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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

497 reviews

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1.1

All reviews

(497)

453 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I would pay over the odds for kenco but…

I would pay over the odds for kenco but never again as it is bitter it has dark sludge in the bottom. How have they gone so low yet charge more.
Another disgraced greedy company that will lose its customers.
Well done kenco. Bottom of the list. Never buying another packet ever.

1 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Nasty cheap tasting sludge

Whats happened to your coffee i have bought for years? Taste is horrible and leaves a murky sludge in cup. You have lost a once loyal customer. Also price gone up but size reduced

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This is the Fob Off response i recieved from Kenco JDE

This is the Fob Off response i recieved from Kenco who are part of the JDE group-

Dear M B,

Thank you for contacting us regarding Kenco coffee.

We appreciate how strongly everyone can feel about their coffee, and we want to deliver the best possible coffee experience.

We have recently changed our recipe by adding a small amount of ultra-finely ground roasted coffee to our Kenco Rich and Kenco Smooth blends, enhancing their flavour and authentic coffee character.

These blends were tested in consumer research with a number of our regular Kenco coffee drinkers showing that the updated blends remain at the same high standard.

The change in the recipe does mean there is a slight difference in taste and you may see a small amount of natural coffee residue in your cup - considering coffee grind is insoluble, such residue is to be expected and very normal for this product.

Regarding pricing, in store-pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer. At Kenco, we are committed to keeping high-quality coffee accessible. Our pricing reflects the value of our brands, driven by significant investments in innovation, sustainability, and quality.

Once again we are sorry you are disappointed.

We really value your feedback and will make sure it’s shared with our coffee specialists for future development.

If there is anything else we can help you with please get back in touch of course.

Kind regards

Ian
Customer Relations Team
JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS GB LTD

So I have now Fobbed Off Kenco and i have found a replacement coffee!

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Drinking kenko smooth for many years

Drinking kenko smooth for many years, they say that they have not changed the ingredients, I have one of the the old jars and one of the new jars and yes after reading the ingredients they have changed it, I am absolutely gutted as it’s the only coffee I like, now it taste awful and leaves brown sludge at the bottom of my cup, come on they need to bring back the original one so I can enjoy my coffee once again, I have put in a complaint, waiting to what excuse they give me now, so many people buy this coffee and have noticed a big awful difference, understand why they would change it 😡

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Kenco New Blend Yuk !

Kenco, you have shot youself in the foot. Been a loyal consumer for many years but your New blend totally disgusting taste, leaves nasty residue and blatant lie branding under new jar with same label. Desperately looking for new brand now.

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The new Kenco Smooth 7 is awful

The new Kenco Smooth 7 is awful. It does not taste like coffee, looks awful, does not dissolve and leaves a disgusting sludge in the cup.
Well done Kenco you have managed to turn our favourite coffee into something we cannot drink anymore.

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Kenco coffee is now disgusting

Kenco coffee is now disgusting, thanks for ruining my morning coffee l used to look forward to. I will now have to find another coffee, l hope your greedy profits go down the pan, total idiots!

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I loved my Kenco Rich.

I love my Kenco Rich.
What have you done!!!
A bad move in my opinion.
Sludgy, bitter and not the deep rounded taste I've come to love.
I thought I'd brought a fake copy of my favourite coffee.
I'm sorry I will have to find another brand.
Such a shame when I already had one I loved.

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bitter taste, very disappointing

Won't be buying Kenco rich anymore. New recipe very bitter, doesn't dissolve properly and leaves residue in mugs. Why change what was already a great tasting coffee. Very disappointed.

21 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The new kenco rich coffee is not…

The new kenco rich coffee is not anything like it was before the recipe changed. It does not resemble a rich flavour at all. It is rubbish. Unless it goes back to the original recipe, I WILL NOT be buying anymore. Well done!

20 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

New recipe - disgusting residue.

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 have drunk Kenco Rich coffee for over 10 years but I am now looking for another brand to replace this. To be honest, I now rate Kenco Rich lower than some of the own brand coffees offered by budget supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi.

20 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bad move changing the formula of your…

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.
Guess I won't be buying kenco anymore.
A lot of well known brands are changing their formula to keep costs down, yet increasing the prices or reducing the size to the buyers.
I honestly think that these companies, think we are daft and will not notice. Well we do!

1 September 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolutely disgusting new kenco smooth…

Absolutely disgusting new kenco smooth been drinking this for years now I can’t even drink it. What sludge it leaves in my cups I can’t imagine what it’s doing to my teeth and insides 🤮 why change something that was a lovely cup of coffee to pure shite! Now have to find an alternative coffee. Please kenco go back to how it used to be! Sales will plummet !!!

19 September 2026
Unprompted review

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