Waka Coffee Review

In Partnership with Waka Coffee.

About Waka Coffee

Waka Coffee uses a unique freeze-drying process to create its exotic selection of instant coffee and teas. Made from 100% Arabica coffee beans and high-grade tea leaves, the brand has a sterling reputation among all types of coffee drinkers, prized for its better-than-coffee-shop taste and ultra-convenient brewing method. 

If you’re a big-time coffee fan and have your doubts, just take it from the editors at Martha Stewart Living who said the convenient brew is a must-have for your camping supply. Not into the food and decor legend? Waka has also been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Delish, and a bundle of other notable media outlets. 

If you still can’t grasp this brand’s popularity, maybe the brand’s 25 different awards for Best Instant Coffee will help, or its growing 21K followers on Instagram. 

Caught your attention and ready to find out more? Keep reading this Waka Coffee review. Here, I’ll provide all the perky details about the brand and its best-selling brews, fill you in on customer feedback, information on promotions, and more to help you decide if it’s worth all the buzz. 

Instant coffee tends to have a bad reputation. Bland, chalky, flat…the fast-making beverage has always been loved for its convenience, but never so much for its taste. 

With such a seemingly simple idea, quality definitely has to count. And it’s the quality that has brought Waka Coffee so much attention since its inception in 2018.

The brand was founded by David Kovalevski in California after he had an epiphany about fast, affordable, and tasty coffee. 

Coming up, this Waka Coffee review will divulge all the delicious details about the brand’s convenient brews.

Why You Should Trust Us

Our mission is to help you make better, more informed purchase decisions. Our team spends hours researching, consulting with medical experts, gathering insight from expert professionals, reviewing customer feedback, and analyzing products to provide you with the information you need.

Waka makes light and medium roast brews, offering caffeinated and non-caffeinated varieties of its tasty instant coffee, along with a simple selection of high-quality instant teas. 

All of the brand’s fast-making beverages can be bought as part of an ongoing subscription that gives you 10% off every order. Ready to get into all the rich details? They’re all coming up in this Waka Coffee review, so sit back, grab your favorite brew, and let’s dive in. 

How To Make Waka Coffee

Waka coffee is an instant coffee, which means it dissolves quickly in hot water and does not require a coffee maker. This makes it a convenient and easy option for coffee lovers who are always on-the-go or who don’t have access to a coffee maker.

Here are the steps to make Waka coffee:

1. Heat water: Start by heating the water to a temperature of 200°F to 205°F. You can use a kettle or heat the water on a stove.
2. Add coffee: Open the Waka coffee package and measure out the desired amount of coffee. The recommended ratio is 1 scoop of coffee for every 8 ounces of water.
3. Pour water: Once the water has reached the desired temperature, pour it into your coffee mug.
4. Add coffee: Add the measured Waka coffee into the mug with hot water.
5. Stir: Use a spoon to stir the coffee until it is fully dissolved in the water.
6. Enjoy: You can now enjoy your freshly brewed Waka coffee. You can also add milk or sweetener to your liking.

Waka Coffee Pros and Cons

Here are some potential pros and cons of Waka coffee:

Pros

• Convenience: Waka coffee is an instant coffee that can be made quickly and easily without the need for a coffee maker or grinder.
• Flavor: Many people find that Waka coffee has a rich, smooth flavor that rivals freshly brewed coffee.
• Quality: Waka coffee uses high-quality, single-origin coffee beans that are carefully selected and roasted for optimal flavor.
• Sustainability: Waka coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified, which means that it is produced using environmentally sustainable practices.

Cons

• Price: Waka coffee is more expensive than some other instant coffee brands, which may be a disadvantage for some budget-conscious consumers.
• Packaging: Some people may not like the packaging of Waka coffee, which comes in individual packets that are not very environmentally friendly.
• Limited options: Waka coffee currently only offers a few different types of coffee, which may not appeal to those who like to try different blends or flavors.
• Taste preference: Like any coffee, the taste of Waka coffee is subjective, and some people may not like the flavor as much as others.

To summarize, Waka coffee is a high-quality instant coffee that offers convenience and good taste, but it may not be the best choice for everyone due to its price and limited options.

Waka Coffee Ingredients

Waka Coffee is a brand that produces high-quality instant coffee using a variety of ingredients. The specific ingredients used in their products may vary depending on the type of coffee, but the following are the general ingredients found in most of their products:

1. Coffee Beans: Waka Coffee uses high-quality coffee beans that are carefully selected for their flavor and aroma. The beans are roasted and brewed to create a concentrated coffee extract, which is then freeze-dried to produce instant coffee.
2. Water: Water is used in the brewing process to extract the flavor and caffeine from the coffee beans.
3. Acacia Gum: Acacia gum is a natural plant-based ingredient that is added to the coffee to help it dissolve quickly and evenly. Acacia gum is a commonly used ingredient in the food industry and is considered safe for consumption by the FDA.
4. Flavorings (Optional): Depending on the specific product, Waka Coffee may add natural flavorings to enhance the taste of the coffee. For example, their instant cold brew coffee is available in flavors such as Colombian, Indian, and Sumatran. These flavorings are made from natural ingredients and do not contain any artificial additives or preservatives.

Waka Coffee Health Benefits

It’s worth noting that Waka Coffee’s products are made without any added sugars or artificial preservatives, and their instant coffee is free from any genetically modified ingredients (GMOs). The brand is also committed to using sustainably sourced coffee beans in their products.

Coffee in general has been studied for its potential health benefits, and while Waka coffee specifically has not been extensively studied, some of the potential health benefits of coffee may apply. Here are some potential health benefits of coffee with sources:

1. May reduce the risk of certain diseases: Studies have shown that coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and some types of cancer. (1)
2. May improve cognitive function: The caffeine in coffee has been shown to improve alertness and cognitive function in some individuals. (2)
3. May boost physical performance: Caffeine has been shown to improve endurance exercise performance and reduce perceived exertion during exercise. (3)
4. May reduce the risk of depression: Some studies have shown that coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of depression. (4)

It’s important to note that while coffee consumption may have potential health benefits, it can also have negative effects for some individuals, such as insomnia, anxiety, or heart palpitations.

Additionally, coffee can be high in caffeine, which can be addictive and lead to dependence. As with any dietary change, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional to determine what is right for you.

Waka Coffee Side Effects

While coffee is generally considered safe for most people, there are some potential side effects that can be associated with its consumption. Here are some potential side effects of coffee, including Waka coffee, with sources:

1. Insomnia: The caffeine in coffee can disrupt sleep patterns and make it difficult to fall asleep. (5)
2. Digestive issues: Some people may experience digestive issues such as acid reflux, indigestion, or diarrhea from coffee consumption. (6)
3. Increased heart rate and blood pressure: The caffeine in coffee can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which may be problematic for people with pre-existing heart conditions. (7)
4. Headaches: Some people may experience headaches or migraines from coffee consumption, particularly if they are sensitive to caffeine. (8)
5. Anxiety and jitteriness: The caffeine in coffee can also cause feelings of anxiety or jitteriness in some individuals, particularly if consumed in large amounts. (9)

It’s important to note that not everyone will experience these side effects, and the severity of the side effects can vary depending on factors such as individual sensitivity, amount consumed, and frequency of consumption.

As with any dietary change, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional to determine what is right for you.

Waka Coffee Instant Coffee Review

Waka’s beans come from Colombia, India, and Kenya, giving it the full authentic tastes of coffee in those regions. To make any of Waka’s brews, simply boil some water and stir in one packet of powder.

You’ll find features of the brand’s best-selling instant, single-serve coffees up next in this Waka Coffee review. 

Waka Coffee Medium Roast Colombian Single-Serve Instant Coffee 8 Servings Review

What you’re getting with Waka Coffee Medium Roast Colombian Single Serve Instant Coffee 8 Servings: 100% arabica coffee beans from Colombia, smooth flavor, a rich sip, and delectable scent. 

What you’re not getting: bitterness, a sandy texture, or a burnt taste. Take this pack of 8 with you wherever you’re headed for $12. 

Waka Coffee Light Roast Indian Single-Serve Instant Coffee 8 Servings Review

With flavors authentic to the country, this Light Roast Indian Single-Serve Instant Coffee 8 Servings provides an inviting sip to your morning ritual. 

Blending well with cream and a dash of cinnamon, this intriguing brew is incredibly versatile and smooth, with notes of chocolate and caramel goodness. Indulge your taste buds in a trip through Asia without waiting in line with an 8 pack for $12. 

Waka Coffee Medium Roast Colombian Decaffeinated Single-Serve Instant Coffee 8 Servings Review

Caffeine isn’t for everyone, so thankfully, there’s decaf. I know what you’re thinking. Instant + Decaf = boring and tasteless, but in this case, that’s so not true. 

The Medium Roast Colombian Decaffeinated Single-Serve Instant Coffee 8 Servings uses the “sugar cane EA decaffeination process” to extract the buzzy stuff, leaving you with all the flavor. 

This method uses ethyl alcohol made from Colombian sugar cane to rid this tasty brew of caffeine but not leave a weird aftertaste behind like other decafs tend to do. Grab an 8-serving pouch for $12.

Waka Coffee Instant Tea Review

More of a tea lover? No problem. With its fine selection of Kenyan, Chinese, and Japanese tea, this Waka Coffee review will showcase its best-selling single-origin and blends packed with genuine flavors and honest, simple ingredients.

Waka Coffee Kenyan Black Instant Tea 4.5 oz Bag Review

Black tea has a more robust flavor and can mix well with milk and caramel-like brown sugar. This blend is made with only 100% single-origin Kenyan black tea leaves that have been ground into a powder and packaged in a resealable zippered pouch. You can even use it for some awesome boba milk tea! 

Unsweetened and pure, the Kenyan Black Instant Tea 4.5 oz Bag dissolves well with both hot and cold water. Enjoy 225 servings of your new favorite, convenient sip for $15. 

Waka Coffee Kenyan & Chinese Green Instant Tea 4.5 oz Bag Review

The difference between regular tea and instant tea is the waste. Instead of having to deal with all unrecyclable tea bags, you’ve got a finely ground powder in the Kenyan & Chinese Green Instant Tea 4.5 oz Bag that can be stirred into your cup of hot or cold water.

Create refreshing iced green tea with honey in the hot summer, or a comforting cup on chilly days. With a 4.5 oz bag, you’ll enjoy 135 servings of this Waka Coffee Instant Tea for just $15 — compare that to your $2 daily tea special at your coffee shop.

Waka Coffee Japanese Instant Matcha 3.5 oz Bag Review

Matcha’s popularity has been on the rise, but its fame definitely goes beyond being just a trendy, tasty drink. This Japanese tea is full of antioxidants, with a hint of clean caffeine that won’t leave you foggy and tired after it wears off. 

The Japanese Instant Matcha 3.5 oz Bag contains only 100% single origin high-quality green tea leaves. There’s no sugar or additives — none of that nasty stuff. Just the purity of premium tea. 

Japanese Instant Matcha is a fine ground powder, meaning all you need to do is add hot water or steaming milk to create a luxurious, comforting beverage. When you’re done, simply reseal the bag to keep your matcha fresh. Get the 3.5 oz bag for $18. 

Who Is Waka Coffee For? 

Waka Coffee was designed for those who want a quality cup of coffee but don’t want to go through the hassle of making a slow-drip pot. Eliminating the mess that comes with making a cup of coffee at home, the brand transforms your at-home coffee experience into what it should be: simple and flavorful. 

It’s an enticing pick for those who are short on time in the mornings or don’t want to mess around with grinds and wait for a quality cup to pour— or should I say drip. Saving you money too, Waka Coffee cuts down on waste, high prices in coffee shops, and your precious time waiting.

The brand offers both caff and decaf varieties of coffee, but all of its teas are caffeinated. You can find the caffeine content for each variety in the FAQs on Waka’s website.

 What Is The Waka Coffee Freeze-Drying Process? 

There are two ways to remove liquid from something: applying heat or freeze-drying. You could also let it dry out naturally, but that would take ages. Freeze-drying protects the flavor of the bean as well as the scent, and below, I’ll outline the entire process so you can understand exactly how Waka Coffee is made.

1. Roast, grind, and brew the beans — this creates a coffee extract
2. Freeze the liquid at -50° C
3. Put the frozen liquid under a vacuum to let it sublimate (a fancy word for a process that basically turns ice to steam without defrosting)
4. Et voilà — instant coffee! 

Alternatives to Waka Coffee

There are many alternatives to Waka Coffee, depending on your preferences and needs. Here are a few options to consider:

1. Blue Bottle Coffee: Blue Bottle is a specialty coffee roaster that offers a wide range of high-quality coffee blends and single-origin beans. They are committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing practices, and they roast their beans to order for maximum freshness.
2. Death Wish Coffee: Death Wish is a brand that specializes in ultra-strong coffee blends. They use a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans to create a bold, rich flavor profile that is sure to wake you up.
3. Bulletproof Coffee: Bulletproof Coffee is a brand that specializes in “performance coffee” – coffee that is blended with grass-fed butter and MCT oil to provide sustained energy and mental clarity. It’s a unique twist on traditional coffee that some people swear by.

Waka Coffee Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

Coffee drinkers are typically divided into two categories: “I’ll drink anything,” or “I care about how my coffee tastes.” If you’re reading this Waka Coffee review, then you probably fall into the latter one. Up until this point, the brand may sound great to you, but, like us, you may be craving to know what its instant brews are really like.

I get it, instant coffee hasn’t exactly knocked anyone off of their kitchen bar stool like, ever — so to see the lengthy list of features and awards this brand has accumulated seems kind of surreal. 

In search of the truth, I combed the web for customers who wrote about the matter, and below, you’ll discover exactly what I found out. Let’s start with a few ratings from WakaCoffee.com which boasts over 349 reviews and a overall score of 4.78:

• Japanese Instant Matcha: 4.6/5 stars, 11 reviews
• Kenyan Black Instant Tea: 4.8/5 stars, 24 reviews
• Medium Roast Colombian Decaf: 4.7/5 stars, 12 reviews
• Light Roast Indian Single Serve: 5/5 stars, 12 reviews
• Medium Roast Colombian Single Serve: 4.7/5 stars, 75 reviews

I’ll level with you here, I didn’t exactly know what I’d find in Waka Coffee reviews, but to put it short: customers love it. I looked into the Medium Roast Colombian Single Serve because it’s the brand’s most popular pick and found a mound of feedback that circled around the same opinions.

And what are those? That the coffee tastes clean, is full of flavor, and the best instant brew they’ve ever had. One Waka Coffee review that summed things up read:

“WOW…I was pleasantly surprised when my coffee arrived. I expected less taste but got more. I would definitely recommend this brand, best in my view.”

For the next stop on our journey to knowledge, I turned to a Waka Coffee review on a java blog called Pull and Pour Coffee. The site rated the brand’s brews a 9/10 with scores in the following categories:

• Concept: 9/10
• Coffee Quality: 9/10
• Coffee Flavor: 8.5/10
• Convenience: 10/10
• Sustainability: 9/10

The blogger walked us through their thoughts on a few different varieties, but their Waka Coffee review for the brand’s Light Roast Indian Single Serve went like this:

“The coffee was very approachable and balanced. It was smooth, chocolatey, and creamy. Its flavor profile wasn’t very complex, but it did have some nice caramel sweetness. This was the first coffee I tried of the three and overall it exceeded my expectations.”

For our final dose of feedback, I checked out good ol’ Amazon which hosts almost 1,500 reviews across various products. The online marketplace never lets us down when it comes to honest reviews, so I clicked on Medium Roast Colombian Single Serve and dug into the comments section.

The Waka Coffee Instant Coffee received an overall score of 4.3/5 stars from 176 shoppers that broke down like this:

• 5 stars: 64%
• 4 stars: 15%
• 3 stars: 10%
• 2 stars: 4%
• 1 star: 7%

The comments section is full of the same caliber of feedback I’ve read from every source so far. The consensus? This coffee is the best. One Waka Coffee review stated, “Super easy to brew and tastes better than the coffee shops.”

The truth about some coffee shops is that they don’t care much about the type of coffee they serve. Many are just looking for something cheap that will perk them up, so more often than not, quality isn’t a concern. 

Waka Coffee is different. It’s of a quality that shines through, so much so, that customers easily notice it — they immediately taste the difference. From what I’ve learned here, this brand isn’t one to be missed. 

Is Waka Coffee Worth It?

Whether you’re an instant-only kinda girl or a stand in line for your triple macchiato kinda guy, Waka Coffee is a good pick to have in your at-home arsenal for late mornings, crazy weather days, and camping trips. Loved and recommended by thousands, at this point, I’d be crazy not to recommend the brand ourselves. 

Waka Coffee Promotions & Discounts 

When I first landed on the brand’s website I was offered a 20% off discount if I signed up for the newsletter. A pretty sweet deal if you ask me, made only sweeter by the bundle of other ways I found during this Waka Coffee review that the brand helps customers save. 

For instance, free shipping if your subscription order totals over $30. Waka’s coffees are so tasty, it’s not all that hard to reach this monthly total to avoid shipping costs. Not to mention the 10% off that subscribers get on every order. 

I also have an exclusive discount code that customers can use to get 15% off their first order of coffee or tea: HONEST15.

Where to Buy Waka Coffee

If you’re a single-origin fanatic through and through, head straight to the source to get your instant brews on WakaCoffee.com. To see if a store near you carries this amazing brand, you can check out their store locator tool. 

More of a blend-aficionado? Shop select items from the collection on Amazon and Walmart. 

FAQ

Who owns Waka Coffee?

Waka was founded by David Kovalevski, who is currently the brand’s CEO and owner.

Is Waka Coffee fair trade or organic?

Waka Coffee is not a fair trade or organic-certified company. The brand does give back though— Waka donates a percentage of its sales to fund clean water initiatives across the world through its Add Water, Give Water program.

Does Waka Coffee ship internationally?

The brand delivers its coffee to all 50 states and to Canada. Subscription orders are only available in the US. 

What is Waka Coffee’s Shipping Policy?

Waka Coffee ships out all orders via USPS, and they take about 4-5 business days to arrive at your door if you choose Standard shipping. All shipping options and costs will be calculated at checkout. Any taxes or duties related to international shipping are to be paid by the customer. 

What is Waka Coffee’s Return Policy?

Coffee is coffee, and at the beginning and end of the day, it’s a perishable item that can’t be returned. With that said, the brand does take each return request for its coffees and teas on a case by case basis. If there’s something inherently wrong with your order, they will refund your money. 

Having second thoughts about non-perishable goods in your Waka Coffee order? You can return them within 30 days for a full refund. To be eligible for a return, the items must meet a few conditions:

• Brand new, unopened condition
• Have all of their original packaging

The return process for either perishable or non-perishable items goes like this:

1. Email [email protected] with contact information, order number, and return reason.
2. Be sure to include a copy of your receipt in your email.
3. The Waka Coffee team will let you know where to send your item(s).

How to Contact Waka Coffee

If you need any other information that wasn’t included in this Waka Coffee review, you can get in touch with the brand by using any of the contact methods listed below:

• Contact form
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram & Facebook: @wakacoffee

Sources

1. van Dam, Rob M., and Frank B. Hu. “Coffee Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review.” JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 294.1 (2005): 97-104
2. Nehlig, Astrid. “The neuroprotective effects of caffeine: a prospective on cognitive function and aging.” Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 200: 413-437
3. Goldstein, Erica R., et al. “International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and performance.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 7.1 (2010): 5
4. Li, Yanping, et al. “Coffee consumption and the incidence of depression in women.” JAMA Internal Medicine 169.18 (2009): 2105-2111
5. Drake, Christopher, et al. “Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed.” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine 9.11 (2013): 1195-1200
6. Boekema, Petra J., et al. “Coffee and gastrointestinal function: facts and fiction. A review.” Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 37.8 (2002): 888-893
7. James, Jack E., and John R. Rogers. “Effects of caffeine on blood pressure, heart rate, and forearm blood flow during dynamic leg exercise.” Journal of applied physiology 85.1 (1998): 154-159
8. Welch, Kelly M., and R. Allan Purdy. “Caffeine and migraine.” Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 53.2 (2013): 182-193.
9. Juliano, Laura M., and Roland R. Griffiths. “A critical review of caffeine withdrawal: empirical validation of symptoms and signs, incidence, severity, and associated features.” Psychopharmacology 176.1 (2004): 1-29

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