Fans of homemade cold coffee
You’d rather measure out the coffee, water, milk or plant-based drink yourself than use a powdered milk-based mix. For its iced coffee recipe, NESCAFÉ starts by dissolving the instant coffee in a little warm water.
Who is this option for?
People who are mindful of their sleep in the evening
If you enjoy cold coffee after dinner but want to limit your caffeine intake, compare jars explicitly labelled ‘decaffeinated’. Anses states that caffeine can delay falling asleep and reduce sleep duration and quality, although its effects vary from person to person.
Occasional drinkers or anyone short on cupboard space
You’re looking for a jar that suits how often you make coffee and the space you have available in your cupboard. Products listed by Auchan, Carrefour and E.Leclerc include 100 g, 180 g and 200 g sizes.
What to look for when choosing a jar
For cold coffee after dinner, first distinguish instant coffee from milk-based mixes. Then choose the size, the stated flavour profile and, if needed, a decaffeinated option.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cold preparation | Check the product name and preparation instructions. Dissolving the coffee in a little warm water first lets you add the cold ingredients afterwards, as in the recipe suggested by NESCAFÉ. | I want to mix the coffee before adding milk or ice cubes; around 33% of consumers put this flexibility at the top of their list. |
| Taste and strength | Compare the stated strength and ingredients for the specific product, but don’t assume these descriptions will predict how you’ll like it once diluted. | If I add milk or ice cubes, I first want a coffee profile I enjoy in this recipe; around 25% of consumers put this criterion first. |
| Size and storage | Check the net weight and storage instructions for the jar you choose. Auchan, Carrefour and E.Leclerc list sizes including 100 g, 180 g and 200 g. | I don’t make many cups and would prefer a size that suits the space I have; around 25% of consumers prioritise jar size. |
| Caffeine in the evening | Look for an explicit ‘decaffeinated’ label on the product you’re considering, and take into account any other sources of caffeine you consume during the day. | After dinner, I want to limit my caffeine intake while still enjoying cold coffee; around 17% of consumers put this concern first. |
Pitfalls to avoid
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Pouring the powder straight over ice
The powder may not mix properly. In its iced coffee recipe, NESCAFÉ first dissolves it in a little warm water.
Make this coffee base and stir it, then add cold water, milk or ice cubes to suit your recipe.
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Confusing instant coffee with powdered cappuccino
These products don’t necessarily have the same ingredients. Joybuy’s listing for NESCAFÉ vanilla cappuccino, for example, includes sugar and skimmed milk powder.
If you want to control the ingredients in your cold coffee, check the exact product name and ingredients list. Also read the allergen information.
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Assuming cold coffee is caffeine-free
Serving coffee cold doesn’t remove the caffeine. Anses says caffeine can disrupt sleep, although its effects vary from person to person.
If you’re drinking coffee after dinner and want to limit your caffeine intake, compare decaffeinated options.
Brands to consider
Carte Noire
An example of a larger jar of classic instant coffee: Carrefour lists a 180 g Carte Noire product.
- Carrefour’s product listing specifies an Arabica/Robusta blend.
- If you rarely make cold coffee, compare this size with a smaller jar before choosing.
L'OR
Auchan lists a 100 g jar of L'OR freeze-dried instant coffee, which is worth considering if you’d prefer to start with a smaller size.
- The 100 g size makes it easy to compare this coffee with other smaller jars.
- The product’s flavour descriptions can’t guarantee how your cold coffee recipe will taste.
Plantation
E.Leclerc’s Plantation range includes 100 g and 200 g jars of freeze-dried instant coffee, as well as a decaffeinated option.
- These products let you compare jar sizes separately from your search for a decaffeinated option.
- Check the name of each product: instant coffee is different from cappuccino or coffee-and-milk mixes.
Auchan
The Auchan range includes 200 g of classico instant coffee and a 100 g jar of decaffeinated instant coffee.
- The ‘decaffeinated’ label makes it easy to spot a separate option for coffee after dinner.
- Strength information is no substitute for checking the product name, ingredients and preparation instructions for the product you choose.
A jar of instant coffee on Joybuy
This 100 g jar is a good choice if you’re after a smaller size to keep in the cupboard for making cold coffee just the way you like it. If you want to limit your caffeine intake after dinner, check the product name on the packaging separately.
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MAXWELL HOUSE Classic Original Blend, instant coffee in a 100 g jar
This 100 g jar may suit you if you want to adjust the amount of coffee in a homemade cold drink.
For a cold drink, first dissolve the coffee in a little warm water, as in the iced coffee recipe suggested by NESCAFÉ, before adding the cold ingredients. If you’re looking for a decaffeinated option, check the product name on the packaging before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make cold coffee with instant coffee?
First dissolve the coffee in a small amount of warm water, then add the cold ingredients. This is the order of preparation in an iced coffee recipe published by NESCAFÉ. Adjust the quantities to suit your recipe and follow the instructions on the jar you choose.
Can powdered cappuccino replace a jar of instant coffee?
Not if you want to control the amount of coffee and choose the other ingredients yourself. Powdered cappuccino is a separate type of mix: Joybuy’s listing for NESCAFÉ vanilla cappuccino includes sugar and skimmed milk powder, for example. Check the ingredients list and allergen information for the product you’re considering.
Which jar should you choose for cold coffee after dinner?
If you want to limit your caffeine intake in the evening, compare jars explicitly labelled ‘decaffeinated’. Anses says caffeine can delay falling asleep and that its effects vary from person to person; serving coffee cold doesn’t change this.
How should you store a jar of instant coffee?
Follow the instructions on the jar you buy and close it after use. Auchan’s listing for the L'OR product says to store it in a dry place at room temperature; instructions may vary from one product to another.
Which date should you check on a jar bought in France?
Read the date on the packaging as well as the product’s storage instructions. France’s Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between ‘use by’ dates and ‘best before’ dates on pre-packed foods. Check which wording is actually on the jar rather than assuming the two mean the same thing.