Who is this for?

Hosts serving different preferences

A plain instant coffee lets guests add their own milk, plant alternative or sweetener. You can adjust each mug’s strength, although that also changes how many mugs a jar will make.

Hosts planning around a cup count

A stated cup count or product-specific serving weight is more useful than pack weight alone when you need roughly 80 drinks. Allow for guests who use more coffee than the suggested serving.

People hosting groups regularly

A catering tin may suit repeated gatherings if there is somewhere to store and use the remainder. An Amazon UK listing describes the 750g Douwe Egberts Pure Gold tin as providing 470 cups—far more than one 80-cup brunch requires.

What matters when choosing?

Start with the number of drinks you need, then decide whether measured coffee or individual portions will work better for your guests.

PriorityWhat to checkYour needs
Enough servings Look for a stated cup count or divide pack weight by the maker’s grams per mug. NESCAFÉ UK & IE suggests approximately 1.8g of Original with 200ml water; 300g yields about 166 mugs at that measure. Check stock before relying on a particular pack. I want enough coffee for around 80 drinks, with some allowance if guests make stronger mugs.
Pack format For a box, confirm the number of sticks or sachets and whether each makes one drink. A jar needs measuring; an Amazon UK listing describes a 750g Douwe Egberts Pure Gold tin as providing 470 cups. Individual portions would simplify serving, but I would rather use a jar than buy a large tin whose remainder I cannot use.
Flavour choice Compare descriptions for the exact coffee. Kenco describes Rich as intensity 9; an intensity rating is not a serving count or a measure shared by every brand. My guests have different preferences, so I may want a plain base coffee and a stronger alternative rather than one fixed-strength drink.
Ingredients Read the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen information. NESCAFÉ UK & IE notes that some instant-coffee sachets contain added milk; do not assume every sachet is plain coffee. I want guests to choose their own additions, especially when they have different milk preferences or need to check ingredients.

Common buying mistakes

  • Reading “80” as a guaranteed 80 plain coffees

    A pack count does not tell you whether each portion makes one drink or whether the sachets contain other ingredients.

    Check the portion count, preparation instructions and ingredients for the exact box before ordering.

  • Turning jar weight into a fixed cup count

    Guests who use more than the suggested amount of coffee will make fewer mugs from the same jar.

    Use the maker’s serving size or a stated cup count, and allow extra if stronger drinks are likely.

  • Making a pre-mixed sachet the only option

    Some sachets contain added milk, which may not suit every guest’s preferences or ingredient requirements.

    Consider plain coffee with milk, plant alternatives and sweeteners offered separately; check the label of any sachets you also serve.

  • Buying a catering tin for one brunch

    A tin described as making 470 cups leaves a substantial quantity after an 80-cup gathering.

    Choose that format when later gatherings or regular group use give you a plan for the remainder.

Brand references

These examples illustrate serving guidance and formats for particular products, not every coffee sold under each brand.

NESCAFÉ

Original is a plain instant-coffee option when guests will add their own milk or sweetener.

  • NESCAFÉ UK & IE recommends approximately 1.8g of Original with 200ml hot water for a typical mug. At that measure, a 300g jar makes about 166 mugs.
  • Stronger portions reduce that calculated yield, and a jar does not provide individual portions.

Kenco

Rich is an alternative to consider when some guests prefer a stronger-tasting coffee.

  • Kenco describes Rich as intensity 9. Tesco lists the 190g product’s ingredients as 90% instant coffee and 10% roast-and-ground coffee.
  • Check its serving guidance before relying on one 190g jar for 80 mugs.

Douwe Egberts

Pure Gold is available as a catering-size tin for repeated group use.

  • An Amazon UK listing describes the 750g tin as providing 470 cups.
  • That quantity is much greater than a single 80-cup brunch needs; plan how you will use and store the remainder.

Carte Noire

Classique offers another jar with a stated cup yield to check against the guest count.

  • A Sainsbury’s Classique 180g listing states approximately 100 cups using 1.8g per cup.
  • Check the exact size and current stock: a separate Tesco listing for a 200g product showed it out of stock when checked.

Tesco

Tesco Gold Instant Coffee 200g is an own-label jar listed in Tesco’s instant-coffee range.

  • The 200g pack provides a stated weight to compare with the serving instructions on the exact product.
  • Check that pack’s serving guidance and availability before using it to plan 80 mugs.

A Joybuy jar option for brunch

This instant-coffee jar suits a brunch where guests can measure their coffee and add milk or sweetener separately; it is not a box of 80 individual portions.

NESCAFÉ Original Instant Coffee 300g jar

NESCAFÉ Original Instant Coffee 300g

This plain instant-coffee jar lets brunch guests add their own milk or sweetener, but servings must be measured. NESCAFÉ UK & IE recommends approximately 1.8g with 200ml hot water per typical mug; at that measure, 300g makes about 166 mugs, or fewer if guests use more coffee. Check stock before planning around this jar.

View on Joybuy

Questions about serving 80 coffees

How do I work out whether one jar covers 80 coffees?

Use its stated cup count or divide its weight by the maker’s suggested grams per mug. For NESCAFÉ Original, NESCAFÉ UK & IE suggests approximately 1.8g with 200ml water, giving about 166 typical mugs from 300g; allow for fewer if guests prefer stronger coffee.

Is an 80-stick box equivalent to an 80-cup jar?

Not automatically. Check that the box contains 80 single-drink portions and whether they are plain coffee or a prepared mix. A jar’s cup count depends on its stated serving size and how much coffee guests use.

Should latte sachets be the only coffee at a mixed brunch?

Plain instant coffee gives guests more control over milk and sweetener. NESCAFÉ UK & IE notes that some sachets contain added milk, so read the exact pack label and offer pre-mixed drinks as an additional choice if they suit your guests.

What should I check when guests have ingredient concerns?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the physical pack you will serve, particularly for pre-mixed sachets. Providing additions separately also lets guests choose what goes into their coffee.

Can a Carte Noire Classique jar cover an 80-cup brunch?

A Sainsbury’s listing for Carte Noire Classique 180g states approximately 100 cups at 1.8g per cup, which covers 80 at that serving size. Confirm the size and current stock before buying; Tesco’s separate 200g listing showed out of stock when checked.