If you want to serve a biscuit with coffee
You’re looking for a sweet biscuit that you can serve on its own. A plain digestive suits this style of serving; check the pack size if you’re expecting several guests.
Which option is right for you?
If you need to consider dietary requirements
You don’t want to rely on the biscuit’s name alone. Compare the ingredients and allergens for each variant, especially if a guest needs to avoid gluten or wants to cut down on sugar.
If you want to serve snacks with toppings
You’re looking for a base for sweet or savoury toppings, rather than a sweet biscuit to enjoy on its own. Crackers or Melba toast suit this way of serving, provided their ingredients are suitable for your guests.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you want to serve a sweet biscuit on its own or a base for toppings. Then compare the portions, nutritional information and allergens that matter to your guests for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to serve | Check that you’re choosing a digestive biscuit, and look at the pack weight and serving size. | If I want to serve a sweet biscuit with coffee without any toppings, I want to know how many portions are in the pack. Around 40% of consumers put serving straight from the pack first. |
| Allergens and gluten | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the latest label. If you need a gluten-free option, look for an explicit gluten-free claim. | If a guest needs to avoid gluten, I can’t assume a standard digestive is suitable based on its name. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Compare the sugars and other nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. For a 0% sugar option, also check the ingredients and any usage warnings. | If cutting down on sugar is my deciding factor, I also want to know which sweeteners an alternative contains. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this as their main requirement. |
| Base for toppings | Choose crackers or Melba toast if you want to add toppings, and check the ingredients of the toppings too. | For a table of sweet and savoury snacks, I want a base I can top as I like. Around 10% of consumers prioritise this style of serving. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a digestive as a savoury cracker
A digestive is a sweet biscuit, while Melba Crackers are sold as crackers. This difference determines whether you’re putting out a biscuit to enjoy on its own or a base for toppings.
Choose how you want to serve them first, then compare variants, pack sizes and nutritional information.
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Relying on the name if you have a gluten intolerance
Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s standard digestives list wheat or gluten. Even a digestive specifically labelled gluten-free may contain other allergens: Jumbo lists soya in Schär Digestive Landtaler.
If needed, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the full, latest label to check for other allergens.
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Looking only at ‘0% sugar’
Albert Heijn also lists polyols for AH Digestive 0% sugar and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. So the claim on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you everything about what’s inside.
As well as the sugars, check the ingredients, serving size and other nutritional information.
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Assuming an online description is the definitive label
Ingredients and nutritional information can vary between product variants. This is particularly important when serving food to guests with allergies or other dietary requirements.
Check the packaging of the product you actually buy, even just before serving.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn stocks a standard AH Digestive and a separate AH Digestive 0% sugar, both in 400 g packs.
- Albert Heijn lists 15 g portions for its standard AH Digestive.
- According to Albert Heijn, the 0% sugar option contains polyols and carries a warning against excessive consumption. Check the allergens for each variant separately.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a 400 g Krokante Digestive Biscuit and also sells Schär Digestive Landtaler as a separate gluten-free product.
- Jumbo lists around 27 portions for the standard digestive; the Schär pack contains 3 × 50 g.
- The standard digestive lists wheat and gluten. According to Jumbo, the Schär option contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
Biscotto (ALDI)
Biscotto Digestive Biscuits is a classic digestive in ALDI’s range.
- ALDI Netherlands lists a 400 g pack with around 27 biscuits.
- If you’re choosing based on ingredients or allergens, check the packaging of the pack you buy.
Sondey (Lidl)
Lidl lists 400 g packs of plain Digestives as a supermarket product.
- The pack weight helps you work out how many to buy for your coffee table.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before serving them to guests with dietary requirements.
Van der Meulen Melba
Melba Crackers are a base for toppings, rather than a sweet digestive.
- Van der Meulen describes Melba Crackers as thin and suitable for sweet or savoury toppings.
- Adding toppings takes a little extra preparation. If anyone has dietary requirements, check both the crackers and your chosen toppings.
Products for your coffee table on Joybuy
These products offer two ways to serve: a standard digestive as a biscuit to enjoy on its own, and crackers or crispbread for anyone who wants something crunchy, perhaps with a topping. They’re different types of products, so don’t choose something just because it’s called a ‘cracker’ if what you’re looking for is a sweet digestive.
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McVities Digestive Original, 400 g
A standard digestive for anyone who wants to serve a biscuit with coffee. The pack contains 400 g. If anyone has dietary requirements, check the ingredients and allergens on the latest label.
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Wasa Delicate Crackers Sea Salt, 180 g
Sea salt crackers for anyone who’d also like to serve something savoury with coffee. The pack contains 180 g. Check the ingredients of the crackers and any dips or toppings you plan to serve.
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Wasa High-Fiber Crackers, 300 g
A cracker option rather than a sweet digestive. The pack contains 300 g. Compare the nutritional information if fibre is a factor in your choice, and check the allergens for your guests.
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Bio+ Organic Corn Crackers Sea Salt, 18 pieces
Sea salt corn crackers for anyone who wants to serve crackers on their own or with toppings. The product name specifies 18 pieces; check the packaging to work out how many you’ll need per person and check the allergens.
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Bolletje Light Crispbread Golden Crisp, 240 g
Crispbread for anyone who wants to serve something with toppings, rather than digestive biscuits. The pack contains 240 g. Decide in advance what you’d like to serve on top, and check the allergens on both packs.
Frequently asked questions
Are digestives the same as crackers?
No. Digestives are sweet biscuits that you can serve on their own; crackers and Melba toast offer a different kind of base, for toppings, for example. So first decide what you want to put on your coffee table.
Can I serve standard digestives to someone with a gluten intolerance?
Don’t assume they’re suitable: Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s standard digestives list wheat or gluten. If needed, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too. For example, Jumbo lists soya in its gluten-free Schär Digestive Landtaler.
Can I serve unlimited amounts of digestives labelled ‘0% sugar’?
No. That claim doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or serving sizes. For AH Digestive 0% sugar, Albert Heijn lists 14 g of polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, so read the full label.
Where can I check allergens for my coffee table?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the latest packaging for every product you serve, including any toppings. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens that must be declared need to be clearly distinguished from the other ingredients.
How should I store opened digestives for another coffee break?
Seal the pack tightly after opening and follow the storage advice on the packaging. For the digestive it reviewed, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a sealed tin; Jumbo advises keeping its reviewed digestive tightly sealed and in a dark place.