When choosing bread to enjoy with coffee, start by checking that it is clearly made with wholemeal flour. Sourdough describes how bread is made, but it does not automatically mean the bread is wholemeal. Then decide whether you want a slice ready to eat or would rather take the time to bake the bread at home. Compare the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens for each product.
You want bread with your coffee that is clearly wholemeal, not just dark in colour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists an average of 3.4 g of fibre in a 50 g slice of wholemeal bread cut at home; the value may differ for an individual product.
You choose bread for its flavour or crust and don’t mind doing a little extra preparation for a bake-at-home loaf. Jumbo says its sourdough breads are made with fresh sourdough starter and left to rise for more than 24 hours. This describes that range, not every sourdough bread.
If you have an allergy or need to keep an eye on salt, the current ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details are what matter most. Recipes and warnings can vary from one bread to another.
Start by checking whether the bread is labelled wholemeal, then choose a size and preparation method to suit your coffee break. Before buying, check the information for the bread you are actually choosing.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for a wholemeal description and check the ingredients. Compare fibre values on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | With my coffee, I want bread that is clearly wholemeal; a dark colour alone isn’t enough to convince me. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Sourdough flavour and crust | Check that sourdough is mentioned and see whether the bread is ready to eat or needs to be baked first. | I’m happy to take the time for bread with a hearty bite or crust, even if it needs some preparation. This is the first consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens and salt | Read the current allergen information, including any warnings about cross-contamination. Compare salt per 100 g. | If I need to watch out for allergens or salt, the label determines which bread I can choose. This check matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Size and availability | Choose a size to suit how you’ll use it and read the storage advice. Check whether your chosen variety is available in store or online. | If I only have bread with coffee now and then, I want to know what to do with the rest and where to buy it. This is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers. |
Bread can be made with sourdough without using wholemeal flour. You could end up choosing a different bread from the one you had in mind.
Before comparing flavour and crust, check the product description and ingredients for a wholemeal mention.
Ingredients and allergens vary from one bread to another. If you have a food allergy, a warning about possible cross-contamination may also be important.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging every time you buy.
A whole loaf may be more than you need for one occasion. A smaller loaf or freezing some for later may work better if you eat bread irregularly.
Choose a size you can use up, or follow the product’s freezing instructions for any portions left over.
A useful option to compare if you’re looking for a specifically labelled wholemeal wheat sourdough bread.
A range worth looking at if crust and how the bread is made in store matter to you.
Worth considering if you want to assess a smaller sourdough loaf based on its ingredients and nutritional information.
A range to explore if you want to compare different types of bread side by side.
These round wholemeal loaves are options to compare by size if you want to serve bread with coffee. If you’re specifically looking for sourdough, check for that description on the current product packaging.
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A pack of two round loaves for anyone who wants to serve bread with coffee on more than one occasion. Check the packaging instructions before baking. To compare fibre and salt, look at values given in the same units and on the same nutritional basis.
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A round loaf to consider if you’re looking for a 550 g option. Check the packaging for preparation instructions and, if you have an allergy, for the full ingredients and allergen information.
No. Sourdough and wholemeal describe different characteristics of bread. To choose wholemeal bread, check the product description and ingredients rather than relying on the colour or an artisan-style name alone.
You can’t tell from the word ‘sourdough’. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that bread can contain iodine through baker’s salt; the Albert Heijn bread mentioned here lists iodised salt. Check the ingredients of the bread you buy.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread, including any warnings about cross-contamination. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that common allergens must be listed. Don’t assume another sourdough bread has the same ingredients.
A smaller loaf may suit you if you don’t use much; if you buy a larger loaf, check the freezing instructions. Albert Heijn says its wholemeal sourdough bread mentioned here can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
