No Stress Coffee: 5 Coffee Alternatives For Modern Humans
Milk being poured into a no stress coffee alternative.
For many, coffee is the nectar of life. For others, however, it just doesn’t click in the right way. Some people aren’t great with the caffeine and for some, it’s the acidity. Regardless of what the reason is, if you’re looking for a coffee alternative, then you’ve come to the right place.
While there are a few coffee alternatives that have just recently hit the market, others have been sipped for generations. This round-up has a couple of each to make sure that you find the perfect alternative for your morning cuppa.
Here are five no-stress coffee alternatives for modern humans.
1. Mushroom Coffee
If you’ve never had it, it will, of course, sound very, very weird. But mushroom coffee isn’t gross — trust me. After my better half ordered some and I tried it for the first time, I was honestly impressed. The specific blend she purchased had a mix of different mushroom powders, powdered coconut milk, and added caffeine.
While there are some decaf versions of mushroom coffee, most varieties come with caffeine. However, it’s typically less than you find in a cup of coffee. If you’re someone who struggles with the acidity of coffee but still wants that energy kick, mushroom coffee should definitely be on your radar.
Does it taste exactly like coffee? No, but it doesn’t really taste like mushrooms either. Though various blends will differ in taste, I’d say they’re all pretty root-forward. If you’re someone who likes creamer, then mushroom coffee is perfect as it pairs nicely with just about any milk or creamer you would add to coffee.
2. Tea
Yes, you’ve probably heard about it, the mighty tea leaf. Drunk for thousands of years, tea holds a prominent place in many cultures throughout the world. If you’re looking for an easily accessible alternative to coffee, then tea is a great place to start.
When it comes to tea, you have a lot of options. While some teas are caffeinated, others aren’t (however, contrary to popular belief, green tea very much DOES have caffeine so beware if drinking before bed). In addition, there are many varieties of teas with different flavor profiles, and cream and sugar will further change flavors.
If you’re trying to switch over from drinking coffee with cream to something similar, perhaps try a strong black tea with cream. If you want something lighter and caffeine-free, then chamomile can be great. Before giving up on tea, be sure to try many different varieties just in case you happen to find one that you like.
3. Yerba Maté
Yerba matė has become a lot more popular in the United States over the last decade in large part to Guyaka Yerba Maté’s chilled beverages. However, it’s important to know that while these are great, there’s much more to this ancient elixir than just the frosty canned version.
Put simply, yerba maté is a plant which a tea is made from when it’s steeped in water. While many have become familiar with the cold version in the West, fewer have tried it hot. If you’re looking to replace your coffee consumption with another caffeinated beauty, hot yerba may be the answer.
But be warned, yerba maté can have more caffeine than typical tea. Despite this, many people report not having as bad of a caffeine crash after drinking yerba maté as opposed to alternatives like traditional energy drinks. So, if you’re looking for a new drink with a kick, yerba could very well be the answer.
4. Roasted Grain Drinks
Now, for some, a roasted grain drink will sound a little out there. But, believe it or not, there are people all over the world who drink this regularly. In Poland, there’s a drink called Inka, made from a combination of barley, rye, chicory, and sugar beets. In Brazil, many people regularly consume a drink called cevada coffee, which is another drink made from roasted barley.
While these drinks may sound odd at first, many find their distinct taste absolutely delectable and cozy. If you’re, perhaps, looking for a nice hot nighttime drink to have instead of coffee, a roasted grain drink may just be the right choice for you.
Here in America, there’s a drink called Postum, which was created and marketed as a coffee alternative. Though it looks a lot like instant coffee in packaging and contents, it’s actually a caffeine-free alternative made from grains. While some of these drinks may be harder to find than others, virtually all of them are available to be ordered online.
5. Hot Cacao
Not to be confused with typical American hot chocolate — which, I mean I guess could also be a coffee alternative if you want to go down that rabbit hole — hot cacao is a drink consisting of water and pure ground cacao. Packing a caffeine punch, this drink is pretty bitter on its own but can be sweetened with milk, sugar, and other additives.
Though not always easy to find, there are now ground cacao packages on the market meant for people looking to switch over to a coffee substitute.
If you’re a chocolate lover, then this might be a fantastic choice as some blends on the market today are even made to taste like a chocolate bar despite being sugar and dairy-free. So, in the end, I guess it basically is kind of like switching out coffee for hot chocolate?
