Travellers who want a cup without a machine
Instant coffee is made with hot water, as NESCAFÉ France explains. If you’re waiting at an airport, it’s only a convenient option if you can also get a cup and hot water.
Who are these formats suitable for?
People making several coffees around their journey
At home, at work or in accommodation with hot water, a 100–200 g jar lets you measure out each cup as you go. The number of cups stated depends on the product and how much you use.
Travellers who prefer single portions
If you only want to take a few portions and would rather not handle a jar in your bag, sticks are a separate, convenient format. You’ll still need to make sure you can prepare them at your destination.
What should you look for before buying?
Start by considering how many cups you want to make and whether hot water will actually be available. For your journey, then compare the space a jar takes up, whether a refill needs another container and how easy the sticks are to carry.
| Factor | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying and measuring | Format, how much to take and whether you’ll need a spoon. | For a few coffees on the journey, I’d rather take separate portions than open a jar in my bag. Around 36% of consumers make this a priority. |
| Hot water and preparation | Confirmed access to hot water and a cup, as well as the product’s instructions. | Without a coffee machine, I can only make my coffee if I also have hot water. This comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Taste and strength | Stated strength, coffee type where specified and recommended amount to use. | I want a coffee profile I enjoy, even if I change format. Around 21% of consumers prioritise choosing a product based on taste. |
| Decaffeinated option | Check that the exact product is labelled “decaffeinated” and see which formats are available. | After a meal, I specifically look for a decaffeinated version rather than relying on the brand or packaging. Around 14% of consumers make this a priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming coffee powder is the same as a prepared drink
It’s water and prepared coffee that are subject to liquid restrictions at security. For departures from EU airports, the European Commission says that liquids in hand luggage must be in individual containers of no more than 100 ml, all placed in a transparent, resealable one-litre bag.
If you plan to travel with dry instant coffee, check the rules set by your departure airport and airline for its packaging. Plan your drink with the security screening in mind.
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Expecting a jar to be enough to make a cup in the terminal
Instant coffee doesn’t need a machine, but you’ll still need hot water and a cup. The presence of cafés or restaurants doesn’t mean they’ll provide hot water for a product you’ve brought with you.
Make sure you have a way to prepare your coffee before relying on it in the terminal. Otherwise, save the jar for somewhere with the right facilities when you arrive.
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Assuming the format tells you about the taste or caffeine content
Jar, refill and sticks describe the packaging, not the recipe. The same brand may offer different strengths and decaffeinated products.
Check the name, ingredients and instructions for the exact product before choosing.
Brands to know
NESCAFÉ
The instant coffee range includes jars, tins, sticks and decaffeinated products.
- For its 100 g Spécial Filtre Crema jar, Auchan states that it makes 50 cups and recommends one heaped teaspoon in 100 ml of steaming hot water.
- These amounts apply to this product only, so check the details for the one you choose.
Carte Noire
The brand offers instant coffee in several formats, including a 180 g refill listed by Joybuy France.
- The refill can be used to top up a container for instant coffee.
- If you’re taking it on a journey, check how to store it once opened; unlike sticks, it doesn’t offer separate portions.
AUCHAN
The supermarket’s own brand includes a 200 g jar of instant coffee with a stated strength of 6/10.
- Auchan says this product makes around 100 cups.
- The stated yield and strength don’t apply to every AUCHAN instant coffee.
CARREFOUR EXTRA
Carrefour France lists a 200 g jar of CARREFOUR EXTRA Gold instant coffee.
- This format could work well for making several cups somewhere with the right facilities.
- Check the exact product and its availability with your chosen store or collection service.
PLANTATION (Marque Repère E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc lists a 200 g freeze-dried instant coffee and a decaffeinated version in sticks.
- These formats suit different needs: a supply to measure out or individual portions.
- For the 200 g product, E.Leclerc recommends checking availability with the relevant store.
Joybuy products by format
This selection includes sticks for making a few drinks and jars for regular use, including a decaffeinated option. If you plan to enjoy one at the airport, make sure you can get a cup and hot water.
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NESCAFÉ instant cappuccino, 10 sticks
The sticks make it easy to take separate portions for a few drinks. This is instant cappuccino rather than black coffee, so check the ingredients if the contents matter to you. You’ll also need access to a cup and hot water.
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MAXWELL HOUSE Classic Original Blend, 100 g jar
This jar of instant coffee is a good option if you want to measure out several cups somewhere with hot water. Take a spoon and cup, and check the relevant baggage rules if you plan to carry it with you.
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NESCAFÉ Decaf Filter Coffee, 100 g
This decaffeinated product is for anyone specifically looking for this option in a format they can measure out. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging, and make sure you have a cup and hot water.
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MAXWELL HOUSE Qualité Filtre, 200 g
This format is better suited to regular use somewhere with the right facilities than to carrying a few portions for a single meal. Check the instructions on the packaging, and make sure you can get a cup and hot water.
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Maxwell House Filter Quality, two 200 g jars
This pack of two jars is a handy supply to keep somewhere you can make several cups. Bear in mind how much it weighs if you’re thinking of taking it on a one-off journey. You’ll also need a cup and hot water to prepare it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take water or a prepared coffee in my hand luggage?
Yes, subject to the liquid rules in place at security. For departures from EU airports, the European Commission states that each individual container must hold no more than 100 ml, and all containers must be placed in a transparent, resealable one-litre bag. Paris Aéroport also states that liquids presented at security for departures from Paris airports are limited to 100 ml. Check the rules for your departure airport and any conditions that apply to purchases made after security.
How can I make instant coffee at the airport without a machine?
You’ll need access to a cup and hot water in the terminal. Instant coffee doesn’t need a coffee machine, but it doesn’t come with either of these. The amount to use depends on the product; for its 100 g NESCAFÉ Spécial Filtre Crema jar, Auchan recommends one heaped teaspoon in 100 ml of steaming hot water. Follow the instructions on the product you buy.
Is a 100 g or 200 g jar better for my journey?
A 100 g jar means carrying less if you only want to make a few drinks. Consider 200 g if you plan to make coffee regularly somewhere with the right facilities. The yield varies by product and how much you use: Auchan states that a 100 g NESCAFÉ jar makes 50 cups, while its 200 g AUCHAN instant coffee makes around 100 cups. In both cases, you’ll need hot water and something to measure out the coffee.