Some people love Ensure and Boost - to me that stuff would gag a maggot (along with all of the protein drink crap). I think it was a texure and consistency issue as well. I lived on Carnation Instant Breakfast. I actually could taste the Espresso flavored one but you had to purchase the 3 flavor package to get it. I tossed the strawberry and added Hagan Daz coffee flavored ice cream to the vanilla. Milk and dairy based products just seemed to work better for me.