8 Best Trader Joe's Beverages If You Need A Caffeine Boost

Between coffee, tea, energy drinks, sodas, and wellness shots, there are myriad ways to get a caffeine boost. We've seen evidence that morning's the best time to sip your coffee, and some experts suggest we should specifically wait for the morning to be almost done to get the maximum benefits, so caffeine doesn't interfere with the body's cortisol production (via BBC). Caffeine's impact differs for everyone, and — when enjoyed in moderation — it may have several healthy properties, including being prebiotic and anti-inflammatory. If you're looking for delicious beverages with a caffeinated twist, Trader Joe's should be your one-stop shop.

We've taken a hop, skip, and a jump through their range to highlight what we think are the drinks that will deliver. It includes a couple of coffees, as well as some refreshing tea, a creamy smoothie and a juice shot with enough caffeine oomph to put a parting in most people's hair. As always, pricing and availability were correct at the time of writing, but contact your nearest TJ's if there's something in particular you like the look of.

It might sound like something straight out of Victorian England, but London Fog was actually the 1990s creation of pregnant ceramic artist Mary Loria, who sought a way to enjoy caffeine that didn't trigger nausea. The result was a blend of Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla sugar. While that sounds delightful, the Trader Joe's version is made with bergamot and Assam black teas, then concentrated, leaving you to decide how to dilute it. Whimsy, flavor, and a hefty caffeine punch any time of day? Count us in!

Buy Trader Joe's London Fog Tea Drink Concentrate for $2.99.

Can you really call yourself a Trader Joe's fan if you haven't given yourself a boost with this bold but delicious drink? It's a wickedly good combination of espresso and tart orange, with a dash of bitter quinine thrown in for good measure. Shoppers love them, and according to a Redditor who claims to work at Trader Joe's, an 8.5 fluid ounce can has around 46 milligrams of caffeine. That's equivalent to a 6-ounce cup of instant coffee, according to the USDA.

Buy Trader Joe's Sparkling Orange Flavored Espresso Tonic for $3.99.

There are plenty of cold brew coffee products to buy at TJ's, but we like ours smooth with a hint of sweetness, making this vanilla-infused bottle the one for us. One 32 fluid-ounce bottle will serve up around eight servings of delicious coffee, which you can mix with water, half-and-half, or whatever alternative to cow's milk floats your boat. It's also brilliant for iced coffees, mocktails, cocktails, and baking.

Buy Trader Joe's Vanilla Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate for $8.99.

Not everyone's a fan of strong coffee (we admit the Skull Crusher dark roast definitely isn't our cup of tea, so to speak), but an espresso will always put a spring in our step when we need it. If you don't have time for a machine to grizzle and spit its way to produce a teeny cupful, Trader Joe's full-bore instant espresso will sort you out. Made from arabica beans grown in South and Central America, you're just a step or two away from an instant caffeine hit.

Buy Trader Joe's Ready to Use Espresso Coffee for $9.99.

Want something healthier than the most caffeine-packed energy drinks? Drop these tiny but mighty shots into your shopping cart the next time you're in Trader Joe's. Each bottle contains just 2 fluid ounces of liquid but packs a whopping 85 milligrams of caffeine, delivered in a fruity mix of organic orange juice, spinach juice, green tea extract, and mango purée. Have one in your sports bag to down before a gym session, or keep one in your office drawer for that mid-afternoon lull.

Buy Trader Joe's Organic Energy Juice Shot for $1.99.

We've always felt matcha tea was a bit of a refined beverage, but turns out it can have more caffeine than a cup o' joe! You can get your boost in two ways at TJ's: slugging down (or delicately sipping, you do you) a can of unsweetened matcha green tea while relishing that lovely earthy flavor, or by making your own using the store's matcha green tea powder.

Buy Trader Joe's Matcha Green Tea for $1.29.

French roast coffee can be an acquired taste. Some people — this writer included — think this dark roast tastes burned, but those who slurp it down by the mugful disagree. If you like your caffeine delivered with plenty of character, this is the bag for you. Made with 100% arabica beans grown in Brazil and Peru, Trader Joe's French roast pulls no punches and is exactly what the label says: strong and rich. Don't forget to recycle your grounds in the garden!

Buy Trader Joe's French Roast Whole Bean Coffee for $7.99.

Two of Trader Joe's trio of protein smoothies have been a bit hit-and-miss among reviewers, but the vanilla almond spiced chai has proven to be a definite bullseye. It's a little fall-coded, thanks to all the warm spices, though these are offset by the sweet vanilla and earthy chai undertone. The latter delivers the caffeine kick, and while it's not as in-your-face as some drinks, we think it's a delicious way to boost our systems.

Buy Trader Joe's Vanilla Almond Spiced Chai Protein Smoothie for $3.49.