Coffee is a controversial topic in health circles and I could write equally supported posts about why coffee is great for you and why it is horrible. The bottom line is that when sourced correctly, coffee can have some health benefits, but there are also people who should avoid it. Like most aspects of health, the answer is personalized to who asked the question.
The Problem With Regular Vanilla Lattes
In college, I used to subsist on vanilla lattes from the coffee shop on campus, and I still love the taste of them. Now that I’m not consuming pasteurized milk or sugars, I don’t drink coffee shop lattes and I definitely don’t drink pre-made coffee creamers (seriously… check the ingredients if you still consume these). I wanted to find a real food alternative that tasted just as good.
If you are a latte fan and usually spend $3-5 on a sugar-laden one at a coffee shop, try this real food recipe instead!
Brain-Fuel Coffee: A Latte Better for You
I’ve written before about my favorite way to drink coffee with added nutrient-dense foods like coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and sometimes spices. I still love drinking coffee this way and often add liquid stevia or spices like cinnamon for extra flavor.
As an experiment, I took my original favorite coffee recipe and added collagen peptides, an easily digested form of gelatin. I love that this recipe combines some of my favorite nutrient-rich foods and is a good combination of fats and protein. I often drink this in the morning and have tons of energy and mental focus all day.
If you can tolerate stevia, adding a few drops of English toffee or vanilla stevia makes this taste better than a coffee shop. If not, a splash of vanilla creates almost the same flavor.
But why is the recipe a “superfood” vanilla latte? A few extra touches:
Vanilla Latte Super Ingredients
- Grass-fed butter is a great source of vitamin K2 which helps decalcify arteries and is important for proper blood clotting. There is also research that it can lower the risk of heart disease.
- Coconut oil (or MCT oil) is a great source of lauric acid and medium-chain fatty acids, which are an excellent easy fuel source for the body and brain.
- Collagen hydrolysate is an easily digestible form of gelatin that supports skin, hair, nails, and digestion and is a good source of protein. (This is the collagen hydrolysate I use – the blue lid)
- Chicory and dandelion root are naturally supportive of the liver. I order both dandelion root and chicory root in bulk and make them like coffee in a French press.
- Another superfood option is using this mushroom coffee blend instead of regular coffee. I know it sounds a little weird, but you won’t even know there’s mushrooms in it, and the lasting energy and nutritional benefits seriously trump regular coffee. They have both regular and caffeine-free versions too.
Caffeine-Free Coffee Alternatives
When I was working to intensively support my body to get my autoimmune disease into remission, I wasn’t drinking coffee, but found that I could create the same flavors by making a strong tea of dandelion root and chicory root. I fell in love with the flavor of chicory when I visited New Orleans and sometimes prefer an herbal coffee or tea recipe like this one even when I can have caffeine.
This vanilla latte recipe offers several stand-ins if you need to avoid coffee as well.
Superfood Vanilla Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup brewed coffee (herbal coffee alternative)
- 1 TBSP grass-fed butter
- 1 TBSP coconut oil (or MCT oil)
- 1 TBSP collagen peptides (work up slowly!)
- 5 drops vanilla creme stevia (or ½ tsp pure vanilla extract)
Instructions
- Brew coffee in a French press for best results, but any coffee will work.
- Place brewed coffee, butter, coconut oil/MCT, collagen, and vanilla in a blender. Do not use a Magic Bullet or other closed-in blender as it can crack or explode.
- Blend on high for 10-15 seconds until froth forms.
- Drink and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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What do you drink in the mornings?
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Dear Katie!
Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I am curious though about the flavoured stevia being used. The ingredients of that one has “natural flavours/natural aromatics ” or something to that effect but I am worried how natural that actually is, since it’s not a regulated term. Can you clarify why that one is acceptable? I am sure I will just use pure vanilla, but I would like to know if that brand of flavoured stevia could be another option for me to use if you think it’s acceptable.
Thanks!
I have the regular beef gelatin in the orange container. Would that work in place of the green container or would it not dissolve properly?
It is going to gel up in a way that the collagen won’t.
I have dark hair and when the solution dried, there was salt visible all through my hair and also dropping down to cover my shirt. I looked like I had a serious case of dandruff. I didn’t use an excessive amount and mixed it well with the exact ingredients. Is 2 Tablespoons of Epsom salt correct?
I have done some research on the Kalona and Kerrygold butters. Kalona is not from 100% grass-fed cows – it’s from a variety of local farms, but they can’t guarantee the cows are not fed corn. The Kerrygold butter is from 100% grass-fed cows, and is also delicious!
You mention MCT oil, and link to an online store: What IS MCT oil? The website didn’t say, either. I’d like to KNOW what something is before I buy it!!!
Thanks for the great blog and this recipe. I plan to try it soon, as coffee really isn’t my thing, but occasionally, I like some.
I usually have a ‘blended’, using cream, (or half and half) espresso (organic, of course!), ice, and ganache made with organic heavy cream and organic chocolate.
Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) oil is a combo of coconut oil and palm kernel oil.
Raja’s Cup antioxident tea is a great coffee substitute. I can’t wait to try it with your morning “latte” recipe!
Question: Do you think this is an appropriate morning drink for kids, using the herbal tea and not coffee?
Tried the latte, had everything on hand except butter – it was FANTASTIC! I <3 coffee and had been in the throes of IBS for a long time which meant I couldn't tolerate it. Yay! I know there is an Aztec god of Chocolate, wonder if there is one for Coffee? 😉
Can I use an immersion blender? I am new to this site. I have immune issues that were made worse by Lyme. I appreciate your sharing this info. I am trying to implement paleo. I love my am coffee. Have been using coconut creamer but look forward to trying this.
You could certainly try that but it froths a lot, so just give yourself plenty of room in the cup.
Katie,
I have been told that I can consume coffe while trying to heal from an overgrowth of candida in my stomach. I usually use coconut oil in mine do I appreciate this recipe! Did you ever struggle with candida and if so did you also consume grass feed butter through that process? I eliminated dairy a few years ago but perhaps this option would be ok. Any advice on that?
Do you usually drink chicory root/dandelion blend while pregnant?
I am curious about the dandelion/chicory as well. I am 25 weeks. I just brewed a large batch of dandelion/chicory tea. I am wondering if it is safe during pregnancy?
I’d check with a doc. I’ve taken dandelion tea during pregnancy but I’d double check…