5 Delicious Coffee Alternatives to Perk Up Your Morning
Sipping on a delicious cup of coffee (or several) every day is a daily pleasure, but for some people coffee is intolerable. The good news is there are many caffeine-free (and low-caffeine) substitutes if you experience jitteriness after drinking it, coffee upsets your stomach, or you simply want to reduce your intake.
And there’s something for every enthusiast for trying new tastes. How do you make a drink taste like coffee without coffee? As long as you have the needed cafe supplies you can enjoy these delicious coffee substitutes in the comfort of your home and enrich your morning wake-up routine.
Chai Tea
While chai is just another word for tea in many parts of the world, in the Western world it’s become almost synonymous with the fragrant, spicy Indian tea known as Masala Chai. With its strong and comforting aroma and creaminess, when you add milk to it, you can feel like you’re drinking a cup of coffee.
Black tea, ginger, and other spices are combined to create chai tea. Although star anise, coriander seeds, and peppercorns are well-liked options, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, and cloves are the most popular spices.
Traditional chai tea brew includes warm water and milk, unlike regular tea brewed only with warm water. It also often contains varying amounts of sweetness, which you can achieve by adding flavoured syrups. Some people like adding spirit flavours such as bourbon to enhance the whole chai tea drinking experience.
Another preferred method of consuming chai tea is in chai lattes. To make these, people mix steamed milk with a shot of chai tea concentrate, which results in a beverage with more milk than you would find in a typical cup of chai tea.
Studies have shown that drinking chai tea has many potential health benefits, among which improved heart health and digestion, and reduced blood sugar levels. It may even help you lose weight.
While you can buy chai tea in most cafes, nothing beats a homebrew first thing in the morning. All you need to brew your cup of creaminess is the right cafe supplies including chai tea concentrate, milk or your favourite non-dairy alternative, and a flavourful syrup by choice.
Matcha Tea
Although made from the same plant as green tea, matcha includes the entire leaf and thus contains more antioxidants and other healthy plant compounds. Free radicals are dangerous substances that can harm cells and lead to chronic disease. Antioxidants help in stabilising these hazardous substances.
Tea made with matcha powder contains all the nutrients from the entire leaf when combined with hot water to make tea. It usually carries more antioxidants and catechins than simply brewing green tea leaves in water. Therefore, it’s slightly higher in caffeine than other coffee alternatives, meaning you need to be careful with consumption if getting the caffeine jitters.
Studies have found that matcha and its ingredients have many health advantages, from promoting weight loss to lowering the risk of heart disease. The tea is simple to make, making it perfect for incorporating into your diet and giving your day a flavourful boost.
Golden Milk
This type of coffee supplies alternative is a flavourful caffeine-free coffee substitute. The golden milk contains energising spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and black pepper, with cardamom, vanilla, and honey being some typical additions.
Due to the potent chemical curcumin, turmeric may have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, besides giving your beverage a lovely golden hue. Fat helps the absorption of curcumin in the body, which is why you might want to use whole milk instead of fat-free for this beverage.
To prepare this beverage, you can buy a mixture and brew it using water, milk or non-dairy milk alternative according to the package instruction. Or, you can make your own golden milk recipe in about 5 minutes.
It’s simple: in a saucepan, combine 250 ml of milk or a non-dairy alternative with 1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger and a pinch of black pepper.
Add honey if desired and to taste, and on low to medium heat, warm the mix, frequently stirring to prevent burning. Such a delicious brew deserves the best coffee mugs; pour it in one and enjoy the aroma.
Chicory
Similarly to coffee, chicory root is roasted, ground, and infused—but it doesn’t have any caffeine. It has the most similar flavour to the coffee of all the alternatives. Preparation is exact to that of coffee, so making the change might be smoother.
Additionally, it contains a lot of inulin. This soluble fibre encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria, especially Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, which may aid digestion and support a healthy gut. Keep in mind that some people may experience digestive issues from chicory root. Although inulin is excellent for your health, it can cause bloating and gas.
In addition, since there isn’t enough data on the safety of chicory root in these situations, you should avoid it if you’re expecting or nursing.
Mushroom Elixir
Various mushroom powders are a tasty substitute for those who miss the flavour of coffee. Although it doesn’t taste exactly like coffee, it has a lovely earthy quality and resembles it in appearance. It is a superfood that boasts a variety of additional nutrients. Simply pour in a cup and fill with water. Easy. Some caffeine-free mixtures are excellent for focusing. Be aware that the coffee in the mushroom coffee is, actually, coffee!
