Choose ground coffee if you have a coffee maker, and make sure the grind is suitable for your brewing method. If you want to make a cup with hot water and no coffee maker, choose instant coffee in a jar. Before ordering, check the product description, net weight, preparation instructions and collection or delivery options.
If you use a filter, moka pot, cafetière or espresso machine, choose ground coffee with preparation instructions that match your equipment. Instant coffee is not a substitute for the grounds needed for these brewing methods.
Instant coffee in a jar is designed to be made with hot water. Check the online product description for the words ‘instant’ or ‘soluble’: the container alone doesn't tell you what kind of coffee it is.
If these features influence your choice, check the specific product rather than assuming they apply to an entire range. Malongo, for example, offers ground coffee with organic or Fairtrade labels, as well as a decaffeinated option.
Choose it if: you use a coffee maker and the brewing method listed for the coffee matches your equipment.
Bear in mind: after opening, Lavazza recommends transferring ground coffee to an airtight container and storing it away from light, moisture and heat.
Choose it if: you want to make a cup with hot water and no coffee maker.
Remember: this instant format isn't used like ground coffee in a coffee maker.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Format and preparation | Check whether the product is described as ‘ground’ or ‘instant’. For ground coffee, check the stated brewing method. | If I've already chosen a coffee maker, I want a suitable grind; without one, I’m looking for coffee to make with hot water. Around 33% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare net weights and check the storage instructions, especially for after opening. | When stocking up, I prefer a quantity that suits how quickly I drink coffee and that I can store as instructed. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Flavour profile and decaffeinated options | Check any strength or flavour-profile details on the product page, and look for an explicit ‘decaffeinated’ label if needed. | I want to find my preferred flavour profile or choose decaffeinated coffee specifically, rather than assuming this from the range name. Around 20% of consumers would put this first. |
| Ordering options | Once you’ve selected your shop or area, check the product and the collection or delivery options available. | If I’m ordering with my groceries, I want to know which product I’ll receive and how to collect it. For around 20% of consumers, how the order is fulfilled comes before other considerations. |
Carrefour lists its jar of Carte Noire instant coffee under instant coffees, while ground coffee is intended for brewing by extraction. So you can't choose based on the packaging alone.
Check the coffee description and preparation method before placing your order.
A jar and a packet may contain different quantities. Their appearance doesn't tell you the net weight or how much is right for your needs.
Compare the weights shown for each product and choose a quantity that suits how quickly you drink coffee.
Storage matters particularly once the packet is open, especially if you drink coffee slowly.
Check the product's storage instructions. Lavazza recommends transferring opened ground coffee to an airtight container and keeping it away from light, moisture and heat.
A product listed in a catalogue may only be available through a particular shop or collection option. For example, an E.Leclerc listing for PLANTATION instant coffee states that the product isn't sold directly on the website.
Select your area or shop, then check the product and the available fulfilment option just before confirming your order.
Carrefour lists Carte Noire products in two separate categories: 100% Arabica ground coffee, strength 7, and 180 g jars of instant coffee.
Lavazza offers ground coffee for different brewing methods. Its Qualità Oro product, for example, lists filter and moka pot preparation.
Malongo's ground coffee range includes 250 g products, with organic, Fairtrade or decaffeinated options depending on the product.
The E.Leclerc catalogue includes PLANTATION instant coffee and a decaffeinated instant coffee in individual sticks.
Here, Carrefour is an online grocery retailer, not a coffee brand. Its listings include separate products for ground coffee and Carte Noire instant coffee.
These products offer a few different ways to stock up on coffee: a jar of instant coffee, ground coffee and individual sachets of ground coffee. Start by choosing how you want to prepare it, then check the details for each product.
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For use in a coffee maker, check that the grind listed for this product suits your brewing method. 250 g pack.
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For making a cup of instant coffee without a coffee maker. 100 g jar; this instant coffee isn't a substitute for ground coffee intended for extraction.
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Ground coffee for use with a compatible brewing method. 250 g tin; check the method listed for this product before ordering.
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For individual portions of ground coffee instead of a jar of instant coffee. Seven 10 g sachets; check the exact contents of the variant before ordering.
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If you’re specifically looking for decaffeinated ground coffee. 250 g pack; check that the preparation method suits your coffee maker.
No. Instant coffee is made to be prepared straight away with water, while ground coffee is brewed using a method suited to your coffee maker. Check the product description and preparation method before ordering.
Start with the coffee description, net quantity and any preparation or storage information that matters to you. The DGCCRF notes that labels on prepacked food must include details such as the product name, ingredients and net quantity. Also check the information on the product you receive.
Lavazza recommends transferring opened ground coffee to an airtight container and storing it away from light, moisture and heat. Also follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought.
Check that the coffee you receive matches the product you ordered, including whether it’s ground or instant, its weight and, where applicable, its decaffeinated label. The DGCCRF recommends checking your purchases when you collect them.