4 Coffee Alternatives That Will Blow Your Mind

Coffee: The elixir of life. Without it, many of us wouldn’t be able to finish university degrees, be productive at work, let alone function in the morning. However, overconsumption of the delicious drink may be unhealthy, potentially causing high blood pressure. For some people, even when consumed in moderate amounts, coffee can have some unpleasant side-effects like heartburn, nervousness or insomnia. Luckily, there are some great alternatives for different aspects of a good old cup o’ joe that can help you reduce your need for coffee, or replace it altogether.

1. For cold-brew lovers: CBD drinks

CBD has made its presence known on the market in the past few years. This high-free compound has relaxing properties but is also touted to help with focus and attentiveness. That’s why CBD drinks may provide a coffee alternative that is not only going to relieve the “jitters associated with caffeine”, but that is absolutely mouth-watering too.

The UK’s leading CBD brand, TRIP says, “our cold-brew coffee is infused with CBD, designed for jittery-free energy. It’s a delicious way to enjoy your caffeine hit whilst balancing out the way it makes you feel.” As well as CBD-infused cold-brew coffee, the company offers a range of other CBD infused drink flavours which are perfect if you’re looking to reduce your caffeine intake or need a tasty morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up. However, if you opt for making your own brew, after all, it’s not advised to add CBD oil to your coffee yourself.

2. For digestive issues: Peppermint Tea

We know — peppermint tea is not the first thing to come to mind when we think about a powerful drink. However, beyond the delicious taste and relative ubiquity of the herbal infusion, peppermint is known to have energising properties such as reducing mental fatigue and improving cognitive functioning.

Unlike coffee, however, peppermint tea will also have a relieving effect on your digestive system, so if you suffer from indigestion or abdominal pain after consuming coffee, peppermint tea might kill two birds with one stone.

3. For the flavour: Chicory ‘coffee’

If the reason why you drink coffee is less for its physical benefits and more for the taste, we’ve still got you covered. While certainly not as easy to find as a classic brew, chicory ‘coffee’ has become very trendy recently due to the resemblance it has to the flavour of its traditional counterpart. Much like coffee beans, chicory can be roasted, ground and brewed.

This caffeine-free plant provides a delicious concoction that has plenty of health benefits, especially for aiding digestion. However, it is possibly unsafe for those who are pregnant. If you want to test this brew out, you can either drink it on its own or add it to your coffee to reduce caffeine intake.

4. For reduction: Chai

To finish this list off, we’re going to give an option for those of you who want to find a caffeinated alternative. Chai is a special tea blend made of black tea and strong herbs and spices. Other than being absolutely delicious, it contains less caffeine than coffee, but that doesn’t mean the effects are nominal. Studies have shown that chai can improve alertness.

Beyond its physical benefits that are akin to those of coffee, it also tastes delicious. If you’re a black coffee fan, you may want to drink it on its own — but if you’re more of a flat white type, adding milk is a fantastic option for a creamy, spicy chai latte.