Waka | Frequently Asked Questions

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL U.S. ORDERS $30+ SHOP NOW

FAQ

Product

What is Waka Coffee & Tea?

Waka is a quality instant coffee and tea brand. Our coffees and teas products are made without artificial ingredients and contain high quality coffee beans or tea leaves. No need to wait 20 minutes for your machine to brew or tea to steep – just add water. The word “Waka” is a play on the word “awake,” so we invite you to wake up with Waka!

What is the freeze drying process?

Freeze drying is a process by which water is removed from the coffee extract to produce instant coffee without sacrificing its unique flavor and aroma. First, coffee is roasted, grounded and brewed into a thick liquid. Then, the coffee extract is frozen at about -50° C, which preserves the coffee’s aroma and depth of flavor. Then, it is placed under a vacuum where the frozen liquid sublimates. Sublimation is the process of when the ice immediately changes to steam, without defrosting first. On the contrary, the spray drying method uses hot air to evaporate the water from the beans, which destroys the original flavor and eliminates the coffee’s aroma.

What type of coffee beans are you using?

Our coffees are made with 100% Arabica beans.

Do you add sugar or sweeteners in your products?

No. All of our instant coffees and instant teas do not include added sugars or sweeteners. Even our flavored products.

When does my coffee/tea expire?

All of our products are marked with the exact "best by" date on their packaging.

Do I need to keep your instant coffee in the freezer or fridge?

No need to keep it in the freezer or fridge, simply at a room temperature wherever you store your pantry items. If you use our bags, make sure to tightly close the bag after each use.

What is the caffeine content in your products?

- Light roast (Ethiopian): approximately 70 mg per packet (about 2.82 grams), or about 30 mg in 1 tsp of coffee (about 1.18 grams).

- Medium roast (Colombian, Papua New Guinean, flavored): approximately 60 mg per packet (about 2.82 grams), or about 25 mg in 1 tsp of coffee (about 1.18 grams).

- Dark roast (Ethiopian): approximately 80 mg per packet (about 2.82 grams), or about 35 mg in 1 tsp of coffee (about 1.18 grams).

- Decaf (Colombian): approximately 4 mg of caffeine per packet (about 2.82 grams), or about 1.5 mg in 1 tsp of coffee (about 1.18 grams).

- Green instant tea (flavored and unflavored): approximately 30-35 mg per 1/4 tsp of tea powder (0.63 grams).

- Black instant tea: approximately 30-35 mg per 1/4 tsp of tea powder (0.63 grams).

- Chai tea: approximately 31 mg per 1/4 tsp of chai tea powder (0.65 grams).

Is your coffee a low acidity coffee?

That's a great question. Acidity in coffee doesn’t refer to the actual acid content, but more to the flavor notes. We consider our instant coffees well-balanced and without noticeable acidity notes.

If you are still interested in the acid (the pH) content of our coffees, here it is: our caffeinated instant coffees have pH levels of 4-5, and our decaffeinated instant coffee has a pH level of 4.5-4.5.

pH is a measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 - 14, with 7 being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicates higher acidity, whereas a pH of greater than 7 indicates a base. Most coffee varieties have an average pH value of 4-5.

What decaffeination method is used for the decaf instant coffee?

Our decaf instant coffee is processed via the Sugar Cane EA Decaffeination Process (Natural origin EA and spring water).

The EA (ethyl acetate) method is obtained by esterification between natural acetic acid and natural ethyl alcohol derived from sugar cane in Colombia. The carbohydrates from sugar cane are fermented into natural ethyl alcohol and natural acetic acid which is extracted and purified from vinegar obtained by aerobic fermentation of natural ethyl alcohol.

What is the best way to make Waka's coffee and tea?

Pour a packet of Waka coffee into a mug, bottle, or traveler mug. Add 8-10 fl oz. of hot or cold water, stir, and enjoy!

If you use our instant coffee bags, simply pour about 1.5-2 tsp of coffee for 8-10 fl oz of water.

For Waka tea, pour 1/4 tsp of instant tea powder into a cup. Add 8-10 fl oz of hot or cold water and stir well. Add milk, sweeteners or other spices as desired and enjoy.

For iced coffee/tea we recommend to pour your serving into a cup first, then add 2 fl oz of hot water and stir. Top with 6-8 fl oz of cold water, add ice and enjoy.

Check out this page for more instructions and pictures.

What is your recommended serving amount?

For our instant coffees, our recommended serving amount is 1 packet or 1.5-2 tsp (about 0.1 oz).

For our instant teas, our recommended serving amount is 1/4 tsp.

For our matcha tea, our recommended serving amount is 1/2-1 tsp.

Feel free to adjust these amounts to your liking.

Are your products vegan, GMO-free or don't include gluten?

To the best of our knowledge, all the coffees, teas and flavors used in our products do not include gluten, are vegan and either non-GMO or GMO-free. However, we can't guarantee that our products haven't come into contact with gluten or GMO products at some point in the supply chain. If you have health concerns related to these factors, please consult your doctor before consuming our products.

Are your products or Kosher or Halal?

All the coffees, teas and flavors used in our products are Kosher or Halal certified directly by our suppliers. We verify these certifications for each batch we package, however, we don't hold our own additional certifications.

What are the dimensions of your products?

The individual packets are 4.72 x 2.75"

The small boxes are 3 x 1.5 x 6"

The large boxes are 8 x 3.97 x 3.94"

The small bags are 5.375 x 8 x 3"

The large bags are 7.12 x 9 x 3"

Where are your products packaged?

All of our products are packaged in California, USA.

Are there traces of Ethyl Acetate in your decaffeinated instant coffee?

Because our instant coffee is decaffeinated using the Ethyl Acetate method, there is a “trace” amount of ethyl acetate in the decaffeinated instant coffee. The spec amount is stated at under 10 ppm; however, the testing result from our supplier is shown as “not detectable."

Per FDA regulations, Ethyl Acetate may be safely used in food when "used in accordance with current good manufacturing practice as a solvent in the decaffeination of coffee and tea." (Click for source)

The EA (ethyl acetate) method is obtained by esterification between natural acetic acid and natural ethyl alcohol derived from sugar cane in Colombia. The carbohydrates from sugar cane are fermented into natural ethyl alcohol and natural acetic acid which is extracted and purified from vinegar obtained by aerobic fermentation of natural ethyl alcohol.

Do you test your products for heavy metals?

All of our products are routinely tested by our vendors to comply with food safety regulations established in the U.S.

In addition, most of our products have been also tested by a third-party lab for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury and met the established "safe harbor" levels per serving.

Do you test for Acrylamide in your instant coffee?

We do not test for Acrylamide levels. Acrylamide is not added to our soluble coffees or teas, but it is our understanding that it may exist as a result of the roasting process of all green coffees.

Please visit the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment website for the most recent updates on that matter.

Is your coffee/tea organic?

We chose not to get organic certified at this time to avoid the negative financial impact a certification has on our suppliers, as well as our customers. All of our products are sourced from well known vetted suppliers and we request a Certificate of Analysis for each product to ensure they meet regulations and our standards.

To the best of our knowledge, our teas are not processed or exposed to irradiation, genetic engineering, fumigation, petroleum distillates, or synthetic solvents. The unflavored teas are 100% tea and do not contain any additives or aromatizing matter. The flavored teas are flavored with natural flavors. The teas are produced without the use of carriers, fillers, colors or preservatives. 

In addition, to the best of our knowledge, all of our unflavored instant coffees are produced from 100% Arabica coffee beans, they contain no additives or fillers. The flavored coffees are flavored with natural flavors.

Do you sell in retail stores?

While we sell our products primarly online we are also avaialbe in select retailers. Please visit our Store Locator page to check out the locations.

We also sell our products on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, iHerb and Coupang. Please make sure to buy only from our official accounts.

Why does my coffee packet or bag have coffee powder in it and not only granules?

All of our coffee products include only 100% freeze dried coffee. Our instant coffee is always granulated, however, some of the granules break during the packaging/transportation process. As a growing company, we constantly test new packaging equipment to ensure minimal breakage of the coffee granules. Unfortunately, some batches will look better than others as we continue perfecting our process.

We want to assure you that both the granules, and the powder-like broken granules, in your coffee packet or bag are exactly the same product. The weight of your packaging is also the same weight.

We apologize for the temporary inconvenience as we continue improving our product for you in the future.

Why do I see white powder in my tea?

If you notice small white particles in your tea powder, they are most likely natural flavor particles that are mixed in with the tea.

These particles are not plastic and are safe for consumption. They will dissolve when the tea is mixed with water, confirming that they are not foreign objects.

Unlike other brands that add artificial ingredients to achieve a consistent color, we do not do so, which may result in some separation of the natural flavor powder from the tea powder, depending on the tea flavor.

If you find objects that do not dissolve in your tea or if you still have concerns and would like to send us a photo for double checking, our customer team will always be available to address and alleviate your concerns.

What are "Natural Flavors?"

"Natural Flavors" means that the coffee/tea includes the actual named flavor, if possible (e.g. raspberry, vanilla), with additional flavors derived from other natural sources to strengthen the named flavor. For example, other spices, fruits, etc.

All of our natural flavors have no preservatives and are made from vegan, gluten free ingredients.

Per FDA regulations and to maintain our proprietary recipes, we don't disclose the exact ingredients used in our "natural flavors."

Subscriptions

What is your subscription program?

We are happy to offer discounted recurring orders on most of our instant coffees and instant teas. You can subscribe to one of our standalone products or create your own bundle. All recurring orders are shipped for free.

Easily sign-up via the product page by choosing "Subscribe & Save" and complete your recurring order as if it was a one-time purchase. 

Your orders will automatically renew every month with the chosen quantity.

Choose your quantity, cancel, modify, or skip deliveries at any time.

Learn more about the benefits of our program here.

Need more help? Read our full subscriptions support guide.

How do I modify or cancel my recurring orders?

It's so easy! All you need to do is create an account on our website using the same email address as the one you used when ordering your products.

It will automatically recognize your subscriptions and will allow you to manage your future orders once logged in.

Please make sure to make any changes at least 24 hours before your next order, so we won't automatically fulfill your order.

You can create your account here.

You can also choose to manage your subscriptions vis SMS. Regiater here

Need more help? Read our full subscriptions support guide.

Shipping

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes, for purchases above $30 in the U.S., for recurring orders and for all bundle orders.

When will my order arrive?

We use USPS as our default carrier. Your product usually ships in one business day and will be delivered 5 to 7 business days later if you choose Standard Shipping. We do not ship our products on national holidays and over the weekend.

You can always track you order here.

Where do you ship?

We ship from our site to all 50 states in America, all U.S. territories and bases and to Canada. You can also buy all of our products from 185+ countries through iHerb.

Do you cover international duties and taxes?

For international orders, your order may be subject to import duties and/or taxes imposed by your country’s tax authorities.

Payment of all duties and taxes is the sole responsibility of the customer. Contact your local tax office if you have questions about your country’s import regulations.

What do I do if I receive a bill from UPS?

Our current offered UPS shipping services should not include any fees that are passed to you; however, if you did receive a bill from UPS (not including foreign government import taxes or fees) please contact us as soon as possible and we will help.

Business

Do you have a wholesale program?

Yes, we do. We offer our delicious instant coffee and tea for businesses, hotels, offices, and more. Check out our business page to learn more.

Payment

Can you offer samples?

Yes, we offer a $5 sample pack of all of our instant coffees. Check it out here.

What forms of payments do you accept online?

Most major credit cards (icons shown at the bottom of our website), Apple Pay, Shop Pay Amazon Pay and PayPal.

Return Policy

What if I don't like Waka Coffee & Tea?

We hope you will, but please feel free to contact us at hello@wakacoffee.com.

You can read our refund policy here as well.

How do I return Waka Coffee & Tea?

We do not accept returns of open coffee/tea items to comply with food safety regulations as these are perishable products. Read more about our refund policy here.

Please email our customer care representatives at hello@wakacoffee.com and we would love to help!

Social Responsibility

What is the "Add Water, Give Water" program?

We donate a percentage of our proceeds to charity: water to support clean water projects in 26 countries around the globe. Read more on our Add Water, Give Water page.

Is the packaging eco-friendly?

All of our packaging is made with post-consumer recycled material. We also use less plastic and utilize compact design for a smaller carbon footrpint.

Our coffee boxes are made from recycled paper and recyclable. The paper they are made from is certified by the SFI (Safe Forestry Iniative) for sustainable sourcing practices.

Collaborations

Can I post your product on social media?

Please do! Don’t forget to tag us @wakacoffee

How do I become a Waka Coffee & Tea brand ambassador?

Thank you for your interest! Please email us at hello@wakacoffee.com with your information.

We also invite you to apply to our affiliate program here.

Got questions? We’re here to help!

Email us: hello@wakacoffee.com

Press & partnerships: business@wakacoffee.com

Waka | Frequently Asked Questions

Waka Coffee & Tea