Students who want a strong cup without a machine
You have access to hot water between lectures and prefer an intense-tasting black instant coffee to a milky drink. Check the recommended amount for making a cup.
Who is this guide for?
Students who move around campus
You want to take what you need to make a cup at lunchtime without carrying a jar or measuring out each serving. Sachets are ideal for this.
Fans of strong coffee who keep an eye on their caffeine intake
You enjoy an intense flavour, but take your other caffeinated drinks into account, as well as caffeine’s effect on your sleep. In that case, a decaffeinated option is worth considering.
What should you look for?
For lunch at uni, first check that you’ll have access to hot water, then choose the pack size to suit how much you move around. Finally, distinguish the intensity shown on the pack from any need you may have to limit your caffeine intake.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Strong flavour without a machine | Whether it’s black instant coffee rather than a milky drink, and the recommended amount to use. | I want to quickly make a black coffee with a pronounced flavour during my break. Around 40% of consumers are said to put this need first. |
| Portability and portioning | The choice between single-serve sachets and a jar, as well as access to hot water. | If I carry my coffee between lectures, I prefer a serving that’s easy to take with me; around 40% of consumers are said to prioritise this convenience. |
| Caffeine | Whether a decaffeinated version is available and, if needed, the caffeine content per serving. | I’m looking for an intense flavour without adding as much caffeine to my day. This is said to be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing flavour intensity with caffeine content
Auchan rates its caffeinated and decaffeinated instant coffees at 6/10 for intensity. This rating doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in each cup.
If you’re looking to limit your caffeine intake, compare the caffeinated and decaffeinated versions. Check the label if you need to know the amount per serving.
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Choosing a large jar when you want coffee on the go
A 200 g jar may suit you if you often make your coffee in the same place, but you’ll need to carry it and measure out each serving. Sachets are already portioned for you.
Think about where you’ll make your coffee most often before choosing a format.
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Relying on a product listed as unavailable
Carrefour’s product listing for its intense Ethiopian instant coffee says that this specific product is unavailable.
Check that the product you’re interested in is available before treating its origin or description as a deciding factor.
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Having more cups just to stay awake
Anses says that caffeine can delay the onset of sleep and reduce sleep quality.
Take lunchtime, your sensitivity to caffeine and your other sources of caffeine during the day into account, rather than automatically increasing the number of cups you drink.
Brands to know
NESCAFÉ
The range includes Espresso Intenso sachets and Espresso Original in a tin, two ways to enjoy instant coffee without a machine.
- NESCAFÉ describes Espresso Intenso as an instant coffee with an intense flavour, available in sachets.
- The flavour profile alone doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in each cup.
Carte Noire
Carrefour describes its Classique instant coffee in a jar as an Arabica/Robusta blend.
- A jar is another option to consider if you make your coffee in the same place.
- The Arabica/Robusta blend doesn’t tell you how intense the coffee will taste or how much caffeine is in each cup.
Auchan
Auchan offers a 200 g jar of freeze-dried caffeinated instant coffee and a 100 g intense decaffeinated version. Both are rated 6/10 for intensity.
- The caffeinated jar is said to make around 100 cups, compared with around 50 for the decaffeinated version.
- The intensity rating isn’t a measure of the caffeine in each cup.
Carrefour
Carrefour describes a freeze-dried, intense instant coffee made from 100% Arabica beans from Ethiopia.
- The product listing specifies the coffee’s origin and composition.
- The same listing says it’s unavailable, so check that a product is actually on offer before choosing it.
E.Leclerc / Plantation
The Plantation range includes freeze-dried instant coffee in sachets and 100 g or 200 g jars, as well as a decaffeinated version.
- These formats give you options to suit taking your coffee with you or making it regularly in the same place.
- If you’re after a strong cup, check the intensity of the specific product on its pack or product listing.
Black instant coffee on Joybuy
This selection is for making a cup of black instant coffee without a coffee machine. To decide whether a product suits lunchtime at uni, check the recommended amount and pack format too.
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Trung Nguyen G7 Instant Coffee Pure Black 30g
This black instant coffee is worth considering if you want to make a cup without a coffee machine. “Powerful and robust” is how the product listing describes its flavour; it isn’t a comparative measure of intensity. Check the recommended amount and pack format before taking it to uni.
Frequently asked questions
Sachets or a jar: which should I choose for lunch at uni?
Sachets are handy if you’re taking a single serving for an occasional cup; a jar is better if you regularly make your coffee in the same place and can keep it sealed. Either way, make sure you have access to hot water.
Can you make strong instant coffee without a machine?
Yes. You can make instant coffee straight in a cup with water, following the product instructions. NESCAFÉ recommends using water just off the boil for Espresso Intenso; Auchan recommends hot, not boiling, water for its intensity 6 instant coffee.
Does an intensity rating of 6/10 tell you how much caffeine there is?
No. Auchan’s 6/10 intensity rating doesn’t correspond to the amount of caffeine in each cup. If caffeine content matters to your choice, look for information per serving on the label.
What should I bear in mind if I have a strong coffee at lunchtime?
Take your other sources of caffeine and your sensitivity into account. Don’t assume the strong flavour tells you how much caffeine is in the coffee. Anses reminds us that caffeine can delay the onset of sleep and affect sleep quality.