If you want to serve bread at the coffee table
You’re looking for bread that can hold its own alongside coffee and cake, perhaps with a rustic crust, sourdough flavour or visible grains, kernels and seeds.
Which bread is right for you?
If you also want bread for everyday use
You want to serve something special, but your choice is guided by whether it’s wholemeal and how much fibre it contains per 100 g.
If you want to bake the bread just before serving
You want to serve warm bread or rolls and have an oven and enough time to prepare them.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what matters most to you: flavour and presentation, wholemeal content, when you’ll serve it or checking the ingredients. Then compare the information on the bread you actually plan to buy.
| What matters | What to look for | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Look at the shape of the loaf and the product description. If you want fresh bread from a shop, check in advance that the variety you want is available. | When I serve bread alongside cake, I want it to work as a savoury option too; around 36% of consumers put flavour and presentation first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare the stated fibre per 100 g. A dark crust or seeds alone aren’t proof that bread is wholemeal. | I want to enjoy the same bread on ordinary days too, so wholemeal and fibre come first; this matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Serving warm | Read the preparation instructions and allow time for any defrosting, baking and cooling. | If I want to bake the bread shortly before serving coffee, I need to fit the preparation into my plans; around 21% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information. Check for iodised salt or baker’s salt if that’s relevant to you. | When choosing bread for guests, I want to know which ingredients and allergens it contains; this is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough or ‘premium’ means wholemeal
A long proving time, seeds or a dark crust don’t in themselves tell you whether bread is wholemeal. That distinction matters if fibre is an important reason for choosing a particular loaf.
Check that it’s labelled ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information.
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Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. It also notes that organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt.
For packaged bread, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients list. If it’s important to your choice, ask about it when buying unwrapped bread.
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Planning around a particular fresh loaf without checking with the shop
Jumbo says its rustic sourdough breads can’t be ordered online. Lidl notes that its fresh bread range may vary from one store to another.
Check that the variety you want is available at your local shop before planning your coffee table around it.
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Guessing allergens from the type of bread
Terms such as sourdough, multigrain and organic don’t tell you which allergens a particular loaf contains.
Check the latest ingredients list and allergen information for the product you choose, especially if you need to take your guests’ allergies into account.
Brands with relevant bread ranges
Albert Heijn
The range includes OerDesem and a wholemeal Allinson variety.
- Albert Heijn says OerDesem is proved for around 56 hours. Nutritional information is provided for the wholemeal Allinson variety.
- Ingredients and allergen information may change, so check the latest packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers rustic sourdough breads for serving at the table.
- Jumbo says these breads are proved for more than 24 hours using fresh sourdough starter.
- According to Jumbo, they’re baked in store and can’t be ordered online, so check availability at your local shop.
PLUS
PLUS lists Korenlanders as its own range of sourdough breads and also sells bake-at-home products.
- For individual bake-at-home products, you can check the preparation and storage instructions to plan when to serve them.
- Instructions and ingredients for one bake-at-home product don’t necessarily apply to other products or the whole Korenlanders range.
Lidl
Lidl has a fresh-from-the-oven range and also lists an organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf.
- The product description for this organic loaf mentions seeds and kernels, and gives a weight of 600 g.
- Lidl says its fresh range varies by store, so check in store for a specific variety.
Dirk
Dirk’s bread range includes wholemeal, multigrain and sourdough breads.
- These different types of bread give you a starting point for choosing based on style and whether it’s wholemeal.
- Check the product description and nutritional information for the specific loaf rather than assuming that it has certain qualities based on its type.
Bread options for the coffee table
These Joybuy options are multigrain baguettes and round multigrain loaves to bake at home and share. ‘Multigrain’ alone doesn’t mean that a loaf is wholemeal, so check the product information.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij rustic multigrain baguettes, 4 × 135 g × 2
Individual baguettes are easy to share around the coffee table.
Allow time to defrost and bake them. Read the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij rustic multigrain baguettes, 4 × 135 g
These individual baguettes are a good fit for a coffee table where you want to share bread.
Allow time to defrost and bake them. Check the packaging if allergens or the use of baker’s salt are important to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain loaves, 550 g × 2
Once baked, you can slice the round loaves to share at the table.
Allow time for defrosting and baking, as well as cooling before slicing. Check the latest preparation and allergen information on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain loaf, 550 g
Once baked and cooled, this round loaf can be served sliced.
Allow time to defrost and follow the baking instructions on the packaging. Also check the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Does all bread contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt. If it’s relevant to your choice, ask about it when buying unwrapped bread.
Can I order rustic sourdough bread online?
It depends on the bread and the shop. Jumbo says its rustic sourdough breads are baked in store and can’t be ordered online. For a specific loaf, check whether it can be ordered and whether it’s available at your local shop.
How long should bake-at-home rolls go in the oven?
Follow the instructions on the packaging of the rolls you buy. PLUS recommends 6–8 minutes at 220 °C for Dutch Bakery Organic Sourdough Pumpkin Rolls, but those instructions don’t automatically apply to other bake-at-home breads.
Are sourdough or multigrain breads automatically gluten-free?
No. Those names don’t mean that a bread is gluten-free. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose, along with any gluten-free labelling. Don’t rely on the type of bread alone.