Instant cold brew coffee seems like a novelty when you’re first presented with the idea. Frequently, instant coffee is just freeze-dried crystals, so how much of a difference can there really be between regular old instant coffee and cold brew instant coffee? A lot, apparently! Classic instant coffee is made with hot water in mind. That’s not the case for new Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee. The instructions pressure you to use cold water, but they do begrudgingly admit you can use hot water if you insist. Why would you, though? Instant coffee is all about convenience and being able to use cold water only ups the convenience factor. Finally, we are free from the shackles of needing a heat source to boil water to make instant coffee!
The question remains: Does Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee taste good? Does the convenience factor make up for the fact that it’s not freshly brewed? I tasted it to find out.
- Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew Coffee
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Pros: The obvious and greatest pro of Trader Joe’s Instant Cold Brew is convenience. You’re no longer stuck figuring out how to get a quick cup of coffee when you forget to start the cold brew process the previous day. It also comes with the same instant-coffee benefits you know and love: It’s cheaper than a cup of coffee at a cafe, it’s a big time saver, and jars of instant coffee are highly portable, which is great for travelers and avid campers. Plus, you don’t have to figure out how to heat water to make it. You could mix it up straight from a stream of water while camping or with a bottle of water on the go. Personally, I also liked that this tasted less bitter than a hot cup of joe. I’m not a coffee expert by any means, but this tasted pretty good when I mixed it with a splash of milk and some mocha syrup I had in the fridge.
Cons: The aroma of the crystals isn’t great. If you’re addicted to the robust smell of coffee grounds, this stuff isn’t going to do it for you. Flavor wise, I really didn’t have complaints about this coffee, so I did some digging online and discovered that some people are pretty underwhelmed with the taste. I’m not a coffee snob, but I think the convenience makes up for its shortcomings. So I’ll call it a wash overall. Great job, Trader Joe’s!
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!