To choose an organic espresso for an afternoon treat, first check the organic certification and choose a format that works with your machine: beans if you have a grinder, or capsules only if the system is compatible. Then choose a flavour profile to suit your preferences and what you’re serving. Organic certification doesn’t tell you how the coffee will taste.
If you’re serving chocolate, biscuits or a strongly flavoured pastry, the cocoa, chocolate or caramel notes listed by Lavazza and Carte Noire may help you decide. They can’t guarantee you’ll enjoy the coffee once it’s prepared.
If you make espresso with capsules, check your machine’s system before choosing an organic coffee. The Auchan Bio capsules described by the retailer are listed as compatible with Nespresso machines.
A machine with a built-in grinder, or a grinder paired with espresso-making equipment, lets you use whole beans. You’ll need to choose a grind that suits your brewing method.
For an organic espresso to serve with an afternoon treat, start with the certification and your machine. Then narrow down your choice based on the flavour profile and format that suits you.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Look for the Euro-leaf logo, along with the inspection and origin details displayed near it on the packaging. According to the European Commission, this logo is reserved for products certified by an authorised control body. | I want to be able to identify certified organic coffee rather than relying on the word “natural” alone. Around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Machine compatibility | For capsules, check the exact system specified; for beans, make sure you have a suitable grinder. | At afternoon tea, I want to use coffee with the equipment I already own. Compatibility would come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Flavour profile | Read the details about the roast, blend and tasting notes. Compare intensity levels with care when they come from different brands. | If I’m serving a chocolate pastry or a lighter afternoon treat, I’m looking for a cup that suits my taste. This would be the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight or number of capsules, then choose a quantity that suits how often you make coffee. | I make espresso more or less often and want a pack that suits how I use it. Around 14% of consumers would put pack size at the top of their list. |
Organic certification doesn’t tell you whether the espresso will be mild, intense or to your taste with a pastry. The blend, roast and brewing method also affect the flavour of your cup.
Once you’ve checked the organic certification, look separately at the roast details and tasting notes.
Beans need to be ground before brewing. A capsule listed as compatible with Nespresso machines isn’t necessarily suitable for another capsule system or a bean-to-cup machine.
Identify your machine, then check the coffee’s format and stated compatibility.
Carte Noire gives its Espresso Bio whole beans an intensity rating of 11/13, while Auchan rates its organic capsules 7/12. These scales come from different brands, so you can’t use them to compare the two coffees directly.
Use the intensity rating as a guide for that particular product, and also read the details about the roast and blend.
Lavazza describes Espresso Maestro Organic as an organic Arabica-Robusta whole bean coffee made for espresso.
Espresso Bio is an Arabica-Robusta whole bean coffee from Carte Noire, with an intensity rating of 11/13.
Auchan describes its organic espresso capsules as made from 100% Arabica coffee and compatible with Nespresso machines.
E.Leclerc offers Bio Village whole bean and ground coffees, including an organic whole bean coffee made from pure Latin American Arabica.
Carrefour offers organic whole bean espressos from Méo and Naturela, among others.
illy is a useful reference point for the different espresso formats available, including whole beans, ground coffee, capsules and pods, depending on the product.
These four whole bean coffees are for anyone with a grinder who wants to make espresso for an afternoon treat. They’re described as organic in their product names: check the certification on the pack before choosing, then make sure your equipment can prepare the coffee as you’d like.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you make espresso from whole beans and are looking for the cocoa and chocolate notes Lavazza lists for this product.
Arabica-Robusta blend; 1 kg pack. Check the organic certification on the pack, as well as the settings required by your machine.
Image unavailable
An option to consider if you’d like to grind the beans yourself to make espresso for an afternoon treat.
500 g pack. Check the organic certification and make sure your grinder and machine are suitable for the grind you need.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you use a grinder to make espresso and would like to try a whole bean coffee described as coming from Mexico.
500 g pack. Check the organic details on the packaging and choose a grind that suits your equipment.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if you’re after Arabica whole beans to use with a grinder.
Check the organic certification on the pack and grind the beans to suit your espresso machine.
Look for the Euro-leaf logo on the packaging and check the accompanying inspection and origin details. According to the European Commission, this logo can only be used on a product certified as organic by an authorised control body.
No. The organic label doesn’t describe how the espresso tastes. To choose a coffee to serve with your afternoon treat, look separately at the blend, roast and stated tasting notes, then consider your own preferences.
No. A capsule must match your machine’s system. Auchan describes its organic espresso capsules as compatible with Nespresso machines, but always check the compatibility details for your model before choosing.