kombucha | Cafe Book Bean

No there is nothing wrong with me, and yes I still love coffee above all other drinks. However, now and then it’s nice to have something a little different. Also, there are some people who cannot have coffee, or just don’t like it, and I wanted to share some of the solutions I came up with during a time when I could not have coffee.

So here are some great alternatives to coffee:

Tea
This might be and obvious choice, but you can use tea in more ways than just steeping it. I will take the tea leaves and compact them into an espresso machine and make a concentration like espresso. Then I will make tea lattes with steamed milk and honey or agave, they are amazing. Tea is also awesome because there are so many varieties just like coffee. There are options for caffeine seekers, as well as soothing non-caffeinated options.
Chai TeaAlso awesome, it is a black tea with spices, very good plain or as a latte.
Matcha Tea
Good as well but most people either love it or hate it, it’s very earthy tasting. It is a green tea ground into a powder.

Matcha makes a nice frothy drink, and is extremely good for you as well!

Steamers
Another great option. This is were you take steamed milk ( like what goes in a latte/cappuccino etc.) and you mix it with various flavoring. Caramel, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, etc. you can experiment and make some pretty tasty drinks.

Another way to mix up the texture and flavors is to use milk alternatives like almond, cashew, and soy, they make for a nice variation.

Hot Cocoa
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know it seems like another obvious choice, but again play around with it. Make it from scratch with less sugar, so you can really taste the flavor of the cacao bean. Then add milk (steamed or cream, whatever your preference.) If you tone down the sweetness of your chocolate, you can add other flavors without making the sweetness over-powering. Try nutmeg, cinnamon, raspberry, caramel, etc. I enjoy mine with fresh mint!

Hot Apple Cider &/or Mulled Cider
I adore hot mulled cider (cider cooked and spiced with cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, orange slices.) Drink alone or for an unconventional twist add milk (almond milk is especially nice) and/or honey or agave (only if you like things super sweet, cider is naturally very sweet.)

Carob Powder…
I don’t know much about this so I cannot vouch for it, but I’ve heard it come up a lot as a coffee and chocolate substitute (it is caffeine free.) It is said to be equally sweet and satisfying, and mix well with milk for a tasty drink. It is also supposed to be significantly healthier than cocoa powder (not to be confused with cacao.) Noted health benefits are: low in fat, high in fiber, and has calcium. I am listing it here based on what I have heard, but have never tried it myself. If it lives up to it’s claims than you could use it in the same ways I’ve mentioned for tea and hot cocoa.

If as a coffee alternative you are looking more for the energy booster,
here are some great options:

Wheatgrass juice (raw/fresh)

This “fresh” juice is one of the best sources of living chlorophyll available. It is also full of great nutrients; it contains all minerals known to man, vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, l and K. It is extremely rich in protein, and has 17 amino acids. Very healthy, energizing, and cleansing.

Pomegranate (fruit or juice.)

This fruit is also pact with vitamins and antioxidants! Increases blood flow, fights bacteria, anti-inflammatory, improves memory, and the list goes on. However, most importantly, it is rich in dietary nitrates (which helps with fatigue.) It is very energizing and invigorating.

Kombucha

This is a fermented effervescent tea, that is made from black or green tea, and is slightly sweet. It can be very energizing and revitalizing, however the effects seem to vary, as some people feel a sedative effect.
Via Wikipedia: is produced by fermenting tea using a “symbiotic ‘colony’ of bacteria and yeast.”

Another great option is green smoothies and juices. Here are some great ingredients for an energy packed drink.

Lemon: Has a lot of the same energizing components as orange but with a flavor that mixes very nicely with green smoothies.
Pomegranate
Spinach: Helps fight the blues, and is loaded with antioxidants and folic-acid. Unfortunately I don’t really like the flavor in my smoothies, so I go with Kale.
Chia Seeds: Energizing due to their awesome ratio of protein, fats and fiber.
Wheatgrass
Chard: This is said to have a positive effect on mood, so, why not!

I also like to add nuts to my smoothies, if you don’t mind the texture. They add lean protein which helps keep your energy up. Almonds (brain food!) are my favorite, but cashews lend a more smooth creamy texture and taste.

One other option is to add Greek yogurt to a smoothie for extra protein and energy. It is also a great digestive aid.