Households looking to top up less often
If you make instant coffee regularly, 180–200 g packs offer a handy supply to keep in the cupboard. Choose an amount you can use while still following the storage instructions once opened.
Who are these pack sizes for?
Anyone after an espresso-style cup without a machine
If you want to make a small cup with hot water, without a coffee maker or pods, check the recommended water volume and serving size. Instant coffee prepared this way is still different from espresso extracted by a machine.
People looking for decaffeinated or organic coffee
If you want to keep a separate option in the cupboard, start by choosing the feature that matters most to you. Check the product description and ingredients rather than assuming what it contains from the word “espresso” alone.
What should you check?
Work out how much you’ll use, then compare the product description and preparation instructions. Decaffeinated and organic are separate considerations from pack size or an espresso-style profile.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Size of your supply | Net weight, stated number of cups and storage instructions once opened. | I make instant coffee regularly and prefer to top up less often, but don’t want to leave a large container open for too long. Around 37% of consumers would prioritise having a good supply to hand. |
| Cup profile | Coffee description, stated intensity and recommended water volume. | For a small espresso-style cup, I want to choose the profile and preparation method before deciding on jar size. This would be the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Decaffeinated | The “decaffeinated” label and caffeine content, if stated for the product you’re considering. | I want to keep a decaffeinated option separate from my usual coffee and know the stated caffeine content for this product. Around 18% of consumers would put this choice first. |
| Organic and ingredients | The organic label and ingredient list on the specific packaging. | When stocking up, the stated ingredients or choosing organic coffee matters more to me than the container size. Around 18% of consumers would prioritise this. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing instant espresso with machine-extracted espresso
A product described as “espresso” may be instant coffee that you prepare in a cup. It doesn’t use the same extraction process as an espresso machine.
Read the product description and instructions. If you want a short cup, check the recommended water volume.
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Choosing a larger pack without considering storage
A 180–200 g container means you can keep more coffee to hand, but the size should suit how quickly you’ll use it once opened.
Follow the packaging instructions and close the container carefully after each use.
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Assuming decaffeinated means caffeine-free
“Decaffeinated” doesn’t necessarily mean the coffee contains no caffeine at all. For example, Illy states that its Decaffeinato product contains no more than 0.3% caffeine.
If the stated caffeine content affects your choice, check the label for the exact product.
Instant coffee brands to know
Carte Noire
Carrefour lists Carte Noire Classique in a 180 g jar, a mid-sized option for your cupboard.
- The net weight and jar packaging are shown on Carrefour’s product page.
- Pack size alone won’t tell you which intensity will suit you.
Carrefour Bio
The 100 g Café Soluble Espresso Bio option is a smaller pack with ingredients declared as organic.
- Carrefour lists “100% organic instant coffee” in the ingredients.
- “Espresso” doesn’t mean it’s coffee extracted by a machine.
E.Leclerc / Plantation
E.Leclerc lists a 200 g pack of Plantation freeze-dried instant coffee for a larger supply.
- The product page states a net weight of 200 g.
- Check availability with your local E.Leclerc store.
Auchan
The Auchan options featured include a 200 g Classico, a 100 g decaffeinated coffee and a 100 g 100% arabica organic coffee.
- The product pages distinguish between the Classico, rated 8/10 for intensity, and the decaffeinated and organic options, both rated 6/10.
- These stated intensity ratings aren’t a universal measure of taste, so compare the specific product you’re interested in.
Illy
Illy offers a decaffeinated instant coffee for anyone looking for a distinct option.
- The brand states that its Decaffeinato sticks contain no more than 0.3% caffeine.
- Sticks aren’t the same as a jar for keeping in the cupboard, so check the packaging before choosing.
Lavazza
Lavazza explains how to prepare instant coffee without a coffee maker, helping you distinguish it from espresso extracted by a machine.
- Instant coffee is prepared directly in the cup with hot water.
- If you’re considering a particular product from the brand, choose it based on its exact description and packaging, not just its association with espresso.
Instant coffee available on Joybuy
These products are intended for keeping instant coffee in stock: two 200 g Maxwell House options, including a pack of two, and a 100 g NATURELA option. If you’re specifically after an espresso-style cup, check the profile stated for each product rather than assuming it from the pack size.
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Maxwell House Instant Coffee Filter Quality, 200 g, pack of 2
A handy way to keep two containers of instant coffee to hand if you make it regularly. The pack contains 2 × 200 g; don’t assume it has an espresso-style profile from the Filter Quality description.
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Maxwell House Instant Coffee QUALITE FILTRE, 200 g
A 200 g pack for stocking up on instant coffee. If an espresso-style cup is what you’re after, check that the QUALITE FILTRE profile is right for you.
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NATURELA Organic Instant Coffee, 100 g
A 100 g pack for keeping organic instant coffee in the cupboard. The Organic description alone doesn’t tell you whether it has an espresso-style profile, so check the product information if that matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a machine to make “espresso” instant coffee?
No. This instant coffee is prepared in a cup with hot water. For example, Auchan’s product page for NESCAFÉ Espresso Original recommends one heaped teaspoon and 60 ml of simmering water. This isn’t the same as extraction by a machine.
How should you store an opened jar of instant coffee?
Follow the product instructions and close the container after each use. The Auchan product pages cited for its instant coffees recommend keeping the packaging tightly sealed in a cool, dry place.
Does decaffeinated coffee contain no caffeine at all?
Not necessarily. Illy states that its Decaffeinato product contains no more than 0.3% caffeine. Check the information for the specific product you’re thinking of buying.
What should you read on the packaging before stocking up?
Check the product description, ingredients, net weight, stated date and storage instructions for the coffee you choose. For prepacked food sold in France, the DGCCRF reminds shoppers that labelling information must be visible, legible and written at least in French.