Carte Noire describes Espresso Puissant as rich in Arabica, spicy and smoky, with a rating of 11/13; Espresso Ultime combines Arabica and Robusta in a woody, smoky profile.
- Compare each product separately and check that the one you want is available.
Carrefour
A retailer to browse if you want to compare own-brand whole-bean coffees, including Espresso and Barista Blend.
- The Carrefour range includes 500 g and 1 kg packs, depending on the product.
- Check the pack size and details of the specific coffee you’re considering; they vary across the range.
Leclerc
A retailer to browse for Plantation whole-bean and ground coffees, including Tradition and Pur Arabica products.
- E.Leclerc offers Plantation Tradition and Pur Arabica beans in 500 g or 1 kg packs, depending on the product.
- Read the label on the pack you choose to find out about its flavour profile: range names alone don’t describe the tasting notes.
Auchan
Worth a look for its 100% Arabica Espresso whole-bean coffee.
- Auchan gives this 500 g product an intensity rating of 8/10.
- The 8/10 rating applies to this product’s own scale; you’ll need to grind the beans to prepare the coffee before your journey.
Espressos to suit your preparation method
These coffees include beans and capsules for preparing an espresso before you set off. Start by checking which format works with your equipment, then choose the flavour profile that suits your tastes and your meal.
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KIMBO INTENSO whole-bean coffee, 1 kg
Worth considering if you prefer a bold espresso with your meal, provided you can grind the beans before setting off.
Advertised intensity: 12/13 for this product. Compare its flavours with your preferences rather than assuming this rating matches other brands’ scales.
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GIMOKA Espresso whole-bean coffee with screw-top lid, 1 kg
Worth considering if you prepare your espresso with a grinder or bean-to-cup machine before your journey and want a resealable pack.
Check the roast and tasting notes for this product if they’ll influence how well it pairs with your meal.
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CARTE NOIRE Nespresso Demi, 30 decaffeinated capsules
Worth looking at if you want to limit your caffeine intake during the journey and have a capsule machine available before setting off.
Check compatibility with your machine’s exact system. If the residual caffeine content is important to you, check the details for this specific product.
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KIMBO Espresso Barista, 100% Arabica beans, 1 kg
Worth considering if you’d like to compare a 100% Arabica coffee with stronger blends and can grind your coffee before travelling.
Medium roast and advertised intensity of 9/13. If the tasting notes matter for your meal, check them for this product before choosing the 1 kg pack.
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Lavazza Italiano, 500 g
Worth a look if you’d like to try a Lavazza product in a 500 g pack for meals on the go.
Before buying, check the format, suitable preparation method and flavour details: the name alone won’t tell you what equipment you need.
Frequently asked questions
Which espresso should you choose after a light meal on the train?
If you enjoy gentle flavours, start by comparing the tasting notes rather than looking only at intensity ratings. For example, illy describes its whole-bean Classico as 100% Arabica, with notes of caramel, orange blossom and jasmine and an intensity of 5/9. You may enjoy this profile after a light meal, but it’s not a universal pairing rule.
Is a pack of coffee all you need to make an espresso on the train?
No. Beans, ground coffee and capsules all require suitable equipment to prepare them. If you want to take your own espresso for your meal, prepare it before boarding. SNCF Connect also describes drinks available on some trains, but doesn’t guarantee that your particular blend will be served.
What pack size should you choose when trying a new blend?
If the product comes in several sizes, choose a pack you can use and store after your journey. Depending on the coffee, illy, Auchan and Carrefour catalogues list 250 g, 500 g or 1 kg packs; check which sizes are available for the specific blend you want to try.