Ready to break up with coffee? Here are 4 alternatives to help you make the leap

Breaking up with coffee is about more than willpower. Anyone who has tried to quit coffee knows it is easier said than done! The ritual association with a morning cup of coffee is almost as strong as the caffeine addiction itself. If you want to succeed in your quest to break off your dependence on coffee to fuel your day, you need to look carefully at what coffee means to you. Is coffee your daily sweet treat? Perhaps coffee gives you the cognitive edge you need for focus? For some, it may simply be the comfort of holding a warm mug. Identifying which qualities of your coffee habit are most important to you can help you find your best-fit beverage. If coffee isn’t serving you in this season of life, here are 4 alternatives to help you make the leap!

If you love drip coffee and need a bold, full-bodied beverage → Try chicory

Chicory is perhaps the most similar to brewed drip coffee. Throughout history, ground and roasted chicory root has been a popular substitute whenever coffee rations were short. You can purchase ground chicory online and brew it in a traditional coffee maker or with a pour-over setup. The resulting brew is dark and full-bodied like a cup of drip coffee that is naturally caffeine-free. Chicory can stand up to milk and sweetener or be enjoyed black. Hot or iced, chicory “coffee” is always a win. If you want to taper down your coffee consumption, you could combine chicory with your ground coffee and taper off the ratio until you are having only chicory! As a budget-friendly bonus, chicory is also more affordable than ground coffee.

If coffee is your me-time treat or sweet pick me up → Try hot chocolate

If your morning coffee tends to be a little bit frufru, a rich hot chocolate might be your most satisfying substitute! Melt a square of dark chocolate into hot milk and mix thoroughly (a handheld electric milk frother is great for this!). Add your desired sweetener or even a flavored syrup. If you’re really craving decadence, top with whipped cream! Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, contains iron and magnesium, and is a positive mood booster. A daily hot chocolate is sure to be a beverage you can savor.

If you rely on coffee for a mental boost → Try adaptogenic mushrooms

Adaptogenic mushrooms are a popular alternative to caffeine because they naturally aid mental clarity and balanced energy. Mushrooms like lion’s mane and chaga are said to support your body’s stress response, improve focus, and enhance overall gut health. There are a wide variety of products within this category, but a popular frontrunner is Mud/WTR. Many are powdered and need to be mixed into a hot liquid using a handheld whisk/frother to avoid clumps. The flavor is very earthy, so black coffee drinkers who can tolerate a bitter beverage may be better suited for this swap.

If your coffee ritual is part of your protein goals → Try bone broth

For some, coffee is the vessel for their morning health goals — like getting in a dose of collagen powder or mixing coffee with a protein shake. If this sounds like you, a warm cup of bone broth could be an excellent substitute. An 8 oz. cup of bone broth can have anywhere from 10-20 g. of protein. This savory alternative is as simple as heat and sip! If you are having a hard time with the flavor feeling flat, consider adding an additional sprinkle of salt and/or a squeeze of fresh lemon. The salt and acid can help balance out the flavor to make it more palatable. You can try chicken or beef bone broth, or some sipping broth brands have additional flavors like herbs or turmeric.

Have you successfully quit coffee? What worked for you?