Choose a jar of instant coffee if you want to make coffee with hot water and no coffee machine. It won’t give you machine-extracted espresso. If you drink coffee regularly at home, compare larger jars; for occasional use, consider smaller sizes and sticks too. The ingredients, storage instructions and, if you want to limit your caffeine, the ‘decaffeinated’ label will help you choose between products.
If you want to keep coffee in the cupboard for a daily cup made with hot water, start by choosing a size that suits how much you drink. The jar should also be stored according to the instructions on its packaging.
Retirement alone isn’t a reason to choose decaffeinated coffee. If you’d prefer to limit your caffeine, look for a product explicitly labelled ‘decaffeinated’. If you have a health concern or are taking medication, ask a healthcare professional for personalised advice.
If you’re looking for instant coffee rather than a mix containing other ingredients, check the product description and ingredients list. Organic or Fairtrade claims may also influence your choice when they appear on the product you’re considering.
For coffee you can keep in the cupboard and make without a machine, first check that it’s instant coffee, then choose a size to suit how much you drink. Consider caffeine content and ingredients separately: a large jar, a decaffeinated version and a certification meet different needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and size | Look for ‘instant coffee’, check the net weight and storage instructions, and compare 100 g, 200 g and sticks to suit how you’ll use them. | I want to make coffee without a machine and keep an amount that suits how much I drink. Around 42% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Caffeine | Look for the explicit ‘decaffeinated’ label on the product you choose; don’t assume it’s decaffeinated because the flavour is described as mild. | If I want to limit my caffeine, I want to be able to identify the right version without basing my choice on my age. This would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Check the product description, ingredients, net quantity and best-before date; check certifications if they matter to you. | I want to know what my coffee contains and understand which labels could influence my purchase. This would be the top consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Instant coffee is made by dissolving it in hot water. If you’re expecting machine-extracted espresso, a jar of instant coffee won’t give you the same result.
First decide how you want to make your coffee, then look for ‘instant coffee’ if you want to do without a coffee machine.
A 200 g jar and a 100 g pack won’t stay open for the same length of time if you don’t drink much coffee. The stated number of cups also depends on how much you use per cup.
Compare the net weight with how much you usually drink, and check the recommended amount per cup and storage instructions.
According to Anses, the effects of caffeine vary depending on factors such as the individual, their habits and certain medications. Being retired, then, doesn’t determine whether decaffeinated coffee is right for you.
If you want to limit your caffeine, check that the version is clearly labelled ‘decaffeinated’. For advice about your personal medical circumstances, speak to a healthcare professional.
The best-before date and the instructions on the packaging matter when you’re keeping a jar in the cupboard, especially after opening.
Check the best-before date when you buy it, then reseal and store the product as directed on its packaging.
illy France offers Classico, Intenso and Decaffeinated instant coffees in 95 g sizes.
Carrefour offers a 100 g jar described as ‘100% organic instant coffee’, with Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification listed on the product information.
E.Leclerc’s range includes freeze-dried instant coffee in 100 g and 200 g jars, as well as sticks.
Auchan offers a 100 g jar of L’OR freeze-dried instant coffee.
Auchan offers, among other options, a 200 g jar of Maxwell House decaffeinated coffee.
These three products suit anyone looking for instant coffee in a jar to keep in the cupboard and make without a machine. The main difference is the amount you want: two 200 g jars, one 200 g jar or one 100 g jar. If you’re looking for decaffeinated coffee, check the label on the specific version before choosing.
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Worth considering if you regularly make instant coffee at home and would prefer two jars rather than one large container.
Pack of two 200 g jars. This is instant coffee, not espresso extracted by a machine.
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Worth considering if you want to keep a single jar of instant coffee at home and this size suits how much you drink.
200 g jar. Check the best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging.
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Worth considering if you drink instant coffee less often or prefer to buy a smaller jar.
100 g size. As with the other products, check the version if caffeine content is a factor in your choice.
No. It’s used to make instant coffee with hot water, without the extraction process of an espresso machine. Choose it if that’s the way you want to make your coffee.
A 200 g size is better suited to regular coffee drinkers, as long as you store the jar according to the instructions on the packaging. If you only drink it occasionally, a 100 g jar may better suit your routine; the stated number of cups varies depending on how much you use per cup.
No. Age alone doesn’t determine whether it’s the right choice for you. If you want to limit your caffeine, look for the ‘decaffeinated’ label on the specific product. For advice about a health condition or medication, seek personalised medical advice.
Follow the instructions on the packaging and close the jar after use. The Auchan product information for its 200 g jar of Maxwell House decaffeinated coffee specifically says to store it in a dry place, away from heat and light.
The best-before date is shown as ‘best before’. It differs from a use-by date, as explained by the French Ministry for the Economy. Also check the storage instructions for the specific product.