While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 398 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Consumers expressed deep frustration over the drastically changed coffee recipe, noting that it tastes extremely bitter, harsh, and completely unappealing compared to previous favorites. Buyers also heavily complained about the poor product quality, explaining that the drink fails to dissolve properly and leaves a thick, powdery sludge at the bottom of the cup. Additionally, people are very upset about higher prices paired with smaller jar sizes, providing much lower value for money overall. However, some customers also noted that the updated jar and packaging design looked modern, nicer, and much easier to close up securely.

What people talk about most

Product

Consumers find product dissatisfaction is widespread after the recent recipe change, with reviewers noting a... See more

Quality

Reviewers express profound dissatisfaction regarding the recent recipe change, frequently reporting a bitter... See more

Price

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of price, expressing widespread frustration over recent shrinkflation... See more

Customer service

Customers had negative experiences with customer service, expressing deep frustration over unaddressed... See more

Value for money

Users describe strong disappointment regarding value for money, noting that they are getting less product in... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I can accept thr shrinkflation with the 200g jar being replaced by a 190g jar at the same price, however, the powdery residue is disgusting and totally destroys the pleasure of drinking this brand. I... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bad move changing the formula of your coffee. It is now undrinkable. Tastes foul, does not dissolve properly and leaves a horrible brown sludge in the bottom or your cup and around the sides.... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Recipe changed in new har of Smooth Kenco. Leaving horrible residue around rim and in bottom of cup. When I cant find old shape bottle anymore I will stop buying Kenco. Dowe Egberts slightly more e... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What in earth happened to my favourite Kenco instant coffee!! It tastes absolutely horrendous. Bottom of cup is covered black horrid stuff and have to rince cup afterwards. Mouth feels bad afterwards... See more


1.1

Bad

TrustScore 1 out of 5

506 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

No history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited their customers, so reviews may not be representative

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

1.1

All reviews

(506)

453 reviews in the last 12 months

Write a review
Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I've always bought kenco smooth coffee…

I've always bought kenco smooth coffee but the change in recipe is a step too far. I'd still have bought it just for a 190g jar if they hadn't changed the recipe. It's a different taste now and leaves residue in the bottom of my cup.

16 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

103 year old taste is no more

Hi what in earth has happened to your once lovely coffee . For nearly 15 years from changing from nescafe to kenco and buying 2 large jars a week of the blue jar. Ive tried the kenco smooth 7 and was very dissapointed at what some absolute looney has chosen to wreck your once amazing coffee taste to what ive tried now it is not the same ive even tried large jar of the rich one and that is ecactly the same as in totally different and both coffees leave a sediment at the bottom of your cup. Please please please go back to your original taste in your coffees. I dont mind the new style jars or 5% less that ant the issue the issue lies with what ever brainboxes idea it was to ruin The Kenco Taste in 2026 after 103 years .... please send a copy to the company director of my message because your unique coffee taste is no more . Some may like it but i know that those that have brought your brand for a lifetime know the difference and they wont buy anymore. So dissapointed as only coffee i would have because of its unique taste that was the whole point of the family brand of Kenco since 1923 . Why would anyone want to change a uniqie taste of coffee that sells and people enjoy to what has happened to the coffee in 2026 doesnt make any sense unless the person was drunk at the time of there bright idea. Ive tried , ive tested and will have to find a different coffee maye dough egberts or somerhing bit nothing will be anywhere near your original taste and tbh as a grown man of 48 years it actually brings a tear to my eyes .
Sincerely
Lee

16 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgusting taste.

I have drunk kenco smooth coffee for years. The product has changed recently and it tastes disgusting. Makes me feel sick therefore I'm looking for an alternative. Kenco please change your coffee back.

16 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

WONT BUY AGAIN.

WONT BUY AGAIN.
This new Kenco is terrible. I would usually buy a 200g jar every week. Won't be buying it anymore now they have changed it. Im not overly fussed about the shrinkflation (jar size reduced from 200g to 190g) but the coffee tastes terrible now and leaves sludge in your cup.

12 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What used to be My favourite instant…

What used to be My favourite instant coffee is now relegated to the “must avoid” list since the “shrinkflation” and the recipe change to include non soluble coffee grounds…basically “coffee dust”. Ive thrown a full jar (minus two undrinkable cupfuls) as it is now not “smooth” at all but gritty and bitter.
Poor show Kenco☹️😡

14 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Why change the recipe when there was…

Why change the recipe when there was nothing wrong ?
It's now a horrible taste resembling a mixture of Camp Coffee and Mellow Birds. It doesn't fully dissolve and leaves a dark brown sludge in the bottom of the mug.
Whoever authorised this please sack them and return the product to how it was previously or will you wait until the sales drop and you loose a fortune ?

16 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Taste like cheap coffee NOW

Brought the new look jar, with less in..Nothing says its a new recipe..Horrible cheap coffee taste and looks like mud at the bottom of the mug, smaller amount. 190g instead of 200g, been drinking this smooth kenco coffee for years. Why try and change something that people have had no complaints about. Until now.. sorry but kenco is NOT for me anymore. Unless the original recipe returns...doesn't even deserve 1 star.

15 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What on earth have they done what a…

What on earth have they done what a disaster you have ruined a lovely cup of coffee I have drunk Kenco smooth and rich for years I’ve been noticing the terrible taste since jar change nasty taste to residue in bottom of cup for a while typed into google to see what has happened am I the only one that thinks so apparently im not loads of bad reviews hope the company takes notice I won’t buy again 😢

15 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Kenco's response to my complaint

Kenco's response to my complaint about the new sludge - basically they really couldn't care less:

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch and for sharing your feedback with us.

The Kenco Rich range now includes 10% finely milled roast and ground coffee. Because the product contains finely ground coffee, you may notice a small amount of coffee residue or sediment left in the cup after preparation. This is a natural result of the blend composition and is expected with this recipe.

We hope this helps explain the change you have noticed. We’ll also make sure your comments are forwarded to our Brand Team, as feedback like yours is important to us.

Thank you again for your time and feedback. If there is anything else we can help you with, please get back in touch.

1 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I'm afraid I agree with previous…

I'm afraid I agree with previous reviews; a disastrous change to the recipe making a cheaper flavour with the sludge at the bottom of my mug. Plus a cynical lower weight. Managed to buy one of the original jars of Kenko Rich and immediately noticed the marked difference.

15 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Stealth recipe change

I've drank Kenco Rich for decades. I really enjoy the flavour.

I cannot drink the microground coffees such as Millicano. I have Crohn's Disease (inflammatory bowel disease) and the presence of the coffee grounds causes my disease to flare up.

I'm very disappointed to discover Kenco Rich now contains coffee grounds. This was not marked on the new packaging and it's caused my condition to flare up.

It's extremely irresponsible to change the recipe and add extra ingredients without making this abundantly clear on the packaging. Had the coffee grounds been noted on the pack, I would not have bought it.

11 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Kenco you've ruined your coffee

When something isn't broken why change it? I've been a Kenco really rich drinker for over 10 years. But I'm afraid I won't be doing from now on. The new style coffee is abysmal. It doesn't compare to your previous product, it's lost its rich flavour. It looks like mud and leaves a powdery sludge in the bottom of the mug. Time to find a new favourite coffee I'm afraid.

14 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very disappointed

Very disappointed – Kenco has ruined a coffee I’ve bought for years.
I’ve been buying Kenco coffee for years and have always been a loyal customer, but whatever changes have been made to the recipe are a huge mistake. The new coffee tastes awful compared with the old one, and it even leaves a horrible slushy/gritty residue at the bottom of the cup.
If it wasn’t broken, why change it?
To make matters worse, the jars now contain 10g less coffee for the same price. So we’re getting less product, paying the same money, and the quality has noticeably gone downhill. That’s extremely disappointing for long-standing customers.
Kenco had a product people were happy to buy, and now you’ve changed it and risk losing those loyal customers. I certainly won’t be recommending it anymore and will be looking for an alternative.
Please bring back the old recipe and stop giving customers less for the same pric

14 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I am really disappointed

I love the Kenco really rich coffee, I purchaaed the jar with the blue label and the red cap, it is absolutely disgusting, I feel like I am drinking clay, I have spent the morning trying to sieve the dust out of it!!! Barista my backside, just stick to what is loved!!!

14 September 2026
Unprompted review

Is this your company?

Claim your profile to access Trustpilot’s free business tools and connect with customers.

Get free account

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look