Waka Coffee and Tea
Waka Coffee and Tea is a US-based, direct-to-consumer CPG brand selling premium freeze-dried instant coffee and tea (plus a prebiotic functional line) to convenience-oriented home consumers, loaded-tea enthusiasts, and hospitality/wholesale buyers, distributed via its Shopify site, Amazon, 1,116+ retail doors at Target/Walmart/Meijer, and a self-serve B2B wholesale program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersWalnut, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Waka Coffee and Tea does
Waka Coffee and Tea is a US-based, direct-to-consumer and omnichannel CPG brand specializing in premium instant coffee and tea products, founded in 2018 and operating as a privately held company (legal entity Waka Coffee, Inc.) out of Walnut, California with a business address in Irwindale. Its core product is freeze-dried instant powder made from 100% Arabica coffee beans (Colombian, Ethiopian, Papua New Guinea origins) and 100% single-origin tea leaves (Indian, Kenyan, Chinese), processed to dissolve in seconds in hot or cold water without brewing equipment, filters, tea bags, or pods. The portfolio spans instant coffee SKUs (Medium Roast, Dark Roast, Decaf, flavored variants including Butterscotch and Cafe de Olla), instant black teas (classic, Kenyan, Earl Grey, decaf), instant green teas (classic plus a broad flavored line of peach, blueberry, raspberry, lemon, pineapple, watermelon, mango, pomegranate, strawberry), chai (Traditional, Vanilla, Dirty Chai), and a functional prebiotic tea line enhanced with soluble fiber; products are packaged in concentrate-efficient formats yielding approximately 200 servings per 4.5 oz tea pouch and approximately 80 servings per 8 oz coffee bag.
The company monetizes through four primary revenue streams: direct e-commerce sales on its Shopify-owned website (with subscribe-and-save monthly subscription pricing and free shipping over $35); Amazon marketplace sales via its branded Amazon storefront; a self-serve wholesale/B2B program for offices, hotels, hospitality, food service, and retail re-sellers with wholesale pricing and discounted shipping; and digital e-gift cards in preset denominations. Unit pricing ranges roughly $9.99–$44.99 for coffee and $13.99–$19.99 for tea pouches, with samples from $2.00–$6.50. Customer segments include convenience-oriented home/travel/office consumers, loaded-tea DIY enthusiasts, hospitality operators (hotels, vacation rentals), corporate offices, food service, and health/wellness consumers — with retail execution through Target, Walmart, and Meijer covering 1,116+ US storefronts and international reach delivered via the MyUS forwarding service.
The business is operationally lean (1–10 employees), has raised roughly $2.2M in disclosed funding (pre-seed through 2022 plus a 2025 round), and is led by founder & CEO David Kovalevski. Marketing is concentrated in content/SEO, the Waka Life blog, Instagram organic and influencer coverage, affiliate channels via ShareASale, an earned media footprint across Bloomberg/Forbes/NYT/Martha Stewart/Delish, and a Rebuy-powered personalization layer on Shopify. The product carries Kosher, Non-GMO, Vegan, and Gluten-Free certifications and is supported by the registered 'Add Water, Give Water' social-impact trademark tied to clean water donation.
Waka Coffee and Tea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waka Coffee and Tea
- Legal name
- Waka Coffee, Inc.
- Website
- https://wakacoffee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Waka Coffee and Tea is a US-based, direct-to-consumer CPG brand selling premium freeze-dried instant coffee and tea (plus a prebiotic functional line) to convenience-oriented home consumers, loaded-tea enthusiasts, and hospitality/wholesale buyers, distributed via its Shopify site, Amazon, 1,116+ retail doors at Target/Walmart/Meijer, and a self-serve B2B wholesale program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waka Coffee and Tea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Instant Coffee and Tea
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Instant Tea, Tea Extracts & Concentrates Manufacturing (AFAFADAH), Tea (Leaf, Bagged, Instant, Concentrates) (CRADAHAE), Powdered Beverage Bases & Concentrates (instant drink mixes, soluble concentrates) (AFAFAGAI)
Keywords
Where Waka Coffee and Tea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Walnut
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Waka Coffee and Tea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct E-Commerce Sales: Revenue from direct sales through owned website (wakacoffee.com) featuring product catalog of instant coffees, teas, chai, and gift sets. Includes subscription/auto-delivery model for recurring revenue and first-order discount incentive (15% off) for email signup.
- Amazon Marketplace: Sales through Amazon storefront leveraging marketplace discovery, fulfillment, and Prime customer base. Products listed include retail pouches and single-serve boxes.
- Wholesale/B2B: Bulk commercial sales to businesses including offices, hotels, hospitality venues, food service operators, and retail stores. Self-serve wholesale program with online ordering, wholesale pricing, low minimum orders, and discounted shipping.
- Gift Cards: Digital e-gift cards sold through website with preset denominations starting at $25.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Instant Coffee - Single-Serve Boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Instant Coffee - Bulk Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Instant Tea - Standard 4.5 oz Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chai Tea - 4.5 oz Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sample/Travel Packets |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription Model |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale Pricing |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Waka Coffee and Tea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Waka Coffee and Tea manufactures and sells premium freeze-dried instant coffee and instant tea products in powder form that dissolve in seconds in hot or cold water with no brewing equipment, filters, tea bags, or pods required. The portfolio spans instant coffee (medium roast Colombian, dark roast Ethiopian, decaf), instant black and green teas, instant chai, prebiotic fiber-enhanced teas, flavored varieties, single-serve packets, bulk pouches, sampler bundles, gift cards, and branded drinkware accessories, sold direct-to-consumer online and through wholesale and major retail channels.
Product overview
Waka Coffee and Tea is a direct-to-consumer brand specializing in premium instant coffee and tea products. The company offers instant coffee in medium roast, dark roast, and decaf varieties sourced from Colombia, Ethiopia, and Papua New Guinea. Their tea portfolio includes instant black teas (classic, Kenyan, Earl Grey, decaf), green teas (classic, flavored with fruit options including peach, blueberry, raspberry, lemon, pineapple, watermelon, mango, pomegranate, strawberry), and chai varieties (traditional, vanilla, dirty chai combining coffee and tea). The company has recently expanded into functional beverages with prebiotic teas enhanced with soluble fiber. Products are sold primarily through their Shopify e-commerce store with wholesale programs for business customers, and are available at major retailers including Target, Walmart, and Meijer. The product line spans individual pouches and packets, customizable bundles, sample sizes, and accessories like tumblers and travel bottles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Medium Roast Premium Instant Coffee (Bulk Pouch) Premium medium roast freeze-dried instant coffee made with 100% Arabica beans from Colombia; dissolves in seconds in hot or cold water with no brewing equipment. Approximately 80 servings per 8 oz bag.
- Medium Roast Single-Serve Premium Instant Coffee (8 ct Box) Single-serve packets of medium roast Colombian instant coffee; each packet makes one cup. Convenient for travel and on-the-go use.
- Medium Roast Single-Serve Premium Instant Coffee (50 ct Large Box) Bulk pack of 50 single-serve medium roast Colombian instant coffee packets, designed for larger households or offices.
- Dark Roast Premium Instant Coffee Dark roast Ethiopian instant coffee in single-serve packets, made with 100% Arabica beans; approximately 80 mg caffeine per packet.
- Decaf Premium Instant Coffee Decaffeinated medium roast instant coffee made with 100% Arabica beans, available in 3.5 oz and 8 oz pouches. Approximately 4 mg caffeine per packet.
- Unsweetened Butterscotch Flavored Premium Instant Coffee Medium roast instant coffee with natural butterscotch flavoring and notes of caramel and nougat; unsweetened with no added sugar.
- Cinnamon Sugar Instant Coffee (Cafe de Olla) Traditional Mexican cafe de olla inspired instant coffee with cinnamon sugar notes, made with 3 simple ingredients.
- Waka Premium Instant Coffee Sample Pack Sampler pack containing 8 single-serve packets of various Waka instant coffee varieties for trial before committing to larger sizes.
- Classic Black Instant Tea Premium instant black tea made from 100% single-origin Indian black tea leaves; approximately 200 servings per 4.5 oz pouch.
- Kenyan Black Instant Tea Premium instant black tea made from 100% single-origin Kenyan black tea leaves; approximately 35 mg caffeine per serving.
- Earl Grey Black Instant Tea Premium Earl Grey instant tea powder made from 100% single-origin Indian black tea leaves blended with natural bergamot flavor. Certified Kosher.
- Decaf Black Instant Tea Decaffeinated instant black tea with approximately 0.17 mg caffeine per 1/4 tsp serving.
- Classic Green Instant Tea Premium instant green tea made from 100% green tea leaves with bittersweet and earthy notes; approximately 200 servings per 4.5 oz pouch.
- Original Blend Green Instant Tea Green tea powder blend sourced from Kenya and China.
- Unsweetened Blueberry Flavored Green Instant Tea Premium green instant tea lightly infused with natural blueberry flavor; unsweetened.
- Unsweetened Peach Flavored Black Instant Tea Premium instant black tea with natural peach flavoring; makes up to 50 quarts or 200 servings per pouch. Non-GMO.
- Flavored Green Instant Tea Variety Pack Green instant tea available in natural fruit flavors including raspberry, peach, lemon, pineapple, watermelon, mango, pomegranate, and strawberry; all unsweetened.
- Unsweetened Blueberry Flavored Black Instant Tea Black instant tea with natural blueberry flavor; unsweetened.
- Unsweetened Vegan Traditional Instant Chai Traditional masala chai blend with pure tea leaves and natural spices including ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and cloves. Vegan and gluten-free. Approximately 195 servings per pouch.
- Unsweetened Vanilla Instant Chai Tea Masala chai with smooth vanilla notes, made from pure tea leaves, natural vanilla flavor, and real spices; approximately 15 mg caffeine per serving.
- Unsweetened Instant Dirty Chai Coffee and Tea Mix Combination of pure tea leaves, 100% Arabica instant coffee beans, and real spices. Contains approximately 70 mg caffeine per serving; approximately 40 servings per pouch.
- Prebiotic Black Instant Tea Premium black tea enhanced with soluble prebiotic fiber. Easy-mixing unflavored tea powder for daily digestive health.
- Prebiotic Green Instant Tea Premium green tea enhanced with soluble prebiotic fiber. Easy-mixing unflavored tea powder for daily fiber intake.
- Build Your Own Instant Tea Bundle Customizable bundle allowing customers to build their own selection of Waka instant teas at a discounted price.
- Build Your Own Instant Coffee Bundle Customizable bundle allowing customers to build their own selection of Waka instant coffees at a discounted price.
- Instant Tea Sampler Bundle Pre-curated selection of Waka's most popular instant tea varieties for customers wanting to try multiple flavors.
- Travel/Sample Tea Packets Small sample-size packets of various Waka instant teas including black, green, and flavored varieties for trial before committing to larger sizes.
- Waka E-Gift Card Digital gift cards available in preset denominations starting at $25, redeemable on Waka instant coffee and tea products.
- 12 oz Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Tumbler Branded Waka double-wall vacuum-insulated 12 oz tumbler for enjoying beverages on the go.
- 20 oz Collapsible Bottle by Stojo Reusable 20 oz collapsible bottle from Stojo, sold alongside Waka products for travel and portability with instant beverages.
- Wholesale Program Bulk purchasing program for businesses including offices, hotels, hospitality, restaurants, and retail stores. Offers wholesale pricing, low minimum orders, and discounted shipping with online account management.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 200 servings per 4.5 oz tea pouch
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Waka Coffee and Tea
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Waka Coffee and Tea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Waka Coffee and Tea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- MyUS (International Shipping Forwarding)minorThird-party international mail forwarding service enabling worldwide shipping for Waka customers. MyUS provides US-based address for package processing and handles international delivery through FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Not affiliated with Waka; customers must contact MyUS directly for shipping inquiries.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Waka Coffee and Tea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bigelow Tea: Leading US bagged and specialty tea CPG brand sold across mass grocery. Directly comparable to Waka's flavored/functional teas on grocery-shelf positioning and flavors like Earl Grey and chai.
- Nescafé: Nestlé's global instant coffee and tea brand including Nescafé, Taster's Choice, and Specialty. Defines the mass-market instant category Waka is trying to upgrade; capable of launching competing premium tiers at any time.
- Twinings: Established global tea brand with broad black, green, herbal, and chai portfolio across grocery and foodservice. Competes for similar retail shelf placement and consumer on the tea side of Waka's range.
- Starbucks VIA: Starbucks-branded premium instant coffee sold at mass retail. Represents the scale incumbent whose entrance into premium instant Waka is implicitly differentiating against; broad incumbent competing for the same shelf and consumer.
Emerging players
- Rishi Tea: Specialty direct-trade loose-leaf and bottled tea brand with growing retail presence. Comparable on premium sourcing (single-origin), wellness positioning, and DTC-plus-specialty-retail go-to-market.
Direct peers
- Sudden Coffee: Premium instant coffee brand built around single-origin craft beans flash-brewed and dried into instant powder. Directly comparable product/economics and DTC-first approach to Waka's instant coffee line.
- Mount Hagen: Organic single-origin freeze-dried instant coffee sold globally through retail and DTC. Closely comparable on technology (freeze-drying), single-origin premium sourcing, and retail-channel distribution.
- Tiesta Tea: DTC-friendly specialty tea brand with broad flavor variety across black, green, and chai lines. Direct overlap with Waka's flavored tea portfolio and use-case positioning (recipes, loaded beverages).
- Four Sigmatic: Direct-to-consumer brand selling functional instant coffee and tea mixes (mushroom coffee, elixirs, instant cold brew). Closest comparable to Waka in terms of premium instant positioning, DTC-and-retail go-to-market, and functional line extensions.
- Javy Coffee: Premium instant coffee concentrate sold in small bottles via DTC and Amazon. Competes for the same convenience-seeking, quality-conscious consumer, and uses a similar subscription/DTC playbook.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Waka Coffee and Tea social profiles
Digital presenceWaka Coffee and Tea compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Waka Coffee and Tea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waka Coffee and Tea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Waka Coffee and Tea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Waka Coffee and Tea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Waka Coffee and Tea
What does Waka Coffee and Tea do?
Waka Coffee and Tea manufactures and sells premium freeze-dried instant coffee and instant tea products in powder form that dissolve in seconds in hot or cold water with no brewing equipment, filters, tea bags, or pods required. The portfolio spans instant coffee (medium roast Colombian, dark roast Ethiopian, decaf), instant black and green teas, instant chai, prebiotic fiber-enhanced teas, flavored varieties, single-serve packets, bulk pouches, sampler bundles, gift cards, and branded drinkware accessories, sold direct-to-consumer online and through wholesale and major retail channels.
Is Waka Coffee and Tea a public or private company?
Waka Coffee and Tea is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Waka Coffee and Tea founded?
Waka Coffee and Tea was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Waka Coffee and Tea based?
Waka Coffee and Tea is headquartered in Walnut, United States, in the North America region.
How does Waka Coffee and Tea make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct E-Commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are amazon Marketplace, wholesale/B2B and gift Cards.
Who are Waka Coffee and Tea's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bigelow Tea, Nescafé, Twinings and Starbucks VIA. Rishi Tea is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Sudden Coffee, Mount Hagen, Tiesta Tea, Four Sigmatic and Javy Coffee.
Does Waka Coffee and Tea have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waka Coffee and Tea.
What industry is Waka Coffee and Tea in?
Waka Coffee and Tea's product category is Instant Coffee and Tea. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFADAD, Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing, with a secondary code of AFAFADAH, Instant Tea, Tea Extracts & Concentrates Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.