For a meal at the airport, instant coffee in a jar is a good option if you can get hot water and a cup, and have something to measure out the powder. If organic certification matters to you, check the label before choosing the size and serving instructions. Check the transport rules for your journey separately.
You want to spot a certification on the packaging rather than rely on the word ‘organic’ alone. According to the European Commission, the Euro-leaf is reserved for products certified as organic in the EU.
You can get hot water and measure out the powder yourself. The preparation instructions for NESCAFÉ Spécial Filtre BIO and Auchan Bio call for a spoonful, with 100 ml and 150 ml of water respectively.
To make instant coffee at the airport, first check the certification if organic is your priority. Then look at how it is prepared and what the product says about the flavour of the coffee.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | The Euro-leaf, the code of the inspection body and the agricultural origin details shown on the label. | If organic certification is what drives my choice, I want to see a certification on the jar rather than rely on vague wording. For around 40% of consumers in this group, this check comes before the other criteria. |
| Preparation and pack size | The size of the jar, the recommended serving and whether you can get a cup and hot water. | Between stages of my journey, I want to be able to make a cup with what I actually have to hand. Preparation would be the priority for around 30% of consumers in this group. |
| Flavour of the coffee | The coffee variety, the stated strength and the product’s own serving instructions. | To choose a coffee that suits me, I’d rather read the details on the jar than assume all instant coffees taste the same. This would be the main consideration for around 30% of consumers in this group. |
A word in the product name is no substitute for checking the label. According to the European Commission, the Euro-leaf identifies products certified as organic in the EU.
Before buying, check the logo, the inspection body’s code and the agricultural origin details on the jar.
A compact jar still needs to be measured out. NESCAFÉ Spécial Filtre BIO recommends one teaspoon per 100 ml of hot water, while Auchan Bio recommends one to two teaspoons per 150 ml of hot water.
Make sure you’ll have a cup, hot water and something to measure the powder with when it’s time for a coffee.
Guidance on drinks carried in the cabin does not, by itself, tell you what rules apply to a jar of instant coffee powder. Paris Aéroport points out that baggage rules vary by airline.
Check the rules set by your airline and departure airport for the container you plan to take with you.
NESCAFÉ sells Spécial Filtre BIO in a 90 g jar, described as 100% Arabica coffee.
Carrefour sells its Café Soluble Espresso Bio in a 100 g tin; the ingredients list describes it as ‘100% organic instant coffee’.
Auchan sells 100 g of freeze-dried organic instant coffee, described as 100% Arabica, with a stated strength of 6/10.
This instant coffee in a jar could be a handy option for making a cup while travelling, provided you have access to hot water. If you’re looking for organic certification, check the details on the packaging.
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Instant coffee in a jar to consider if you can get hot water and measure out the powder while you’re travelling.
Size stated in the product name: 100 g. Before buying, check the organic certification details on the packaging and the transport rules for your journey.
Look for the Euro-leaf on the packaging. According to the European Commission, this logo is reserved for products certified as organic in the EU. Also check the inspection body’s code and the agricultural origin details next to the logo.
Check the rules set by your airline and departure airport for the jar you want to take with you. Paris Aéroport says baggage rules vary by airline; guidance on liquids alone does not confirm what rules apply to coffee powder.
The amount depends on the product. NESCAFÉ recommends one teaspoon per 100 ml of hot water for Spécial Filtre BIO, while Auchan recommends one to two teaspoons per 150 ml of hot water for its Café Soluble Bio. Check the instructions on the jar you choose.