Anyone keeping track of portions
If you’re organising lunches for a large group, distinguish the number of sticks in each box from the total number in your order. Carrefour France, for example, lists Carte Noire boxes of 25 and 80 sticks.
Who are these formats for?
Teams with somewhere to prepare drinks
If you can provide water, ice and cups, a concentrate lets you prepare drinks as you serve them. Check the dosage on each product before working out how many portions you’ll need.
Anyone planning a no-prep service
Ready-to-drink coffee means there’s no need to measure out coffee at lunchtime. However, you’ll need to count and store each unit; this format won’t replace an order of sachets if individual sachets are a requirement.
What should you consider before choosing?
Iced coffee concentrate
Consider this: if your group has somewhere to dilute and serve the drinks.
You’ll need: water, ice, cups and the right dosage for each serving.
Ready-to-drink iced coffee
Consider this: if everyone needs to be able to grab a drink without any preparation on site.
You’ll need: space to store the units and to follow the storage instructions for the product you choose.
Instant coffee sticks
Consider this: if handing out and counting individual portions is a priority.
Check: the preparation instructions for the specific product if you plan to serve the coffee cold.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of units | The number of sachets in each box and the number of boxes being delivered; specify if you need one box of 240. | If I need to hand out one unit at every lunch, I want to be able to count the sachets without confusing a box with an order. Around 42% of consumers would put this need to count portions first. |
| Cold preparation | The preparation and dilution instructions, as well as the water, ice and equipment required. | If service needs to be quick, I need to know what I’ll have to do at lunchtime. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise easy preparation. |
| Ingredients and serving | The ingredients, sugars, allergens, net quantity and storage instructions for the specific product. | When serving a group, I want to choose a recipe that suits the people attending and the storage conditions. This would be the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Confusing 240 sticks in total with one box of 240
Three boxes of 80 sticks add up to 240 units, but they’re not a single pack. Carrefour France lists the Carte Noire product in boxes of 80 sticks.
If the pack format matters for your plans, check the number of units per box and how many boxes are included in the order.
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Assuming all iced coffee is ready to serve
A concentrate needs diluting, while ready-to-drink coffee and instant coffee sticks involve different steps. For a stick product, the name alone doesn’t tell you whether it can be prepared cold.
Before choosing, make sure the product instructions match the equipment available at lunchtime: water, ice, cups and storage space.
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Comparing concentrates without allowing for dilution
Nutrition information per 100 ml of concentrate won’t necessarily reflect the drink once it’s diluted. The NESCAFÉ vanilla recipe listed by Carrefour France contains sugar, for example, so it shouldn’t be treated as equivalent to black coffee.
Read the nutrition information, ingredients and allergen details for the specific product, and take the manufacturer’s serving size and dilution instructions into account.
Brands to consider
NESCAFÉ
Carrefour France lists a 500 ml bottle of vanilla liquid concentrate for making iced coffee.
- A concentrate to dilute, suited to serving drinks prepared on site.
- This product contains sugar and soluble coffee. Calculate the number of portions using the stated dosage, not just the volume of the bottle.
L'OR
Carrefour France lists the Pur Black liquid concentrate in a 485 ml bottle.
- Another concentrate recipe to consider if you’re preparing drinks at lunchtime.
- Check the dosage and the number of portions you’ll need for your group before deciding how many bottles to buy.
Carte Noire
Carrefour France lists boxes of instant coffee with 25 and 80 sticks.
- Individual sticks make it easy to count the portions you need to hand out.
- You may need several boxes to reach 240 sticks; check the instructions before planning to prepare the coffee cold.
Joybuy products for different ways of serving
These products show two ways to plan lunch: count out coffee sachets to prepare, or hand out individual drinks. Check the pack size for each order before calculating how much you’ll need for the group.
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Trung Nguyen Legend Cafe Sua Da, 9 × 25 g
If you’re handing out coffee sachets, make sure you have somewhere to prepare them: the instructions describe mixing with hot water before serving over ice.
Pack size listed: 9 sachets of 25 g. Check how many boxes you’ll need for all the lunches, and check the allergens on the exact product packaging.
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McNulty Ice Americano Sweet, 190 ml
For individual servings with no need to measure anything out on site, this drink is described as ready to drink and serve chilled.
Size listed: 190 ml. Check how many units will be delivered and read the nutrition information on the packaging of the product you choose.
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CAFFE BENE Hazelnut Pouch, 190 ml
This pouch drink is worth considering for individual servings when you don’t want to prepare coffee on site.
Size listed: 190 ml. Check how many pouches will be delivered, along with the ingredients and nutrition information on the packaging.
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Caffe Bene Black Coffee Pouch, 190 ml
For individual servings with no dilution required, this product is described as ready to drink, chilled or over ice.
Size listed: 190 ml. Check how many pouches are included in the order and read the information on the exact product packaging.
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HY Bts Hot Brew Americano Ice Coffee Random Pick, 350 ml
If you’re planning a quick individual service, this drink is described as a ready-to-drink iced Americano.
Size listed: 350 ml. Check how many bottles will be delivered and follow the storage instructions on the packaging, particularly after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Do three boxes of 80 sticks equal one box of 240?
No. They add up to 240 sticks, but they’re still three separate boxes. If you need a single pack, check the product description and the contents of the parcel before ordering.
Can you prepare any instant coffee stick with cold water?
Don’t assume so. To serve coffee cold, follow the instructions for the product you’ve chosen and check whether they call for cold water or hot water followed by serving over ice.
What should you check on the label of prepacked coffee in France?
Check the product name, ingredients, allergens, nutrition information, net quantity and date shown on the product you buy. For prepacked food in France, the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that mandatory information must be visible, legible and written at least in French.