This standard specifies a method of sampling a consignment of instant coffee, shipped in ten cases or more, for the purpose of examination to determine whether the consignment complies with a contract specification. The cases used have inner linings of moisture-resistant material, hermetically sealed because of the hygroscopic nature of instant coffee, and are in units greater than 10 kg net mass, typically of 40 kg. The cases are generally made of cardboard of appropriate strength. 1.2 The method may also be used for the selection and preparation of a sufficiently representative sample of the consignment intended: a) to serve as a basis for an offer for sale. b) for examination to verify that the instant coffee to be offered for sale satisfies the producer's sales specification. c) for examination to determine one or more of the characteristics of the instant coffee for technical, commercial, administrative and arbitration purposes. d) for retention as a reference sample for use, if required, in litigation. In practice, consignments of instant coffee are blended in use and before packing. 1.3 This standard applies to all types of instant coffee contained in cases with liners as defined in the GSO standard mentioned in 2.1. 1.4 A special procedure for sampling instant coffee comprising especially fragile particles, for examination, in particular, for bulk density and particle size, is also described in Annex B.