Choose your coffee beans based on the drink you make most often: look for a product recommended for long coffees or coffee with milk if that’s part of your morning routine, or an Arabica-Robusta blend if you enjoy the fuller-bodied profile described for certain products. Pure Arabica offers a different taste, but neither the blend nor the stated intensity tells you how much caffeine is in a cup. Also check that the beans are suitable for your coffee machine, and choose a pack size that suits how quickly you get through it.
If you make several coffees as part of a hectic routine, start with your machine and your usual cup size rather than focusing only on the intensity rating. Malongo points out that the brewing method is one of the things to consider when choosing coffee beans.
If your morning coffee is a long one or you take it with milk, look for a product specifically recommended for that kind of drink. Malongo describes Les Purs Matins as suitable for long coffees and coffee with milk; Joybuy product listings recommend Carte Noire Petit Déjeuner for large cups and Lavazza Momento Dolce for lungo or coffee with milk.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, pregnant, breastfeeding or already dealing with broken nights, this may be a priority. ANSES says caffeine can delay falling asleep and reduce sleep duration and quality; EFSA assesses caffeine from all food sources combined.
Start with your usual brewing method and equipment, then compare the advertised flavour profile. If caffeine is a particular concern, don’t use these descriptions to estimate how much is in your cup.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Brewing method and equipment | Check that your equipment takes whole beans or has a grinder, then make sure the recommended use matches how you usually make your coffee. | When mornings are hectic, I want to choose a coffee that suits my machine and the cup I make every day. Around 40% of consumers would put this match first. |
| Large cups and coffee with milk | Look for an explicit mention of long coffee, lungo, large cups or coffee made with milk. | At breakfast, I’m looking first and foremost for a profile recommended for my long coffee or milky drink. This would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Caffeine and sleep | Don’t confuse flavour intensity with caffeine content; take account of your other sources of caffeine throughout the day. | With broken nights or caffeine sensitivity, I want to keep track of my intake rather than relying on the word “mild”. Around 30% of consumers would make this their priority. |
An intensity rating describes the flavour profile, not the amount of caffeine in the cup you make. This distinction is particularly important if you’re sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or breastfeeding.
Don’t assume that coffee described as mild contains less caffeine. Take account of all your sources of caffeine throughout the day, and seek professional advice if your circumstances call for it.
A 1 kg pack may be more than your household can get through if you’re still discovering the profiles you enjoy. A Joybuy Carte Noire listing recommends resealing the pack carefully after opening and keeping it away from heat and moisture.
If you’re trying a new coffee, consider a smaller pack if one is available. Otherwise, check that you’ll be able to use and store the pack you choose properly.
A pack that’s too large can also leave you with unused beans if your household doesn’t enjoy the taste.
Products aren’t all recommended for the same uses: Lavazza presents Crema e Aroma for espresso, while Malongo describes Les Purs Matins as suitable for long coffees and coffee with milk.
Before choosing a blend, compare its recommended use with the way you usually make coffee rather than choosing based on its composition alone.
When shopping with a supermarket chain, coffee availability can depend on the shop and your chosen collection or delivery option. E.Leclerc, for example, advises customers to check certain products with their chosen store or Drive service.
Check the product and pack size at the shop or using the collection option you plan to choose.
These brands offer examples of different blends and recommended brewing methods. Compare specific products rather than assuming every coffee in a range has the same profile.
The brand offers both pure Arabica coffee beans and Arabica-Robusta blends.
The products considered here include options for espresso, lungo and coffee with milk.
The brand describes Arabica blends for different kinds of morning coffee.
Barista Blend is a 1 kg whole-bean product whose composition is detailed on the Carrefour listing.
Plantation offers, among other products, 500 g packs of roasted, pure Arabica coffee beans.
These whole-bean products let you compare Arabica-labelled coffees and different pack sizes for your household routine. To choose between espresso, long coffee and coffee with milk, check the recommended brewing method for each product before you buy.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for Arabica coffee beans for your household routine; check that the recommended brewing method suits your machine.
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If your household drinks coffee regularly, check that this 1 kg pack suits your consumption rate and storage arrangements.
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If you’re buying coffee for your household to enjoy regularly, compare this 1 kg pack with your usual consumption rate and check its recommended use.
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The 500 g pack may suit you if you’d like to try this product before settling on a regular coffee.
Described as 100% Arabica coffee beans; check that the brewing method suits your equipment.
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If you’d like to try a 500 g pack of pure Arabica, check that the stated roast matches the flavour profile you’re looking for.
Medium-to-dark roast coffee beans; stated intensity 9/13, which doesn’t measure the caffeine in each cup.
Not necessarily. Start by choosing according to the brewing method and flavour profile you’re looking for. Carte Noire describes Grains Classique as a balanced pure Arabica, while Lavazza recommends its Crema e Aroma Arabica-Robusta blend for espresso. Neither blend gives you enough information to determine how much caffeine is in your cup.
Look for a product whose stated brewing recommendation matches the drink you make. Malongo recommends Les Purs Matins for long coffees and coffee with milk; Joybuy listings recommend Carte Noire Petit Déjeuner for large cups and Lavazza Momento Dolce for lungo or coffee with milk.
No. Here, “mild” describes the taste and doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in each cup. EFSA considers caffeine intake from all food sources and includes pregnant and breastfeeding women in its assessment. If you need advice tailored to you, speak to a healthcare professional.
Seal the pack carefully and keep it away from heat and moisture, following the instructions on the Joybuy listing for Carte Noire coffee beans. Also choose a pack size that suits how quickly your household gets through it.