Hosts of small coffee gatherings
If you only need a few slices for sweet or savoury toppings, choose a pack size to suit how much you plan to use. The Verbraucherzentrale recommends freezing bread when needed and defrosting it in portions.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Older households considering wholemeal
The wholemeal description and fibre content per 100 g can help you choose. The German Nutrition Society notes that chewing ability and digestion can change with age, and that these changes vary from person to person.
Households requiring gluten-free food
If a gluten-free diet is required, you’ll need bread explicitly labelled gluten-free. The information on the current packaging matters more than descriptions such as spelt, seeded or wholemeal.
What should you look for when buying?
For afternoon coffee with older guests, first check whether anyone has specific dietary requirements. You can then choose a type and pack size to suit your gathering.
| Criteria | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Buying the right amount | Compare the pack weight with how much you plan to use. | When I’m often preparing for a coffee gathering, I only want to buy as much bread as we’ll use. This is the main consideration for around 38% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check for a wholemeal description and the fibre content per 100 g. | I’m specifically looking for a wholemeal option for our toast, provided the guests like it and can comfortably eat it. This is the main concern for approximately 31% of consumers. |
| Freshness and portioning | Check the pack size and plan to freeze any slices you won’t need. | With a small gathering, it’s easy to have slices left over that I’d like to use later. Around 23% of consumers are particularly concerned about this. |
| Gluten-free options | Check for a gluten-free label and read the current information on the packaging. | If a guest needs to follow a gluten-free diet, I have to choose the bread accordingly. This is the top priority for around 8% of consumers. |
Which mistakes can you avoid?
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Choosing a large pack without considering how much you’ll use
If lots of slices are left after your coffee gathering, the bread may dry out or go off before you use it again.
Choose a quantity based on the number of slices you actually need. The Verbraucherzentrale recommends freezing leftover bread when needed and defrosting it in portions.
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Assuming seeded or spelt bread is the same as wholemeal
These descriptions don’t mean the same thing. Harry states that Körner Balance Toast contains 8% wholemeal; Golden Toast says its Vollkorn Toast is made with 90% wholemeal flour, based on the total flour content.
If wholemeal is your main consideration, check the exact product description and the fibre content per 100 g.
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Removing just the affected area if you see mould
According to the Verbraucherzentrale, mould can spread through the bread even where it isn’t visible.
Throw away any mouldy bread and clean your bread bin regularly.
Brands and product ranges to consider
ja! / REWE
REWE’s ja! range includes Butter-Toast and Weizenvollkornsandwich, among other products. This makes it easy to compare different types of toast within one own-brand range.
- REWE states that ja! Weizenvollkornsandwich contains 7.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The variants checked contain wheat; for other ingredients that may be relevant to you, check the label on the individual pack.
Golden Toast
The brand offers several types of toast; Vollkorn Toast is the relevant option for a wholemeal comparison.
- Golden Toast says that wholemeal flour makes up 90% of the total flour content in this product.
- The information for this wholemeal option doesn’t automatically apply to the brand’s other types of toast.
Harry
Harry’s range includes Körner Balance Toast and Dinkel Toastbrötchen, among other products. Compare toast bread and toast rolls as different types of product.
- Harry states that Körner Balance Toast contains 8% wholemeal.
- Descriptions such as seeded or spelt don’t mean a product is gluten-free.
Schär
Schär’s Meisterbäckers Classic and Meisterbäckers Vital are gluten-free sliced breads. They’re another option if a gluten-free diet is required.
- Schär labels both of these Meisterbäckers varieties as gluten-free.
- For each variety, check the current packaging for other ingredients and any information relevant to you.
Joybuy products for smaller portions
The following Thinmax products are Danish Toast in small quantities, ideal for a snack with afternoon coffee. If you’re looking for ordinary toast, wholemeal or a gluten-free option, check that the product meets your requirements by looking at its packaging.
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Thinmax Golden Danish Toast, 2 × 85 g
The two 85 g portions are a good choice if you don’t need everything at once for your coffee gathering.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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Thinmax Golden Danish Toast, 85 g
The 85 g option is ideal for a coffee gathering where you only need a small amount of Danish Toast.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Is wholemeal toast always the right choice for afternoon coffee with older guests?
Wholemeal toast is an option if your guests like it and can comfortably eat it. The German Nutrition Society notes that chewing ability and digestion can change with age, and that these changes vary from person to person. If you’re introducing more wholemeal foods, it recommends doing so gradually.
How can you avoid leftover toast in a small household?
Work out how many slices you’ll need before shopping, and freeze any leftover bread in portions if necessary. The Verbraucherzentrale recommends defrosting only the amount you need; if you see mould, throw away the whole loaf.
Is spelt or wholemeal toast suitable if you need gluten-free bread?
No. Spelt and wholemeal don’t mean gluten-free. If you need to follow a gluten-free diet, choose a product explicitly labelled as gluten-free and check the current information on the packaging. Schär labels Meisterbäckers Classic and Meisterbäckers Vital as gluten-free.