Top Six Coffee Alternatives with Great Health Benefits

A fresh cup of coffee is a perfect start to a day, so most people often like to brew fresh coffee at home and have it with their breakfast. On the other hand, if you are running late, you make a quick stop at the local cafe to pick up coffee.

Furthermore, approximately ninety percent of Australians love coffee, and half of them cannot go through a day without a cup. Evidently, it is a beloved beverage for most people; however, a continuous habit of drinking coffee can lead to muscle cramps and short-term increases in blood pressure.

Also, although it may boost your energy levels, it can cause coffee dependency and stomach upset. Thankfully, there are a bunch of alternatives that you can choose and fight the cravings.

Chicory Coffee

It is a hot drink made from roasted and ground roots of the chicory plant; the beverage tastes similar to coffee but has an added earthy, nutty flavour. So, it is a perfect caffeine-free substitution. Sometimes referred to as ‘the poor man’s coffee,’ chicory has been used as a coffee substitute in Europe for centuries. When Frederick the Great of Prussia restricted coffee imports by imposing a state monopoly in 1766, enterprising Prussians brewed up using chicory instead.

Likewise, when Napoleon Buonaparte’s embargo on trade with Britain caused coffee shortages in France in the early 1800s, the French also turned to chicory root as a substitute. The trade ban, known as the Continental Blockade, was lifted in 1814, but not before the French had developed a taste for chicory coffee.

As a caffeine-free substitute for coffee, chicory can be a great way of reducing stress levels while still getting your coffee fix. A 2006 study in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behaviour suggests that regular consumption of caffeine, combined with mental or physical stress, elevates cortisol levels, the stress hormone, to a greater extent than stressful activity alone. So if you often find yourself in stressful situations, reducing your caffeine intake could be a sensible idea, and drinking chicory coffee is one way to achieve that.

Drinking chicory coffee could also have other health benefits. Chicory root itself is made primarily from a fibre called inulin. Inulin is what is known as a ‘prebiotic’, meaning it is a good source of food for the ‘friendly’ bacteria needed to maintain a healthy digestive system. This may mean that chicory could help to relieve constipation.

Matcha

You might have heard about matcha, given its increased popularity in recent years in the form of matcha lattes, shots, teas and even deserts. Like green tea, matcha comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, it’s grown differently and has a unique nutrient profile.

Farmers grow matcha by covering their tea plants 20–30 days before harvest to avoid direct sunlight. This increases chlorophyll production, boosts the amino acid content, and gives the plant a darker green hue.

Once the tea leaves are harvested, the stems and veins are removed, and the leaves are ground up into a fine powder known as matcha. Besides, matcha contains nutrients from the entire tea leaf, which results in a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants than typically found in green tea.

To prepare a matcha bowl, simply put a little powder into the bottom of a cup, pour hot water and whisk the mixture with a bamboo whisk or the milk frother of an espresso machine.

Golden Milk

You might remember how as kids, we used to have to finish a glass of warm milk every morning, but now thinking of adding milk to our diet seems a little outlandish. Of course, from time to time, you may add it to cereal or while baking, but making it a coffee substitute does not sound appealing.

Nonetheless, you may change your mind if you make golden milk, which is an immunity-boosting beverage. Besides, making golden milk is incredibly easy. There are many variations – some with ginger, cinnamon and/or cardamom. But here’s what you’ll need to make a simple batch of golden milk:

• a cup of milk (dairy or plant-based)
• 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder (or an inch of grated turmeric root)
• One teaspoon of honey or another natural sweetener, such as maple syrup
• 2-3 black peppercorns (which help increase the absorption of curcumin)

Orzo

Orzo or barley coffee, is a type of hot drink originating in Italy. Orzo is a caffeine-free roasted grain beverage made from ground barley (orzo in Italian, from Latin hordeum). It is an espresso-style drink, and when prepared from the roasted barley directly, it can easily be made in typical espresso machines and coffeemakers.

In Italy, it is widely available in coffee vending machines. Although traditionally considered a coffee substitute for children, it is an increasingly common choice in Italy and other places for those who choose to eschew caffeine for health reasons.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a herb that comes from daisy-like flowers of the Asteraceae plant family and has been consumed for centuries as a natural remedy for several health conditions. In order to make the tea, the flowers are dried and infused in hot water; many people consume chamomile tea as an alternative to black or green tea due to its earthy and somewhat sweet taste.

Furthermore, chamomile tea is loaded with antioxidants that may play a role in lowering your risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Besides, it has properties that may aid sleep and digestion.

Licorice

Licorice root is a popular herbal remedy that is most commonly used to flavour and sweeten candies and sweet treats. However, the root is also an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine and has long been consumed as a herbal tea.

This delicious tea features a rich flavour profile with sweet, salty, bitter, and sour notes. The subtle taste makes for an exquisite tea-drinking experience where each sip is layered and flavorful. Licorice root tea is one of the best teas to drink when you have a sore throat or a cough. The tea contains compounds that can coat the throat and help ease feelings of an itchy and scratchy throat. The antibacterial properties of licorice root may also help the immune system eliminate bacteria that cause an infection to begin with.

Furthermore, it helps ease digestive problems and soothe nausea and upset stomach symptoms. The tea also boasts antispasmodic effects, which may help with gas and bloating. Recent research shows there may be some benefits to healthy digestion. Additionally, it contains antioxidants and compounds that boast anti-inflammatory properties. Finally, drinking this herbal tea may help to eliminate free radicals that cause oxidative stress and premature aging.