A box of 80 sticks is a good choice if you drink coffee regularly and want individual portions without measuring out each cup. However, the 144 g Carte Noire and L'OR products described by Carrefour and Auchan are made with hot or simmering water, so you’ll need to cool the drink afterwards to make iced coffee. If you’d prefer cold extraction rather than coffee that’s brewed hot and then cooled, cold brew requires a little forward planning.
If you often make coffee at breakfast or take portions to work, sticks save you from measuring out the coffee. Carrefour and Auchan list boxes of 80 sticks weighing 144 g; check the preparation instructions if you plan to serve the drink cold.
Instant coffee made according to the instructions can be chilled or poured over ice. This isn’t the same as dissolving it directly in cold liquid: the instructions for the boxes of 80 sticks described by Auchan call for hot or simmering water.
When putting together a sweet breakfast, distinguish the coffee itself from any sugar, syrup or other ingredients you add. If you’re looking for decaf, check the exact product label: Carrefour, for example, lists NESCAFÉ decaffeinated instant coffee in a jar, separate from the boxes of 80 sticks.
Choose this if: you want individual portions for regular use or to take your coffee with you.
Bear in mind: the Carte Noire and L'OR products described by Auchan need to be made hot before being cooled.
Choose this if: you’d rather measure out each cup yourself than use an individual stick.
Compare: the stated number of cups depends on the product and the amount used; it won’t necessarily match the number of sticks in a box.
Choose this if: you want cold-brewed coffee and can prepare it in advance.
Bear in mind: Carte Noire’s recipe calls for a coarse grind and 18 to 20 hours’ infusion in the fridge.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Number of sticks, net weight and stated serving size per cup. | If I make coffee often or take it with me, I want a ready-to-use portion without needing a spoon; around 36% of consumers would prioritise individual portions. |
| Cold preparation | Liquid and temperature specified in the instructions; infusion time if you choose cold brew. | If I want cold coffee first thing in the morning, I need to choose between cooling coffee made hot and preparing a cold infusion in advance; preparation method would be a priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Caffeine and sweet additions | ‘Decaffeinated’ labelling, ingredients list and nutritional information for any prepared mix. | When putting together my breakfast, I want to know what’s in the coffee and distinguish its ingredients from anything I add; around 18% of consumers would make this a priority. |
For the boxes of 80 Carte Noire and L'OR portions described by Auchan, the instructions call for hot or simmering water. They don’t confirm that the same stick can be made directly with cold milk or water.
To make iced coffee, follow the instructions first, then chill the drink or add ice. If you want a cold infusion, make cold brew in advance instead.
A box of 80 sticks contains 80 individual portions, while the stated number of cups for a jar depends on the serving size used. For example, Carrefour lists a 200 g NESCAFÉ jar said to make 100 cups: these figures don’t represent the same amount of coffee per drink.
Compare the net weight and the amount you use for a cup, then decide whether individual packaging would be useful to you.
Sugar, syrup and other ingredients added when serving change the breakfast recipe. A ready-made mix should be considered separately from black instant coffee.
Check the ingredients list and nutritional information for the exact product. In France, the Ministry of the Economy reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients in prepacked foods must be highlighted on the label.
A mild flavour doesn’t tell you whether the coffee contains caffeine. Carrefour’s NESCAFÉ decaffeinated instant coffee is labelled differently from its regular sticks.
If this is what you’re looking for, choose a product explicitly labelled ‘decaffeinated’ rather than relying on the flavour description.
A classic instant coffee option in a box of 80 sticks weighing 144 g, listed by Carrefour and Auchan.
Another box of 80 instant coffee portions, with a net weight of 144 g according to Auchan.
Instant coffee in jars is worth considering if you prefer to measure out your cups or are looking for a product labelled as decaffeinated.
Another jar format for anyone who prefers to measure out instant coffee with a spoon.
These two multipacks let you choose between a 12-stick format to consider for making a drink with cold milk, and a 75-stick pack for individual portions made with hot water. Neither is a box of 80 sticks.
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If you’d like to make a drink with cold milk, check the mixing instructions for this product before buying. The instructions for making it with cold milk don’t apply to cold water; this pack contains 12 portions, not 80.
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This pack is a good choice if you want individual portions for regular use and are happy to make your coffee hot before cooling it. Each box contains 25 sticks and weighs 50 g; the three boxes make 75 sticks in total, and the preparation instructions call for boiling water.
Auchan’s instructions for this box call for one stick with around 100 ml of simmering water, not direct cold preparation. To make iced coffee, prepare it according to these instructions before cooling it; if it needs to dissolve in cold water or milk, look for instructions that specifically mention that liquid.
Iced coffee can be made with coffee that’s brewed hot and then cooled, while cold brew is made by infusing coffee in cold water. Carte Noire’s cold brew recipe calls for a coarse grind and 18 to 20 hours in the fridge, so you’ll need to plan ahead if you want to serve it at breakfast.
First, check the ingredients of the exact coffee or mix, then consider separately any sugar, syrup or other ingredients you add to your cup. For a prepacked mix, also check its nutritional information and allergens: France’s Ministry of the Economy reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label in France.
No: a mild taste is no substitute for a ‘decaffeinated’ label on the product. If you’re looking to reduce the caffeine in your morning coffee, check the packaging for this wording. For example, Carrefour lists NESCAFÉ Spécial Filtre Décaféiné in a jar, separate from its regular sticks.