5 Best (Healthy) Coffee Alternatives
As a die-hard coffee drinker cutting back on caffeine has been a daunting undertaking. I drink coffee every day which makes it an expensive habit. Moreover, I noticed my anxiety was getting worse and I was becoming more acutely aware of the afternoon slump and the morning grogginess.
Enter - my search for a new morning drink that could satisfy my coffee craving and give me the same energy and focus that caffeine provides but with none of the fall out. I wanted to improve my sleep, reduce my anxiety and avoid the infamous caffeine crash at all costs.
Over the last 3 months, I’ve done some vigorous testing to find my preferred coffee alternative. After a ton of research I selected 12 of the most popular healthy coffee alternatives from mushroom coffee to caffeine-free blends. I drank each for 6 days straight with a day off in between to reset my body and mind.
Here are my top 5 healthy coffee alternatives on the market:
#1 Cuppa
Pros:
The taste was a 10/10 for me! My favorite by far. A rich and robust coffee taste as the base is real organic coffee extract and it was the only one where I couldn't taste the mushrooms or any of the extra healthy nootropics they added. Maybe the only one that didn't feel like I was ‘giving up’ coffee or sacrificing on taste for the health benefits.
No jitters, caffeine crash or afternoon slump. This one had me feeling energized and focus all day and not feeling the absence of that second cup of coffee. I found myself having tea instead as a force of habit but not craving caffeine or needing an energy boost.
I slept better from night one and woke up more refreshed. I felt less anxious and my mind wasn’t racing as much.
It's available as Instant Coffee AND K-Cup Pods.
This was by far the closest to the comfort smell of coffee too with bold and nutty notes.
Offers one-time purchase
Offers money-back guarantee
Tested for mycotoxins and mold (most coffee isn’t), high quality ingredients.
Cons:
They only have one ‘flavor’. I would love a matcha and chai blend from them in the future. Maybe some different roasts too? Mud/Wtr and Ryze both had matcha.
Not available on Amazon or any retail. (though I found their site extremely ease to purchase from)
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Pros:
I liked the taste but it just didn’t taste as good as #1. Good coffee notes but very dark/strong coffee flavor and you could taste the mushrooms.
Available in grounds, instant and whole bean.
Wide selection of products. Supplements, creamers, lattes and protein powders available.
Tested for mycotoxins and mold, high quality ingredients - all organic!
Money-back guarantee
Cons:
It made me feel jittery.
At 65mg of caffeine per serving I thought the claims of it having ‘half the caffeine’ were a bit exaggerated. The average cup of coffee is closer to 100mg.
Expensive ($1.58 per serving or $1.30 if you subscribe) + $8 shipping
Despite claims on their website about it having ‘no mushroom flavor’ I actually found the taste quite mushroom forward.
Difficult to understand the difference between products like ‘Think’ and ‘Focus’. Lots of overlapping ingredients and health benefits might cause confusion.
#3 Ryze
Pros:
6 functional mushrooms - great variety compared to other mushroom coffees.
Price ($0.90 per serving)
Mixes easily (without frother)
Contains non-dairy creamer, comforting creamy consistency. Easy to travel with as this is already mixed in.
Cons:
Taste. This one is really for the mushroom coffee lovers. It was very earthy and mushroom forward. This just didn’t satisfy my coffee cravings at all because the taste was so wildly different.
Subscription only. Yes you can just purchase and then cancel right away but I hate the hassle.
Too little of each mushroom to have dramatic benefit. This is a red flag with any of these products when there are too many ingredients, they can’t pack an effective dose into one single spoonful.
Tough refund policy, no money-back guarantee.
#4 Everyday dose
Pros:
The collagen makes it so creamy!
Mixes easily (without frother) and no residue left in mug
Not the earthy, shroomy taste present in some of the others
Lots of goodies with free spoon and frother
Cons:
The collagen has a strong taste that you may find overpowering or unpleasant. I didn’t realize it was the ingredient I was tasting until I compared it side by side to some of the other brands and it’s definitely an acquired taste. This was my main gripe!
The dosing is wildly off. I went through my 30 serving bag in about 16 days because they recommend 2 servings for just 7oz of water. This is a very heavy ratio compared to the others. When I looked up customer reviews this was a very common complaint. It basically makes the coffee twice as expensive as advertised.
They are very sneaky with their subscription model. It’s not at all obvious that you will be billed again every 30 days. I prefer a clear opt in for product subscriptions and judging by the negative reviews so do their customers!
#5 Mud/Wtr
Pros:
Contains 4 functional mushrooms and some great spices too for flavor and antioxidant benefits.
Tested for mycotoxins and mold, high quality ingredients - all organic!
Offers one-time purchase
Every purchase donates back to mental health
Cons:
Tastes both bland and bitter at the same time.I loved the ingredient list so I really wanted to love this but the turmeric was very overpowering.
Practically zero caffeine with a base of black tea. Has 1/7th the caffeine of a traditional cup whereas the other brands on this list had at least half the volume. This might be a pro for those trying to cut caffeine completely but for those looking to simply reduce and find a healthier coffee substitute this goes too far.
Very water-y unless you bulk up on creamer which goes against my wish for a healthier cup.
Gritty. Does not mix well (even with frother!), wastes so much of the blend. It was super frustrating to see all these precious ingredients leftover at the bottom of my mug.
More expensive ($1.67 per serving or $1.33 if you subscribe) + $5 shipping
The Final Verdict
Cuppa by a landslide! I even did a blind taste test between my top 3 with my sister (a former starbucks barista) and my husband (a self-proclaimed coffee snob) and Cuppa was their #1 choice as well.