To make instant coffee during your lunch break when working from home, start by choosing the format, serving size and ingredients. Don’t assume that a pyramid tea bag will give you a better brew. A stick saves you measuring out coffee for one cup, while a jar or refill is a good choice if you’d rather measure out several cups yourself. Decaffeinated coffee meets a different need, so check the product description.
If you’re making one cup between tasks, a pre-measured stick saves you having to measure out the coffee. For the products mentioned here, NESCAFÉ France and Auchan both give instructions for making the coffee directly in a cup.
A jar or refill lets you measure out each cup according to the product you choose. Be sure to follow the storage instructions once it’s open, particularly those given for the Carte Noire refill.
The word “decaffeinated” can help guide your choice, whether you’re looking for sticks or a jar. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) says the effects of caffeine, particularly on sleep, vary from person to person and depend on consumption habits.
For a lunch break when working from home, consider whether you need an individually measured portion or a container you can measure from yourself. You can choose decaffeinated coffee in either format.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Making one cup | Check that it’s instant coffee that dissolves in water, and read the recommended water volume for the stick you’ve chosen. NESCAFÉ France and Auchan both recommend 100 ml of simmering water for the stick products mentioned here. | When I’m short on time, I want to make a cup without measuring out the coffee; around 45% of consumers say an individually measured portion is their top priority. |
| A format for several cups | Compare the net weight, recommended serving size and storage instructions once opened. A refill may not be prepared in the same way as a stick from the same brand. | If I make coffee at home several times a day, I prefer to measure out each cup and store the rest; around 33% of consumers prioritise this format for repeated use. |
| Decaffeinated options | Look for the word “decaffeinated”, then check the ingredients and preparation instructions for the specific product. | When I want to limit my caffeine during the day, I look for a decaffeinated option first; around 22% of consumers say this is their main need. |
The shape or name of the packaging doesn’t tell you by itself whether the coffee dissolves directly in water. Instant coffee sticks don’t have the same preparation instructions as coffee pods or capsules.
Read the product description and instructions: if you simply want to add water to a cup, check that the product is instant coffee or an instant coffee preparation.
An instant cappuccino or milky coffee may contain ingredients other than coffee. Its ingredients and nutritional information may differ from those of black instant coffee.
Check the ingredients, any listed allergens and the nutritional information for the exact product, particularly if it contains milk or sugar.
Once opened, jars and refills need to be stored according to the instructions on the packaging. For example, the Carte Noire refill product details recommend an airtight container and protection from light.
If you only make a cup now and then, weigh up this extra storage step against the convenience of individually measured portions.
Anses says caffeine can delay falling asleep, and its effects vary from person to person and depend on consumption habits.
If you prefer to limit your caffeine, look for a product clearly labelled as decaffeinated and consider what else you drink throughout the day.
These examples highlight specific products: formats and instructions can vary within the same brand.
NESCAFÉ France offers instant coffee in sticks and tins, as well as decaffeinated options.
Carte Noire instant coffee is available in individual sticks and refill packs.
The Plantation brand, part of E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range, includes instant coffee sticks.
These products include decaffeinated instant coffee in a jar and individual portions of instant coffee drinks. Several are made with milk or sugar, and one contains both instant and ground coffee. Check the ingredients if you’re specifically looking for black instant coffee.
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This jar is a good choice if you prefer to measure out your own decaffeinated instant coffee for a break.
The product details list decaffeinated instant coffee and recommend using 1 to 2 teaspoons with 150 ml of hot water. This isn’t a pre-measured individual portion.
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Individual sachets are handy when you want to make one portion during a break.
This preparation contains instant coffee and ground coffee, as well as sugar and dairy ingredients, so it isn’t black instant coffee. Check the packaging for allergen and nutritional information.
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This format is for anyone who wants to make an instant cappuccino from a stick rather than measure coffee out of a jar.
The box contains 10 sticks, weighing 140 g in total. The product details list sugar, milk and 11.8% instant coffee, with instructions to prepare one stick in 150 ml of water. This isn’t black instant coffee.
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This product combines an individual portion with a decaffeinated coffee drink.
The ingredients include powdered cream, instant coffee, sugar and sweeteners, so this isn’t black coffee. The allergen information is contradictory; if this matters to you, check the product label before buying, along with the recommended amount of water.
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Individual portions are handy if you want to make a milky coffee without measuring out the powder.
The product details specify 8 portions, 10% instant coffee and ingredients containing milk and soya. Check the label for allergens and the preparation instructions for this specific product. It isn’t black instant coffee.
No. The shape of a sachet alone won’t tell you whether it contains instant coffee or whether it will make a better brew. If you want coffee that can be made directly in water, check the product description and instructions. NESCAFÉ France describes instant coffee as a product that dissolves in water, available in formats such as sticks and tins.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. NESCAFÉ France recommends 100 ml of simmering water for its Spécial Filtre sticks, and Auchan’s product details also specify 100 ml for the classic Carte Noire sticks mentioned here. This amount doesn’t automatically apply to cappuccinos or other instant preparations.
Read the product description and ingredients for each product rather than relying on the word “coffee” alone. For a milky or sweetened preparation, also check the listed allergens and nutritional information on the packaging.
A product clearly labelled as decaffeinated suits this preference, but its format, ingredients and preparation instructions will depend on the product you choose. Anses says the effects of caffeine on sleep vary from person to person. Remember to consider what else you drink throughout the day, too.