Coffee and Alternatives

Coffee supplies: choosing your coffee and alternatives

Start with the way you make your drink. Whole beans, ground coffee and coffee concentrate need different preparation, while chai and other drink mixes have their own recipes. This guide helps you compare formats before exploring the individual categories. It does not assume that every product suits every brewer.

Choose coffee supplies by drink type, product format and the equipment you use. Start with the relevant range instead of comparing every item as if it were the same purchase:

• Whole beans and ground coffee: compare coffee beans for grinding with ground coffee for the preparation method stated on the pack.
• Chai and drink mixes: browse chai products by powder or syrup format and follow their own preparation directions.
• Hot chocolate formats: compare the hot chocolate range, including powders, granulated products and flakes.
• Brewing accessories and filters: check the exact model and dimensions in AeroPress parts and accessories.
• Finishing ingredients and elixirs: distinguish chocolate dusters from Alchemy elixirs; their formats and uses differ.

Coffee beans or ground coffee?

Coffee beans let you grind the amount you need before brewing. Choose this format if you have a grinder or a bean-to-cup machine that accepts whole beans. Check the machine instructions before adding coffee, particularly if it has separate bean and ground-coffee compartments.

Ground coffee removes the grinding step, but the grind must suit your equipment. A bag labelled ground coffee is not automatically suitable for espresso, a cafetiere and a filter brewer. Look for the manufacturer’s preparation guidance for the exact blend and format.

Match the grind to the brewing method

Grind size affects how water moves through coffee and extracts flavour. AeroPress describes a medium-fine grind as finer than drip coffee and coarser than espresso. Its instructions also vary by recipe, so follow the guidance for your brewer and adjust one variable at a time. Do not assume that a product’s name alone establishes brewing compatibility.

Keep the dose, water quantity and brew time consistent when comparing coffees. This makes it easier to judge what you enjoy rather than attributing every difference to the beans. Start with the equipment manufacturer’s recipe before experimenting.

Cold-brew concentrate for mixed coffee drinks

Coffee concentrate is already brewed and is a different format from beans or ground coffee. SOLO’s manufacturer recipes use one part concentrate to three parts milk for an iced latte, or three parts hot water for an Americano. Follow the instructions on your carton for preparation and storage; do not apply that ratio to every concentrate.

Hot Chocolate Powders, Granules and Flakes

Hot chocolate is part of this category alongside coffee and chai. The listed range includes products from Galaxy, Kokoa Collection, Milfresh, Monbana and Zuma, as well as Freshers hot chocolate. Compare the exact product format and pack size rather than choosing by brand alone.

Hot chocolate powders, granulated products and chocolate flakes should not be treated as interchangeable ingredients. Read each product’s preparation instructions, particularly when comparing an instant, vending or tabletop-labelled product. A chocolate duster is a finishing ingredient, not automatically a substitute for a hot chocolate drink mix.

For coffee shop supplies, plan the drink menu first, then compare the products needed for each drink. Use the current product label for ingredients and allergen information; do not assume that every hot chocolate product has the same formulation or dietary suitability.

Chai lattes, elixirs and finishing ingredients

For chai lattes, compare the current chai powders, syrups and elixirs rather than assuming every mix is prepared in the same way. The adjacent categories also cover chocolate dusters and AeroPress accessories. These are different products, not interchangeable substitutes. Compare whether a drink mix is a powder, syrup or concentrate, and follow its preparation directions. A chocolate duster is a finishing ingredient rather than ground coffee.

Read the current ingredients and allergen information before choosing a mix. Do not assume that all chai products have the same ingredients or that an alternative to coffee is caffeine-free. Check accessory dimensions and brewer compatibility, including the filter size, before choosing replacement parts.

Compare pack sizes without guessing quantities

Check both the weight of each bag and the number of bags in a listing. A single 1kg bag and a case of smaller bags are different purchases. Where the title, image or description disagree, ask for confirmation rather than inferring the quantity from a photograph. For like-for-like comparisons, calculate price per kilogram using the confirmed total weight.

Storage and freshness

Lavazza advises storing beans and ground coffee away from light, heat and moisture in an opaque, airtight container. Follow the product label and close the packaging after use. For concentrate and other drink mixes, use their own storage instructions, including any refrigeration requirements after opening.