I cannot start my day without having a cup of coffee. If you are reading this, I am guessing we have this in common. This morning pick-me-up gives me the energy I need to conquer the day. In the warmer months, there is nothing I enjoy more than a delicious cold brew coffee but they haven gotten expensive! So naturally, when I found Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Powder, I was sent into a frenzy. As soon as I saw the Instant Cold Brew Coffee on the shelf, I had to give it a try. I mean, a chilled glass of cold brew in under 5 minutes and just $3.99 per jar? Sign me up! Now, I find it hard not to start my mornings off without a couple of scoops of the magic inside the jar.
Initially launched in the Fall of 2020, Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee earned itself a huge, dedicated following. So much so that it doesn’t last long on shelves so I tend to stock up on it when I can. With its infamous bright-red cap, you will have no choice but to gravitate to the powder as its captivatingly playful jar pulls you in. Additionally, the promise to have a fresh cup of cold brew in your hands within seconds will intrigue you and leave you wanting more.
Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Nutrition Facts & Ingredients
According to both the Trader Joe’s website and the Fearless Flyer, Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee is made with 100% Arabica coffee beans from India. They also mention, “Our suppliers use an all-natural, proprietary extraction method that took them over two years to develop.” Essentially, they took something that usually takes anywhere from 18 to 24 hours to steep and made it drinkable within seconds of making it.
How Much Caffeine in Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew?
Why we drink coffee? Us coffee drinkers generally drink coffee for one of the following reasons, to feel less tired, increase energy levels, jump starting metabolic function or improve productivity. Since not all manufacturers label their coffee with the amount of caffeine present in each serving it’s hard to know how much you need to drink to get that boost. Aside from drinking coffee as a pick me up, I actually enjoy a cup of cold brew as a satisfying mid day drink a warm summer day.
Since Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee among it’s coffee options isn’t labeled with the amount of caffeine per serving we reached out to our local Trader Joe’s directly for an answer to this commonly asked question.
They kindly provided us with the below fact sheet which we’ve made easier to read and confirmed that the Instant Cold Brew Coffee contains 100mg caffeine per serving (1 tsp.)
According to the USDA, there is approximately 95mg of caffeine in 1 cup (8 fl oz) of brewed coffee. The Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew is similar in that 1 tsp. of cold brew powder is mixed with 12 fl oz of water which contains 100 mg of caffeine.
We were curious to see how the caffeine content in the Instant Cold Brew stacked up with some other common food and beverages and created this chart with information from the USDA.
How to Prepare Instant Cold Brew
When made correctly (which isn’t too hard at all), it’s hard to dismiss the caramel-like aroma that the Instant Cold Brew emits. To prepare this magic in a jar, just add one teaspoon of Instant Cold Brew Coffee to 12 ounces of cold water until dissolved. The result? A tall cold cup of cold brew that is dark, bold, and brewed to perfection in under a minute. For me, it seemed too good to be true but Trader Joe’s has done it once again! Depending on your taste buds, you can adjust the amount of powder you add and increase or decrease the boldness of your cold brew.
Instant Cold Brew Cost and Convenience
On a hot day before I found this product, when I craved a cold brew, I would visit my local coffee shop. That visit would cost me $5-$9 depending on the size of my drink and it would also cost me somewhere between 10-15 minutes of my time. Now I can enjoy a delicious treat wherever I want for a fraction of the cost. For me, it has taken the thought out of my coffee visit. I no longer need to consider if I have the time or if I should spend the money to satisfy my craving. According to the serving instructions on the back, you should be able to use this jar for 23 uses, which is roughly 18 cents per iced cold brew. That’s a lot of bang for your buck and a lot less mileage per jar.
How Do You Use Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Instant?
Another bonus for this product is that it can be used to create other delicious treats. It can be mixed with Trader Joe’s Midnight Moo to make a mocha Frappuccino. Use the powder to make cold brew and make your own coffee ice cream. Freeze it into cold brew coffee ice cubes so your coffee never gets diluted. Make delicious cold brew tiramisu (you’ll need 2 cups of cold brew). Add it to baked goods such as these chocolate-chip coffee cookies or even as a marinade in this coffee-marinated skirt steak. The possibilities are endless and because you can have cold brew so quickly, prep time is always cut down.
How is the Instant Cold Brew Packaged?
The Instant Cold Brew Powder comes in a small glass jar with an unmistakable red cap and contains 3.5 oz (99g) of coffee powder. If the glass container is a problem or you perhaps you’re in the mood for a cold brew on the go and don’t have access to fresh water and ice to prepare there are alternatives.
Trader Joe’s offers ready to drink varieties in the refrigerated section. Like the Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee that is “ready to drink” as well as a Cold Brew Concentrate that contains 32 oz of sweet cold brew. The concentrate will make 96 oz of your favorite coffee beverage once water and your favorite creamer are added.
But like many of TJ’s products the packaging is cute and it’s another thing I loved about the product. How does that barista checklist not make you smile.
Where is the Instant Cold Brew Located at Trader Joe’s?
IF (and that’s a big IF) you can find it in stock, it can be found in the aisle where the other coffee beans, coffee filters and tea bags are located.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to how you prepare, it’s totally up to you! That’s the beauty of this product. It’s simple design lets you be your own barista. I tend to pair it with a splash of oat milk and vanilla syrup for a vanilla oat milk cold brew. Sometimes, I get fancy and add a splash of coffee creamer when I want to satisfy my sweet tooth. Whether you like your cold brew strong and bold or sweet and creamy, Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew will not disappoint. Next time you find yourself scavenging through the aisles of Trader Joe’s, you may just want to pick up a jar of Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Powder and give your mornings a thrifty and tasty pick-me-up!
