If you have a compatible machine and want a pre-portioned cup, choose soft pods that work with it. If you prefer to make coffee with hot water and no machine, instant coffee in a jar is a practical option, although you’ll need to measure it yourself. In either case, check the pack size and storage instructions for the product you choose.
You’re looking for pre-portioned coffee for your machine and want to choose between different profiles, such as mild, strong or decaffeinated. Senseo offers these varieties in its range; check that each product is compatible with your machine.
You have hot water to hand and prefer to measure out your own coffee. The instant coffee in jars offered by Carrefour and Auchan is suited to this way of making coffee.
You want to choose a format that suits how much coffee you drink and know what to do with its packaging. For recycling, Citeo’s Info-tri and recycling guide explain the local rules. If a product is labelled “compostable”, check what type of composting it requires.
Choose these if: you have a machine that accepts the pods in question and prefer a pre-portioned brew.
Bear in mind: they’re only suitable for the machine’s specific system; a capsule or instant coffee won’t work as a substitute.
Choose this if: you want to make a cup with hot water and no coffee machine.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure out the coffee yourself; also check the instructions for sealing the jar after opening.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Identify the type of coffee first, then check which system your machine accepts if you’re choosing pods. | If I already have a machine in the kitchen, I want to buy pods that fit it. Around 42% of consumers put compatibility first. |
| Making coffee without a machine | For instant coffee, check the instructions and the recommended amount on the product. | If I don’t use a coffee maker in the morning, I want to be able to make a cup with hot water. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour profile and format | Compare the stated strength, the amount of coffee or number of pods, and the storage instructions. | For my everyday coffee, I’m looking for a flavour profile I enjoy and a format I can store properly. Around 25% of consumers put this choice first. |
These products are made in different ways. Joybuy’s product listing for Senseo Doux pods says they need a Senseo machine, while Auchan instant coffee is made with hot water.
First, check the product type on the packaging. For pods or capsules, make sure they’re compatible with your machine.
Carte Noire says that the relevant Classique soft pods require industrial composting, not home composting.
Read the recycling information on the pack and check your local authority’s guidance before disposing of the pods.
An opened jar or pack of pods needs to be sealed and stored according to the product’s instructions.
Choose an amount that suits how much coffee you drink, and check the storage advice on the exact product packaging.
Senseo offers soft pods designed to be used with a compatible machine.
Carte Noire offers soft pods and instant coffee, including products in jars.
Auchan offers freeze-dried instant coffee in jars, including a decaffeinated option.
The range includes freeze-dried instant coffee, available in 100 g and 200 g jars in the E.Leclerc catalogue.
Lidl includes Bellarom in its coffee capsule range.
This selection includes instant coffee that you can make without a machine and pods designed for use with a Senseo machine. The Carte Noire refill is listed separately from the jars, so check the packaging if you’re looking for a resealable container.
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Make a cup without a machine using hot water, and adjust the amount to suit your taste.
100 g jar; follow the storage instructions on the product.
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A decaffeinated option to consider if you want to make a cup without a coffee maker; check the preparation instructions on the pack.
100 g pack. When comparing the number of cups with other products, take into account the recommended amount for each one.
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For a pre-portioned cup with a mild profile if you use a Senseo machine; these pods are not a substitute for instant coffee.
Pack of 40 pods, 277 g. Once opened, follow the storage instructions on the pack.
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Worth considering if you use a Senseo machine and are looking for pods described as strong; check compatibility on the pack.
Pack of 100 pods. The word “Strong” does not, on its own, provide a numerical strength rating that can be compared with another product.
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Make coffee with hot water, without a pod machine.
180 g pack. If you need a jar rather than a refill, check the packaging shown before you buy.
Not for their intended preparation: the Senseo pods featured on Joybuy require a Senseo machine. If you don’t have a machine, choose an instant coffee that can be made with hot water, as stated in its instructions.
Follow the instructions for the product you’ve bought. Auchan advises keeping its instant coffee in a tightly sealed pack in a cool, dry place. For pods, check the instructions on the pack.
Not necessarily: Carte Noire says that the relevant Classique soft pods require industrial composting. Check the recycling information on the pack and local guidance before disposing of them.
Check the recycling information for each part of the packaging. In France, Citeo’s recycling guide lets you look up the rules for your local area.