9 Amazing Coffee Alternatives for a Healthy Morning Pick Me Up
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Are you a coffee lover but wanting to find some coffee alternatives to minimize your coffee intake? I can completely relate! I have personally found that minimizing my coffee intake through out the day improves my mental health and helps me to include other healthy drinks through out the day!
This post will include all the best coffee alternatives, some including caffeine and some without caffeine which will be clearly labeled. No matter your reason for quitting coffee, I can guarantee there will be at least one drink on this list you will want to add to your morning routine!
This post is all about the best coffee alternatives for energy.
The Best Alternatives to Coffee in the Morning
1. Matcha (contains caffeine)
Matcha has gotten very popular within the past couple of years, even taking a label as a superfood. It is an amazing healthy drink and it has actually been around for hundreds of years! Matcha is traditionally grown and enjoyed in Japan and is a variation of green tea.
If you haven’t tried matcha yet, I suggest starting by buying a matcha out at a tea/coffee shop to see if you like it. It can take a bit of practice to get the preparation of it right. I suggest trying your first matcha with a plant milk (oat milk is amazing!) and a bit of sweetener. For first time matcha drinkers, it can have a bit of an earthy taste so adding some fun additions makes it creamy and delicious!
2. Green tea (contains caffeine)
If making matcha every morning seems a bit too intimidating or time consuming, consider opting for it’s more basic cousin, green tea!
You can either get loose leaf tea or tea in bags but green tea has so many benefits for your overall health.
This is the Green Tea I really love since it is organic and affordable! They also have a decaf option as well if you are looking for that!
3. Kombucha (contains caffeine)
If you like cold drinks in the morning, kombucha could be a great coffee alternative for you! Kombucha is a fermented tea so it contains caffeine but not generally as much as coffee. It comes in a bunch of different flavors and if you dont see a flavor you like, you can make it at home!
Random tip: Personally I absolutely love this ginger lemon kombucha any time my stomach is upset!
4. Fresh pressed juice (no caffeine)
If you are looking for a non caffinated morning drink that is highly nutritious, consider prepping juices for the morning.
A green juice won’t give you the same initial jolt of a cup of Joe but you will still get a sustained boost in energy the more consistent you are with having juice.
When making fresh pressed juice you have to be mindful that the juices are made fresh. That doesn’t mean that you have to wrestle with your juicer every morning though. To save time I enjoy prepping a couple juices at a time and some people even freeze juices ahead of time.
If you would like more fiber in your diet you can opt for a green smoothie instead!
A super simple green juice recipe:
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Kale or spinach
- Lemon or lime
- Apple or pineapple
You don’t have to splurge on a fancy juicer if you are not convinced that green juices every day will be your thing. Consider checking out the post below where we show you how to make juice with a blender and a strainer!
{Recommended post: No Juicer? No problem! 5 Incredibly Helpful Tips to Juice Without a Juicer}
5. Hot chocolate (contains very low caffeine)
Having hot chocolate for breakfast may feel childlike but why not bring a little nostalgia and joy into your morning routine?!
Chocolate is said to have a bit of caffeine as well, definitely not as much as coffee, but between a hint of caffeine and some sugar you are sure to get a bit of a boost of energy!
I am absolutely obsessed with this hot chocolate mix from Moon Juice. Not only is it a fun hot coco, it also includes adaptogens and collagen. It definitely is not as sweet as a standard hot coco but it is tasty and all the superfood benefits make it worth it!
Water With Lemon or Mint (No Caffeine)
We could all probably use a bit more water in our lives so why not get started on our water goals first thing in the morning.
I know it definitely is a big jump to go from coffee to water in the mornings but upping your water intake can really intake can really increase your overall energy level throughout the day.
For something a little less bland consider adding your favorite fruits and herbs to your water.
A few ideas of things to add to your morning water:
- Berries
- Mint
- Lemon or lime
- Ginger
Mushroom Coffee (contains caffeine)
If you haven’t heard of mushroom coffee you might be really confused by this suggestion. But before you completely write it off I can assure you that mushroom coffee does NOT taste like mushrooms. There are hundreds of different varieties of mushrooms and there are specific mushrooms that have amazing benefits for your body and mind.
I have personally tried the adaptogen four stigmatic coffee blend and I felt like it was similar to coffee. It definitely does not taste like a typical cup of coffee but out of every option on this list it is probably the most similar! I linked the classic option below if you want to try it!
{RECOMMENDED POST: 13 Amazing High Protein Vegan Breakfast Ideas You Will Look Forward To Having Every Morning}
Yerba Mate (contains caffeine)
Yerba Mate is a traditional warm drink that is enjoyed in many parts of South America (mostly in Paraguay, Uraguay, Argentina & Brazil) and is passed around and shared communally with friends and even strangers!
It has kind of an earthy taste so to make it a bit more enjoyable you can add agave or sugar to your brew.
It has caffeine levels similar to coffee and health benefits similar to green tea.
Non Caffeinated Tea
If your goal with minimizing your coffee intake is to also minimize your caffeine intake then welcome to the world of teas! There is really an endless amount of non caffeinated teas you can choose from but here are some of our favorites:
- Non caffeinated green tea
- Hibiscus Tea
- Peppermint Tea
Olipop Probiotic Soda in Vintage Cola Flavor (contains caffeine)
If you love carbonation and want a little energy boost, consider choosing a healthier version of coke! Olipop makes prebiotic sodas that resemble different popular sodas.
Believe it or not, Olipop not only has prebiotics but also fiber and low levels of sugar! The vintage cola flavor specifically has caffeine it it! I was pretty surprised by how good these taste with all the extra health benefits.
If we missed any amazing coffee alternatives please let us know in the comments below and it can help others as they try to figure out goodcoffee swaps too!
Be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you would like sustainability and wellness tips sent directly to your inbox!
Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best healthy coffee alternatives.
Other posts you may like:
13 Amazing High Protein Vegan Breakfast Ideas You Will Look Forward To Having Every Morning
Your Ultimate Guide to Budget Friendly Juicing for Beginners
6 Easy Tips To Go Vegan On A Budget | Sustainable Frugal Living Hacks
If you would like to save this post for later-pint it!
