Trader Joe’s Espresso Martini Makes a Great Boozy Affogato

The obvious thing to do with Trader Joe's Espresso Martini ($9.99) is chill it and pour it into a glass. It's a mix of "vodka, espresso, and vanilla" (and based on the taste, some simple syrup or other sweetener). It's 40 proof, 20% alcohol by volume, and says it's about 4 drinks. (BTW - great…

ByMichelleOctober 29, 20240Comments

Beverages Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew Coffee

I knew Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew wouldn't be for me, but when I saw Trader Joe's Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew ($5.49) I thought, ok, maybe I can get down with that. Like all cold brew, it’s smooth, not bitter, and you could totally drink it black. The coffee itself isn't super strong. I opted to…

ByMichelleOctober 1, 20240Comments

Food News

What’s New (and Returning) at Trader Joe’s – July 18, 2024

Here's a look at what's new (and returning) at Trader Joe's this week, as spotted in the Pacific Northwest. Of course, the magenta and teal mini insulated bags restocked this week, but I'd bet money they made it through Wednesday and that was it. Let's get to it. NEW: MANGO STICKY RICE CRISPS…

ByMichelleJuly 18, 20240Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Coffee and Dark Chocolate Joe-Joe’s

When we first heard about Trader Joe's Coffee and Dark Chocolate Joe-Joe's last week, I wondered out loud if they could possibly be even better than the peanut butter version. Welp, here's the verdict. No, they're not. Now look, don't get me wrong, these are perfectly tasty, but when we're talking about 6g of…

ByMichelleMarch 21, 20230Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee BBQ Sauce

As coffee barbecue sauces go, Homesick Texan's recipe has always been my favorite. It sets a high bar with a nice kick and some smoke from the chipotle and good, but not overwhelming coffee flavor. In comparison, Trader Joe's Cold Brew BBQ Sauce is the mild version. No heat, and while you can taste the…

ByMichelleAugust 5, 20212Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Cold Brew and Boba Non-Dairy Dessert

Remember how amazed I was about the Oat Milk Strawberry Ice Cream Trader Joe's came out with last year? So unbelievably creamy for a vegan ice cream! Well, I'll just break it to you now, Trader Joe's Cold Brew and Boba Ice Cream (ok, it's non-dairy) isn't as creamy. But! I still really liked it.…

ByMichelleMarch 9, 20210Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Caramel Coffee Cashews

Trader Joe's already has multiple flavors of cashews and pecans available year round, but for the holidays they dropped Caramel Coffee Cashews and Cocoa Chile Spiced Pecans. I love both cashews and pecans, but between these two, Trader Joe's Caramel Coffee Cashews are the clear winner. There's just a tiny hint of bitterness from…

ByMichelleDecember 15, 20200Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew

Trader Joe's first talked about their reverse engineered instant cold brew as targeted for the summer, which would have made more sense in any normal year. I was intrigued by the idea of cold brew that was freeze dried into crystals designed to be rehydrated. But I gotta tell ya, I'm not super impressed with…

ByMichelleOctober 16, 20200Comments

Events Recipes

Feast Portland’s Brunch Village Delivers the Sweet, the Savory, and the Beer?

Feast Portland's Brunch Village is always an intriguing mix of flavors. You can rely on some Portland favorites showing up, some out-of-towners, and there's free flowing champagne and a Bloody Mary bar. This year's event featured bites from some hometown favorites including Mae, Little T Baker, and Tusk, as well as Austin's Launderette and NYC's…

ByMichelleOctober 1, 20170Comments

Baking Product Review

What Do You Do with Coffee Flour?

Food media first talked about Coffee Flour as a speciality product in 2015 and it’s just landed at Trader Joe’s, as part of a caffeine-fueled blitz of coffee-flavored products. I like the idea of coffee flour, but I’m just not sure it’s actually necessary if you’re able to cook and bake with wheat flour. In…

ByMichelleMarch 29, 20170Comments