Waka Coffee Reviews: 88/100 from Coffee Review and 10 More Verdicts
Waka Coffee's 100% Arabica freeze-dried Colombian instant coffee received a score of 88 out of 100 from Coffee Review in a blind tasting. The highest score Coffee Review has ever awarded an instant coffee is 89. Waka has also been reviewed by The Daily Beast, Roasty Coffee, InsideHook, Caffeine Informer, and others. This page collects those reviews.
Coffee Review: 88 out of 100
Coffee Review evaluates coffees through blind reviews by experienced specialty coffee professionals. Their assessment of Waka:
Caramel-toned, richly sweet. Dark caramel, magnolia-like flowers, cedar, baker's chocolate, a hint of apricot in aroma and cup. Sweet-toned in structure with brisk acidity; smooth mouthfeel. The finish is crisply sweet and resonant, with lingering notes of caramel and apricot.
An appealing 100% Colombia coffee in instant format that largely preserves the character of the green coffee.
Read the full Coffee Review assessment.
Caffeine Informer: ranked 2nd best instant coffee
Caffeine Informer maintains a database of caffeinated drinks and publishes reviews. Waka was ranked second on their Best Instant Coffee list.
Waka tastes nice and in some cases better than the brewed coffee I've had but overall pretty much on par with brewed coffee. It does have a citrusy note which isn't typical in brewed coffee unless it's single origin. Overall, Waka is a high-quality instant coffee.
The Daily Beast
In December 2018, The Daily Beast published "Instant Coffee Is Actually Good Again Thanks to Waka Coffee."
Look, I know what you're thinking. Instant coffee is just reserved for camping trips and emergency situations. But Waka Coffee is here to change that. Waka Coffee is 100% freeze dried arabica coffee, which means it's not just easy to make, but it tastes pretty damn good.
Best Quality Coffee
The flavor was much deeper than I would have expected from an instant coffee. Dare I say, this coffee stays so true to the characteristics of quality Colombian brew that you wouldn't even know this was instant coffee. After enjoying the bold flavor, I noticed it quickly tapered into a smooth and balanced aftertaste where subtle citrus notes were readily discernible.
Coffee Cantata
No soapy aroma, and a nice balance of butterscotch sweetness with a subtle citrus/orange acidity. I was able to drink this black with no complaints — there was zero bitterness and no unpleasant flavors that I would have felt the need to cover up with milk/sugar. Waka's 100% Colombian single-origin instant coffee is a surprisingly good product.
Roasty Coffee
Waka appeared on Roasty Coffee's best instant coffee list.
I was a little skeptical, but I have to admit — it was a darn good cup of coffee. Waka is also a business with a purpose — providing clean water to those who need it.
InsideHook
Waka was selected for InsideHook's "7 Best Instant Coffee You Can Buy."
Given that coffee production can utilize a lot of water, it's great that the Cali-based Waka donates a percentage of their sales to charity: water. As for their coffee: They use 100% Colombian Arabica beans, and offer a smooth, not bitter sipper.
Nerdbot Media
Even the aroma of Waka Coffee was incredible. It was rich, smoky, earthy, with a touch of an outdoorsy perfume. All in all, Waka coffee is a pretty mellow blend. It's clearly medium roast coffee, my favorite, with a great viscosity and non-bitter or burned flavor.
Enjoy Java
Its got great citrus flavor notes — perfect for iced coffee. And it's made from 100% Arabica coffee beans which add to the pleasant flavor.
Lifney and Fupping
Waka has also been featured in travel and gift roundups, including Lifney's "Best Travel Gadgets" and Fupping's honeymoon gift guide, both citing its suitability for flying, traveling, and camping.
Common questions
What score did Waka Coffee get from Coffee Review?
88 out of 100, in a blind tasting. The highest score Coffee Review has ever given an instant coffee is 89.
Is Waka Coffee good quality instant coffee?
It has been reviewed favorably by Coffee Review, Caffeine Informer, The Daily Beast, Roasty Coffee, InsideHook, Best Quality Coffee, and Coffee Cantata. Reviewers consistently note the citrus character, the absence of bitterness, and how closely it holds the profile of brewed Colombian coffee.
What does Waka Coffee taste like?
Coffee Review described dark caramel, magnolia-like flowers, cedar, baker's chocolate, and apricot, with brisk acidity and a smooth mouthfeel. Other reviewers noted citrus and butterscotch notes and no bitterness.
What makes Waka different from supermarket instant coffee?
It is freeze-dried rather than spray-dried, made from 100% Arabica beans, and contains no added sugar, fillers, or artificial flavors.
Shop Waka instant coffee or read about why freeze-drying matters.
