The change, while legal, has drawn criticism from experts and consumers who say shoppers deserve clear information when a product's formulation changes.
Cairns pensioner Brian Rantzau, whose preferred Coles Organic Fairtrade Gold Freeze Dried Coffee has doubled in price since early 2024 from $4 per 100 grams to $8, said he wanted clear labelling. Earlier this year, the product's '100 per cent arabica' description was changed to read simply 'instant coffee'. Both the old and new labels may appear on shelves as stores phase out the old recipe.
"As a pensioner, you've got to mind every dollar," Mr Rantzau said. "It should really tell us what's in it, right?"
Gold Coast mother Vicki Jarvis said she stopped buying the product because of the price rise and the label change. "If they've gone and changed what is actually in it, it should be written on the front of the label to let people know," she said.
A spokesperson for Coles said from time to time, product formulations may need to change in response to ingredient availability and supply conditions. "We work closely with our suppliers to ensure our products continue to meet our quality standards and provide great value for customers," the spokesperson said.
Australian food labelling rules do not require coffee companies to identify the species of bean unless they make a specific claim about it. University of Queensland sensory scientist Heather Smyth said consumers had every right to feel ripped off.
"Consumers should feel ripped off if something very small has changed in a product and the makers of that product are not declaring what that change is," Professor Smyth said.
Prof Smyth noted that robusta is not a bad bean, but it is more bitter than arabica.
Specialty coffee roaster Jason Lilienstein, who runs a business focused on high-quality beans, said the shift could mislead customers who had chosen a product specifically for its arabica content.