Quitting coffee doesn’t have to be hard when you can substitute it with something else delicious and energizing. Read on for 7 of the best coffee substitutes!
I have quit coffee more times than I can count! Once I eliminated coffee completely and broke that addiction, I began to love my substitutes even more than the coffee. I know, I never thought I’d see that day! But the truth is, I learned the effect that the caffeine has on me. And it’s not pretty!
Now I occasionally will have a coffee on the weekends, but during the week – these are the alternatives that I enjoy.
How I Quit Coffee
First, let’s be honest, coffee is delicious! But it’s also addictive and may lead to increased stress, anxiety, irritability, and burnout.
I used to run on coffee every day, multiple times per day until the caffeine actually stopped working and my energy just tanked.
Now, I drink coffee on special occasions and usually only a couple of times per month max.
Here is how I quit – I did it gradually. Every few days I reduced it a little bit more.
I started doing half regular and half decaf for a while. Then I reduced it to 1 cup per day (only in the morning).
Some people will keep going and reduce it to 1 part regular coffee to 2 parts decaf.
Here’s a secret: the hardest part of quitting coffee is that final step away from coffee.
- If it’s the flavor and not the caffeine that is so desirable, try fully switching to decaf coffee.
- If it’s the caffeine and not necessarily the flavor that keeps you hooked, try drinking one cup of caffeinated tea in the morning instead.
Coffee (even decaf) causes me a lot of symptoms if I drink it daily (acid reflux, joint pain) so I had to fully switch to a substitute. And now that I am on the other side, I can say that my morning matcha latte is SO much better!
My Favorite Coffee Substitutes
1. Matcha
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder that offers a ton of antioxidants and health benefits. It has about 1/3 of the caffeine of coffee, but it doesn’t give you the jitters or the crash like coffee.
Matcha also includes L-theanine, which is an amino acid that may offer calm and focused energy. Win-win!
I like to use this brand, and I make it into a sort of latte.
Here’s how I make it:
I sift about 1/2-1 teaspoon into a mug. Then I add a tiny bit of powdered stevia and about 1/4 cup of hot water and use an electric whisk to mix it up really good. Then I add some Nutpods or another non-dairy creamer (creamy oat milk is also really good! Look for a “barista blend”), and more hot water to fill the mug the rest of the way up.
Stir it frequently as you sip on it to reduce the amount of matcha left in the bottom.
2. Dandy Blend
This is the ultimate coffee substitute! Dandy Blend tastes similar to coffee, is really affordable, and super easy to make.
It’s made up mostly of extracts of dandelion, barley, rye, and chicory root. I don’t know what kind of sorcery this is but it’s tested to be gluten-free. It tastes fantastic and is such a great option!
Dandy Blend also makes a DELICIOUS iced latte! It’s much easier to make than traditional iced coffee anyway and I think it may even taste better.
Just mix 1 heaping teaspoon or tablespoon in a glass with a little water until it’s fully dissolved. Add your favorite milk (I like unsweetened vanilla almond milk or oat milk) and ice. That’s it!
3. Teeccino
Teeccino is another popular brand of herbal coffee substitute. It is made out of chicory and dandelion as well. Make sure you get the ones that are gluten-free if you are sensitive!
It has a slightly sweeter flavor than Dandy blend but it is still rich and full-bodied like coffee.
4. Rasa
This is another one of my favorites. I’m actually sipping on it as I write this post 🙂
Rasa is a true coffee alternative and it is perfect to drink in the morning. It tastes amazing and has adaptogens in it so it really benefits my nervous system!
It is made up of roasted dandelion root, chicory root, burdock root, plus ashwagandha, rhodiola, reishi, chaga, and many more beneficial ingredients.
They also offer an option with cacao that is really divine! I like it with vanilla Nutpods. But let’s be honest, I like nearly everything on this list with vanilla Nutpods!
5. Chai
Chai is so yummy and warming! The rich spices make each cup feel like a little celebration. I’m always on the hunt for a new kind of chai tea.
My absolute favorite WAS Oprah’s herbal chai that Starbucks used to sell a few years back. It was decaf and spicy and so good. I think it had star anise in it (which has an incredible flavor in chai). I can’t find it anymore. If you remember this tea and know of a good substitute, please let me know!
Another favorite is Blue Lotus Chai. This contains black tea so it does have caffeine and probably not the best to drink in the evening or at all if you are sensitive to caffeine. I like that it is unsweetened, so I can add my own stevia. It is so YUM!
6. Herbal Tea
There are so many delicious herbal teas available. I like caffeine-free herbal teas because I can drink them in the evening.
Some of my favorites are Tazo Passion Tea, Celestial Seasonings Vermont Ginger Tea, Taylors of Harrogate Rose Lemonade Tea, and Harney & Sons Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea.
7. Golden Milk
This is the perfect evening beverage! Golden Milk contains turmeric, which gives it that bright color and offers powerful health benefits. It also usually contains ginger, cinnamon, and other warming spices, along with honey or stevia and milk.
It’s easy to make at home or you can buy a premade mix like this one.
No matter what you choose to substitute coffee with, make sure it’s something you love! And whenever that coffee craving hits, reach for your favorite tea or beverage first. That’s the key to swapping out coffee!
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