People without a coffee maker
If all you have is hot water, instant coffee sticks let you make a cup without a brewing machine. Carrefour lists its box of 80 Carte Noire sticks as instant coffee: it isn’t ground coffee for use in a coffee maker.
Who are these formats for?
If you’re stocking up for regular coffee drinkers, the equipment you have available matters more than the number of sachets stated on the box.
Households with a coffee maker
If you use a filter coffee maker, cafetière or moka pot, look for ground coffee suited to your brewing method. Lavazza states the recommended brewing method for each product, so check this before choosing a pack.
People with an ESE machine
If your machine explicitly accepts ESE soft pods, this pre-portioned format may be suitable. Lavazza says its soft pods use this standard; they’re neither instant coffee sticks nor packs of ground coffee that can be used in every coffee maker.
What should you check before buying?
First, choose a format that works with the brewing method available. The packaging then becomes the deciding factor: a box of sticks, a pack of ground coffee and ESE pods don’t meet the same need.
Instant coffee sticks
Choose these: if you need to make coffee with hot water and don’t have a coffee maker; Carrefour describes its box of 80 Carte Noire sticks as instant coffee.
Bear in mind: the contents dissolve in water and won’t replace ground coffee that needs to be brewed in a coffee maker.
Bagged ground coffee
Choose this: if you have a suitable coffee maker and want to carry on brewing coffee.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to choose the right brewing method and reseal the coffee after opening.
ESE soft pods
Choose these: if your machine accepts the ESE standard and you prefer pre-measured portions.
Bear in mind: compatibility is essential; ESE pods aren’t suitable for every machine.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Making coffee without a coffee maker | Look for “instant coffee” and check the preparation instructions. | I only have hot water and want to make a cup without a brewing machine. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Compatibility with your equipment | The recommended method for ground coffee, or ESE compatibility for pods. | My coffee maker is already here and I want to keep using it while I’m topping up. This would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| How much to buy | Net weight, number of packs and storage instructions after opening. | I’d rather buy enough for the cups I need to make than leave a pack open for a long time. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this criterion. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Mistaking instant coffee sticks for ground coffee
The box of 80 Carte Noire sticks featured by Carrefour is in the instant coffee category. It isn’t a replacement for ground coffee used in a coffee maker.
Before you buy, check the product category and preparation instructions: instant coffee dissolves in water, while ground coffee needs to be brewed using suitable equipment.
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Choosing pods without checking your machine
The ESE soft pods described by Lavazza need a machine that accepts this standard. Their pre-portioned format alone doesn’t mean they’re compatible with your machine.
Check the manual or the instructions on the filter holder before buying. If you usually use bagged ground coffee, choose a product suited to your brewing method instead.
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Buying a large pack for a short-term top-up
The amount you buy should match the number of cups you expect to make and how you’ll store the coffee after opening. JDE Professional France recommends resealing the bag carefully or transferring the ground coffee to an airtight container.
Compare pack weights and check the storage instructions and date on the packaging.
Brands and ranges to know
These branded products help you tell the formats apart. Always check the category and brewing instructions for the specific product you’re thinking of buying.
Carte Noire
The brand features here in two separate categories: ground coffee in a 2 × 250 g pack on Joybuy, and a box of 80 instant coffee sticks described by Carrefour.
- The two formats let you choose according to whether or not you have a coffee maker.
- The 80 instant coffee sticks won’t replace the ground coffee required by a coffee maker.
Lavazza
Lavazza offers ground coffee for different home brewing methods, as well as soft pods that use the ESE standard.
- The brand states the recommended brewing method for each ground coffee product.
- Its ESE pods require a compatible machine and won’t replace a pack of ground coffee in every coffee maker.
Malongo
Malongo offers bagged ground coffee, including 250 g packs, as well as individual portions.
- A pack of ground coffee keeps you in the category you’re looking for if you have a suitable coffee maker.
- Don’t confuse individual portions with a box of 80 sachets of ground coffee; check the packaging for the product you choose.
Carrefour
The retailer sells ground coffee under several of its brands and lists instant coffee separately.
- This distinction between categories makes it easier to spot a pack of ground coffee rather than a box of instant coffee sticks.
- Check the format and product reference for your chosen store or collection option.
E.Leclerc / Plantation
E.Leclerc stocks Plantation ground coffee in 250 g packs and multipacks containing several 250 g packs.
- The packaging makes it easy to tell a single pack from a multipack before deciding how much to buy.
- Check the variety and details for your selected store rather than assuming the same format will suit every top-up.
Bagged ground coffee on Joybuy
These 250 g or 500 g packs of ground coffee are worth considering if you have a coffee maker. They aren’t boxes of 80 sticks, so before choosing a product, make sure its brewing method is right for your machine.
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CARTE NOIRE Classic, ground coffee 2 × 250 g
Worth considering if you want to carry on making ground coffee with a suitable coffee maker. The multipack contains two 250 g packs; check the brewing method stated for your machine.
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GIMOKA Intenso BIPACK, ground coffee 500 g
A pack of ground coffee to consider if you have suitable brewing equipment. The BIPACK contains 500 g in total; check the recommended brewing method before buying.
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GIMOKA GRAN RELAX, decaffeinated ground coffee 250 g
For anyone looking for decaffeinated ground coffee who has a compatible coffee maker. This pack contains 250 g; check the brewing method stated for this product.
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GIMOKA GRAN GUSTO, ground coffee 250 g
A pack of ground coffee to consider if 250 g is the right amount for your top-up. Make sure the brewing method is suitable for your coffee maker.
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GIMOKA Aroma Classico, ground coffee 250 g
Worth considering if you need a 250 g pack of ground coffee for a coffee maker you already have. Check the recommended brewing method before choosing it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a box of 80 sticks contain ground coffee?
Not in the case of the box of 80 Carte Noire sticks featured by Carrefour: it contains instant coffee, listed in the instant coffee category. If you need to fill a coffee maker with ground coffee, check the product category explicitly rather than relying on the number of portions.
Which coffee should I choose if I already have a filter coffee maker?
Choose ground coffee whose packaging states that it’s suitable for a filter coffee maker. Then match the pack weight to the number of cups you plan to make: the packs featured in this article aren’t boxes of individual sticks.
How should I store ground coffee after opening?
Reseal the bag carefully or transfer the coffee to an airtight container, as recommended by JDE Professional France. Also follow the storage instructions and check the date shown on the packaging of the product you choose.
Are soft pods suitable for every machine?
No: the ESE soft pods featured by Lavazza require a machine that accepts this standard. Check your machine’s manual to confirm compatibility before choosing them instead of a pack of ground coffee.