Trader Joe’s $10 Bottled Espresso Is the Easiest Way to Make a Latte at Home

Cutting back on your daily coffee run? Thanks to Trader Joe’s latest launch, you can now make your favorite latte at home — without needing an expensive machine. 

Shoppers can now find ready-to-drink espresso on Trader Joe’s shelves. This 16-serving bottle costs just under $10 and uses Arabica beans from Central and South America, offering a ready-to-drink latte with a simple pour. You’ll just need to dilute the mix using a one-to-one water-to-espresso ratio — but honestly, it doesn’t get easier than that. 

On the product listing, Trader Joe’s recommends shaking it into espresso martinis or pouring it over ice cream for an affogato treat. 

If you’re hesitant to give up your crafted local latte for something pre-brewed, you’re certainly not alone. We’ve been drinking mass-market cold brew and instant coffee for years, but what makes pre-made espresso so tricky to nail down? 

“The biggest difference between fresh espresso and bottled espresso is the crema,” two-time U.S. Barista Championship winner and the CEO of California-based Klatch Coffee Heather Perry, tells Food & Wine. “The flavor tends to be a little more one-noted — losing some of the nuances that you would get out of a freshly brewed espresso, but you tend to gain a rich and deep flavor.”   

Klatch Coffee, like Bustelo and other brands, also makes its own espresso concentrate. It’s clear why bottled brew sales are increasing. Unlike drip and pour-over coffee, traditional espresso machines tend to be costly. (And you should be prepared to spend even more on a top-rated machine.) While a quality Breville or De’Longhi can be a great addition to your coffee routine, that price can often be out of reach. 

Building a better pre-brewed latte

Caribe & Co. owner and founder Savannah Campbell, who has nearly a decade of culinary experience and a collection of Caribbean-inspired coffee syrups, knows a thing or two about bottled coffee. 

Coffee ultimately comes down to science, as she explains. Freshly brewed espresso arrives hot, which helps the drink thoroughly mix with any sugar-based syrups or sauces. In contrast, bottled espresso might look like it’s blended with syrup in a vanilla latte, but you could end up with a different mouthfeel. 

“It tastes almost like the syrup and espresso are two separate entities. They don’t combine fully as one, because the syrup isn’t melting into the espresso as it does at the ideal temperature,” she explains. “It doesn’t taste as complex or rounded, and it coats your mouth with a syrupy texture.”

The key to mimicking that fresh-brewed flavor in a bottled version is by simulating the process: Try heating it to 200°F. While Campbell warns against burning or boiling the brewed espresso, a few seconds in the microwave can help bottled coffee fully integrate with added syrup. Conversely, she recommends vigorously shaking the espresso, milk, and syrup for an aerated, evenly mixed drink. 

“If it works for you, it works for you. If bottled espresso is the most convenient and affordable option for you, there are ways you can dress it up, even right at home,” Campbell tells Food & Wine. “Espresso machines are very expensive…and sometimes, you just have to figure out what works for you.”