For an evening decaf espresso, first choose a format that works with your machine: beans, ground coffee, capsules and soft coffee pods are not interchangeable. To keep your food-shop spending under control, compare pack sizes and the number of servings. If residual caffeine is a particular concern, check the stated caffeine content for the specific product you choose.
If you’d like an espresso after dinner, pay attention to the residual caffeine in the product you choose. The Anses says caffeine can delay falling asleep and reduce sleep duration or quality, although its effects vary from person to person.
The exact system name matters just as much as the coffee format. A capsule compatible with Nespresso Original, a Dolce Gusto capsule and a soft coffee pod are designed for different systems, so check the details on your machine and the pack.
A pack of ground coffee and a box of capsules don’t provide the same information about how many coffees you can make. Check the net weight, number of servings and format your machine can use before comparing products.
Start by ruling out any formats that aren’t compatible with your machine. Then look at the pack size and the details specific to the decaf coffee you plan to drink in the evening.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Machine and format | Check whether your machine takes beans, ground coffee, soft coffee pods or the capsule system named on the pack. | If my machine only works with one capsule system, I want to avoid buying a box I can’t use. Around 31% of consumers rank compatibility as their top priority. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight and the number of capsules or pods, making sure you’re comparing formats that can be used in the same way. | When planning my food shop, I need to know how many coffees are in a box rather than judging by its size alone. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this control over their purchases. |
| Residual caffeine | If it matters for your evening coffee, look for a stated caffeine content for the specific product. | When I have an espresso after dinner, I want to be able to take account of the caffeine that remains in decaf coffee. Around 25% of consumers give this information priority. |
| Coffee profile | Check the stated intensity, ingredients and tasting notes for the product. | Even when choosing decaf, I want a profile I enjoy, without assuming that every product tastes the same. For around 13% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
Residual caffeine may matter when you’re having coffee in the evening. The Anses notes that caffeine’s effects on sleep vary from person to person.
If this is a key consideration, look for the stated caffeine content of the product you’re choosing and take your other sources of caffeine into account.
A capsule compatible with Nespresso Original won’t work with Dolce Gusto or Lavazza A Modo Mio just because it says “espresso” on the pack.
Check the full name of your machine’s system and compare it with the one shown on the packaging.
A box designed for a different system won’t work in your machine.
Beans, ground coffee, capsules and pods are packed and portioned differently. The weight of a pack alone therefore doesn’t tell you how many cups it makes compared with another format.
Check the net weight and the stated number of servings, then compare only formats your machine can use.
Lavazza describes its 500 g Decaf as a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, suitable for espresso or moka.
illy offers 250 g of 100% Arabica decaf espresso ground coffee.
Carte Noire describes its Espresso Décaféiné N°5 capsules as compatible with Nespresso Original machines.
Carrefour offers a box of 10 decaf coffee capsules, listed as compatible with Nespresso machines.
E.Leclerc describes a 250 g decaf coffee product packed as 36 soft coffee pods.
Auchan offers a 250 g pack of 100% Arabica decaf ground coffee.
These are decaf capsules for several coffee machine systems. Choose according to the compatibility details for your machine. A format for lungo coffee may not suit you in the same way as a product labelled espresso.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for decaf lungo capsules. Check that your machine uses the Nespresso Original or L'OR BARISTA system listed for this product.
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Consider this if your machine takes Dolce Gusto capsules. The pack contains 16 capsules and weighs 112 g; don’t confuse it with a Nespresso Original format.
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This box of 36 decaf capsules is for households with a Lavazza A Modo Mio machine. Check the system name on your machine before choosing this format.
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This decaf espresso could be a good capsule option if your machine takes the Nespresso system specified. The box contains 10 aluminium capsules; check your machine’s exact compatibility.
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This box of 30 decaf capsules is worth considering if you use a Nespresso Original machine. The name “Demi” distinguishes this product; check the box to see which preparation suits your usual coffee routine.
No. The term “decaffeinated” doesn’t guarantee that a coffee contains no caffeine at all. For its decaf espresso ground coffee, illy states a caffeine content of no more than 0.1%; check the stated content for any other product you’re interested in.
Start by choosing a format your machine can use. Carte Noire Espresso Décaféiné N°5 capsules are listed as compatible with Nespresso Original, while E.Leclerc’s Plantation product comes in soft coffee pods. One won’t automatically work in place of the other.
Compare the net weight and, for pre-portioned formats, the number of capsules or pods. Make sure the products you’re comparing will work with your machine first.
Not necessarily: decaf coffee can still contain caffeine. The Anses says caffeine can delay falling asleep and that its effects vary from person to person. If this is an important consideration, check the caffeine content of the specific product and take your other sources of caffeine into account.