Coffee is great but some might crave drinks other than coffee with a bit of caffeine in it. They need the hit of caffeine but coffee doesn’t make them happy anymore. In this post, we are going to discuss some beverages (and some not) that are pretty good alternatives.
What are some coffee alternatives with caffeine in them? Coffee alternatives that contain caffeine include Matcha tea, Green tea, Kombucha, Black tea, Chai Tea, Yerba Mate tea, and Hot Cocoa. Though the caffeine levels in these drinks are not as high when compared to a cup of coffee, they can energize you without any of the adverse effects like jitters and energy crashes.
Matcha Tea
Matcha powder is made by steaming, drying, and then powdering the leaves of the tea plant (Camellia Sinensis).
For people who are turning away from coffee, matcha tea is an excellent alternative. Since you’re consuming the whole leaf in this tea, you get very high amounts of antioxidants which can reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
A cup of matcha tea (8oz) can contain around 25 to 50mg of caffeine. This is a fourth of what you will find in a regular cup of coffee. However, the health benefits outweigh the lower caffeine amount.
Matcha tea also improves your mood and makes you more cognitive making it a solid coffee substitute.
Green Tea
Green tea is also made from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis.
Instead of consuming the whole leaf, we steep the leaves in hot water and drink the tea.
While it might look like a weaker version of matcha tea, it comes with a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Green tea does an excellent job when it comes to boosting your metabolism and also keeps your cardiovascular health intact.
Green tea can contain up to 25mg of caffeine per cup (8oz). Just like matcha tea, it is not as strong as a cup of coffee considering the caffeine levels.
Yerba Mate Tea
Yerba Mate tea is the closest alternative you will find to coffee when it comes to caffeine levels.
A cup of Yerba Mate tea (250ml) can contain up to 80mg of caffeine which is very similar to regular coffee.
This tea is made from the leaves and twigs of the Yerba Mate plant, a native of South American soil.
The antioxidants in Yerba Mate tea are pretty high. Some studies conclude the antioxidant levels are better than what you will find in green tea.
Considering the combination of caffeine and antioxidants, you will be hard-pressed to find a better alternative to coffee with caffeine.
Kombucha
Kombucha is made through the fermentation of black tea with bacteria, yeast, and sugar.
Through the process of fermentation, the resulting Kombucha is rich in acetic acid, probiotics, and antioxidants.
Though the process of fermenting black tea might look simple, you shouldn’t try it as the chances of contamination are very high. You can, however, choose any brand that is commercially available.
Kombucha is a great choice for those looking for a milder caffeine hit. If replacing coffee with something more gentle and mild is your idea, then Kombucha is a good fit.
Chai Tea
Chai tea is a herbal tea that is made from black tea and warm milk.
It comes with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, fennel, black pepper, and cloves.
A cup of chai tea comes with 40mg of caffeine which is pretty decent. If you’re looking for a refreshing alternative to coffee, this one is a good option.
Chai tea contains a compound called tannin. Tannin ensures that your body absorbs caffeine in a relaxed and delayed manner. So having a cup of chai tea before you go to bed won’t be a problem at all.
At the same time, if you’re looking for a bold touch of caffeine, there are better alternatives than chai tea on this list.
Black Tea
Black tea is an excellent alternative to coffee.
We know that tea comes with a decent level of caffeine in it. With black tea, you can get around 30 to 70mg of caffeine per cup.
Thanks to the level of antioxidants in black tea, health benefits galore. Black tea is great for improving your gut health, regulating blood pressure, and can also reduce your cholesterol.
Hot Cocoa
Cocoa (or Cacao) is one of the natural sources of caffeine.
A cup of hot cocoa can contain around 10 to 20mg of caffeine. If you’re going for a cheaper version, then the caffeine level will be lower.
Cocoa also contains theobromine which is also a stimulating agent.
Known as a soothing winter drink, hot cocoa can do much more when it comes to being an alternative to coffee.
Cascara Tea
Cascara is nothing but the dried skin of the coffee berries once the seeds are removed.
These husks are dried in the sun and then packed for selling. The taste of cascara is somewhere in the middle between coffee and tea. It is more of a tea than a coffee. You will taste the fruity notes when sipping cascara tea.
Cascara tea comes with pretty good amounts of caffeine. When done right, you can get 20 to 30mg of caffeine in a cup of cascara tea which is neat.
Sodas
Many sodas come with caffeine in them
If you’re a fan of Cola, then you are getting some caffeine without even knowing.
For every 350ml, you get around 30 to 50mg of caffeine.
Cola gets its flavor from the Kola nut which contains caffeine naturally.
Some of the well-known brands of Cola that contain a good amount of caffeine are.
- Pepsi One
- Diet Cheerwine
- Big Fizz Cola
- Diet Coke
- Walgreens Cola
- Big K Cola
- Big Gulp Cola
- Chek Vanilla Cola
- Bubba Cola
When you compare it with coffee, you are getting a third of the caffeine but the tricky part here is that it is easy to chug on a lot of Cola before you even notice it.
So be wary of the amount of Cola you drink. It not only stops excess caffeine intake but also reduces the amount of sugar you consume.
Caffeinated Water
Water + Caffeine = Caffeinated water.
You can compare caffeinated water with black coffee as the latter is also mostly made up of water. But caffeinated water comes with only a fraction of caffeine when compared to black coffee.
Caffeinated water might have natural or synthetic caffeine. So make sure that you are getting the one with natural caffeine.
Water with caffeine does a good job when it comes to stimulating your central nervous system. It can keep you alert and reduce your tiredness which is exactly what someone would expect from a cup of coffee.
This caffeine-fortified water doesn’t have the heaviness of milk and sugar. So if you’re concerned about your calorie intake, this one might be a good alternative.
Smoothies
Smoothies are a great way to start your day.
If you’re planning to replace your coffee with a smoothie, then there are tons of options for you to try out.
Since you are interested in adding caffeine to your system, you can make a smoothie that contains caffeine. Yes, that’s a thing.
A little research and you will find hundreds of recipes on how to add caffeine to your smoothie. The simplest way is to add some dark chocolate or even some matcha.
Be informed that the caffeine dose is going to be very mild but it is something to keep you going.
Coffee Alternatives with Caffeine That Aren’t Drinks
Let’s take a look at some coffee alternatives with caffeine that aren’t drinks.
Caffeinated Chocolate
Chocolate with caffeine is probably a very good choice if you’re looking to avoid coffee as a beverage.
All you need a square of dark chocolate that contains a decent amount of caffeine and you’re set for the day. It can freshen you up and keep you energized for a pretty decent amount of time.
Make no mistake, the caffeine levels in dark chocolate are not even close when compared to your regular cup of coffee.
Energy Gums
Energy gums are chewing gums that come with a good amount of caffeine in them.
This might not be a good choice in the morning but if you’re looking for a dash of caffeine, then you can rip one open and chew it for some energy.
From what we have seen, each energy gum can come with up to 50mg of caffeine which is quite decent. So be careful of how much gums you’re munching so that you don’t overdo it.
You should also read the health risks associated with energy gums before trying them out.
Caffeine Mints
Mints are great when you’re looking for some refreshment.
Mints with caffeine are better as they can provide refreshment and caffeine at the same time.
Each caffeine mint can contain up to 40mg of caffeine. So when you take in 2 caffeine energy mints, you get the same energy from drinking a cup of coffee.
Just like the gums, be aware of the health risks. Don’t overdo this as it is easy to munch a few mints together. You don’t want to load your body with more caffeine than what is recommended.
Caffeine Pills
If you’re looking for a more direct alternative for the caffeine content in coffee, then caffeine pills are your answer.
You need to be careful when selecting caffeine pills as some might contain natural caffeine while others might be made from synthetic caffeine. If you haven’t guessed by now, natural caffeine is the way to go.
Taking a caffeine pill can replace your daily morning coffee. It provides you with energy without additional calories like milk and sugar.
One of the advantages of taking caffeine pills is that they do not come with the risk of heartburn. These pills do not contain any acid, so you don’t have to worry about heartburn or acid reflux. Your cholesterol levels will also not increase as these pills don’t have any coffee bean oils.
Caffeine pills are generally safe. But you should not take our word for it. Consult with your physician before taking any pills. It is also important that you don’t consume too many pills too soon.
Keep a watch on the intake just to be on the safer side.
Caffeine Toothpaste
You read that right.
We are talking about toothpaste that comes with caffeine.
Power Energy toothpaste comes with 67mg of caffeine in 1ml of toothpaste. This is the recommended amount of paste you should use so you do get a decent chunk of that caffeine.
The problem with this method is that you don’t get all the caffeine as you spit the toothpaste out.
The toothpaste comes with a strong peppermint flavor, so you’re not going to get any coffee flavor whatsoever.
If you are not pumped to drink a cup of coffee after you wake up, adding this to your brushing routine could help with your caffeine requirements. Also, don’t brush your teeth with this toothpaste before going to bed. Caffeine and sleep don’t mix well together.
Closing Thoughts
Finding a coffee alternative doesn’t have to be hard. The ones we discussed as excellent options if you’re bored of coffee but looking to keep that caffeine energy going.
If you are looking to go easy on your caffeine intake or simply looking for a caffeine alternative, then you can try caffeine-free coffee alternatives like Chicory coffee (made from chicory root), Golden milk, peppermint tea, dandelion coffee, and Apple Cider Vinegar.
These coffee substitutes do not come with any caffeine but manage to give you the energy boost you need without any caffeine jitters.