Healthy Caffeine Free Alternatives to Coffee

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Healthy Alternatives to Coffee
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If you’re looking for an interesting variation on coffee, give coffee kombucha a try (it’s an interesting taste for sure!). But if you’re looking for healthy coffee alternatives, keep reading.

Why Not Drink Coffee?

You all probably know I love my coffee. (So much so one of my DIY projects was a coffee bar!) Still, I’m learning that variety is the spice of life and that applies to a healthy diet too.

There are many reasons someone may want to skip their morning “cuppa.” Coffee can be perfectly healthy for some people, but like so many things it really just depends on your individual biochemistry and underlying health issues… as well as the quality of the coffee, how you prepare it, and how much of it you drink.

The answer to the question “is coffee healthy or not?” is: it depends.

If you have any obvious reactions to coffee, it’s probably not a good choice for you. People with autoimmune disease often find that coffee doesn’t work for them (they may not know until eliminating it for a month or so and then reintroducing it).

Caffeine Sensitivity

Ever wonder why coffee affects you differently from someone else? There may be a genetic factor at work. The gene called CYP1A2 determines if a person is a slow or fast metabolizer of caffeine, and some people have a gene variant that doesn’t let them tolerate caffeine at all.

I chose to eliminate coffee while on a strict autoimmune diet and I also remove it every few weeks just to test mental performance with or without it. When I am drinking coffee I still don’t drink it every day since that can lead to dependence.

I still like to wake up with a cup of something tasty even when I’m cycling off coffee. These are some of the healthy coffee substitutes I’ve tried and love, some of which are very similar to coffee!

Hot Coffee Alternatives

There’s nothing quite like a nice hot beverage in the morning to get you going. Luckily, coffee isn’t the only option and tea isn’t the only substitute! Here are some of the best coffee alternatives (some really taste like coffee!).

Dandelion Root Tea

This herbal tea is similar to coffee as it is dark and strong. Many don’t like the taste when they approach it as a tea, but enjoy it when they think of it as coffee (since it has similar strong taste).

Dandelion root tea can also be mixed in a blend to enhance the coffee-like taste. I use this blend which is made from the extracts of chicory root, dandelion root, rye, and barley (not the roots and grains themselves). This results in a gluten-free beverage that tastes very similar to coffee.

Bone Broth

Homemade bone broth is a great replacement for coffee as it’s rich in taste and nutrition. It doesn’t taste like coffee but it can be just as warm and comforting! When I don’t have time to make it, I opt for this store-bought option that is actually just like homemade.

Herbal Coffee

This herbal coffee drink is my go-to for a coffee alternative. It’s easy to make at home and the added healthy fats and collagen make it really nutritious. It also fits the requirements for most autoimmune diets.

Chicory Root “Coffee”

This coffee alternative has a very similar mouth feel to coffee and has a lot of health benefits. Chicory root contains prebiotics (fiber that feeds good bacteria in the gut) as well as a small amount of almost every essential vitamin.

Brew chicory coffee from 100% chicory root granules or try a chicory blend designed to replicate the taste of coffee. Many who have had a hard time giving up coffee find that this option is the closest alternative to regular coffee. It uses carob, chicory root, and dandelion root as well as other ingredients that blend together to taste (almost!) like coffee.

Turmeric Tea (Golden Milk)

This ancient beverage is a great coffee alternative. Granted, it tastes nothing like coffee but this creamy tea with a touch of spice and sweetness is so comforting I love it just as much. Plus golden milk is packed with health benefits. Turmeric supports digestion, immune function, liver function, and may even offer protection from some types of cancer.

Turmeric Latte With Chicory

Love both golden milk and coffee? You don’t have to choose… this Spiced-Up Cinnamon Turmeric Latte uses chicory for a bolder, more coffee-like flavor.

Four Sigmatic “Coffees” and Teas

My all-time favorite coffee substitute is actually made from… mushrooms! I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out: certain mushrooms have some incredible health benefits and a natural energy boost (more on that here). Some are even shown to help balance hormones, something many of us moms could use.

Some Four Sigmatic beverages are made with coffee (and we enjoy those too from time to time) but there are many without. Their dairy- and caffeine-free Golden Latte and Chai Latte blends are regular additions to my coffee bar when I’m making the switch off caffeine for a while. The packet form is quick and convenient as well as portable (an excellent strategy for avoiding coffee shop cravings). Bonus: Four Sigmatic is offering Wellness Mama readers a 10% discount through this link (no coupon code needed).

Sip Herbals

This coffee alternative has just three ingredients – chicory, carob, and dandelion – and has a rich, earthy taste to be enjoyed any time of the day. Sip Herbals has no caffeine, no additives, and is both Gluten and GMO-free. My favorite way to brew is to add 1 tsp of Sip Coffee Substitute in a Coffee press, add 6 oz of hot water, let it steep for 1 minute, pour into your favorite mug and then add your choice of milk to sweeten it up.

Cold/Iced Coffee Alternatives

For the warmer months (when a hot beverage isn’t as appealing) a cool and refreshing morning beverage may be just what’s needed to uplift and get you going in the morning.

Lemon Water

Lemon water can help you wake up in the morning without caffeine! It’s refreshing and uplifting and has many health benefits too. Lemon water can help with digestion, weight management, immune function (the vitamin C gives a little boost), and it helps hydrate first thing in the morning so the body can eliminate cellular waste.

Coconut Water

Coconut water is naturally high in electrolytes which helps keep the body hydrated. It’s naturally sweet too which can be a nice choice for those who prefer their coffee sweet. You can also try coconut water kefir, which is fermented coconut water. It’s still high in electrolytes but also contains many probiotics which are important for overall health.

Vanilla Latte

This Superfood Vanilla Latte recipe can be made with coffee but also with any of these herbal coffee alternatives. It’s a great way to ease into making the switch as the added vanilla flavor and sweetness (if you add stevia) makes this taste like a coffee shop latte!

Iced Lime Dandelion Tea

This Iced Lime Dandelion Tea is made with the flowers instead of the roots of the dandelion plant for a more refreshing beverage. Just be sure to only pick dandelions from places that are not sprayed with pesticides (or other chemicals) and where pets don’t poop!

Coffee Alternatives: Bottom Line

Whether you tolerate coffee or not, taking a break from coffee (and the caffeine it contains) can be beneficial for anybody. Coffee breaks, meetings, and dates are a huge part of American culture so many of us (me included) are reluctant to give it up entirely. However, coffee/caffeine dependence is pretty common and simply trying a different morning beverage (even just sometimes) can make a huge difference!

This article was medically reviewed by Amy Shah, MD, Medical Advisor to Genexa through partnership with the Wellness Mama Team. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Have you tried any of these coffee alternatives? What’s your favorite?

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

32 responses to “Healthy Caffeine Free Alternatives to Coffee”

  1. Brook Avatar

    I love coffee soooo much, but it definitely makes me too jittery sometimes. I had heard that coffee substitutes can wake you up just as much, like the things you listed, and one thing I did was try drinking a lot of spring water to see what happened. I loved it. I found that it woke me up similarly but I had more energy. We’re in Canada, so we’re close to a bunch of natural springs, and we get our spring water from Cedar Springs. It tastes so good, which made it really easy to try that switch between coffee and water.

  2. Deborah Diehl Avatar
    Deborah Diehl

    I really was completely skeptical about this coffee. However, I’d been having problems with regular coffee and how sleepy it would make me feel midway through the morning, only leaving me to drink several more cups. I found that if I did that for more than three weeks I’d hit a wall because I wasn’t sleeping well at night.
    So… This skeptic finally caved after reading my favorite blog and bought some of the Lion’s Mane, Chaga from Four Sigmatic. My husband complained about the price and made fun of me for drinking mushrooms, but I didn’t care because this doesn’t make me feel anything like the way coffee made me feel. It only took one cup, and I can even get by with half a cup if I want to. There’s no jitteriness or sleepiness two hours later. I have the energy for the entire day, and I was able to give up creamer altogether. This stuff really tastes great, and due to the fact that it’s instant I can make a bottle of it, pop it in the fridge, and I have at least three mornings of ice coffee ready. Very convenient when rushing in the morning with my son and husband.
    It’s definitely one of those “you get what you pay for” type of scenarios because this stuff is worth every penny. I gave up coffee and started drinking Four Sigmatic about a year ago. I’m still surprised at how much energy I have when I drink it. I sleep so much better at night now, and never hit the wall like before with regular coffee.
    So, yup this is my weird thing now. My coworkers love to make fun of me, but at least I’m still awake at 2:30 in the afternoon, and not heading to the coffee machine for more. lol

  3. Sara Avatar

    I ordered some Four Sigmatic coffee, and while I enjoyed I have to say I’m a little wary of the Prop 65 warning that comes with it. Why exactly is this product exposed or contains lead? Can you do an article on having this product tested for lead and explain the warning (especially since you highly advertise this product in all your podcasts and blog).
    It has definitely discouraged me from buying anymore as I’m still having kids and raising a family and would want to limit my lead exposure obviously.
    Warning also says not to consume while pregnant or breastfeeding..

  4. Karen Avatar

    My new favorite coffee substitute is Coffig made from roasted figs. You can get it on Amazon or on the Coffig website. I have tried all the substitutes except mushroom listed in this article and Coffig comes closest to coffee for me. It has the richness of coffee and a smooth full flavor. It also has antioxidants making it a healthy choice. When I could get pumpkin spice almond creamer over the holidays I was in heaven.

  5. Megan Avatar

    I was so excited to see the ground mushroom coffee as I had never heard of it! Then I saw the warning label, which put a damper on things. How does something like organic mushrooms cause a concern about cancer and reproductive health?! I am assuming this is not much of a concern for you if you are promoting the product. Let me know your thoughts on this 🙂

  6. Marie Avatar

    Hi there!
    Is the chicory herbal ‘coffee’ safe during breastfeeding?
    Thanks!

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