I love coffee. I mean LOVE coffee. I could drink it in the morning, afternoon or evening. Sometimes I daydream about it to get me through an extra tough morning workout.

But every so often, I notice that I can take my coffee obsession a little too far and feel that my body is actually starting to depend on it to wake me up fully. When I start to get a hint of that feeling, I know it’s time to give it a rest for a bit.

Rather than going completely cold turkey on a comforting morning drink, I tend to make an alternative that is equally as satisfying. My requirements for a replacement drink are simple: it has to be as delicious as a steaming hot coffee, and it has to be as quick (if not quicker) than brewing up a cup o’ joe. Below are three of my go-to healthy coffee alternatives when coffee and I are on a break.

DIY green tea matcha latte

Creamy, dreamy and delicious, matcha lattes are the perfect morning pick-me-up. In addition to its incredible taste, matcha contains 37 times more antioxidants than brewed coffee. If your reason for giving up coffee is to lower your daily caffeine intake, switching to matcha is a good way to wean yourself off as it contains about half the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee does. Also, rather than giving you the jitters and the crash you get post-coffee, matcha gives you a sense of calm alertness without the adrenal spike.

There are different grades of matcha, so make sure you’re purchasing a high quality one; anything labeled “ceremonial grade” is top of the line. If you’re a baker, you can buy a lower grade of matcha and bake it into muffins, pancakes and more.

Making your own matcha latte at home is simple: warm up your base of choice (I personally love Oatly Oat Milk, Elmhurst 1925’s Cashew Milk or any unsweetened almond milk), scoop in a heaping teaspoon of matcha and froth or whisk with a bamboo whisk. That’s it! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add in your favorite superfoods like ashwagandha, maca, coconut butter or coconut oil to get added benefits and minimal change to the taste.

Chai latte with turmeric

Afraid you’re going to miss that warm, comforting sensation you get when you drink your morning coffee? A turmeric latte with hints of chai will definitely give you that same cozy and satisfying feeling. Turmeric is great for digestion; acts as a natural antidepressant; and has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory.

My personal favorite tumeric chai latte comes from Kiddieliscious Kitchen and is packed with anti-inflammatory and detoxifying benefits. You can buy turmeric at any grocery store and make your own warm turmeric drinks at home. There is not caffeine in this one, so it’s perfect if you’re going full blown caffeine-free.

Anything by Four Sigmatic

One of my new favorite brands. Four Sigmatic calls themselves “a US company specialized in superfoods, medicinal mushrooms and adaptogenic herbs.”  All of their drinks are made of powdered medicinal mushrooms, but I promise you there’s not even a hint of a mushroom-y taste. They have blends that increase productivity; help you relax; support your brain and nervous system; increase energy and performance; or fight off stress.

As a result of their top-quality ingredients, their drinks have anti-cancer components; are loaded with antioxidants; and provide a boost of natural energy without the increased stress or caffeine crash. All of their drinks come as packaged powders that you mix with hot water so they’re easy to make quickly. You can buy these on Amazon, directly through the Four Sigmatic site, or at your favorite health food store. (Four Sigmatic gets bonus points for an energizing Hot Cacao AND a relaxing Hot Cacao!)

 

If you start to feel as though your body needs coffee in order to be fully awake in the morning, maybe it’s time for you to take a break for a week or more. The thought of giving up your fav morning beverage becomes a bit less terrifying when you have an arsenal of satisfying replacements. Give one of these healthy coffee alternatives a shot and tell us what you think. With such healthy and satisfying options, you won’t even miss your morning brew!

What’s your go-to drink when you need a break from coffee?