Start with a regular ground coffee whose stated preparation method matches the canteen’s brewer. Add a clearly labelled stronger coffee if staff want that flavour choice, and offer half-caff or decaf separately when caffeine choice matters; half-caff is not decaf.
If the canteen will serve one ground coffee, choose a pack labelled for its installed brewer. A flavour description alone cannot establish whether the grind suits a filter machine, cafetière, moka pot or espresso machine.
A separate half-caff or decaf choice makes the menu clearer. Sainsbury’s labels its Half Caff blend as 50% coffee and 50% decaffeinated coffee, so it should not be presented as decaf.
Roast-and-ground coffee adds a preparation step to shared lunch service. Choose a product that fits the equipment and decide how staff will measure, brew and label each option consistently.
Identify the brewer first, then decide whether one regular coffee covers lunch service or whether distinct flavour and caffeine choices are worth managing.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Brewer fit | Check the exact pack’s stated brewing methods and grind against the installed machine. Lavazza says its ground coffees are calibrated for particular preparations; follow the brewer’s instructions as well. | I need a coffee that works with the equipment used at lunch, whether that is a filter machine, cafetière, moka pot or espresso machine. |
| Regular flavour | Read the roast and flavour description for the exact blend. Treat strength numbers as product labels, not a common scale for comparing different brands. | One regular option would keep ordering and service straightforward; a stronger coffee could be offered separately if people want a distinct choice. |
| Caffeine choice | Distinguish regular, half-caff and products sold as decaffeinated. Sainsbury’s Half Caff contains 50% coffee and 50% decaffeinated coffee; check each option’s brewing directions. | Someone choosing less caffeine should be able to tell half-caff from decaf at the coffee station. |
| Service and packs | Compare pack size with expected use, opened-pack storage directions and the work involved in replenishing each choice. For its Decaf coffee, Rombouts gives 60 g per litre as a starting dose, not a universal recipe. | If lunch service is busy, I want a repeatable brewing routine and packs that suit how often the canteen makes coffee. |
A coffee’s flavour or strength label does not establish that its grind suits the canteen’s machine. Lavazza and illy list ground products for different preparation methods.
Record the brewer type, check the exact coffee pack’s preparation directions and keep the machine instructions with the service recipe.
Sainsbury’s Half Caff contains both coffee and decaffeinated coffee in equal proportions. It is a different choice from a product sold as decaf.
Label regular, half-caff and decaf containers separately, and use a decaf-labelled product when that is the option being offered.
Sainsbury’s describes Fire Up Your Morning as an intense dark roast, while Taylors describes Rich Italian as smooth. They are distinct flavour profiles, not interchangeable descriptions of a regular coffee.
If the canteen serves mixed tastes, consider whether an intense roast belongs alongside a regular option rather than replacing it.
Pack sizes in the referenced ranges differ, so the number of packs opened and replaced will depend on the canteen’s use.
Estimate consumption before choosing a pack size, follow its opened-pack storage directions and set a consistent brewing routine.
Smaller packs can mean more frequent replenishment during high-volume service.
Lavazza UK lists ground coffees for moka, espresso and filter preparation.
illy lists CLASSICO, INTENSO and decaffeinated coffees across ground formats.
Taylors describes its 200 g Rich Italian ground blend as rich and smooth.
Rombouts supplies roast-and-ground coffee to UK workplaces and caterers and describes equipment and service support for its professional customers.
Tesco’s referenced grocery listing includes several Finest ground coffees in 227 g packs.
Sainsbury’s labels distinct half-caff and intense dark-roast ground coffees.
These options include regular ground coffees and one decaf choice for a workplace canteen. Match any shortlisted pack to the lunch-service brewer before settling on a menu.
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A regular blend option for filter-machine or cafetière service. The stated format is No. 3 medium-ground coffee; confirm that it matches the canteen’s brewer instructions.
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A regular Arabica-and-Robusta blend for a canteen using a compatible brewer. Lavazza identifies espresso and moka as intended preparations; check the current pack or supplier specification before using it in a filter machine or cafetière.
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A 250 g pack of the regular Qualità Rossa blend. Confirm the current pack’s preparation directions before using this variant in a filter brewer, and consider whether its pack size suits the canteen’s rate of use.
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A separately labelled decaf option for the lunch menu. Check the current pack’s brewing directions against the canteen’s machine before buying it for service.
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A 200 g regular ground-coffee option. Check the current pack’s identity and brewing directions before choosing it for the canteen’s equipment.
One regular blend keeps preparation and stock control simpler if it suits the brewer. Add a labelled intense option when a distinct stronger flavour is wanted, or a separate half-caff or decaf option when caffeine choice matters. Sainsbury’s Half Caff contains 50% coffee and 50% decaffeinated coffee, so it is not a decaf substitute.
No: match the exact coffee pack to the brewer’s stated preparation method and instructions. Lavazza says its grounds are calibrated for intended methods, illy lists separate espresso, moka and filter formats, and Rombouts specifies its Decaf ground coffee for filter machines, filter cones and cafetières.
Start with the installed machine’s instructions and the directions for the chosen coffee. Rombouts recommends 60 g per litre of water as a starting point for its Decaf ground coffee; that figure is not a universal dose for other products or machines.
Follow the current pack’s directions. Sainsbury’s advises cool, dry storage away from direct sunlight and resealing or using an airtight container for its referenced ground coffees; organise opened packs so staff can identify each blend during service.
Keep current ingredient and product information for the coffee and any milk, syrups or other additions used at the station. If the canteen produces food that is prepacked for direct sale in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the Food Standards Agency says it must carry the food name and a full ingredients list; the applicable procedure depends on how the canteen prepares and supplies each item.