You start your day with coffee. You want strong, simple, and fast. That’s how people find themselves reaching for STōK Coffee Shots those little black squeeze packs loaded with pure caffeine, meant to kick up regular coffee or just take straight.
But lately, if you check store shelves or Amazon, you might think they’ve suddenly vanished. Are these little shots really out of stock everywhere, or is something else going on? Let’s break it down and see what’s driving all the confusion about STōK Coffee Shots and their availability.
What Makes STōK Coffee Shots So Popular?
First, here’s what you’re dealing with: Each STōK Coffee Shot is a single-serve, unsweetened espresso-style cold brew shot just 13ml per pack, yet each one delivers 40mg of caffeine. Picture those half-and-half creamers you see at diners, but swap the milk for high-powered cold brew. They’re simple to stash in your desk drawer or car, and you never have to worry about refrigeration.
They’re also gluten-free, kosher, and made from a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. The idea isn’t fancy flavors or DIY froth. It’s a quick hit of caffeine, no sugar, no mess.
That kind of no-nonsense energy boost has made them a staple in offices and cafes, not just homes. Some people even dump them into energy drinks or sodas, if regular coffee isn’t enough. So, it’s not hard to see why they’d catch on, especially as working from home changed daily routines and for a while, sent demand for caffeine through the roof.
Tracking Down STōK Coffee Shots: Where Can You Actually Buy Them?
This is where things start to look confusing. If you scan forums or Reddit threads, you might see a few people frustrated about the shots being out of stock at local supermarkets or some online stores. But if you look just a little deeper, plenty of distributors and restaurant supply shops list these shots as available sometimes even in huge bulk cases.
For example, Food Service Direct sells cases of 264 shots, ready to ship within a day. They go for about $27 and are targeted mostly at restaurants or offices that want to power up their drinks menu or staff break room. Gagl Sales has 100-count packs in stock for $29.99, which is basically the same product you’d get as a consumer, just in bigger batches.
WebstaurantStore, one of the largest online suppliers to coffee shops, also carries them (264 per case). There’s even a listing on Walmart a 50-pack but this one doesn’t show current stock levels, so it’s hard to tell if you can actually check out with it.
Finally, the official STōK site itself advertises the Coffee Shots, alongside their bigger 48 oz. cold brew bottles and multi-packs. But here’s the catch: The STōK site doesn’t actually sell them directly, and there’s no clear map of which brick-and-mortar retail stores carry the product. The lack of clear buying links or store locators on their site is probably why so many people start hunting elsewhere.
If They’re In Stock, Why Do People Think They Can’t Get Them?
Given all these links to buy, why does it seem so hard to actually get your hands on STōK Coffee Shots at a grocery store or for quick, regular delivery? There are a few things happening at the same time.
First, tons of the stock is being pushed through food service (think coffeeshops, diners, and even some hotel chains) instead of grocery chains or Amazon. When a product is popular behind the counter, distributors sometimes give priority to those “bulk” buyers the big orders that keep the warehouse humming.
That means supermarkets or convenience stores may get less, or only restock sporadically. You might find STōK shots sold out on one shelf but available just down the street at another, or always in stock online in huge cases.
At the same time, home coffee drinkers (and office workers returning to on-site jobs) have upped their caffeine game in the last few years. With more people heading back to the break room or bringing their own boosters to work, it makes sense there’s more strain on the retail supply, especially in certain zip codes.
What Are People Saying Online?
Dig through customer reviews, and you’ll see a pretty mixed bag. One complaint that pops up is about expiration dates. For example, on WebstaurantStore, a customer mentioned receiving a case with a “short” expiration window (about eight months until May 5, 2025). That’s not really a dealbreaker for most bulk-packaged products, but it stands out to people used to coffee products with year-long shelflives.
There wasn’t a huge pile-up of complaints. Just a single negative review on one of these major distributor sites, and the seller responded by explaining that this sort of short date wasn’t typical they swapped it out for fresher stock.
Other reviews are positive, and not a lot of people mention shortages or flat-out being unable to buy the product, especially if they were looking for big bulk packs rather than a small store-size box.
What’s missing from almost every complaint or question? Any mention of manufacturing slowdowns, recall notices, or real supply chain issues. That kind of silence says a lot.
How Do STōK Coffee Shots Hold Up on the Shelf?
It’s helpful to know what you’re actually getting. STōK Coffee Shots are designed to be shelf-stable for 90 days without refrigeration. That’s longer than a few weeks, but not quite as long as some UHT dairy products or canned coffees.
They’re kosher, gluten-free, and don’t contain sugar, so there’s not much in them to spoil quickly. But you’ll want to use them up within that 90-day window for best quality. If you’re buying a case of 264, they won’t exactly last forever even in a busy office, you need to keep an eye on that use-by date.
Storage is simple. As long as they stay cool and dry, there’s no need to clear room in the fridge. After about three months, just check the date. If you drink coffee every day, this won’t be an issue.
How Should You Buy Them? Is Bulk the Only Way?
If you want a quick fix and just need a handful, a local grocery store can be hit or miss. Some chains might not carry them at all, focusing on STōK’s larger cold brew jugs or ready-to-drink bottles. Gas stations and convenience stores sometimes get small packs, especially where offices are nearby.
If you’re okay buying online, you’ll almost always find them. The only catch most listings sell by the hundred or more. If you share with coworkers, this works out just fine. But if you’re strictly a one-a-day user, split the case with a friend or two, or store them up for the next couple of months.
Since food service distributors like Food Service Direct ship to anyone with an address, you don’t have to be a business to buy. You just might end up with more STōK shots than you can drink before the expiration date if you’re not careful.
So, Why the Shortage Headlines?
To be clear, there’s no evidence of a real, ongoing nationwide shortage. You won’t find alerts from STōK about halts in production or delivery. No big coffee recall, no mention of shipping disruptions on the STōK site.
Instead, the shortage feeling seems to come from a mix of high demand (particularly from restaurant and office buyers), retailers giving priority to those bigger buyers, and inconsistent restocking at consumer-facing stores. Add in the popularity surge from people bringing their own caffeine boosts to work, and you get empty shelves in some areas.
The difference in availability across online vs physical stores doesn’t help. If you’re dead set on picking up a 24-pack at your nearest supermarket, you may end up disappointed and hit with a “sold out” tag. But if you’re ordering a bigger case for the home or office, those are almost always in stock and ready to ship.
Should You Be Worried About Getting Your Next Fix?
If you’re committed to STōK Coffee Shots as your daily caffeine delivery, it pays to check a few online wholesalers directly. They’re still supplied in bulk by food service channels with no major interruptions in their pipeline. You might pay a bit more up front to buy a giant case, but you’re essentially guaranteeing yourself a steady stash for a few months.
It’s smart to keep tabs on different channels: check restaurant supply stores, major online bulk retailers, and the STōK site for up-to-date product links. Read reviews to see if expiration dates are an issue and always double-check shipment times.
And if you’re a business or coffee shop boosting your drinks menu, there isn’t much to worry about supplies remain steady, and ordering in bulk still gets the job done.
If you want to keep an eye on other similar supply chain trends or product quirks, there’s a lot of good coverage over at The Business Hustler, especially when it comes to fast-moving consumer goods and retail headaches.
Bottom Line: Shortages Seem Bigger Than They Are
STōK Coffee Shots aren’t disappearing they’re just traveling a less direct route to grocery shelves. As long as demand stays high in food service and bulk buyers snap up cases, individual shoppers might have to be more creative.
If you’re seeing “out of stock” at your usual spot, widen your search and consider sharing a case. There’s no sign that STōK is cutting production, so it’s just a matter of where to look, not whether the product exists.
For now, check supplier stock on food service and bulk sites if you want to avoid disappointment. If all else fails, bigger packs are a safe bet just invite friends or coworkers to split the order (and the caffeine jolt). Problem solved.
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