NONLA Cacao Mocha Vietnamese Instant Coffee – Freeze-Dried | 8 Pods

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Very tasty!”

Before I get into the review of the coffee, I want to clarify the plastic. Other reviewers have been criticizing the amount of plastic waste in this product. The plastic is polypropylene, #5 recyclable. I've included a photo. This is the same plastic that's in your yogurt cups and butter tubs. Just toss them in your recycle bin! If you're in an area that doesn't recycle or you're still clutching your pearls about the amount of plastic, this product is not for you. On to the coffee.First, I found the aroma and the flavor of the coffee to be delightful! I would never know this is instant coffee. It doesn't have the fake and bitter taste of regular instant coffee. It's very smooth and rich and both my husband and I agree that the flavor is wonderful.I don't notice the cacao in the coffee. There might be a slight hint of it, but I don't smell it or really taste it. The flavor is different than traditional American coffee, however, and perhaps that's why I really enjoy it. It also gives you quite the pick-me-up! This is made from Vietnamese robusta beans, which typically have nearly twice the caffeine content of arabica beans, which most American coffee is made from. Robusta beans also have a lot of antioxidants.The video instructions show adding water to the little cup and shaking it up to mix it. That looked like a big waste of time to me, unless you wanted a quick shot of espresso. I took a chance and opted to add 8 oz of hot water to the coffee and I think that's the perfect amount if you like a nice, dark, rich coffee. I put it in a clear cup so that I could photograph the color and I've included that.This can definitely be enjoyed both hot and cold, and it does dissolve well in cold water. If drinking iced coffee, I add a bit less water to account for the dilution of the ice cubes.The presentation of the packaging in the box is so pretty and this is totally giftable.The price is high at nearly $2 a pod, but the coffee is good and it would be perfect in a situation where you had no access to a coffee maker or hot water, perhaps on a hiking or camping trip, or having a picnic in the park. You could also just drop it into your bottle of water and shake. A great instant option for a quick cup of coffee on the go.

Pickled Tink ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Fully dissolves even in cold water”

These little instant pods are just as advertised. It absolutely dissolves in cold and hot water which is great for people who like iced coffee and don't want to make a hot cup of coffee just to make it cold. It's got a unique scent to it after making it, but it's easy to dismiss. Drinking the flavors is odd to say the least. The flavors are faint with them tasting the same despite the mark of flavors and strengths. That being said, it does the most important part to me, dissolving in cold water fully.

johnathon ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Nice packaging all the way through”

The outer box looks really nice and all the coffee pods look great as well. Each pod is foil sealed for freshness. The coffee taste great, I feel what helps with this is the real fine coffee grounds. Once the pod is used you can put the lid back on and save it if you like. Good looking set and taste great.

J ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Excellent Flavor Met with Plastic Overload”

The NONLA instant coffee "pods" are essentially individually packaged servings of instant coffee, pre-measured for a single cup of a hot or cold espresso drink.Flavor and Performance: The quality of the coffee itself is impressive. The powder dissolves almost instantly in 180∘F water with little to no stirring required. It strikes a good balance between bitterness and sweetness, and importantly, it lacks that harsh, burnt-cigar aftertaste found in cheaper instant brands. For a quick espresso fix, the taste is excellent.Packaging Concerns: My major issue lies with the presentation. While the packaging is aesthetically pleasing and well-designed from a visual standpoint, it is incredibly environmentally unfriendly. Each plastic pod is only about one-third full. The amount of plastic used for such a small amount of coffee is excessive—enough to make me feel guilty while sipping the drink.The Verdict: This coffee offers a great, premium taste that rivals higher-end instant options. However, in an age where sustainability is key, the "over-packaging" is a significant drawback. I’d love to see NONLA move toward a more eco-conscious design so I can enjoy the coffee without the environmental guilt

KevinS ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“ Points off for lots of plastic waste”

I'm taking points off for the amount of plastic waste that comes with this coffee. Every dose of instant coffee comes in a little hard plastic cup. They are rather decorative, but it's way more plastic than I would want with this amount of coffee. That would definitely relegate this into something for gifts or special occasions, instead of everyday coffee.You get eight little pots of powder. Six of them are different levels of roast, then there is a lemon flavor, and a cocoa flavor. The first one I tried was the second lowest level of roast. I found this one quite assertive, and a good bit bitter. It definitely had the overwhelming flavor of instant coffee. I have found this flavor in pretty much every instant coffee I've ever had. A heavier roast was not as bitter, but still had that instant coffee flavor. I tend to drink my coffee black, but I've had to add a little sugar to these just to take the edge off. I think these coffees are definitely better for people who take their coffee with a little bit of milk.

Uncle Flip ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Cute, Convenient Instant Coffee - Great for Travel or Gifting”

This instant coffee comes in individually sealed, very cute plastic pods that honestly look a bit like tiny pagodas. While I’m personally not a big fan of excess packaging, the product page notes that the pods are recyclable, and the presentation does make this feel more like a sampler or giftable item than an everyday coffee solution.The instructions are printed in small yellow text on a green background, which was a little hard to read, but once figured out it’s straightforward. I first tried the cacao-flavored coffee using about 50 mL of hot water, then added cream and sugar to taste. It tastes exactly as advertised - coffee with a mild cacao note, smooth and pleasant.I also tried the pure coffee extract. The box suggests 30–50 mL for traditional Vietnamese-style preparation (about an espresso shot). At 50 mL it was too strong for me, so I added more hot water until it tasted like a strong cup of coffee. Like most instant coffees, it has that distinctive instant-coffee flavor - which I personally enjoy because it’s nostalgic and comforting, though I know it’s not for everyone.Pro tip: if measuring 50 mL feels annoying, just pour hot water into the empty pod - it holds about that amount. A milk frother works well to mix everything smoothly. For Vietnamese-style iced coffee, you’ll want to prepare it strong (closer to 30 mL), then add ice and sweetened condensed milk.At $14.99, this works out to roughly $2 per cup, which isn’t cheap, but given the presentation and convenience, it makes sense as a small gift, stocking stuffer, travel option, or RV/camping coffee. I plan to keep a few on hand for gifting and stash the rest in my RV for an easy shot of strong coffee when needed.Overall, this is a cute, tasty, and convenient instant coffee best suited for travel, gifts, or occasional use rather than daily brewing.

ChknMom ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Ca Phe Sua Da”

These are cute as a little gift to give someone if you (shhhh!) forgot to get them a gift when you were in Vietnam. Don't forget a can of the old man with a beard condensed milk to go with it! I didn't copy the video in the listing, where they pour the hot water directly into the container. I used a separate cup because I wanted to use a little more than the maximum amount of hot water it calls for. Even doing that, it was a small cup of coffee. But the coffee was good!I definitely see this more of something you gift, not something you keep on your grocery list. Although good, its a bit steep pricing wise.

JustTakeMyMoney ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Yummy coffee”

The coffee is tasty and convenient. Packaging is delightful. It would be nice for a small housewarming gift or a gift for any occasion. There are several different flavor options and I chose the one with coconut because my husband is lactose intolerant so this seemed like a good option. He really likes it! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because the packaging is a bit wasteful. It is super convenient but not very eco-friendly. Overall, I am a fan.

Anna M ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“INSTANT coffee, not pods”

These tasted like burnt cocoa. Not necessarily bad, but not good without milk and sugar. The amount of packaging is insane. You have to take off the plastic cap (it's THICK plastic) and then there's a foil seal under that, which is a hassle to remove. I gave up on trying to remove the foil and just stabbed it. Not an easy morning espresso at all. They are also very expensive for the amount of coffee grounds you get. I got the single flavor, so I can't speak to the variety pack, but I imagine they all probably suffer from a burnt taste.

Sierra ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Fun Flavor but Not Very Strong”

The coconut latte flavor is light and slightly sweet. It is convenient and easy to prepare.If you prefer bold espresso, this may feel mild. It works better as a flavored treat than a strong coffee replacement.

Anonymous Cats ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Bold, Smooth, Delicious”

In preparation for a trip abroad, we are looking for some instant options for those days we need a quick fix. These Aodai pods look intriguing with a Vietnamese twist. They are small and durable.There are different strengths which work well for not only flavor but the ability to add more milk or water as desired. The cups have relatively secure lids and have an inner foil seal.The coffee is a loose powder in the cup. I used about 50ml of boiling water to mix with the coffee. I stirred it with a small spoon. Not knowing how well it would dissolve, I stirred a bit longer than necessary. It was great to see there were no undissolved bits in the cup.This coffee has notes of nuts and cereal. I mostly drink coffee with chocolate and fruity notes but this is a nice change of pace. There is always the option of adding more milk or water if you find it strong. It’ll be good cold with milk, sugar, and ice.

PandaWatcher ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Buy it for the cute collectible pods”

The coffee is fine, pretty average instant coffee. I love a cute, fun container, so I think the packaging is adorable and plan to keep the little pods. If I bought this for someone as a gift, they'd really have to love cute packaging also. Otherwise, it's a waste of materials for only average coffee.

Kimberly ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Thick plastic but tastes great!”

I was suprised how good these were. I didn't have high hopes for instant coffee but this fit the bill. I mixed them in cold into protein shakes, hot into long coffees, and espresso shots as well. I love the range of intensity, though I didn't notice a huge difference in flavor in 1 to 6.They don't have a bad aftertaste, they dissolve instantly. Really my main complaint is the plastic waste. The cups are super thick plastic. Please recycle!

NC ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Smooth Dissolving Instant Coffee Variety”

I picked up this set of freeze-dried coffee pods to see if they could offer a more premium experience than my usual quick-fix options. The variety pack includes several roast levels, which is a nice way to sample different profiles if you are looking for a specific strength. In terms of performance, these pods are quite effective. One standout feature is the solubility; the powder dissolves much better and more thoroughly than most other instant coffees I have tried. There is no gritty residue at the bottom of the cup, which is a definite plus.However, regarding the actual flavor, I found it to be fairly standard. While it isn't bad by any means, it tastes very similar to other instant products on the market. I might have gone in with slightly unrealistic expectations for a miracle cup of coffee, but it didn't quite reach that level of distinctiveness for me. These pods are reliable for when you are in a pinch or need a fast boost without any equipment. If you prioritize convenience and a smooth dissolve, this set serves its purpose well.

Ja ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Great flavor and size”

Was taking a chance on these!Very, very good instant coffee! The containers are sturdy and have foil wrapper under cap. Flavor was very good.Will buy again!

Lisa P. ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“An unusual taste”

I like the presentation of these coffee pods. They definitely would make a nice gift. The taste is different. It’s very bitter and taste different than American coffee. It does come in different levels of caffeine. Basically, like instant coffee.

Irena ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I'm not a free vine review, I paid!”

1st make sure you know what countries coffee ☕️ 😅 ur drinking (pist.....Vietnamese!). Stop ✋️ 🫸 putting 😤 cream/milk & then sugar in ur Vietnamese coffee, that is seriously ur biggest mistake in making this coffee, which is awesome btw!It's literally simple, Ice,Water & condensed milk. Stop making Vietnamese coffee weird. For Vietnamese coffee to be instant, makes all the more easier & cheaper on the go, it tastes awesome btw. It's not as bitter straight up, sooo smooth when the condensed milk settles with it. Honestly I'm gonna buy a lot more for my lunchbox

Aoishe ✓ Verified Purchase

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Rich Chocolate Flavor Without the Sugar”

These cacao pods have a deep, rich chocolate flavor that's perfect if you enjoy unsweetened cocoa. They mix well into smoothies, hot chocolate, and even oatmeal without any clumping. I appreciate that they're organic, sugar-free, and made with simple ingredients, making them a great option for anyone following a vegan or keto lifestyle. The individual pods are convenient for portion control and easy to take on the go. If you like the bold taste of real cacao, these are definitely worth trying.

Amanda B ✓ Verified Purchase