September 29 is National Coffee Day, so here’s a way to get ready especially for when you’re on the go.
Back when I was a kid, people drank instant coffee. It was one of those Space Age kind of things. But when I went to college and started drinking coffee, instant coffee wasn’t for me. In fact, several years later when I started my first job in advertising, I was assigned to the Sanka Instant Decaf Coffee account. No kidding, that was a difficult assignment!
I’ve been a coffee bean beverage drinker for decades. In fact, I have a Cuisinart Coffeemaker that automatically grinds the beans right before brewing the pot of coffee so you can count on it to taste as fresh as possible.
So I was a little surprised when I was sent the variety pack of “instant” teas and coffees from Cusa. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting instant tea and coffee. In fact, I don’t really drink black tea, but during the cold weather and/or at night, I will drink herb tea. And I do love the taste of Chai, a mix of black tea and coffee with warm spices. But I was incredibly wary of trying instant coffee.
My Experiences with Cusa Tea & Coffee Premium Cold-Brewed Instant
Usually, I will read about a new-to-me brand before trying it, but this time I just went for it. Of course, I started with the coffee.
Many times, I am drinking coffee at home when I wake up on my own. Nevertheless, I usually make a small pot of coffee with my Cuisinart that ends up being enough just for me. On occasion, I will forget to wash out the coffeemaker from the day before, and then I’m stuck washing and drying the whole apparatus. The first morning that I tried Cusa, that was the situation. It made perfect sense to try it.
I opened the recyclable Cusa Variety Pack and immediately, I was surprised at the aroma of coffee and tea coming from the brown paper bag container. It smelled fantastic! In fact, even today, about two weeks after receiving the Cusa Variety Pack, opening the bag still release that wonderful smell!
Next, I dumped out all of the attractive little packets of tea and coffee, 19 of them in the Variety Pack. The majority of the little packets are tea, with about 8 packets of coffee.
Not surprisingly, I have tried all of the coffee packets except the Dirty Chai that I plan to have tomorrow. The varieties were:
- Light Roast
- Medium Roast
- Dark Roast
- Vanilla Dark Roast
- Mocha
- 100% Arabica Decaf.
I’m not an iced coffee drinker unless it’s really hot outside, and the temperature has dropped precipitously here north of Boston. It’s hot coffee for me. I started out trying Medium Roast. I didn’t bother reading the directions. I poured in the cold water to almost the top of the mug. Then I think I microwaved the water. When it was hot, I poured in the coffee powder and stirred.
I added a small amount of half and half, as is my custom. I came to the conclusion that I added too much water to the mug because it wasn’t as strong as I liked.
Then I read the directions, and the next time, I added the instant coffee to the mug. The directions said to add 8-10 oz. of water, either hot or cold. I boiled my water in the kettle, and added it and stirred. It made a huge difference to do it according to the instructions. The coffee was delicious! Since that morning, I have proceeded to repeat the process with all of the coffee selections. My favorites were the Dark Roast, Mocha, and Vanilla Dark Roast. Yum! I am looking forward to trying the Dirty Chai coffee, tea and spices variety tomorrow.
To be honest, I don’t miss my coffee beans, and I like the variety of trying a different type of coffee every day. I think taking packets of Cusa instant cold brewed coffee with me when I travel or go to Boston for the day etc. is a great idea!
Among the tea packets, the majority are varieties of black or green tea, both of which are caffeinated. There were three types of herbal tea:
- Immune Boost Mint Honeysuckle
- Everyday Wellness Hibiscus Rose
- Deep Doze Chamomile Lemon Balm.
I tried Mint Honeysuckle and Hibiscus Rose, and I liked them both, though Hibiscus Rose was so unique and delightfully floral that I think that was my favorite of the two. Maybe tonight, I will try Deep Doze Chamomile Lemon Balm to see if it will help me go to sleep. I haven’t tried the black or green teas yet because I really don’t drink teas with caffeine. Nevertheless, I do intend to try the Chai Tea one of these mornings because, as I mentioned before, I love the spice.
I will most likely give the caffeinated teas to friends who are tea drinkers. The 5 black teas in the Variety Pack include:
- English Breakfast
- Lemon Black Tea
- Mango Black Tea
- Peach Black Tea
- Chai Tea
The 4 varieties of green tea include:
- Green Tea
- Peach Green Tea
- Mango Green Tea
- Jasmine Green Tea.
Why Do Cusa Cold-Brewed Premium Instant Teas and Coffees Taste So Delicious?
Cusa refers to their teas and coffees: “3.0”! Also as they say, “Barista-quality flavor, anytime, anywhere”, and I agree. They are a cinch to make and can be made anywhere.
Here’s the background on how Cusa teas and coffees are made that explain how they taste so yummy:
“In order to make instant tea and coffee that tastes like a fresh cup, we had to invent a completely new way of dehydrating beverages. First we cold-brew the beverage and then we use gentle evaporative dehydration to remove the water from it. By eliminating the need for harsh temperatures during evaporation, we’re able to retain the full flavor, aroma and benefits of the original beverage. All you have to do is reawaken it with water. Cusa dissolves instantly in hot water and also dissolves in cold water, meaning your can have a fresh, delicious tasting cup of coffee or tea whether it’s in your kitchen daily or on-the-go!”
Other key reasons Cusa tastes so great are:
- handpicked, organic tea leaves that are “second pluck” or from the top 5% in terms of quality
- Rainforest Alliance certified coffee beans that are sourced from a family-owned high-elevation plantation that uses regenerative agriculture and organic farming practices to produce 100% Arabica coffee beans
- made with no “lab produced natural flavors” but real, whole ingredients like lemon peel, cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla bean, and more to create bold flavors worth savoring
- no sugar, additives, fillers or preservatives in any of their products
- made with no contaminants often found in coffee and tea including pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and bacteria (This really makes me worry about my regular coffee beans!) Cusa triple filters their teas and coffees during their brewing process for all four of those contaminants
Retail Info
The Cusa Tea & Coffee Variety Pack with 19 packets is currently on sale for $19.99, $6 less than the regular price of $25.99. There is also a Cusa Tea & Coffee Variety Pack with a 30 day supply for $40.99 or less if you subscribe.
There are other variety packs including:
- Coffee Variety Pack
- Black and Green Tea Variety Pack
- Herbal Tea Variety Pack
There are also Pitcher Variety Packs if you want to make larger amounts. Each variety of coffee and teas comes in its own pack as well in trial size of 7 packets, 30 and 90 packets. I need to try the Dirty Chai first, but I think I will buy the Mocha or Dark Roast to have on hand for travel as well as at home use!
If Cusa’s high quality coffees and teas made without contaminants or artificial anything would fit into your life, check out Cusa’s website where many varieties are on sale now. However, free shipping starts at $39+. It’s also sold on Amazon where you can get free shipping if you’ve got Prime.
Your review of the Cusa Tea & Coffee Cold Brewed Instant Variety Pack is fantastic! I love how you highlight the convenience and great taste of these instant brews—thanks for sharing such a helpful and detailed review!
You are welcome, Kimberley!
Thank you for the review of the Cusa products! As an iced coffee aficionado who never drinks hot coffee, I’m excited to find these great options for enjoying iced coffee on the go.
Though I haven’t tried Cusa coffee yet iced, I was blown away by how delicious and easy these coffee packets were to use. I’m a convert!
I’m a huge fan of coffee and tea, so I’m really interested in giving this a try. I love how convenient those little packets are!
I agree! And the fact that they have an amazing filtration system that gets rid of contaminants makes me wonder what could be in the other tea and coffee products I’ve been using previously?
I am not a big tea fan either but coffee…yes please! I love that you got an awesome variety to choose from in your pack. I’ve always been a fan of coffee whether instant, or not. It is my drink of choice. Add in convenience. I am all in!
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
The Cusa “instant” coffee is truly the best I’ve ever had. And so quick ad easy!
Allison, your review really showcases the best of Cusa’s variety pack! I appreciate how you emphasized the eco-friendly aspect and the convenience factor. Your insights on the flavors, especially the Dark Roast, make me excited to try it out. Thanks for the great tips on preparation too—so helpful for those of us who are always on the move!
Thank you, Julie xo
okay – so the thought of drinking instant would be a big no for me. But after reading your article, and thinking about the amount of travel we do, and the fact that this company are trying a new process – “make instant tea and coffee that tastes like a fresh cup” I would definitely be up for trying.
I felt the same way, Karletta. But now, I am going to buy a coffee only variety pack or a single variety pack to have on hand for travel or even going into Boston for appointments
Your review makes me want to give it a try, especially with all the great flavors you mentioned. Perfect for when I’m craving a quick, delicious drink!
I’ve never tried coffee of any kind. However, this seems like a great way to get to learn the flavor of different types.s
Whoa, no kidding?! I’ve never met anyone who hadn’t tried coffee at all. But you are probably better off for it!
These sound fantastic, and how perfect for travel! Thank you for your in-depth review, Allison. This is a brand that I would definitely like to try!
Definitely a terrific find for travel and ease at home on a busy morning!
Okay, now this is right up my alley. I love how convenient they are for travel! One thing’s for sure: I really enjoy a good cold brew coffee or tea. This is the first time I’ve come across the Cusa Tea brand.
My first time discovering Cusa Tea & Coffee too. It’s a game changer for me for busy mornings and travel now!
It sounds like you have discovered a great coffee. I normally follow the instructions when trying something new and then adjust from there if I need to. Sounds like they have a variety of tasty flavours. I’d love to try the mocha and the vanilla!!!
The idea of having instant tea and coffee options is so convenient! It’s great to see a variety pack that offers different flavors without compromising on quality.
Agreed!
I have had their tea before, and it is so convenient for work! I haven’t tried the coffee, but it sounds wonderful and nice to have for work and travel.
I’m a coffee drinker and love tea during the cold season. I never heard about the Cusa brand, but now I want to try this kit, too! Thank you for your suggestion.
I finished my variety pack, but I think I will buy a pack of either the Coffee Variety Pack or else the Mocha or the Dark Roast coffees alone in a package.
What a nice review,I can see that you are honest in all of your thoughts.
Thank you, Nikki, for saying that!