Oh, our beloved coffee….

Before you can fully wake-up, you must have that steamin’ cup o’ joe, huh?!

I totally get it…..it’s part of the morning routine and wake-up call.

Have you ever thought about what it is exactly that you love so much about coffee?  Is it the smell, the taste, the “ahhhhh” once that first sip hits your lips?  I recently heard someone say, “What is it about Starbucks?” The answer?  It’s the experience.

Can you relate?

I am a coffee-lover at heart….in fact, my very first job as a youngin’ was working at a coffee shop in Ohio called “Wallaby’s”!  Hands down, it was the best job and a great learning experience opening me up to the world of coffee!

Well, have you ever tried to stop drinking coffee?

GASP! …….{ CRICKETS!!! } How could I ask such a thing?!

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with this subing coffee thing and today, I want to share my secret finds with you.  Although not the same, they do come really close to coffee.  I promise!

1.  Teechino  full of herbs that are roasted and ground to brew and taste just like coffee.  They have regular “coffee” flavors like mocha, caramel, hazelnut, french vanilla, etc.  Click on the link to their website to check out all of their amazing flavors.

2. Chai.  You do have to be careful when ordering Chai from coffee shops and restaurants as most “Chai Lattes” are made from conentrate which is no good sugar.  The best way is to order by tea bag, then add in your milk and honey.  My favorite find is from Starbucks, “Oprah’s Chai Tea Bag”.  I can’t describe the aroma!  Again, make sure you order the “tea bag”!  Chai contains calming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, fennel, nutmeg, etc. You can even make your own chai in the crockpot!

3.  Cacao Brew.  You may just love me for this one as here you are brewing chocolate! The healthy version of chocolate is cacao, from its purest form which does not have the other ingredients like sugar, milk, etc.  Here you brew the beans which give you all of the benefits of the cocoa and rich chocolatey flavor you are familiar with.

4.  Roasted dandelion root tea.  I recently came across this and am totally blown away by how it compares to coffee!  I modified the recipe where I added chicory root, maca powder, and a little maple syrup then add in coconut milk.  You just need a little of each and let it simmer on the stove, then tada!  I keep it in a jar as pictured so I then just pour out a serving and add the rest.

5.  Green Tea.  Ahh, yes, Green TEA!  So many amazing benefits to drinking this good stuff, mainly because of the antioxidants.  You can brew a big batch and stick in the fridge for the morning.  It tastes great if you add a little bit of honey and squeeze in lemon.

Will you try?  

I promise, the grizzly bear won’t come out….you’ll still feel the great sense of waking up and enjoying your morning routine.  In fact, I am sure you will find your energy lasts throughout the day and you won’t need that 2nd cup!