If you're a cold brew enthusiast looking for a hassle-free way to enjoy your favorite beverage at home, Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags might just be your new go-to. These oversized, tea bag-like satchels are filled with 100% Arabica medium roast coffee, sourced from Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro region. Priced at $8.49 for a pack of four, they promise a smooth, less acidic cold brew without the mess of traditional methods.
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Review
I was intrigued by the simplicity of these coffee bags. The idea of just dropping a couple into water and letting time do the work sounded almost too good to be true. Following the instructions, I placed two bags into a two-quart pitcher with seven cups of cold, filtered water and let it steep in the fridge overnight.
The next morning, I was greeted with a rich, dark brew. The flavor was smooth with subtle notes of berry and molasses, as advertised. It lacked the bitterness often associated with hot-brewed coffee, making it easy to drink black. However, I did notice that the strength was slightly milder than my usual cold brew. For those who prefer a bolder flavor, extending the steeping time to 12 hours or using less water might do the trick.
One downside is that the coffee is pre-ground, which can lead to a loss of freshness over time. If you're accustomed to grinding your beans just before brewing, you might find the flavor a bit lacking. Nonetheless, for the convenience and price, it's a trade-off I'm willing to make occasionally.
Ingredients
- 100% Arabica Coffee (Single-Origin, Medium Roast)
How to Prepare
- Place two cold brew bags into a two-quart pitcher.
- Add seven cups of cold, filtered water.
- Steep in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.
- Remove and discard the bags.
- Serve over ice and enjoy!
Optional: Adjust the strength by altering the steeping time or water quantity to suit your taste.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy over ice with a splash of milk or cream.
- Add flavored syrups for a customized beverage.
- Use as a base for coffee cocktails.
- Blend with ice and sweetener for a homemade frappé.
FAQs about Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags
The following are commonly asked questions about this product:
Yes, Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags are typically available during the summer months.
For optimal flavor, it's recommended to use each bag only once.
Store the brewed coffee in the refrigerator and consume within a week for the best taste.
You can purchase this at Trader Joe's when it is seasonally available or through third-party sellers on Amazon.com
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags offer a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy cold brew at home. While they may not replace the depth of flavor from freshly ground beans, the ease of preparation and smooth taste make them a worthy addition to your summer coffee routine. If you're looking for a no-fuss cold brew solution, these bags are definitely worth a try.
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Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags
Product Name: Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags
Product Description: Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags is seasonally available and a no-mess solution to make cold brew at home with no equipment needed other than a pitcher large enough.
Price: $8.49
Currency: USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Summary
Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee Bags are available at certain times of the year and make the process easy without needing a French Press or any method to strain your coffee grounds.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Convenient: Easy to prepare with minimal cleanup
- Smooth flavor: Less acidic than traditional hot-brewed coffee
- Affordable: Priced competitively for the quantity provided
- Portable: Great for travel or office use
Cons
- Seasonal availability: Not stocked year-round
- Pre-ground: May lack the freshness of freshly ground beans
- Mild strength: Might be too light for those who prefer a stronger brew
- Limited customization: Fixed roast and origin
Alek says
I can see this for gatherings events for those whom crave coffee. Or can be incorporated in desserts such as cold brew coffee ice cream. It nice TJ's are expanding their cold brew line beyond concentrates
becomebetty says
Hey Alek! Absolutely would be great for company with the right planning and would be great with desserts too. Yes! I couldn't agree more about expanding the cold brew line. I think it's a bit overdue. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing!
judilyn says
Interesting concept. I'm wondering if one bag in a nice quart-sized Mason jar overnight might not work? I would go through two of those in three days, so it would be easy to have one "brewing" at all times, and at the ready. Would there be a downside to extended steeping time? Is there a degraded flavor if/when reheated for a hot cuppa? I drink a pint (hot in a thermal cup) in the morning, and a third cup as "iced" after lunch with my daily "Vitamin Chocolate".
This would be an easy-to-do way to have coffee on the road without the mess of grounds, or the blah of instant.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
becomebetty says
Hey Judie! I think next time I'll do that because while that container holds 7 cups the 2 coffee bags were quite large. No degraded flavor on a reheat. I could easily drink a pint of coffee a day. I'd love to hear more about this "Vitamin Chocolate." And yes, minimal mess on this product which was really nice. Thanks as always for stopping by!
Dag says
Did you end up drinking this cold or heating it up?
becomebetty says
Hey Dag! It was brewed in my refrigerator and then it put it in my farberware coffee pot to bring it back to hot coffee. I did the same thing with the cold brew concentrate too. I just prefer my coffee warm. That's just me.
judilyn says
Thirty-something years ago, my husband discovered the chocolate candy called Twigs. A quick search just now produced this URL:
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Chocolate-Twigs-With-Mint/dp/B0013FNOAE
Don't faint like I just did! Back then, they were quite expensive, but not that much. Anyway, I figured I could do that for a whole lot less expenditure. So I melted chocolate, added a flavoring (or instant espresso powder), and then spread it out on a foam meat tray lined with aluminum foil. Then into the freezer for an overnight rest.
The next day I just broke it into shards/tiles and we ate little bits of it after lunch and sometimes dinner, too.
Then Trader Joe's came to town, and I switched over to using their Pound Plus Bar in the red label. When we were fulltiming in our motorhome, I kept chocolate like this on hand, and some coconut and nuts. The mixture of the three in "haystacks" were always an incredible hit at the pot luck dinners we attended.
But back to the coffee . . . yes, I am still making the little chocolate bits, and we eat them after lunch and sometimes dinner, just like above, and I have my afternoon coffee then.
I call it "Vitamin Chocolate" because there is so much literature and talk these days about the benefits of dark chocolate! It must be healthful, yah?
becomebetty says
As far as I'm concerned chocolate is a dietary need. Thanks so much for the explanation Judie!
Ttrockwood says
I’ve been making cold brew for years, it’s just so easy and in the hottest months i want cold coffee. I didn’t like TJs cold brew concentrate, i like a stronger flavor and they use a much lighter roast. I use my favorite Peet’s major dickenson blend which is not as dark as a french roast
I make mine rather strong so after adding ice it isn’t watery. I use a big tupperware container and just strain through a fine sieve and into a pitcher
I’ll pass on this, sounds like the roast is too light for me and i’m exactly intense enough about coffee that i only buy whole beans. It’s probably seasonal so if you’re a fan buy multiples
becomebetty says
Hey Ttrockwood! I'd agree with your assessment there. This brew to a medium if not medium light. So it probably won't be your jam on this one. By the way, if you are worried about your coffee getting watered down, freeze some of your favorite coffee in an ice cube tray and add it to your favorite coffee. That way everything will stay perfect. Thanks again for stopping by and sharing!
Rachel O says
Has anyone else gotten super jittery and super caffeinated from this? I love me some cold brew, but 24 hours later I am still buzzing along at an almost alarming rate and got a bit too jittery from my 8 oz. I had at 9 am YESTERDAY. I felt like I had had three cups of coffee!!!! I may have to just use one bag at a time. Anyone else out there like me or am I suddenly a coffee wimp?
becomebetty says
Hey Rachel O! I am honestly unaffected by almost any level of caffeine (I can drink TJs Electric Buzz coffee and then take a nap). That being said, I did a little bit of research and I think you stumbled on something I did not pick up on, some food sites report that there is more caffeine in cold brew. Thank you for bringing up this important point and thanks for stopping by!