Just to clarify, I don’t actually hate coffee. In fact, I love the taste of it and the idea of having something delicious to drink every morning, but what I don’t love is how jittery and anxious it makes me or how it messes up my sleep. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still make myself a (very small) cold brew every now and then, but most days, I now opt for something a little more low-key in the caffeine department. If you have similar issues with coffee, I have a few solid ideas for you on what to try instead.
If you’ve never tried a superfood latte before, this is your official PSA to give it a go. Whether you’re looking for a coffee alternative that still has a similar taste or want to try something different, I’ve compiled a list of my favorites that I’ve found since quitting daily coffee. The world is really your oyster when it comes to creating a latte with various superfoods. You can combine different plant-based ingredients to create something totally new or you can snag a pre-mixed product to make your life easier. Either way, you’ll gain a nice energy boost without the jitters. For a bit of advice on what kinds of superfoods to include in your morning beverage, I asked clinical herbalist, herbal educator, and founder of Anima Mundi, Adriana Ayales. Anima Mundi is my all time favorite herbal apothecary and Ayales had a lot to share. For all her advice and our picks, keep scrolling.
Herbal Ingredients That Are Great Coffee Alternatives
While there are a ton of herbal ingredients out there that give you a nice energy boost, Ayales shared a few key ones that she swears by. “There are so many wonderful herbs that support our body and mind’s energy, sustainably!” she says. “I love using mucuna bean for added energy and dopamine. I also love adding ginkgo and other brain herbs when I need to fire up the mind (alongside mucuna) that powerfully energizes, while powerfully boosting cognition.”
So for starters, adaptogenic mushrooms work great. I usually put a couple scoops of Om’s Superfood Master Blend Protein Powder ($29) in my oats in the morning so I’m covered there, but there’s another particular superfood both Ayales and I love to sip on in the morning. “I adore ceremonial-grade matcha, as it energizes yet its a slow release caffeine,” Ayales says. “The jitters aren’t as front-facing as coffee and due to the high levels of naturally occurring L-theanine, it allows for sustained energy periods while also gently relaxing, easing anxiety and stress in the body.”
To make her morning superfood latte, Ayales loves mixing matcha with mucuna and lion’s mane for a brain-boosting morning elixir. If you do still want to have a coffee, though, Ayales has a hack she uses to take its effects down a notch. “Being born in the coffee lands of Costa Rica, I adore coffee, yet I always have it with adaptogens to help curb the side effects that aren’t so great for our nervous system. I often combine it with reishi or our 7 Mushrooms + Cacao Blend ($40).
For more recs, take a look below.
Anima Mundi Herbals
Matcha | Organic + Ceremonial Grade
I’ve sampled tons of different matchas at this point because I have an obsession. I’ve turned into a bit of a snob and only drink ceremonial-grade matcha now and this one is truly the best I’ve ever tried. High-quality matcha is a bit pricier, but I can say this one is totally worth it. It has such a rich, vibrant flavor and you can tell that it was thoughtfully sourced.
Blume
Oat Milk Chai Latte Superfood Blend
If chai tea is more your style, try Blume’s Chai Superfood Blend. I have a few favorites from the brand, but this is one of my favorites. The black tea extract in it is decaf and other ingredients like ginger root, cinnamon, oat milk, nutmeg, and milk thistle power the rest of the formula.
Rasa
Cacao Adaptogenic Mushroom Coffee Alternative
I quit coffee completely for a while once and drank this every day instead. I love the taste of cacao so this was a hit for me, but I do have to warn that if you’re expecting it to taste like coffee it won’t (lol). If you’re into herbier flavors, though, this is great and contains 1500 micrograms of adaptogens per cup.
While this mix does have a bit of coffee in it, it also includes a host of adaptogenic mushrooms, cinnamon, and coconut milk to give you a boost. It’s designed to deliver only a third of the usual amount of caffeine in a regular cup of coffee.
Kroma Wellness
Ultimate Vitality Latte Jar
I’ve grown to love turmeric lattes more and more over the years. It’s a great option for the evening because it’s caffeine-free. This blend from Kroma contains turmeric extract which is a great anti-inflammatory ingredients, ginger extract to support digestion, and reishi mushroom to boost immunity.
Four Sigmatic
Organic Lion’s Mane Ground Coffee, 12 Oz
If you really can’t kick the coffee completely, trust me, I get it. Four Sigmatic offers the best of both worlds—coffee mixed with lion’s mane mushroom!
Laird Superfood
Sweet and Creamy Instant Latte With Adaptogens
If you have virtually no time in the morning to make yourself a latte, this instant mix is a great option. It has a touch of sweetness, coffee, and a healthy dose of adaptogens all in one.
Anima Mundi
Heirloom Cacao
Another great Anima Mundi product is the brand’s Heirloom Cacao. Cacao is an extremely nutrient-dense superfood that, according to the brand, is even considered sacred amongst indigenous tribes. It’s packed with antioxidants and minerals and makes a great additional to any superfood beverage, or, you can drink it alone.
KOS
Bolt From The Blue Energizing Blue Spirulina Blend
The average cup of coffee has around 95 mg of caffeine. This energizing spirulina blend has 70 mg. Spirulina is another great plant that’s great for immunity, can help seasonal allergies, and can help reduce inflammation in the body.
Clevr
Matcha Instant Latte Mix
This matcha latte mix contains probiotics, adaptogens, mushrooms, and even contains oat milk so you don’t have to add any additional creamer.
