How Fans Say Trader Joe's New Egg Bites Stack Up Against Starbucks

Many of the caffeine fans among us are no stranger to Starbucks, the Seattle-founded coffee chain behemoth that currently counts more than 32,000 locations worldwide (via FinancesOnline). Whether your morning beverage preference skews towards super-strong espresso; sweet, syrup-loaded blended iced drinks; or even plain old tea, Starbucks seems to offer a never-ending list of beverages, with some of the best — in our humble opinion — being its Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and its seasonal Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.

But plenty of folks who don't even consume coffee or tea can find something delicious at Starbucks, and that's because the chain offers a large variety of sweet and savory snacks. From turkey pesto paninis to Greek yogurt parfaits to banana nut bread, Starbucks' breakfast, lunch, and snack options are more wide-ranging than you might think, according to Restaurant Clicks. 

If you happen to be pretty familiar with the Starbucks menu already, then you may have tried the chain's sous-vide "egg bites." They're the poppable, crustless quiches that come in flavors such as Bacon & Gruyère and Roasted Red Pepper. And now, according to some photos circulating on Instagram, beloved grocery store chain Trader Joe's is marketing what appears to be a Starbucks egg bite copycat.

If you follow Trader Joe's tracking social media accounts such as Instagram's Trader Joe's List, then you may have noticed some posts earlier this week sharing a new item available in the chain's refrigerator section — egg bites. They're available in a vegetarian Cheese, Spinach & Kale variety and a Cheddar Cheese & Uncured Bacon option (via Trader Joe's List). If the term "egg bites" already makes sense to you, then it's likely you've seen a very similar product offered on coffee chain Starbucks' savory menu.

Instagram commenters are also noticing the similarities, venturing that the new TJ's product is a Starbucks copycat. "Rumor has it these new egg bites are a dupe for the egg bites found at Starbucks," the account Trader Joe's List wrote on the photo it shared of the egg bites. Commenters on the post were excited about the offering and its value. Several users noted that the TJ's egg bites cost less than the Starbucks original. It's true. An order of Starbucks' egg bites costs around $4.45 (via Aisle of Shame), the Trader Joe's 119-gram two-pack is currently priced at $2.99. Some commenters even pointed out that making eggs at home — such as these copycat Starbucks egg bites – is way cheaper than either commercial option.