Commuter with a short coffee break
Wants to take a small pack along without opening a large bag of biscuits on the way. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and ALDI Netherlands show examples with pre-portioned servings.
Who is this for?
Coffee drinker with a clear flavour preference
Perhaps you’re looking for caramelised speculoos with chocolate or a butter biscuit with milk chocolate. The type of biscuit and form of chocolate matter more when choosing than the packaging alone.
Label-conscious snack buyer
Wants to check the ingredients, allergen warnings, sugars, saturated fat and serving size before buying. If online information conflicts, the current label on the exact product is the one to check.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, choose packaging that suits your coffee break. Then compare the type of biscuit and chocolate, and read the label if ingredients or nutritional information are important to your choice.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and portion | Check how many biscuits are in each sealed inner pack and whether you want to eat that portion in one coffee break. | If I only have time for a quick coffee stop, I want to take one pack without opening the rest. For around 42% of consumers, a defined portion to take along is the main priority. |
| Biscuit and chocolate | Check whether it’s a chocolate coating, chocolate chips or another type of product; look at the chocolate content if it’s listed. | I’m mainly looking for a particular combination of biscuit and chocolate flavour to go with my coffee. This flavour choice is the most important factor for roughly 33% of consumers. |
| Label and storage | Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings, nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and the storage advice on the current pack. | If I need to keep an eye on ingredients or nutritional values, I want to be able to check the exact product before putting it in my bag. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Relying on a vegan claim more than the ingredients list
Albert Heijn’s product listing for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Belgian chocolate says it’s suitable for vegans, but also lists milk ingredients and milk as an allergen. That means the online listing isn’t a reliable basis for choosing a product if you need it to be vegan or have a milk allergy.
Before deciding, check the ingredients and allergens on the current pack of this variety.
-
Confusing an inner pack with the whole pack
A box or bag may contain several portions: Jumbo, for example, lists twelve portions for its Chocolate Cookies. Nutritional information per portion tells you something different from the information per 100 g or per whole pack.
Think about how much you actually want to eat during one coffee break and compare the nutritional information on the same basis.
-
Leaving a chocolate biscuit in a warm bag
According to the product information for LU Scholiertje, heat or sunlight can cause a white layer to form on the chocolate. This can affect its appearance, even if you’re only taking a small portion with you.
Follow the storage advice on the label and don’t leave chocolate products in warm places or direct sunlight unnecessarily.
-
Assuming products from the same brand contain the same allergens
The listed ingredients and warnings vary by product and variety. The Lotus variety we looked at lists wheat, milk and soya; LU Scholiertje also carries a warning that it may contain nuts.
Check the label on the exact variety every time you buy it, even if you already know the brand.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Caramelised speculoos with a chocolate coating. For the 132 g pack we looked at, Albert Heijn lists six bags, each containing three biscuits.
- The small bags are handy for a coffee break when you don’t want to open the whole pack.
- This variety lists wheat, milk and soya. As the online vegan claim conflicts with the listed milk ingredients, check the current pack if that matters to you.
LU
The Scholiertje variety we looked at combines butter biscuits with milk chocolate. Jumbo lists 48% milk chocolate and packs of two biscuits.
- A two-biscuit portion makes it easy to take a pair along for one coffee break.
- This variety contains milk, soya and wheat, and may contain nuts. Store it in a cool, dry place, away from heat, as advised on the product.
Jumbo
Jumbo Chocolate Cookies are biscuits with dark chocolate chips, not biscuits with a full chocolate coating. Jumbo lists 40% chocolate chips and twelve portions per pack.
- A larger pack may suit you if you keep biscuits in one place as a store cupboard staple.
- If you only want to take one portion, you’ll need to take it out of the pack yourself. Check the label for allergens and reseal the pack properly after opening.
Biscotto
ALDI Netherlands lists a pack of twenty butter biscuits, wrapped in pairs, with dark, white and milk chocolate.
- The two-biscuit portions are handy for taking a small amount with you, and the pack includes different types of chocolate.
- Before choosing this variety, check all the information on the current pack for allergens or dietary requirements.
Products for coffee on the go
This selection of Joybuy products includes chocolate biscuits and other chocolate snacks for a coffee break on the go. Check the product type and whether each pack lets you take a portion that suits you.
No image available
LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
An option if you’d like butter biscuits with milk chocolate in a two-biscuit portion alongside your coffee. The Joybuy listing for this variety states that each pack contains two biscuits and 48% milk chocolate. Check the current label for milk, wheat, soya and the nut warning; store the biscuits in a cool, dry place, away from heat.
No image available
Nestle Kitkat Strawberry Short Cake, 9 pieces, 104.4 g
Consider this strawberry variety only if you’d like a chocolate wafer rather than a biscuit with your coffee. The product name lists nine pieces and 104.4 g. Check the inner packaging and current label if portion size or allergens are important to your choice.
No image available
Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate, 10 × 12.5 g
This pistachio variety is worth considering if you’re after something different from a classic chocolate biscuit to go with your coffee. The product name lists ten 12.5 g portions. Check the pack to see whether the portions are individually sealed, and read the full label if allergens or dietary choices matter to you.
No image available
LU Petit Ecolier Soft Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 120 g
A milk chocolate variety to consider if you’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with your coffee. The product name lists a 120 g pack. If you want to take a set portion with you, check how many biscuits are in each inner pack; if you have allergies, read the current label.
No image available
LU Mikado Milk Chocolate Biscuit Sticks, 75 g
Biscuit sticks are a different shape from chocolate biscuits, so choose these only if they suit your coffee break. The product name lists milk chocolate and 75 g. Check the pack to see whether you can take individually sealed portions with you, and follow the label for allergen and storage information.
Frequently asked questions
Which chocolate biscuit should I take for coffee on the go?
Choose an inner pack that suits how much you want to eat during one coffee break. For the Lotus Biscoff variety we looked at, Albert Heijn lists bags of three biscuits; Jumbo lists packs of two for LU Scholiertje, while ALDI Netherlands lists two-biscuit portions for Biscotto.
How should I store biscuits with chocolate?
Follow the storage advice for the exact variety and avoid heat if the label warns against it. The Lotus Biscoff variety we looked at should be stored in a cool, dry place; according to the product information, heat or sunlight can cause a white layer to form on the chocolate in LU Scholiertje.
Where can I check allergens in packaged biscuits?
Read the allergen information on the current label for the exact variety, including any warnings that the product may contain other allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label.
Can I rely on an online vegan claim?
Not if the information for the same variety is conflicting. The Albert Heijn listing for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Belgian chocolate says it’s suitable for vegans, but also lists milk ingredients and milk as an allergen. So check the current pack before choosing it on the basis that it’s vegan or suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
How do I compare the nutritional information on two packs?
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll actually eat during one coffee break. A small inner pack and a large pack aren’t the same portion, so also check the stated serving size on each pack.