More About Coffee

Our French coffee collection brings together the coffee brands found in French kitchens: Carte Noire, L'Or, Grand'Mère, Legal, Jacques Vabre, Maison du Café, Malongo, Lavazza and Nescafé, plus Ricoré and Leroux chicory. Whether you use a filter machine, a cafetière, a bean-to-cup machine, soft pods or capsules, Epicerie Corner delivers the French coffee you know across the UK.

Coffee in France

Coffee punctuates the French day. At home, many people start the morning with a large cup or bowl of filter coffee, often with milk as a café au lait, while at the café counter the classic order is un café, a short, strong espresso, also called un petit noir or un express. A coffee after lunch is almost a ritual, at home or at work. French supermarket shelves reflect these habits with a wide choice of ground coffee for filter machines, soft pods for pod machines, capsules for espresso machines and instant coffee. Another French speciality is chicory (chicorée), a roasted root drink from the north of France, sometimes blended with coffee in drinks like Ricoré.

Coffee in Our Range

Ground Coffee

For filter machines and cafetières: Carte Noire Classique, Grand'Mère Familial and Dégustation, Legal (a French roaster since 1851) Tradition, Café Noir Intense, Grand Arabica and organic Mexico-Peru, L'Or Absolu, Intense and decaffeinated, Jacques Vabre Brazil Bahia, Maison du Café, Malongo, Lavazza Espresso Italiano and Mattino, and Alter Eco organic Ethiopian coffee.

Coffee Beans

For bean-to-cup machines and home grinders: Carte Noire Classique and Arabica Espresso beans, L'Or Absolu and Sélection beans and Lavazza Qualità Oro, mostly in 1kg bags.

Soft Pods

Soft coffee pods (dosettes souples) for pod machines such as Senseo: Carte Noire Classic N°5 and Full-bodied N°7, Grand'Mère Classique and Corsé maxi packs, Legal Café Bistrot Petit Noir, and Senseo pods.

Espresso Capsules

L'Or Espresso capsules in many intensities, from Delizioso N°5 to Ristretto N°11, Lungo Profondo, Supremo, Forza, Sublime Rosé, Decaffeinato and Barista Double Ristretto; Carte Noire espresso and lungo capsules; Legal L'Espresso capsules; L'Origine du Goût single-origin capsules; Tassimo pods; and Dolce Gusto-compatible capsules. Always check each product page for the compatible machine.

Nescafé Dolce Gusto and Coffee Drinks

For Dolce Gusto machines, Nescafé capsules include Espresso Intenso and Barista with extra crema, Grande Intensité, Café au Lait, Cappuccino and even Nesquik hot chocolate capsules for children. Nescafé instant Cappuccino and Hazelnut Cappuccino make a frothy coffee drink with just hot water.

Instant Coffee and Chicory

Instant coffee from Nescafé, Carte Noire and L'Or (including sticks), and chicory from Leroux in soluble and concentrated liquid form, plus Ricoré, the French breakfast drink of coffee and chicory.

How to Choose Coffee

• By machine: ground for filter and cafetière, beans for grinders, soft pods for pod machines, capsules for compatible espresso machines.
• By strength: most brands show an intensity number; lower numbers are smoother, higher numbers stronger and more roasted.
• By bean: 100% Arabica is generally smoother and more aromatic; blends with Robusta are stronger and more bitter, with more crema.
• Decaffeinated: decaf ground coffee, pods and capsules are available.
• Organic: Alter Eco, Legal organic and other organic options.
• Caffeine-free alternative: chicory, alone or with milk.

Brewing Tips

Use fresh, cold water and clean equipment. For a cafetière, use coarse ground coffee, around 7g per 100ml of water, water just off the boil and four minutes of brewing. For a filter machine, use medium ground coffee and adjust the quantity to taste. For capsules and pods, run hot water through the machine first to warm it and descale it regularly. Store coffee in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard, not in the fridge, and use it within a few weeks of opening for the fullest aroma. For brand pages, see Carte Noire, and for format-specific selections, browse Ground Coffee and Coffee Pods.

French Coffee FAQs

What is chicory?

Chicory (chicorée) is the roasted and ground root of the chicory plant, mainly grown in the north of France. It makes a caffeine-free drink with a slightly bitter, toasted taste, and is often mixed with coffee or milk at breakfast.

What is Ricoré?

Ricoré is a French instant breakfast drink made from a blend of coffee and chicory, traditionally served with plenty of hot milk in a large bowl. It is milder than pure coffee.

What is the difference between soft pods and capsules?

Soft pods are flexible paper pouches of ground coffee used in pod machines such as Senseo. Capsules are rigid containers, usually aluminium or plastic, used in espresso machines. They are not interchangeable; check compatibility before buying.

What is the difference between espresso and lungo?

An espresso is a short, concentrated coffee of around 30 to 40ml. A lungo uses the same amount of coffee with more water, around 80 to 110ml, giving a longer, milder cup. Capsule ranges often offer both, so choose according to the size of cup you prefer.

How should I store coffee beans and ground coffee?

Coffee loses its aroma when exposed to air, light, heat and moisture. Keep it in its resealed bag or an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard. Grind beans just before brewing if you can, and buy quantities you will use within a few weeks.

What does "petit noir" mean?

Un petit noir is French café slang for a small, black espresso. Legal's Café Bistrot Petit Noir pods are inspired by that classic café coffee.