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 Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew ($3.99 for a 3.5 oz. jar).
The suggested ratio is 1 heaping teaspoon to 12 oz. of cold water. I figured, wow this coffee must really be potent. No, it’s not. And I’ll admit, I drink my coffee strong, but 1 teaspoon to 12 oz. is waaaaaaaay off for me. I ended up using 1.5 teaspoons in 6 oz. of water and still could have made it stronger. I added a splash of milk and a little bit of simple syrup.
Made from Arabica beans, I’m going to guess it’s a medium roast, based on flavor. But there’s no indication on the labeling. All we know is it’s Product of India. The jar shape is similar to the Nescafe sold in India, but there’s no way to know if they produce it or not.
Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew still has that flat instant taste and smell, but the good news is at least it’s not bitter. So you definitely know it’s cold brew. I’m going to play with it a little more, maybe make a Greek-style frappé and see if it improves. But for now, I think it’s emergency kit coffee at best. Would not buy again.
Check out some of my other We Tried’s from Trader Joe’s:
Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Risotto
Spicy Pumpkin Curry Simmer Sauce