Hosting a larger coffee gathering
If you’re serving several guests, the total weight and stated number of portions can help you plan. Jumbo lists its Bakkers Speculaas as 600 g, with around 48 portions; ALDI sells María biscuits in four 200 g rolls.
Which pack sizes work best for different needs?
Want to portion biscuits in advance
Individual packets make it easier to count out biscuits and leave some unopened. Jumbo lists its Lotus Biscoff XL as ten packets, each containing two biscuits.
Taking allergies or dietary requirements into account
Ask your guests what they need to avoid and read the label on the exact variety you’re serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by thinking about the number of guests and whether the biscuits are suitable for everyone. Then decide whether you’d like to serve from a larger pack or keep portions separate.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Enough biscuits | Check the net weight and the number of biscuits, rolls or stated portions. Remember to factor in any other treats you’ll be serving. | I want to put out enough biscuits without opening more packs than necessary. Quantity is the most important factor for around 42% of consumers. |
| Suitability for your guests | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current pack. | If a guest has an allergy or dietary requirement, I want to choose biscuits that are suitable for them. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Serving and storage | Count the individual packets or biscuits per portion, and check the storage instructions once opened. | I want to make serving easy and keep unopened biscuits for later, while offering something to suit everyone’s taste. For around 25% of consumers, convenience when serving is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Going by the word ‘large’ alone
A 600 g pack, four 200 g rolls and ten packets of two biscuits each all offer a different way to serve them. Weight alone doesn’t tell you how many individual portions you can hand out.
Before buying, compare the net weight with the number of biscuits, rolls, packets or stated portions.
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Assuming every biscuit is suitable for all your guests
Ingredients and potential allergens vary from product to product. For example, Lotus Bakeries lists wheat and soya for Biscoff Original, while Jumbo also notes that its Bakkers Speculaas may contain almonds and nuts.
Ask about any relevant allergies and check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ statements on the pack you’ll actually be serving.
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Leaving stock and delivery checks until the last minute
If you’re planning a coffee get-together, it’s also important to know whether you can get your chosen biscuits in time.
Check current ordering and delivery or collection options before relying on a particular pack.
Brands compared
Lotus Biscoff
Caramelised speculoos biscuits in a range of pack formats to enjoy with coffee.
- Lotus Bakeries lists, among other options, a 3 × 125 g pack and packs with biscuits wrapped in pairs. Jumbo lists the XL variety as ten packets, each containing two biscuits.
- Lotus Bakeries lists wheat and soya for Original. Check the ingredients on the current pack of your chosen variety.
Jumbo
An example of a larger pack of speculoos biscuits for sharing.
- Jumbo lists its Bakkers Speculaas as 600 g, with around 48 portions.
- According to Jumbo, this product contains wheat and may contain almonds and nuts. Check that the pack you choose is suitable for your guests.
Sondey
A Lidl range that includes biscuits and cookies.
- Lidl lists a variety of biscuits, including vegan options, in the Sondey range.
- Check the contents, ingredients and any dietary information on the pack of the variety you choose.
Biscotto
Chocolate biscuits are a good option if you’d like to serve a different flavour alongside plain biscuits.
- ALDI lists a 250 g pack of Biscotto chocolate biscuits, with 20 biscuits individually wrapped in pairs.
- Check the ingredients and allergens in your chosen chocolate variety before offering it to guests.
Biscuits on Joybuy for your coffee table
These biscuits suit different ways of serving: some varieties are designed to keep portions separate, while for others you’ll want to focus on the quantity in the pack. Always check the number of biscuits and the current label for your group.
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FESTIVAL Vanilla Flavour Cookies, 403 g
A good option if you want to share vanilla biscuits and keep some aside. Check how many individual portions the pack contains, and read the current label if anyone has allergies.
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Lu Petit Ecolier Soft Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 120 g
For anyone who likes chocolate biscuits with their coffee and wants to keep portions separate. For this 120 g pack, check how many portions you can serve, and read the label if your guests have allergies.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
A chocolate biscuit for coffee get-togethers where you want to hand out individual portions. Check how many portions are in this 150 g pack, and read the allergen information before serving.
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g'woon Coffee Biscuits, 250 g
A pack of coffee biscuits to put on the table. Use the 250 g pack size alongside the number of biscuits listed on the packaging to work out how many packs you’ll need for your guests.
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Lu Bastogne Mini Biscuits, 160 g
Mini Bastogne biscuits to share with coffee. Check how many biscuits are in this 160 g pack before deciding whether one will be enough. If anyone has allergies, read the current label too.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell whether one pack is enough for coffee with friends?
Compare the number of guests with the number of biscuits or stated portions, rather than looking at the weight alone. Jumbo lists around 48 portions in its 600 g Bakkers Speculaas pack; according to Jumbo, the Lotus Biscoff XL pack contains ten packets of two biscuits each. Remember to factor in any other treats you’ll be serving.
Should I check for allergens when serving packaged biscuits?
Yes. Read the label on the exact variety before offering biscuits to guests with an allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods. Also look for any ‘may contain’ statements.
How should I store biscuits from an opened large pack?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas, Jumbo recommends storing the biscuits in a cool, dry place and transferring them to an airtight biscuit tin once opened.
Does ‘best before’ mean the same as ‘use by’?
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes ‘best before’ as a minimum durability date for foods that are not highly perishable. ‘Use by’ is used for highly perishable products. Also check the storage instructions on the pack of biscuits you buy.