If you’re stocking up during a sale, start by choosing an amount you can use and store properly. A large jar is suitable for regular use, while a refill assumes you already have a suitable container. If you’re looking for decaffeinated coffee, check the exact product and its weight. The term ‘freeze-dried’ describes the product, but you’ll still need to choose a flavour profile you enjoy.
A jar for your cupboard could be right for you if you drink instant coffee often enough to finish the size you choose. The net weight and stated number of cups make it easier to compare quantities. For example, Carrefour lists NESCAFÉ Spécial Filtre L’Original as 200 g, making 100 cups.
Look for the word ‘decaffeinated’ on the exact product, then check its weight. NESCAFÉ France lists a 100 g Spécial Filtre Décaféiné jar, while an Auchan listing describes a 200 g decaffeinated option.
Before buying several jars, check their best-before dates, the condition of each pack and how much storage space you have. The Gard Prefecture lists coffee among the products that may lose flavour after their best-before date.
First decide what type of coffee you want — regular or decaffeinated — then choose a size that suits how much you drink and how you store it. Freeze-dried coffee can be regular or decaffeinated, too: it isn’t a separate, mutually exclusive option.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Size and number of cups | Compare the net weight and stated number of cups, bearing in mind the recommended amount for each product. | If I’m stocking the cupboard for several weeks, I want an amount that suits how much I drink. Around 40% of consumers prioritise size and the number of cups. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check the intensity, if stated, and read the product description and ingredients list to tell instant coffee apart from a coffee-based drink mix. | For my usual coffee, I want to find a flavour I enjoy without confusing black coffee with an instant drink mix. Around 30% of consumers put flavour first. |
| Decaffeinated | Check that the product you’ve chosen is labelled ‘decaffeinated’, then check its net weight: the NESCAFÉ jars listed by the brand and Auchan include 100 g and 200 g sizes. | If I want to avoid caffeine, I need to be able to identify the right jar, even if it’s a different size from regular coffee. Around 20% of consumers put decaffeinated coffee at the top of their list. |
| Storage and best-before date | Check the best-before date and that each pack is intact. Once opened, follow the product’s storage and closure instructions. | If I’m stocking up, I want to finish my jars before their flavour starts to fade. Around 10% of consumers prioritise storage. |
A 200 g jar, or several jars bought together, could sit in your cupboard for a long time if you don’t drink much instant coffee.
Compare the net weight and stated number of cups with how much you drink, then check the best-before date before buying several jars.
Instant coffee and a cappuccino or coffee-with-milk mix may contain different ingredients and require different amounts.
If you want black coffee, read the product description and ingredients list for the exact product.
A jar of regular coffee won’t meet your needs if you’re looking for decaffeinated coffee, even if the two products have similar range names.
Check the jar you’re planning to buy for the word ‘decaffeinated’ and its weight.
According to the Gard Prefecture, a best-before date is not as strict as a use-by date, but coffee may lose its flavour after that date.
Check the date and condition of each pack, then store and reseal the coffee as instructed for that product.
Carrefour and Auchan list 200 g jars of NESCAFÉ Spécial Filtre L’Original, stated to make 100 cups. NESCAFÉ France also lists a 100 g decaffeinated coffee and a 150 g L’Original refill.
E.Leclerc lists, among other products, a 200 g jar of PLANTATION freeze-dried coffee.
Auchan’s instant coffee range includes 200 g options stated to make 100 cups, with different intensities, as well as a 100 g decaffeinated coffee.
Retailer KaffeK France lists Jacobs Krönung in a 200 g jar, described as an Arabica and Robusta blend that makes 110 cups.
Carte Noire’s marketing highlights the convenience of instant coffee on the go. This alone doesn’t help you choose a large jar for your cupboard.
These two Maxwell House products are regular instant coffee in jars, ideal for keeping in the cupboard. One is a pack of two 200 g jars, while the other is a single 200 g jar. Choose the quantity to suit how much you drink, and check the best-before date before stocking up.
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This pack could suit you if you regularly drink instant coffee at home and want two jars to hand. It contains two 200 g jars; check the best-before date on each before stocking up.
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This single jar is a good choice if you’d rather start with just one for your cupboard. The stated size is 200 g; check the best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging.
No. A 200 g jar is a good choice only if the amount suits how much you drink and the space you have to store it. Check the best-before date on each jar before buying several.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. Auchan’s listings for NESCAFÉ Spécial Filtre and the manufacturer’s listing for L’OR Classique recommend storing it in a cool, dry place and closing the container securely.
No. The Gard Prefecture explains that a best-before date is not as strict as a use-by date. However, the coffee may have lost some of its flavour. If the packaging is undamaged, check the coffee’s condition before using it.
Check the product description, net quantity and applicable date, then read the ingredients and storage instructions provided for that product. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that applicable labelling information must be visible, legible and written in French at a minimum.