Is This the Strongest Coffee in the UK? Contact Coffee’s Red On Review
There are strong coffees. Then there’s Red On! by Contact Coffee Co. The kind of brew that doesn’t politely nudge you into the day but instead shouts “STAND TO!”. This isn't your average mid-morning pick-me-up. This is coffee should come with a warning..
Contact Coffee Co. has a reputation that precedes it. Started by military veterans who clearly found civvy life too soft (especially when it came to supermarket coffee), they’ve built a brand around no-nonsense, high-caffeine blends aimed at people who prefer their mornings dark and their brews darker. Red On! is, by all accounts, their strongest. A coffee designed not to be enjoyed gently but to be endured gloriously.
So… is this the strongest coffee in the UK?
They say it is. And to be fair, after a week with it, I don’t doubt them. I brewed a cup on a sluggish Monday expecting to shake off the weekend cobwebs. Instead, I reorganised my inbox, deep-cleaned the hob, and ran 100km.
It’s not just the caffeine content, it’s the intensity. The way it wakes you up feels different. There’s a sort of fight-or-flight buzz to it, like your brain’s trying to keep up with a version of you that already drank this coffee an hour ago, had me questioning if it’s even legal.
What does it actually taste like?
Honestly? Better than expected. You brace yourself for bitterness, but it doesn’t come. There’s a heavy, rich darkness to it, earthy, slightly smoky, and with something that vaguely resembles chocolate in the background. But it’s smooth. Not subtle, obviously, but smooth.
If you’re used to bland beans and underwhelming pods, this is a proper roast. Drink it black if you’ve got the nerve. Add milk if you want to feel the full hit without all your molecules vibrating.
How much of a caffeine kick are we talking?
Contact Coffee Co. doesn’t list the exact numbers on the bag (possibly because it might scare off the casual drinker), but it’s widely considered to be one of the highest caffeine coffees in the UK. Stronger than your average blend by a wide margin. Think double-strength cold brew but served hot kind of levels. The sort of thing you'd expect a Royal Marine to sip on while casually lifting something heavy.
If you’re caffeine-sensitive or trying to cut back, maybe don’t make this your daily driver. But if you’ve built up a tolerance that rivals an energy drink tester, you’ll appreciate what this coffee brings to the table.
Where to get your hands on it
The best place is Contact Coffee Co.’s website, and find Red On! That way you’re buying direct from the team behind the blend. They sell it as whole bean or ground, depending on how you brew. No pods, though, probably because this coffee would punch a Nespresso machine in the face, but they do have them in coffee bag’s, which I also recommend you try out!
Is it worth it?
If your idea of a good morning involves getting a head start on the world, ticking off three tasks before 9am, and laughing in the face of decaf, then yes, Red On! is for you. It’s not cheap supermarket coffee and it’s not trying to be. It’s a roast with purpose, brewed by people who take mornings (and missions) seriously.
Would I drink it every day? Maybe not, if only because I value sleep. But when I need to get things done, not ponder them, not workshop them, but actually do them, then this is what I’ll be brewing.
