The Best Coffee Substitutes

Dr. Eric Berg 08/31/2023

Has your daily coffee habit gotten a little out of hand? Do you keep refilling your mug in the break room at work, stopping by the coffee shop multiple times a day, and relying on a late-afternoon latte for a pick-me-up to get you through the rest of the day? If so, you are probably drinking way too much coffee. And too much coffee and caffeine can have major side effects. But what are your alternatives? What are the best coffee substitutes?

Read on to discover some tasty beverages that can serve as excellent coffee substitutes to help you cut back on your coffee consumption.

In this article, I will cover:

Why too much coffee is a problem.
3 of the best coffee substitutes.
Other great beverage choices for keto and intermittent fasting.
The bottom line.

Top view of many mugs in various shapes and sizes filled with coffee and coffee alternatives

First, let's discuss why you might want to cut back on coffee in the first place. What can too much coffee and caffeine do to your body?

The problem with too much coffee

I believe that drinking a little bit of coffee each day (like one cup in the morning) is totally okay. But unfortunately, most people drink way more than that. And drinking too much coffee every single day can be problematic.

The biggest problem with coffee is that it has a lot of caffeine, and that can cause issues.

Too much coffee and caffeine can:

Trigger the adrenals.
Interfere with quality sleep.
Hinder weight loss.
Deplete nutrients.

Too much coffee can block your keto diet and intermittent fasting efforts, knocking you out of fat burning. Learn more here.

And on top of all of that, most people load up their daily cups of coffee with creamers and sweeteners, which are loaded with sugar, chemicals, and unhealthy ingredients.

Drinking less coffee is a really good idea. I only drink one small cup in the morning. If you have a habit of drinking too much coffee, you should start cutting back.

But if you still want a tasty and comforting beverage to sip on in place of your coffee, what are the alternatives?

Below are my top 3 favorite coffee substitutes.

3 of the best coffee substitutes

If you are looking for healthy alternatives to your morning cup of coffee, there are many options to try. And you might be surprised by how good these choices can taste!

1. Decaf coffee

Decaf is a good substitute for people who don't want to give up their coffee but are looking for less caffeine. But the important thing here is to choose your decaf coffee wisely.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Make sure it is fresh. Decaf goes stale twice as fast as regular coffee. So read the label before buying to make sure it isn't too old.
Choose organic decaf. Non-organic commercial decaf can have chemicals in it that you don't want to drink.
Opt for Swiss water process. The regular method of making decaf is loaded with certain chemicals that are not good for your body. Make sure you buy a brand that is water processed.

And remember, decaf is not a 100% caffeine-free choice. When you consume it, it is usually 97% decaffeinated. Which means that there is still that 3% caffeine.

2. Teeccino

This coffee alternative tastes very similar to coffee. But it contains absolutely no caffeine. And it is low in carbs and sugar, with only 4 grams of carbs and 1 gram of sugar per serving.

Teeccino is made from roasted chicory, carob, barley, nuts, and cocoa. You can brew and serve it just like coffee. I like to make mine in a French press.

You would be surprised how something made of chicory, barley, and other roasted ingredients can taste so similar to coffee.

And you can even make bulletproof coffee with Teeccino. Check out this video to learn how I make a delicious cup of no-caffeine bulletproof coffee.

Coffee substitute made from chicory root in a white mug with chicory flowers and roots on a wooden table

3. Roma

Roma is another coffee alternative brand. It is similar to Teeccino, but slightly different. Again, it is completely caffeine free. And with only 2 grams of carbs and 1 gram of sugar, it is another great keto-friendly coffee substitute. Roma is made from roasted malt, barley, chicory, and rye.

And it is super easy to prepare. Just add a heaping teaspoon to hot water and enjoy!

All three of the coffee substitutes listed above are good options if you are looking for caffeine-free drinks that still satisfy your taste buds.

Other great drinks for keto and intermittent fasting

Are you doing keto and intermittent fasting? Curious what other kinds of beverages you can drink on this diet without knocking yourself out of fat burning?

Here are some other great options for coffee alternatives and tasty drinks to sip on throughout the day.

Matcha tea. Loaded with phytonutrients, this concentrated form of green tea has some great health benefits. Note that it does contain some caffeine.
Lemon water. A refreshing glass of lemon water can do wonders for your body.
Apple cider vinegar. This can help everything from your digestion to your immune system. It is great for keto.

Want to learn more about acceptable liquids while intermittent fasting? Check out this video.

Coffee substitutes: the bottom line

If you are finding it hard to drink only one cup of coffee in the morning and no more, then you might want to brew up some of these healthy coffee substitutes to help yourself cut back.

These coffee-like substitutes can have great flavor, bring that same sense of comfort that sipping on a cup of coffee does, and provide great health benefits all without caffeine.

As a reminder, these are my top three choices when it comes to coffee alternatives: