Coffee breaks with lots of people to serve
If you regularly put biscuits out for a group, a stated number of biscuits or portions can help you work out how long a pack will last.
Who is a family pack practical for?
Households looking for different flavours
An assortment gives household members or visitors a choice. Check which varieties it contains, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose.
Shoppers with dietary or labelling requirements
If an ingredient or allergen needs to be avoided, the label on the exact product takes priority over choosing a larger pack or a particular flavour.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many biscuits you need for your coffee breaks. Then choose between easy serving and a variety of flavours, and check the pack label before you buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Enough portions | Check the number of biscuits or portions and the use-by date. Work out whether the pack will suit the size of your group and the number of coffee breaks. | If I regularly put biscuits out for a group, I want to know whether the pack will last for all the planned breaks; around 42% of consumers prioritise having enough portions. |
| Serving and variety | Check whether the biscuits are individually wrapped or the pack contains different varieties. | For a shared coffee break, I either want to be able to hand out one biscuit to each person easily or let visitors choose from different flavours; around 33% of consumers prioritise ease of serving or choice. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. Compare the nutritional values of relevant alternatives on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If someone at the table needs to avoid an ingredient, or I want to compare nutritional values, the label determines which biscuits are suitable; around 25% of consumers prioritise these checks. |
Common mistakes
-
Looking only at the pack’s weight
A heavy pack doesn’t tell you how many biscuits you can serve at each coffee break. For example, ALDI lists 48 biscuits in its 600 g Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas pack.
Where possible, compare the number of biscuits or portions with how much you expect to need.
-
Assuming everyone can choose from an assortment
Different biscuits in one pack may contain different ingredients and allergens. So a choice of flavours won’t necessarily mean there’s a suitable option for everyone.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact assortment before putting it on the table.
-
Relying on a claim on the front instead of checking the full label
A label such as ‘vegan’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you which allergens are present or what the nutritional values are.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack. If you’re comparing products, compare their nutritional values per 100 g.
-
Relying on an old product listing
A pack that was shown previously may not be available the next time you visit. Product information can also change.
Check the current product listing shortly before you buy, and read the label on the pack you receive.
Brands and own-label ranges to consider
Lotus Biscoff
An option to consider if you want to serve speculoos biscuits with coffee, one per person.
- Albert Heijn describes a pack of Lotus Speculoos containing 300 individually wrapped biscuits.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose; don’t use the 300-piece pack as a guide to other Lotus pack sizes.
Jumbo
An own-label range to compare for different types of biscuits and pack sizes for your biscuit tin.
- Jumbo lists, among other options, 450 g speculaas and 468 g stroopwafels.
- Check the number of biscuits, ingredients and current availability for each pack; Jumbo says a previously listed Koekjes Mix is no longer part of its online range.
Biscotto
An ALDI own-label range to consider if you’re looking for a larger pack of speculaas for your biscuit tin.
- ALDI Netherlands describes Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas as a 600 g pack containing 48 biscuits.
- Check the label on the pack you choose for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
Sondey
A Lidl own-label range with different types of biscuits and cookies.
- Lidl also lists vegan biscuits in its Sondey range.
- That label doesn’t automatically apply to every Sondey variety; check the exact pack and its allergen information.
Albert Heijn
A retailer whose product information can help you assess a large pack of biscuits for handing out individually.
- Albert Heijn describes Lotus Speculoos in a pack of 300 individually wrapped biscuits.
- Albert Heijn says the listed pack is no longer part of its range; check any alternative’s own pack size and label.
Biscuits to enjoy with coffee on Joybuy
Each of these two packs contains 250 g of biscuits to enjoy with coffee. Use your planned coffee breaks and the current label to decide whether the pack size and ingredients suit your group.
Image unavailable
Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie, 250 g
A pack to consider if you’d like to serve speculoos with coffee. It contains 250 g; if you plan to serve one biscuit per person, check how many biscuits are included and whether they’re individually wrapped.
If you have dietary requirements or allergies, read the current label for this product.
Image unavailable
g'woon Coffee Biscuits, 250 g
A pack of coffee biscuits to consider for a shared coffee break. It contains 250 g; check how many biscuits are in the pack if you’re planning for several people or breaks.
Check the pack if individually wrapped portions or specific ingredients are important to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a family pack is big enough for our coffee breaks?
Compare the number of biscuits or stated portions with the number of people and planned coffee breaks. Weight alone isn’t enough: Albert Heijn lists 300 biscuits in an individually wrapped Lotus pack, while ALDI lists 48 biscuits in its Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas pack.
Should I choose individually wrapped biscuits to serve with coffee?
Not necessarily. Individually wrapped biscuits are handy if you want to give each person one without putting out an open biscuit tin. If you’d like to offer different flavours, an assortment may be a better fit; just remember to check its ingredients and allergens.
How should I store an opened family pack of biscuits?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose and check the use-by date. Also check how to reseal the pack after opening, especially if you’ll be serving the biscuits over several coffee breaks.
Are vegan biscuits suitable for people with food allergies too?
Not automatically: a vegan label doesn’t mean the product is free from allergens. Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you plan to use.