You Can Stock Your Whole Coffee Routine At Trader Joe's: Here's What We Always Pick Up

A morning coffee routine can bring joy into the first moments of our day, setting us up for success and smiles until sundown. But that certainly doesn't have to mean spending tons on take-away coffee at your local cafe, especially when you can make a truly exceptional cup at home.

While buying beans is one of my favorite ways to support my local shops through the pandemic, I've always been impressed with the variety and quality of the coffee you can get from this beloved grocery store. Labels such as "organic" and "fair trade" are common on the shelves. On my most recent visit, I noticed a French roast and an Ethiopian blend with both promising terms.

But what do those words mean? According to their website, Trader Joe's coffee labeled "fair trade" is "sourced via Fair Trade Certified practices," which means they're held to social, environmental, and economic standards. The organically grown coffees, as you may have guessed, are farmed without synthetics or chemicals.

Different brewing methods won't stop you from shopping TJ's for your morning beverage. If you're a fan of pod-based brewing, they carry all sorts of options.

Last time I stopped in, I was excited to also see cone filter papers. Theirs are unbleached, made from paper pulp, and come in two sizes—compatible with Melitta, Krups, and Braun coffeemakers.

While I do love brewing plain black coffee, sometimes a bit of frothy milk, a touch of sweeteners, or the addition of spices can really enhance an already wonderful brew. For that reason, my Trader Joe's shopping list will often include oat milk—their shelf-stable variety includes only two ingredients: oats and milk, making it almost as natural as the batches I make myself.

For sweeteners, I will usually reach for organic honey or maple syrup, depending on the flavors I'm adding. This brings me to spices! A while back, I got some advice about adding a touch of cinnamon to my coffee grounds before brewing, and since then I've experimented with adding other flavors to grounds or to that frothy milk. Some other favorites are ginger and turmeric.