Busy mornings without a machine
You want to make a cup with hot water and keep the coffee in the cupboard. Lavazza France presents instant coffee as an option that doesn’t require a machine.
Who is this choice for?
Regular coffee drinkers
If you make instant coffee every morning, it’s worth choosing a jar size based on how much you’ll actually use.
People looking to limit their caffeine intake
You want to keep enjoying your coffee break with a decaffeinated option. Anses says that the effects of caffeine on sleep vary from person to person.
What should you look for?
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation without a machine | Look for the description ‘instant coffee’ and check the preparation instructions. | When I leave early, I want to make a cup with hot water without using a machine. Around 33% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Jar size | Compare the net quantity and choose a size that suits how often you drink it. | If I rarely drink instant coffee, I’d rather choose a small jar that I can finish; for around 25% of consumers, finding a size that suits their needs comes first. |
| Recipe and intensity | Read the ingredients and distinguish between the stated intensity and the product’s composition. | I want to know what’s in the recipe before choosing, without assuming that a stated intensity guarantees a particular taste. This is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Caffeine | Look specifically for the word ‘decaffeinated’; don’t infer the caffeine content from the stated intensity. | When I want to limit my caffeine intake, I look for an option clearly labelled as decaffeinated. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this criterion. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing instant coffee with espresso
Instant coffee is made by dissolving it in water; it doesn’t use the extraction method of an espresso machine.
If pressure extraction is essential for you, choose coffee and equipment suited to that method instead.
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Choosing a large jar without thinking about how much you drink
A larger size is only useful if you plan to use all of it. The products shown by illy France, Carrefour France and E.Leclerc illustrate the different jar sizes available.
Check the net quantity, then choose a jar that suits the number of cups you usually make.
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Assuming intensity tells you the caffeine content
The stated intensity alone doesn’t tell you how much caffeine the coffee contains. Anses reminds consumers that the effects of caffeine on sleep vary from person to person.
If you want to limit your caffeine intake, look for an option explicitly labelled ‘decaffeinated’.
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Ignoring the product description and ingredients
Recipes vary: Carrefour France lists an Arabica/Robusta blend for a jar of Carte Noire, while illy France states that its 95 g Classico instant coffee contains 3% roasted ground coffee.
Read the product description and ingredients for the specific option you’re thinking of buying.
Brands to know when making your choice
Lavazza
Lavazza France presents instant coffee as a machine-free option that you can keep in the cupboard.
- A useful reference for understanding how to use instant coffee in the morning.
- To choose a specific jar, check its product description, quantity and ingredients.
illy
illy France lists its Classico instant coffee in a 95 g size.
- The product listing says this option contains instant coffee with 3% roasted ground coffee.
- This composition applies to the 95 g Classico; taste preferences are personal.
Carte Noire
Carrefour France lists, among other options, a 180 g jar of classic Carte Noire instant coffee.
- The listing for this jar says it contains an Arabica/Robusta blend.
- Check the recipe for the size you choose rather than assuming it applies to every Carte Noire product.
Carrefour
Carrefour France lists 100 g and 200 g jars of Carrefour Extra Café Soluble Gold.
- The listing for the 200 g jar says ‘100% instant coffee’.
- Choose between these sizes based on how much you drink, and check the ingredients for the option you select.
E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc lists Plantation instant coffees in 100 g and 200 g sizes, as well as a decaffeinated option.
- These sizes make it easier to find a quantity that suits how much you drink.
- Check the product description for each item to distinguish classic coffee from decaffeinated.
Auchan
Auchan lists instant coffee in 100 g or 200 g jars, including decaffeinated options.
- The range lets you check the size and stated intensity of the products listed.
- A stated intensity doesn’t tell you the caffeine content: look for the word ‘decaffeinated’ if that’s what matters to you.
Jars of instant coffee on Joybuy
These two jars are suited to making coffee in the morning without a machine: one is classic instant coffee, while the other is a decaffeinated option. First choose based on your caffeine preference, then check the details for each product.
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MAXWELL HOUSE Classic Original Blend, 100 g jar
For making instant coffee with hot water in the morning, without a machine.
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NESCAFÉ Decaf Filter Coffee, 100 g
For making a cup of decaffeinated instant coffee with hot water. If you need to know the residual caffeine content, check the information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make an espresso with a jar of instant coffee?
No. You can make a coffee drink by dissolving the product in water, but it isn’t extracted under pressure. If this extraction method matters to you, choose coffee and a machine designed for it.
Should you choose a jar or individual sachets?
A jar is a good choice if you make coffee regularly at home, while sachets can be handy for taking with you or making one cup at a time. Choose a format based on how you’ll use it and how much you’ll drink.
How can you check the ingredients in pre-packed instant coffee?
Read the product description and ingredients on the packaging. For pre-packed food sold in France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that the label includes this information, along with the net quantity and the applicable date marking.
When should you consider decaffeinated instant coffee?
A decaffeinated option is a good choice if you want to limit the caffeine in your cup. Look for the word ‘decaffeinated’ rather than relying on the stated intensity; Anses says that the effects of caffeine on sleep vary from person to person.