This $4.49 TJ's Find Is Finally Back—I’m Stocking up on It All Summer Long

While I am a big coffee drinker, I fully admit that I am not a cold brew fan. Don’t get me wrong, I love a dark, bitter, iced coffee with nothing else but ice and my will to live. But for some reason, I’ve never been able to get fully on board the cold brew train. Even if cold brew is meant to be smooth and less acidic, it never tasted good to me and always left me feeling a little nauseous.

So, if a coffee shop only does a cold brew version of an iced coffee, I usually order an Americano over ice instead. The ice might be melted, and the coffee might be lukewarm, but it’s still far better, in my opinion. This was all, of course, until I tried Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee. Now I have to admit that I think my life has changed.

Back by popular demand, Trader Joe’s has brought back their Instant Cold Brew Coffee. The coffee is made with a 100% Arabica Coffee blend, packed in a compact 3.5-ounce container. (Perfect for travel, if I’m being completely honest.) The retailer prides itself on taking that long 12 to 24-hour process of brewing cold brew and turning it “into an instant affair,” according to the packaging. All it takes is a stir of the fine coffee powder into water with ice, and voila! Your cold brew is ready to go.

What I Love About Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee

While I don’t buy a ton of instant coffee, I am a big fan of a company that does it right. Trader Joe’s customers have raved about this product online, so I couldn’t help but wonder if this Instant Cold Brew Coffee would turn me into a cold brew girl once and for all. Surprise, surprise, it did.

This cold brew coffee is certainly stronger than my usual iced Americano, but it doesn’t have that strong taste that you usually get from a true cold brew at a coffee shop.

I think the biggest reason I fell in love with this Instant Cold Brew was how you could adjust it to taste and caffeine level. The packaging says to stir in a heaping tablespoon, but for days I don’t feel like having as much caffeine, I stir in a little less—or add more water for a bigger afternoon cup. I do the opposite for the days I crave an iced latte: make a stronger cup with less water (to mimic espresso) and mix it in frothed cold milk with a drizzle of vanilla syrup. 

Lastly, I particularly enjoy how small the packaging is, and I already plan on bringing a container with me on vacation later this summer. Because who wouldn’t want iced coffee in an instant when you’re about to head to the beach?