Trader Joe’s Is Getting Sued Over Their Coffee—Here’s Why

Trader Joe’s is getting sued…again. Recently, Trader Joe’s settled a class action lawsuit filed against it concerning customer privacy (and you could be entitled to $100 from that settlement). Now, Trader Joe’s is back in the court room, but this time is because of coffee.

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Why is Trader Joe’s getting sued over its coffee?

If you’ve ever made some Trader Joe’s coffee and felt that you weren’t getting the energy boost you were expecting from it, you aren’t alone. In fact, four customers are currently suing the company over low-caffeine coffee that the chain didn’t label as “decaf.”

The lawsuit focuses on Trader Joe’s French Roast Low Acid Whole Bean Coffee, which the plaintiffs claim tested with less than half the caffeine of a normal coffee brand.

According to USA Today, the lawsuit mentions that they discovered that it only had 53% of the caffeine found in another of Trader Joe’s brands, Joe’s Dark Coffee. Even more surprising, the lawsuit claims that it actually has less caffeine than several half-caffeinated brands, with 17.8% less caffeine than Folger’s half-caff brand, and 24.5% less caffeine than Puroast’s half-caff brand.

However, the label didn’t mention any altered caffeine levels, so the lawsuit alleges that regular customers were deceived into buying decaf without their knowledge.

Even worse, they also claim that the brand’s “low acid” claim isn’t accurate either, as they say it’s acidity is only slightly less acidic than an average cup of dark roast coffee.

Okay, so it’s less caffeinated. What’s the big deal?

The plaintiffs are arguing that, because they rely on caffeine to help them work and, essentially, exist in the world, that Trader Joe’s misleading coffee label is hindering them in their everyday lives. They are seeking damages (no word on how much) and are asking Trader Joe’s to change the labeling on the coffee.

Incidentally, if you’re curious how much caffeine is in your favorite drink, we put together a handy guide to it, right here.