To make a coffee drink quickly with hot water and no machine, choose an instant coffee with instructions that suit the way you serve it. A product called ‘espresso’ does not necessarily produce an espresso extracted under pressure. Then choose the size to suit how quickly you use it: a smaller amount to try a product, or a larger jar if your restocking routine and storage space allow.
You want to make a coffee drink with hot water, without installing a machine. Lavazza presents instant coffee as an option that doesn’t require a machine. Next, check that the dosage and preparation steps work for your counter.
You need to choose an amount that suits the pace of service and the space available. The products mentioned range from illy’s 95 g tin to Carte Noire’s 180 g jar; E.Leclerc also lists 200 g Plantation instant coffees.
You’re looking for specific ingredients or tasting notes before choosing a size. Carrefour says its Organic Espresso contains 100% organic instant coffee; illy describes the tasting notes of its Classico. Use this information to shortlist a product, then try it at the dosage you plan to serve.
For a sandwich shop or bakery, first decide what kind of drink you can serve. Then choose how much to keep in storage and the profile you want to offer. Instant coffee is prepared without pressure extraction, whatever wording is used in its name.
| Criteria | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Serving without a machine | The product is described as ‘instant coffee’ and can be prepared with the hot water available at the counter. | I need to be able to make a coffee drink without using a coffee machine for extraction. Around 31% of consumers put this serving requirement first. |
| Size and restocking | The net weight, type of container and storage instructions; compare these with your usual consumption. | If several drinks are served regularly, I want to avoid restocking too often without taking up too much cupboard space. Around 31% of consumers put this stock management need first. |
| Taste profile | The tasting notes and declared ingredients, followed by the result at the dosage actually served. | I want to choose a cup that matches the profile I’m looking for, rather than relying on the words ‘intense’ or ‘espresso’ alone. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this profile. |
| Ingredients and storage | The ingredients list, storage instructions and, if transferring the coffee to another container, whether the jar is suitable for food contact. | Before filling a counter jar, I want to know what it contains and be able to store it in a suitable container. This is the main concern for around 15% of consumers. |
Instant coffee dissolves in water; its name doesn’t mean it has been extracted under pressure at the counter.
If espresso extraction is essential to your offering, consider a machine and compatible coffee. Otherwise, describe the drink you serve as instant coffee.
A 95 or 100 g tin and a 180 or 200 g size won’t need restocking at the same rate. Weight alone doesn’t tell you how many drinks you can make: the amount you use matters too.
Track how much you use during service, then choose a size you can store and use in line with the storage instructions.
The notes illy lists for Classico describe that product; they aren’t a shared scale for comparison with Carte Noire or a supermarket own brand.
Use these descriptions to shortlist products, then prepare each one at the dosage you intend to serve.
The DGCCRF advises using containers designed to store food.
Keep the original packaging or choose a jar suitable for food contact, and follow its instructions for use.
Carrefour lists a 100 g tin of Organic Espresso Instant Coffee.
Carrefour lists a 180 g jar of Carte Noire Classic Instant Coffee.
illy offers its Classico instant coffee in a 95 g tin.
E.Leclerc’s range includes freeze-dried Plantation instant coffees in 100 g and 200 g sizes.
Auchan’s product listing shows L’OR Classic Instant Coffee in a 100 g glass jar.
Lavazza describes instant coffee as a way to prepare coffee without a machine.
These products are for making coffee without extracting espresso at the counter. The selection includes sizes from 30 to 180 g, including a product described as a jar and a refill. Check the packaging before setting aside space in your cupboard.
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A 100 g size to consider if you’d like to start with a smaller amount of instant coffee.
Check the type of container before deciding where to store it.
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A 100 g jar of instant coffee to consider if you’d like to keep the product in its original packaging.
Check the dosage on the product to estimate how much you’ll use during service.
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Consider this if you’d like to offer a 100 g decaffeinated option.
Check the preparation instructions on the packaging before adding it to a hot-water service without a machine.
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This 30 g size may suit you if you want to try a product before buying enough for regular service.
Check the packaging if your set-up requires a resealable jar.
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Consider this 180 g refill if your consumption justifies a larger size and you have a suitable container.
Check the storage instructions and ingredients before transferring the refill to another container. Don’t confuse it with the 180 g Carte Noire Classic jar.
No. Instant coffee dissolves in water, and its name doesn’t mean it is extracted under pressure when served. Lavazza describes instant coffee as a machine-free preparation; choose it as such if this method suits your offering.
First check the product name, ingredients list and net quantity to distinguish between products and sizes. The DGCCRF lists these among the information required on food labels. Also check the date and storage instructions on the product you choose.
Only use a jar designed for food contact, and follow its instructions for use. The DGCCRF recommends containers intended for storing food; keep the useful information on the original packaging to hand, too.
A larger size makes sense if the amount you serve regularly and your storage space justify it. Compare your consumption with the dosage given for each product. For example, Auchan suggests 1 or 2 spoonfuls for around 100 ml of steaming water for L’OR Classic Instant Coffee; don’t automatically apply this dosage to another coffee.