13 Delicious Coffee Alternatives to Keep You Energised

Written by: Helene Ausserwöger, 05.09.2024

For most of us, a morning without coffee is outright unimaginable. However, there are numerous reasons why you should opt for healthier alternatives from time to time. Coffee can make you jittery and keep you awake when you least want it. Some people just don’t enjoy the taste, while others are simply looking to try something new.

Luckily, there are many healthy and delicious coffee-alternatives out there. Whether it’s caffeinated teas, grain coffee, matcha, or chai – there’s something for everyone. These options are easier on your stomach and nervous system, and they can help you maintain a more balanced lifestyle. We’ve compiled the 13 best coffee alternatives to help you add some variety to your daily and morning routine!

Table of Contents: 

Coffee Substitute: Refreshing Energisers for the Morning

Not everyone is a fan of coffee or handles it well. But no worries — there are plenty of other ways to get that boost of energy you need without relying on coffee. These alternatives offer a variety of flavours, have a much more refreshing effect than coffee, and come with added health benefits too.

Black Tea: Classic and Strong

Black tea is the ultimate classic among coffee alternatives. Made from the fermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, it contains a moderate amount of caffeine, providing a gentle energy boost. In fact, two cups of black tea roughly equal the caffeine content of a cup of coffee. Black tea is renowned for its rich, malty flavour and is packed with antioxidants that offer numerous health benefits.

Green Tea or Matcha: The Green Power Booster

If you’re into a slightly bitter to mild, grassy flavour, green tea and matcha are real power boosters with loads of health benefits. Green tea is made from dried leaves, while matcha comes from finely ground green tea leaves, packing even more nutrients. Both are rich in antioxidants that help keep your body healthy and can boost your metabolism. Plus, they contain caffeine and L-Theanine, which provide lasting energy and better focus—without the jittery side effects of coffee.

STUWO Tip: You can steep green tea leaves two to three times!

How to Make Matcha:

  1. Add one to two teaspoons of matcha powder to a bowl (you can find the powder in most supermarkets or at an Asian market).
  2. Pour in about 70 to 80°C hot water (not boiling!) just to cover the powder.
  3. Whisk with a bamboo whisk or a handheld milk frother until frothy.
  4. Add the rest of the water and whisk for another 15 to 20 seconds.
  5. Done!

STUWO Tip: Add some milk of your choice to enjoy it as a creamy matcha latte!

You can't miss out on this green vitamin bomb! ©Adobe Stock

Kombucha: The Fizzy Energy Kick

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink made from black tea and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. The final brew is packed with probiotics, acetic acids, and antioxidants that support gut health and boost the immune system. It also helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which can reduce fatigue. Plus, with its fizzy taste, Kombucha offers a nice dose of caffeine and vitamin B, making it a great alternative to your usual pick-me-up.

Brewing Kombucha at home can be tricky because the process needs to be really precise to avoid growing harmful bacteria. Luckily, you can find Kombucha just about anywhere these days, in a wide variety of flavours.

Coffee Alternatives with Caffeine: The Best Energisers from Other Cultures

There are plenty of other caffeinated drinks from different cultures that are just as effective as coffee and offer exciting flavour experiences. From Guarana from the Amazon, and Pu-Erh tea from southern China, to mate tea from South America—explore the best caffeinated coffee alternatives from around the world and find your new favourite source of energy!

Guarana: The Caffeine-Containing Plant for Extra Power

Guarana is a caffeinated plant from the Amazon known for its energizing effects and high fibrecontent. The caffeine in Guarana is stronger but releases more slowly than coffee, providing long-lasting energy without the typical caffeine crashes. This wonder plant boosts physical and mental performance, improves concentration, and reduces fatigue. You can find Guarana powder online at KoRo or on shop-apotheke.

STUWO Tip: The bitter taste isn’t for everyone! You can sweeten your Guarana brew with natural sweeteners like coconut sugar, or simply mix the powder directly into your yogurt or smoothie!

Pu-Erh Tea: The Earthy Energy Giver

Pu-Erh tea is a unique, fermented tea from the Yunnan province in southern China. Made from the same plant as green tea, Pu-Erh is known for its earthy flavour and deep red colour, and it’s traditionally valued for its health benefits. It also contains caffeine, with a greater effect than regular green tea.

If you’re up for trying something new, you can find this distinctive tea online at places like Demmers Teehaus or shop-apotheke!

A different kind of energy boost - Mate tea might just become your new favorite energy drink! ©Adobe Stock

Mate Tea: The South American Energy Kick

Mate tea is a traditional drink from South America, made from the leaves of the mate plant. Known for its earthy, slightly sweet, and mildly bitter taste, mate tea is high in caffeine, providing a powerful energy boost. Beyond the caffeine kick, it is also great for digestion, making it a great coffee alternative.

STUWO Tip: If the bitter taste isn’t your thing, you can also find mate tea as a sweet, refreshing beverage!

Coffee Alternatives with Spice: Spices to Perk Up Your Morning

If you want to give your morning an extra kick, coffee alternatives with spicy spices are just the thing. Ingredients like ginger, chai, and turmeric not only provide a cosy warmth but also boost your metabolism and awaken your senses. These spicy drinks offer an exciting change from regular coffee and are packed with health benefits.

Ginger Tea: Spicy Freshness for the Day

A powerful pick-me-up without the caffeine—ginger tea, made from fresh ginger roots. Known for its spicy and refreshing flavour, ginger tea is not only delicious but also incredibly healthy. It contains gingerol, a spicy compound that boosts metabolism, improves circulation, and even helps release those feel-good hormones.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Grate or slice about 50 grams of ginger root.
  2. Pour hot water over the ginger.
  3. Let it steep for about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your desired intensity.
  4. For an extra refreshing kick, add some lemon juice—and you’re done!
The best thing you can do for your immune system - ginger tea! ©Adobe Stock

Chai Tea: Warming Energiser

Chai tea is a traditional Indian drink that combines black tea with a blend of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger. This warming coffee substitute not only delivers a bold flavour but also offers numerous health benefits. The spices it contains are antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory, and can boost your metabolism. With its spicy caffeine kick, chai tea is a perfect alternative to coffee.

You can find ready-made chai tea bags at the supermarket, though they often lack the strong flavour. Alternatively, you can buy a pre-made spice blend, like the one from Soul-Spice, and add it to your black tea to achieve the desired strength.

Turmeric latte not only looks good but also impresses with its taste! ©Adobe Stock

Turmeric Latte: The Golden Energiser

Turmeric latte, also known as golden milk, is a vibrant yellow drink made from turmeric, milk, and various spices like ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper. The active ingredient, curcumin, is more easily absorbed by the body with the help of black pepper and is especially known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Enjoy turmeric latte as a golden, caffeine-free coffee alternative that will warm you up and provide health benefits throughout the day.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Prepare 1 cup of milk (or a plant-based alternative), 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, a pinch of black pepper, and optionally 1 teaspoon of honey.
  2. Heat the milk in a small pot over medium heat.
  3. Stir in the turmeric powder, cinnamon powder, and black pepper into the warmed milk.
  4. Let the mixture simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Pour the turmeric latte into a cup and sweeten with honey to taste. Enjoy!

Coffee Alternative Without Caffeine: For a Calm Start

Not every morning calls for a caffeine kick. If you’re someone who prefers a gentler start to the day, there are plenty of soothing coffee alternatives that are caffeine-free. These drinks are great for relaxing while still giving you that refreshing energy boost you need. There are tons of options to help you wake up feeling calm and energized, all without the caffeine.

Dandelion Root Coffee: The Regional Energiser

Dandelion root coffee, also known as “False Coffee,” is a healthy, caffeine-free alternative to regular coffee. This regional and affordable pick-me-up is made from roasted dandelion roots and has a slightly bitter, earthy flavour that’s reminiscent of real coffee. The bitter compound, taraxin, in the root stimulates stomach acid production, making dandelion root coffee great for digestion as well.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Pick fresh dandelion plants with roots (before they bloom).
  2. Clean the roots thoroughly, slice them, and let them dry.
  3. Roast the dried roots in a pan.
  4. Grind the roasted roots finely in a coffee grinder.
  5. For each cup, use one teaspoon of the ground dandelion root coffee, pour hot water over it, let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes, and enjoy!

Alternatively, you can buy the ready-made powder online, like at Sonnentor.

Acorn Coffee: The Autumn Coffee Substitute

Acorn coffee is a regional, caffeine-free drink made from roasted and ground acorns. With its nutty and slightly bitter flavour, acorn coffee is a fantastic alternative to regular coffee, especially during autumn. Besides its unbeatable eco-friendliness, acorn coffee is packed with valuable nutrients that help digestion and are gentle on the stomach.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Collect acorns in the forest—preferably from English oaks.
  2. Crack the shells with a nutcracker and peel them.
  3. Soak the acorns in water for 1 to 2 days to remove the tannins (change the water regularly).
  4. Let them drain, then roast at 180°C in the oven.
  5. Grind the roasted acorns finely in a coffee grinder.
  6. Done!

If that sounds like too much work, you can also buy the powder online!

Chicory Coffee: The Classic Coffee Substitute

Chicory coffee is a caffeine-free, regional coffee alternative made from the roasted root of the chicory plant, also known as common chicory. Roasting the roots gives chicory coffee a coffee-like flavour with a hint of caramel. It’s also environmentally friendly and has various health benefits. The preparation of chicory coffee is the same as that of dandelion root coffee.

Hard to believe that the roots of these pretty flowers make for a perfect coffee alternative! ©Adobe Stock

Coffee Alternatives from Grains: From Spelt to Lupin Coffee

If you’re looking for more caffeine-free alternatives to coffee, grain coffees offer a delicious and healthy option. These drinks are made from roasted grains like spelt, barley, or lupins, and they provide a rich, malty flavour that’s reminiscent of real coffee. Grain coffees are high in fibre and completely caffeine-free, making them an ideal choice for a relaxed start to your day.

Spelt Coffee: A Mild, Caffeine-Free Option

Spelt coffee has become one of the most popular coffee alternatives and is made from roasted spelt grains. This option is known for being less bitter than regular coffee and offers a mild, sweet, slightly nutty flavour depending on the roast.

You can find spelt coffee as an instant option at stores like dm and in most (organic) supermarkets.

Malt Coffee: Sweet and Nutrient-Rich

Malt coffee, often referred to as “children’s coffee,” is a sweet and nutrient-rich coffee alternative made from malted barley. During production, barley is soaked in water, allowed to germinate, and the starch is converted into malt sugar. As the barley is dried and roasted, it caramelizes, resulting in a mild, slightly sweet flavour. The natural sugars and vitamins from the malting process make it a nutritious choice for both kids and adults.

You can find this coffee in most drugstores and (organic) supermarkets.

With lupin coffee, you're doing something good for your body and the environment! ©Adobe Stock

Lupin Coffee: The Sustainable Choice

Caffeine-free lupin coffee is made from the seeds of the sweet lupin, which, unlike other lupin varieties, is non-toxic. With its rich, slightly nutty flavour, it does a great job of mimicking the taste of real coffee. But it’s not just the taste that stands out—lupin coffee is also a sustainable and healthy choice.

Lupins are native plants that can even be used as natural fertilizers. Additionally, lupin coffee is gluten-free, high in protein, packed with various vitamins, and low in bitter compounds, making it particularly gentle on the stomach.

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Roast the seeds in a pan or in the oven at 200°C until they turn dark brown.
  2. Grind the roasted seeds finely in a coffee grinder.
  3. Place a teaspoon of the ground lupin coffee in a cup, let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes—done!

You can also find ready-made lupin coffee at stores like dm!

Conclusion: The Best Coffee Alternatives for an Energetic Day

There are plenty of delicious and healthy alternatives to regular coffee that can help you start your day with energy. From spelt and malt coffee to aromatic chai tea and energizing mate tea, the variety is vast and offers something for every taste. These drinks are not only caffeine-free or low in caffeine but are often rich in nutrients and antioxidants that support your health.

For those who value sustainability and local sourcing, options like lupin coffee or dandelion root coffee are great choices. These native plants are environmentally friendly and support local agriculture.

Why not try out a few different options and find the perfect coffee alternative to start your day feeling energized and healthy? You might even find some of these on the menu at your favourite study café. And if you’re feeling adventurous, and have enough time on your hands, making them at home could be a fun DIY project!

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