Nescafé fans bitter about new coffee

The new "creamier, frothier" range. Photo / Facebook

Some might say instant coffee drinkers aren't as discerning as espresso fans.

But the introduction of a "new and improved" Nescafé Café Menu range could suggest otherwise.

The change to the original recipe, which features 14 instant flavour sachets including mocha, cappuccino and white chocolate, has revealed many fans just want their old brew back.

Making the announcement on Facebook, Nescafé says: "We're committed to ensuring every cup of coffee is perfect so we've now improved the taste of our NESCAFÉ CAFÉ MENU range! Introducing our even better tasting cup of coffee..."

But responses have been less than favourable with customers expressing disappointment on social media.

A fan of the hazelnut flavour, Rebecca Slight said on Facebook: "Hazelnut ones taste sweeter. Preferred the old ones."

While another, Doug Bone, posted: "Improved taste my ass! It now has double the sugar, and you can barely taste the coffee. More like an insipid hot chocolate:(."

One customer said she liked the new packaging but not the new taste and asked Nescafé
to "CHANGE back please."

Responding to queries about sugar, Nescafé explained it was "critical" that they give consumers the opportunity to taste test and the results showed a preference for more sugar. They added the calorie count in most of the range had dropped.

The response sparked further outcry from former fans.

Spokesperson for Nescafé, Margaret Stuart, says consumers asked for "a creamier and frothier cup of coffee" so slight alterations have been made to the flavour and texture.

And despite negative Facebook comments, the changes came following extensive research which revealed a clear preference for the new product.

"We conducted tasting research across New Zealand to make sure we had the best tasting product.

"In the final stages of this research, we specifically went to consumers who are already regular Nescafé Café Menu drinkers, and asked them to blind-compare the taste of the new recipe directly against the old one."

The results showed the majority of both regular and very frequent consumers "significantly preferred the new recipe over the old," she said.

Of the negative feedback online, Stuart says it is known consumers don't like changes to their favourite products, so the alterations to the range weren't made lightly.

"Whenever we make a change to a product, regardless of the change, some negative initial feedback is not unexpected."

- NZ Herald