“Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee.” Sound like you? Perhaps you need to kick the caffeine with our morning coffee alternatives.
For many people, a morning cup of coffee is the well-needed uplift to start your day as a fully-functioning human.
But too much caffeine and coffee intake can take a toll on your physical and mental health.
When this happens, is the only option to switch from caffeinated drinks to decaf?
No!
Below are 17 morning coffee alternatives that leave decaf coffee in the dust. These coffee Alternatives will boost your energy, giving you that much-needed motivation for getting out of bed.
The coffee substitutes listed all contain beneficial antioxidants and nutrients to keep you energized and happy all day long.
Read on to learn more.
(Note. While we earn commission from the links in this article, we only recommend the products we truly believe will improve your sleep the most. These commissions come at no extra expense to you and help us to keep providing you with expert sleep information for free.)
Why Switch to Morning Coffee Alternatives?
Caffeine provides a great boost of energy to get you through the day, but too much of the stimulant can be a bad thing.
According to the FDA, healthy adults can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day (the equivalent of 4-5 cups of coffee). This amount, however, fluctuates depending on your age, health, quality of life, etc.
Too much caffeine causes unpleasant side effects such as nausea and acne.
It can also have scary side effects such as heart palpitations, feelings of depression, or anxiety.
Coffee consumption can affect your quality of sleep even if you don’t drink it in the evening.
Dietitian Kim Menzies warns that the effects of coffee and sleep can create a vicious cycle:
“Research shows…[people] who consume more caffeine have reduced sleep, and that people who have reduced sleep consume more caffeine.”
Coffee alternatives are a great way to reduce your caffeine intake, improve your sleep, and still give you the energy you need to greet the day.
Pros and Cons of Coffee Alternatives in the Morning
For coffee lovers, the idea of giving up that tangy taste of a morning cuppa can be too much to bear. Not only do you feel more invigorated after a few cups of coffee, you often feel it helps your mental focus.
Unfortunately, you’re left with a jittery feeling. Plus it interrupts your circadian rhythms, wreaking havoc with your sleep.
Natural coffee alternatives not only help your immune function, they often have great digestive benefits. You’ll also find you ditch that coffee brain fog and actually benefit from enhanced cognitive functions.
Here are some of the pros and cons of finding the perfect substitute to your morning cuppa.
Pros
- Less wired
- No caffeine jitters
- Sleep better later
- Not addictive
- Extra health benefits from mushrooms and herbal ingredients
- Heart health
- Digestion
- Mood and mental health, etc
Cons
- Takes a while to kick the habit and feel energized
- Doesn’t have the iconic flavor
- Can be a little more pricey
17 Morning Coffee Alternatives to Try Right Now
If you’re trying to cut back on caffeine, here are 17 coffee replacements for you.
Many alternatives are caffeine-free beverages but still provide a natural energy boost that is similar to the caffeine of coffee.
Soon, you won’t even look at these as coffee replacements, but your new favorite morning drink.
#1 – Herb and Mushroom Blend by MUD/WTR
Want for a replacement for coffee that’s made of beneficial plant compounds? Looking for a robust flavor. Try MUD/WTR.
A natural energizer, this drink is made from a blend of mushrooms, cacao, Himalayan pink salt, and various spices. MUD/WTR provides a natural boost that is 1/7th the strength of caffeine.
MUD/WTR keeps you alert and focused throughout the day without the dangers of the caffeine crash that typically comes after too much coffee consumption.
According to fitness coach @ThomasDelauer,
“MUD/WTR is pretty much the best substitute for coffee that you can ultimately get.”
#2 – Energizing Moringa Herbal Tea Bundle by Kuli Kuli
If you’re looking to completely overhaul your coffee addiction and switch to a morning ritual with a refreshing, herbal flavor and maximum health benefits, try Kuli Kuli’s Energizing Moringa Herbal Tea Bundle.
Not only does moringa have strong anti-inflammatory properties, it helps to improve focus and eliminate free radicals.
Their bundle contains three delicious teas — original flavor, peppermint, and lemongrass — all containing the highest quality natural ingredients.
#3 – Chagaccino by Renude
While not a true coffee swap, Chagaccino by Renude is a herbal blend that offers a healthy dose of goodness to boost your morning drink.
Providing you with extra energy, Chaggacino contains some of the world’s best adaptogens: Wild Foraged Chaga, Organic Peruvian Cacao, Organic Ceylon Cinnamon, Monk Fruit. These ingredients promote anti-aging as well as boosting your brain function.
Add a scoop to hot milk for a herbal latte or add it to your favorite herbal tea. Buy it here
#4 – The Mushroom Latte by Everyday Dose
Helping you to eliminate the negative effects of caffeinated drinks, The Mushroom Latte by Everyday Dose is a healthy coffee alternative that contains natural ingredients that improve mental focus, enhance mood, reduce anxiety, increase your memory, and improve your sleep.
A combination of lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms, mixed with collagen and nootropics, this healthy coffee substitute is not only super duper healthy, it also gives you long-lasting energy and provides a delicious addition to your morning routine. Buy it here
#5 – Cacao Starter Bundle by JOYÀ
For chocolate lovers looking for flavorful alternatives to the caffeine jitters, try the Cacao Starter Bundle by JOYÀ.
Combining pure cacao with superfoods like reishi mushrooms, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and himalayan salt, JOYÀ offers a cup of morning hot chocolate like no other.
As healthy coffee alternatives go, you’ll find that JOYÀ not only tastes amazing, but it also boosts your energy levels and settles your stomach.
Try making a warm hot chocolate or adding cold milk or coconut milk for a chocolate milk drink.
Sign up to the mailing list for 10% off your first order.
#6 – Organic Superfood Latte Mix by TUSOL
Containing two delicious drinks to switch up your morning routine, the Organic Superfood Latte Mix by TUSOL contains one adaptogenic coffee drink and one hot chocolate drink.
The coffee is a caffeinated drink, but it contains lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms to boost its health benefits and to help you overcome morning inertia. It also contains coconut milk and cashew milk powders giving it a scrumptious nutty flavor.
The chocolate milk drink is a fantastic healthy coffee substitute that can be served hot or cold and contains raw cacao powder, alongside reishi mushrooms and ashwagandha. There are no dairy products in this drink; the creamy, milky taste comes from coconut milk and cashew milk.
#7 – La Republica Decaf Organic Mushroom Coffee
This Mushroom Coffee by La Republica contains seven superfood mushrooms to kickstart your day with a dose of traditional Chinese medicine.
Bear in mind that this Mushroom Coffee does contain coffee, but it is a decaffeinated version. Luckily though, this doesn’t impact its rich coffee flavor. This adaptogenic coffee is made with the finest organic coffee beans and complemented with chaga, maitake, cordyceps, shiitake, lion’s mane, reishi, and turkey tail mushrooms.
These powerful natural ingredients not only help to boost your energy levels, but they also help your skin, improve digestion, stabilize blood sugar, support liver function, lower cholesterol, boost concentration, relieve stress, help allergies and significantly enhance your sleep.
Sign up to the mailing list for 10% off your first order.
#8 – Phyto-Superfood Green Drink Mix by Uplift Florae
Phyto-Superfood Green Drink Mix by Uplift Florae is a super healthy coffee substitute packed with green, clean energy.
This vegan blend is a harmonious mixture of algae, nootropic mushrooms, prebiotics, and leafy greens. It supports digestion and metabolism, aids mental clarity, uplifts your mood, and enhances sleep.
Add a scoop to cold water and ice for iced tea lattes or mix with hot liquid to create a hot drink.
Sign up to their mailing list to get 15% off your first order.
#9 – Cacao Chocolate Oat Milk Latte with Adaptogens by Earth and Star
Dubbed ‘the grown-up chocolate milk’, the Cacao Chocolate Oat Milk Latte with Adaptogens by Earth and Star is not just a yummy treat in the morning, it’s also jammed with goodness.
Not only does this choccy drink contain four superfood mushrooms — cordyceps, lion’s mane, reishi, and chaga — it also contains l-theanine to help reduce anxiety.
It’s also free from GMOs, refined sugar, preservatives, and BPA.
#10 – Herbal Coffee by Wooden Spoon Herbs
A microbiome-friendly concoction of prebiotic roots and energizing herbs, this invigorating Herbal Coffee by Wooden Spoon Herbs combines ingredients from the chicory plant, the dandelion, maca, burdock, mesquite, and cinnamon.
With a taste akin to chicory coffee and dandelion coffee mixed together, this morning drink has a tangy taste that’s a favorite coffee alternative for those who like heady, herbal blends.
Not only does it enhance your mood and balance your tummy, it also boosts energy levels.
#11 – Adaptagenic Latte by Goldmine
If you enjoy waking up in the morning to a coffee-like beverage, add Goldmine powder to hot milk for a delicious frothy latte.
You can even consume the drink mix with just a glass of water.
Goldmine Adaptogen powder is an herbal alternative to coffee that contains organic plant properties that help relieve stress.
According to one happy Goldmine customer, Evelyn S,
“This Adaptogens powder makes my morning pop by bringing me back into my body and adding a calming effect to my morning beverage.”
#12 – Chicory root coffee
Chicory root is so similar to traditional coffee that Americans used it as a substitute when the Civil War created a coffee shortage.
Nowadays, chicory coffee is still an ideal morning coffee alternative if you are looking to cut back on caffeine dependence.
Ground into a powder, chicory root brews dark brown and gives off a nutty taste.
It contains manganese and vitamin B6, which is good for brain health, and inulin, which is good for digestion and blood sugar.
As healthy coffee alternatives go, chicory coffee is both delicious and great for your body.
#13 – Dandelion root tea
If you keep waking up too early and desire a strong coffee taste without the super early morning cravings, dandelion coffee is for you.
When roasted, this fresh flavor tea is dark brown, giving off both the look and taste of coffee.
Bacteria from this root is considered beneficial bacteria that helps cleanse the liver.
Dandelion root tea can be brewed hot or cold with a tea filter.
Purported health benefits from drinking dandelion root include protection from:
- Anemia
- Rheumatism
- Liver cirrhosis
#14 – Rooibos tea
Lift your energy levels with the fruity flavor of Rooibos tea.
An herbal tea, rooibos has an earthy flavor similar to yerba mate.
The extra boost of energy comes from rooibos’s powerful antioxidants. This tea may even help lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
Rooibos tea’s complex flavor allows it to be prepared in a variety of ways: hot water with lemon, warm milk, or even as a latte or cappuccino.
#15 – Golden Milk
Golden milk is a traditional Indian drink that is filled with nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties.
Unlike other coffee replacements on this list, golden milk tea does not have a bitter taste.
It is often consumed at night but has many health benefits that keep you energized throughout the day.
The ingredients are simple: warm milk mixed with ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and black pepper. You can also add honey, vanilla, or cardamom to the hot beverage.
The anti-inflammatory properties come from curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. A study shows that consuming curcumin can improve mental health and bone density.
#16 – Carob coffee
Carob coffee is a naturally sweet, caffeine-free coffee alternative.
When ground up, this dried, roasted carob tree pod has the same consistency as cocoa powder.
Carob coffee can be brewed just like regular coffee: espresso drip, instant, or with a filter coffee maker.
This warm beverage has many health benefits such as high fiber, low sugar, calcium, and it is a rich source of antioxidants.
If you are kicking your coffee habit due to high blood pressure, this natural sweetener is also low in sodium.
#17 – Hot Cacao
If drinking coffee late in the day messes with your sleep patterns, you may want to switch to hot cacao.
Cacao powder can be brewed in the same way as coffee and has the same flavor profile.
In addition to containing less caffeine than coffee, raw cacao has plenty of antioxidants.
It also includes a nice dose of zinc, magnesium, fiber, and potassium.
The natural sweetness will satisfy your sweet craving without raising your blood sugar levels.
Research shows that a purported health benefit of hot cacao is that it may help relieve feelings of stress.
To Sum Up
Still think that the only morning coffee alternative is decaf?
Choosing one of these delectable morning drinks will not only help you cut back on caffeine, you’ll also get a bunch of other benefits: mood boost, anti-inflammatory effects, better digestion, etc.
In short, if you’re looking for a floral green tea type drink, Kuli Kuli’s Energizing Moringa Herbal Tea Bundle or Phyto-Superfood Green Drink Mix by Uplift Florae.
If you want a headier, herba espresso-like jolt of energy without the jitters, try MUD/WTR or The Mushroom Latte by Everyday Dose.
Fancy a little chocolate to sweeten your mornings? Give JOYÀ’s Cacao Starter Bundle a go.
Welcome to Snoozerville! I’m Dr. Alex Hartley, your guide to the world of restful sleep. With a Ph.D. in Sleep Science and years of experience as a sleep therapist, I’ve dedicated my life to understanding and improving sleep quality. My passion lies in uncovering the mysteries of sleep and sharing practical, science-backed advice to help you achieve the best rest possible. Beyond my academic pursuits, I’m an advocate for mindfulness and relaxation techniques, which I incorporate into my daily routine. At Snoozerville, I aim to transform your nights, combining the latest research with easy-to-implement tips. Whether you’re a chronic insomniac or just looking to improve your sleep hygiene, join me on this journey towards peaceful, rejuvenating sleep.