Our favourite alternatives to coffee

Coffee is the go-to morning staple. It gives you a real kick start to your day and has a strong, unmistakable taste that most people enjoy worldwide. But like everything, it’s best enjoyed in moderation. You might be looking to take a hiatus from coffee, remove it entirely or just mix up your daily beverage routine. We’d definitely recommend exploring some other options for the variety of flavours and health benefits regardless! 

Here are some of our favourite coffee alternatives: 

tea as an alternative to coffee

Tea 

People have been drinking tea for its medicinal properties for upwards of 4000 years. So, take some inspo from our ancestors and jump on the wagon! With so many different tea varieties available, you can easily transition from coffee to a caffeinated option like black tea or earl grey. But herbal teas are the way to go when it comes to therapeutic benefits. 

Chamomile tea has many beneficial properties and is known for its ability to exert a calming effect on the body. It can help with anxiety, insomnia, and even inflammation. Hibiscus tea has antioxidant properties, and Rooibos can be enjoyed as a latte or an iced tea, helping to fight stress and inflammation. 

Mint tea is a very popular choice for those who suffer from nausea or an upset stomach. It also helps to naturally combat colds and flu, and freshen breath! 

Ginger tea, labrador Tea, and green tea are also excellent alternatives to coffee, and all have nutritional and health advantages ranging from antioxidant properties to help with blood pressure, weight loss, and relieving tension headaches. 

chai as an alternative to tea

Chai

If you still require that caffeine kick, consider giving chai a try. Masala Chai is of Indian origin and is black tea blended with spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. It can be enjoyed steeped in water like other teas or, most popularly, in a latte. It doesn’t have as much caffeine as coffee but still has enough to be classified as a caffeinated beverage. 

We love a chai latte with oat milk or almond milk, which compliments the taste of the chai perfectly. It also tastes great on ice as an iced chai latte. This is an excellent swap for those who typically enjoy coffee because the flavour is still bold, and the steamed milk gives it a similar texture.

hot chocolate as an alternative to coffee

Hot Chocolate 

Hot chocolate is not just for kids and is a great coffee alternative for the sweet-toothed among us. Waking up or going to sleep with a cup of hot cocoa is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Cacao on its own is actually quite bitter, so hot chocolate can be enjoyed both sweetened or with more of a bite if you’re looking for something more similar to coffee.

Chocolate from cacao pods also contains antioxidants that are great for the skin, the heart, and the body’s general well-being. One cup of hot chocolate will usually contain more antioxidants than an equivalent cup of red wine or even green tea. Chocolate, especially hot chocolate containing a more significant percentage of cacao, can also help improve a person’s mood and memory.

Try hot chocolate with vegan marshmallows or coconut whip to make it even more luxurious. And best of all, it can be made with any type of plant-based milk. 

Lavender latte

A lavender latte is made from ground lavender and is a sweet-smelling, smooth, and calming beverage that is best enjoyed before bed when its soothing properties are beneficial. 

It is made by brewing the lavender mixture with hot water and adding steamed milk and sweetener like maple syrup or agave. The lavender tea packs a flavour punch of its own so aim to use a plant-based milk like soy or almond. 

With its relaxing nature, lavender tea is superb for relieving stress, restlessness, and anxiety for a good night’s sleep. It also helps alleviate digestive system problems. 

matcha as an alternative to coffee

Matcha 

Matcha tea is made by grinding the budding leaves of green tea plants into a fine powder. It offers many of the same benefits as green tea, making it a healthy alternative to coffee. It is smoother than green tea, and in our opinion, it tastes better as well, with a slightly sweet taste even when brewed without any additives. 

Because it’s a fine powder, matcha is prepared by whisking the powder with hot water to form a bright green tea mixture filled with flavour. You can make it into a matcha latte by brewing the matcha with non-dairy milk for added creaminess and texture. 

Matcha contains epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant that can potentially help prevent disease conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It also contains a little bit of caffeine to give you a boost but not as much as coffee. 

turmeric latte as an alternative to coffee

Turmeric latte/golden milk 

A turmeric latte is also called golden milk for its colour, but its taste and nutritional properties make it equally as golden! An easy recipe for a turmeric latte is to blend ground turmeric powder with cinnamon, black pepper, ground ginger, a sweetener and milk of your choice. For a turmeric latte, we’d recommend a plant-based milk with a low flavour profile that won’t affect the overall taste of the latte, such as almond milk or oat milk. 

Turmeric lattes also contain antioxidants and can help fight inflammation and heart disease.  

Chicory coffee

Chicory coffee may be called coffee, and although the taste is similar, the similarities end there. It contains not an ounce of caffeine, making it an excellent substitute for people looking to reduce caffeine intake while still relishing the taste of coffee. 

Chicory coffee is made from the roots of the chicory plant and processed by roasting and grinding them. It’s brewed in the same way as regular coffee or tea and has an earthy and nutty flavour similar to most coffee blends. It is nutritious and helps with digestive health due to its high fibre content. It can also help lower blood sugar and reduce chronic inflammation.

Our favourite alternatives to coffee

Whether you’re taking a short or extended break from coffee, these substitutes are bound to ensure that your coffee-less days are still filled with great flavour, taste, and health benefits. Pop into Bred to try one of our favourite alternatives to coffee for yourself!