People who drink coffee late and keep an eye on their sleep
If you’d like a hot drink with a snack before bed, the word ‘decaffeinated’ is a useful first thing to look for. Anses points out that caffeine can disrupt sleep.
Who is this choice for?
People who regularly use up their coffee supplies
If you also drink coffee during the day, compare 100 to 200 g jars based on how often you use them, the recommended serving size and whether the jar can be resealed after each drink.
People who want to avoid buying an oversized jar
If you only make a few cups, choose a size that suits both the stated number of cups and how much you actually drink. A larger jar also needs careful storage once opened.
What should you look for?
For a late-night snack, first check whether the coffee is decaffeinated. Then choose the jar size, serving size and flavour profile based on when else you’ll use it.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine and sleep | Look for the word ‘decaffeinated’ if you plan to drink coffee close to bedtime; don’t assume its caffeine content from its strength. | If I drink coffee before bed, I want to limit caffeine rather than choose based on flavour alone. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Preparation and size | Compare the jar size, recommended serving and stated volume of water for each product. | When making a quick cup without a machine, I want a jar with easy-to-follow serving instructions. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check the stated strength and ingredients list to tell instant coffee apart from a cappuccino-style mix. | If I want black coffee with my snack, I want to choose a flavour profile without confusing it with a different type of drink. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this. |
| How much you’ll actually use | Match the jar size to how often you drink coffee and check the storage instructions for after opening. | If I rarely drink coffee, I prefer a quantity I can use while keeping its aroma intact. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Choosing regular coffee for a snack just before bed
According to Anses, caffeine can delay falling asleep and reduce sleep duration and quality. The stated flavour strength doesn’t tell you how it will affect your sleep.
If you’re planning to go to sleep soon after your snack, look specifically for coffee labelled ‘decaffeinated’ and take your individual sensitivity into account.
-
Confusing instant coffee with an instant coffee drink mix
An instant cappuccino or a 3-in-1 drink may contain ingredients other than coffee. These products may not be suitable for the same purpose as black instant coffee.
Check the product name and ingredients list if you simply want instant coffee.
-
Buying the largest jar without considering how you’ll use it
A 200 g jar holds more than a 100 g one, but you should also think about how often you’ll open it.
Choose a size that suits your habits and reseal the jar after each use, following the product’s storage instructions.
Instant coffee brands to know
NESCAFÉ
The range includes regular and decaffeinated instant coffees in different sizes.
- NESCAFÉ offers its Spécial Filtre Décaféiné in a 100 g jar; Auchan lists a 200 g Spécial Filtre L’Original, stated to make 100 cups.
- The brand’s flavour descriptions don’t necessarily reflect your preferences or sensitivity to caffeine.
Auchan
This own-brand range makes it easy to compare regular and decaffeinated options.
- Auchan offers, among other options, 200 g classico instant coffee and 100 g intense decaffeinated instant coffee.
- Check the exact variant and jar size before comparing two products.
Plantation (E.Leclerc)
Plantation offers regular and decaffeinated freeze-dried instant coffees.
- E.Leclerc offers a regular and a decaffeinated option in 200 g sizes.
- Neither freeze-drying nor jar size alone tells you what the coffee will taste like or whether it’s suitable to drink close to bedtime.
Carrefour Extra
The range includes Gold instant coffee as well as other instant drink mixes.
- Carrefour offers, among other options, Gold instant coffee in a 200 g size.
- The range also includes cappuccino mixes, so check the product name and ingredients to choose the type you want.
Instant coffee in jars on Joybuy
These two products suit different needs: a decaffeinated coffee to consider for a late-night snack, and a 200 g jar to consider if you also drink instant coffee during the day. Check the label on the second product before choosing it for use close to bedtime.
Image unavailable
NESCAFÉ Decaf Filter Coffee 100 g
This 100 g decaffeinated instant coffee is worth considering if you want to limit your caffeine intake with a late-night snack. Check the preparation and storage instructions on the product.
Image unavailable
MAXWELL HOUSE Instant Coffee QUALITE FILTRE 200 g
This 200 g instant coffee may suit you if you use it regularly, particularly during the day. If you want to limit caffeine close to bedtime, check the label first: this product name doesn’t identify it as decaffeinated.
Frequently asked questions
Which instant coffee should I choose for a snack close to bedtime?
If limiting caffeine is your priority, start by looking for products specifically labelled as decaffeinated. According to Anses, caffeine can delay falling asleep and reduce sleep duration and quality. You should also take your individual sensitivity into account.
How do I make instant coffee without a machine?
Follow the serving size and water volume stated for the product you’ve chosen. NESCAFÉ France recommends one teaspoon per 100 ml of simmering water for its Spécial Filtre L’Original refill; don’t automatically use the same amount for another product.
Is a 200 g jar suitable if I rarely drink coffee?
Choose a jar size based on how many cups you’ll actually make, rather than just the stated number of cups. If you only drink coffee occasionally, compare it with a 100 g size too, and follow the storage instructions after opening.