If you’re a regular coffee drinker, like me, but want to decrease your consumption of caffeine, you need to try these Herbal Coffee Recipes and Alternatives. An herbal coffee blend is a great way to reduce caffeine and boost health benefits while still getting that delicious coffee-like flavor.

Disclaimer: As this article contains a lot of mixed reviews, I decided it would not be sponsored so I could give my unbiased reviews fairly. That being said, there are affiliate links which I do get paid for if you purchase through my link. Read more about this here. Thank you!

I’m an avid coffee lover who drinks too much coffee for my own good. I can admit of my coffee habit. So I try to reach for one of these diy herbal coffee substitutes at least once a day instead.

I used to be a 3-a-day coffee drinker and now I’ll drink real coffee once a day and one of these delicious herbal coffee alternatives in the afternoon.

My go-to homemade herbal coffee is Dandy Blend. I’ll drink it blended with some coconut milk or oat milk along with a little sweetener. If I do want to add caffeine to this for a little pick-me-up, I’ll add two shots of espresso as well.

I don’t know about you, but for me, drinking coffee is a whole experience. It’s the feeling of cozying up with a warm drink and maybe a good book. It’s not all about the coffee I’m drinking. So now I’ll get that same ‘experience’ while I sip herbals.

You probably won’t find an herbal blend like these at your local coffee shop, so I suggest purchasing some to have in your home. This article will list my top favorite caffeine-free, low-caffeine, and caffeinated herbal options.

I suggest trying one or two that catch your eye, giving it at least a week to notice any differences and see whether you enjoy the taste (because your taste buds will adjust), then trying a new one if it didn’t suit your needs. Save this article to reference at different points in time when you need a new herbal coffee!

Throughout this article, I will discuss 13 different coffee alternatives ranging from caffeine-free to fully caffeinated. Each one is ranked highest to lowest in order of mentioning based on my own review and/or others reviews. I’ll include an ingredients list and pros and cons lists to help you find a product most suitable to your needs!

Why Choose Herbal Alternatives Instead Of Coffee?

You might be thinking you can't let go of coffee. It's probably something you most look forward to in the morning, right? How would I know? Because I feel the same way.

When you find a good herbal alternative, you're still getting the same great taste and cozy feeling of coffee but with a lot of health benefits! Even just substituting one cup of coffee a day with an herbal coffee alternative will benefit you. You might notice:

• Less jitters, lower anxiety
• Lower stress with adaptogens
• Less reliance on caffeine for energy
• Health benefits from consuming more herbs
• Same great taste + fewer side effects
• Support your adrenals gland, especially if you already have adrenal issues or hormonal imbalances

Ingredients Found In Herbal Coffee Alternatives

So what exactly is an herbal coffee alternative? A lot of herbal coffee recipes differ when it comes to ingredients but you're most likely to find adaptogens like medicinal mushrooms, roots of the dandelion family, pre and probiotics, collagen, actual coffee grounds, and most likely natural flavors like cocoa and cinnamon.

Medicinal Mushrooms

Mushrooms are the the main ingredients you'll find in coffee alternatives (don't worry, these ones won't give you a trip as they aren't psychedelic). Mushrooms give your coffee alternative many health benefits like;

• Increase brain function & brain health
• Support gut health & digestion
• Regulate the immune system
• Lower cholesterol & improve heart health
• Prevent & lower inflammation in the body
• Decrease stress
• Increase absorption of iron
• Provide vitamin D, antioxidants, and
• Increase stable energy and stamina
• Support deep sleep

The 5 medicinal mushrooms you're most likely to find in coffee alternatives are:

• Lion's Mane
• Reishi
• Cordyceps
• Chaga
• Turkey Tail

Mushroom Extract (Fruiting Bodies) VS. Mycelium

Mushroom extracts fruiting bodies contain consistently high levels of beta-glucans, the nutritious part of the fungus. Extracts like this usually contain 30 to 40 percent of beta-glucans. Mycelium has consistently low levels of these beta-glucans, typically 5 to 7 percent (but sometimes even zero).

Each substrate (the surface or material on or from which an organism lives, grows, or obtains its nourishment) will allow the mushroom to have more of less of its medicinal properties. When a mushroom is able to fully fruit, its nutrients increase abundantly.

I recommend doing your due diligence in finding where your ingredients come from and how they're extracted. I will include some products in here from mycelium mainly because they're more affordable in price and I want to give you options.

When looking at the ingredient list, you want to find terms like "*mushroom name* extract" or "fruiting body extract". Then do due diligence research on how those mushrooms are grown, with which substrate and whether they were treated with anything, when they were picked, and how they were preserved.

Roots

Dandelion roots, carob roots, chicory roots are the two roots you're most likely to find in coffee alternatives. They are part of the same or similar family, protect liver health, and can aid in your body's detoxification process.

This might be a bit TMI but if you drink coffee for the sake of going number 2, these roots could help with *ahem* bowel movement. Dandelion and chicory roots are an ideal solution to constipation.

Burdock, maca, ashwaganda, and licorice root are other roots sometimes found in herbal products, like the Anima Mundi Happiness Powder.

Grains

You might find roasted grains like barley and rye in coffee alternatives due to their deep, robust flavor. These cereal grains give coffee alternatives a pleasant, nutty aroma. And don't worry, through the process of roasting most or all of the gluten is removed (like in the case with Dandy Blend being gluten-free).

Prebiotics & Probiotics

Some coffee alternatives may contain prebiotics and probiotics for the sake of gut health.

The problem with this is most probiotics strains are killed when in contact with extreme heat (like boiled water or coffee). This means if your coffee alternative contains prebiotics and probiotics, it may be a good idea to drink it cold.

The exception for this is when the coffee alternative product contains probiotic strains that are resistant to heat, like in the case of Beyond Brew using Bacillus Coagulans.

Collagen

Some herbal alternatives like the Everyday Dose contain collagen. Collagen is not plant-based or vegan and it is always a good idea to find the source of the collagen you're consuming. For instance, Everyday Dose shows their collagen is from grass-fed and grass-finished biovine.

Natural Flavors

Ingredients commonly found to help flavor herbal coffee alternatives include cacao or cocoa, dates, figs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla beans. Monk fruit and stevia might sometimes be found to sweeten the blends as well. Some may even be used to produce a bitter flavor similar to coffee.

Notice, none of these are artificial flavorings or disguised under "natural flavors". You don't want artificial flavors or even 'natural flavors' in your herbal coffee alternatives. These added ingredients wreak havoc on gut health and will work against your efforts of choosing a healthy herbal routine.

Actual Coffee

That's right, even coffee alternatives may contain actual coffee. Some have lower amounts of caffeine and some have high amounts, just with medicinal benefits from ingredients added.

If you are going with an herbal coffee with actual coffee beans, I recommend organic coffee beans as conventional beans can contain mold and pesticides. I believe all of these products mentioned below do use organic coffee, but always do your due diligence with quality research.

Caffeine-Free Herbal Coffee Alternatives

1. Dandy Blend

We’ve gotta start with my top choice, which is Dandy Blend. It's a great liver support and tastes amazing!

When using dandy blend, I take 2 teaspoons and mix with 6 ounces hot water or milk along with 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup. The milk makes it a lot creamier. I use this as a great alternative to nightly hot chocolates. Just add a little cacao powder, coconut milk, and maple syrup!

Sometimes, my morning ritual will involve two shots of espresso over frothy milk along with 1-2 teaspoons dandy blend. I love how the flavors of espresso and dandy blend mix so seamlessly. You can read more about this in my top 3 herbal coffee recipes near the bottom of this article.

Ingredients: *Roasted Barley Extracts, *Roasted Rye Extracts, *Roasted Chicory Root Extracts, *Roasted Dandelion Extracts

*Certified Organic

Pros:

• Mixes very easily
• Good hot or cold
• Pairs well with espresso or a cup of coffee if you need caffeine
• Cleansing as it is a diuretic
• Supports the liver

Cons:

• Can lower blood sugar as it is a diuretic (start small)
• Some do not enjoy this taste
• I find I need to use more than the serving size to get that deep coffee-like taste

2. Teeccino

Teeccino has been around for quite some time with a large selection of products. When I first wanted to lower my caffeine consumption, I went with Teeccino because of the affordability and versatility. Now, I do look more for fully organic ingredients and medicinal benefits, but Teeccino is still a great option.

Ingredients In Java Medium Roast: Roasted organic carob, organic barley, organic chicory, dates, almonds, natural coffee flavor*, organic figs. Contains: Almonds. *All Teeccino flavors are extracted from plants and comply with organic standards.

Pros:

• A lot of versatility - any flavor option you can think of
• Great starting point for herbal alternatives
• Affordable

Cons:

• Not all ingredients are certified organic
• Uses “coffee flavoring”

3. Anima Mundi Happiness Powder

I am pleasantly surprised with Anima Mundi products. The ingredients are better than most I’ve seen and each product has a lot of beneficial medicinals.

The name “Happiness Powder” refers to their dopamine and seratonin balancing herbs like Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Mucuna, Albizzia and St John's Wort.  

Ingredients: Roasted Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Root*, Roasted Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Root*, Burdock (Arcticum lappa) Root*, Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Root*, Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) Pods*, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root*, Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) Bean, Albizia (Albizia julibrissin) Bark^, Rhodiola (Rhodoila rosea) Root*, St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)^, Lucuma (Pouteria lucuma) Fruit*, Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)*, Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) Bean*

*Organic / ^Wildharvested

Pros:

• Variety of beneficial herbs in the product
• Dopamine & seratonin-boosting
• Highly-reviewed

Cons:

• Pricey
• Doesn't have as much of a 'coffee flavor'

4. Wooden Spoon Herbs Coffee Alternative

This company is newer to me, but I love their site and what they stand for! Their herbal coffee alternatives are made with caffeine-free prebiotic roots, adaptogenic mushrooms, and seeds. You can get a bulk bag, small bag, or sachets (no flavors offered).

Ingredients: Organic roasted chicory root, organic mesquite pod, organic dandelion root, organic maca root, organic burdock root, organic cinnamon bark, organic reishi fruiting body extract

Pros:

• High quality ingredients
• Ingredients support gut health & more
• Pretty product design

Cons:

• Not on Amazon
• Doesn’t dissolve as well as others
• Satchets are more expensive

5. Sip Herbals Restorative Coffee

This brand is very similar to the Dandy Blend mentioned above. It has very similar ingredients (chicory, carob, and dandelion), no mushrooms or extra’s.

If you’re wanting to try Sip Herbals out, I recommend going with the Royal Mocha or Salted Maple variety as it contains a bit more flavor for the same price.

Ingredients In The Royal Mocha Herbal Coffee: Organic Roasted Carob Root

Organic Roasted Chicory Root, Organic Roasted Dandelion Root, Ground Vanilla Beans

Pros:

• Simple ingredients list
• Affordable cost

Cons:

• Very similar to Dandy Blend but steeps instead of mixes
• Not as many medicinal benefits as others

Low-Caffeine Herbal Coffee Alternatives

No need to cut caffeine out cold turkey. You can utilize these low-caffeine herbal alternatives to simply reduce your caffeine intake.

6. Live Conscious Beyond Brew Superfood Mushroom Coffee Alternative

With 100% fruiting body 6-in-1 mushroom blend, pre & probiotics, yummy cacao, and fiber, I really like the look of this Beyond Brew brand.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Tahl, Beyond Brew Mushroom Blend (Organic Lion's Mane Extract, Organic Reishi Extract, Organic Chaga Extract, Organic Cordyceps sinensis Extract, Organic Cordyceps militaris Extract, Organic Turkey Tail Extract), Organic Allulose, Bacillus coagulans, Organic Ginger, Contains Less Than 0.5% of Organic Stevia, Organic Ceylon Cinnamon, Malic Acid, Organic Monk Fruit

Pros:

• Quality ingredients and full-body mushrooms
• Supports the gut with heat-resistant probiotics
• Tastes similar to coffee

Cons:

• Pricey
• Some natural sweeteners added

7. Rasa

Rasa is a woman-owned company with a fair selection of herbal blends that can act as coffee alternatives.

The cacao rasa has 5 mg of caffeine, so it is a low-caffeine option. Rasa also offers original (no caffeine) and dirty (35 mg caffeine). They have a new spicy rose blend that I’ll touch on in my 3 favorite herbal coffee recipes section below!

I love the ingredient list of Rasa blends, you know you’re getting high quality herbs bringing tons of health benefits!

Ingredients in Cacao Blend: Cacao*, Roasted Chicory*, Burdock* and Dandelion Roots*, Shatavari*, He Shou Wu*, Codonopsis*, Eleuthero*, Ashwagandha*, Rhodiola*, Ceylon Cinnamon*, Chaga Mycelium*, Reishi Extract*

*Organic

Pros:

• Very high-quality ingredients
• Consistent, natural energy
• Chocolatey taste

Cons:

• A bit ‘thin’ in taste and texture
• Higher priced than others

Rasa Rose Night Cap

I pray my mom doesn’t read this article. But if you need a little boost in the bedroom, this rasa rose night cap is for you. It’s packed with aphrodisiacs to get you in the mood, while giving you a comforting cup-of-coffee taste.

You’ll need:

• Rasa Spicy Rose Cacao
• Vanilla Creamer (or creamer of choice)
• French Press

Instructions:

1. Boil 6-8 ounces of water.
2. Add the boiling water and 1 tablespoon of Rasa Spicy Rose Cacao mix to a french press. Let steep for 10-15 minutes, then pour into a cozy mug.
3. Add 1-2 tablespoons creamer of choice and enjoy!

Notes: This does have 2-3 MGs caffeine, so if you’re sensitive to caffeine, do not consume this at night.

8. Mudwtr

Mudwtr (pronouned mud water) is a low-caffeine herbal alternative to coffee, bursting with organic medicinal ingredients.

They also offer matcha teas, creamers, sweeteners, and mushroom boosts as products on their site.

Ingredients: Organic mushroom blend (chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, cordyceps mushrooms and mycelium cultured on organic oats), Organic cacao, Organic Spice Blend (organic cinnamon, organic turmeric, organic ginger, organic cardamom, organic black pepper, organic nutmeg, organic cloves), Organic black tea powder, Himalayan pink salt.

Pros:

• High quality, organic ingredients
• 562mg of each mushroom per serving

Cons:

• Not on Amazon
• A bit more expensive than others ($40 for 30 servings)

9. Genius Brilliant Brew

This products boasts of having 6 powerful medicinal mushrooms as well as a trademarked ingredient called Zynamie (standardized extract of mango leaf tree) to enhance cognitive function.

From reviewers, it tasted pretty similar to coffee and is a great energy boost. It has an earthy flavor that some people love (and some do not).

Ingredients: Organic Maca (Lepidium meyenii) [Root] Powder, Organic Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) [Mycelium and Fruiting Body] on Oats, Organic Cordyceps sinensis [Mycelium] on Oats, Zynamite® (Mangifera indica) [Leaf] Extract, Organic Turmeric (Curcuma longa) [Root] Powder, Organic Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) [Mycelium] on Oats, Organic Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) [Mycelium] on Oats, Organic Maitake (Grifola frondosa) [Mycelium] on Oats, Organic Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) [Mycelium and Fruiting Body] on Oats, Guarana (Paullinia cupana) [Seed] Extract, Cocoa Powder (processed with alkali), Stevia Leaf Extract, Silica, Himalayan Pink Salt, Cinnamon powder, Nutmeg Powder.

*35 mg caffeine per serving

Pros:

• 6-in-1 mushroom blend

• Trademarked Zyamite ingredient not found in other products

Cons:

• Mushrooms grown ‘on oats’, lacking as many active compounds than fruiting body or pure mycelium extracts
• Earthy, robust flavor (could be a pro depending on who)
• Pretty sweet (could be a pro depending on who)

Caffeinated Herbal Coffee Alternatives

Where are my die-hard coffee drinkers at? If you still insist you need that caffeine fix, this section is for you!

10. Everyday Dose Mushroom Latte Powder

I think this is my new favorite caffeinated mushroom powder, after having a friend gift me this to try. I was skeptical until I read the ingredients, quality, and story of the company.

I can get behind a company that takes pride in the quality of ingredients involved as well as the taste of the final product. I think Everyday Dose nailed this latte powder.

Ingredients: Organic fair trade coffee, organic collagen from bovine, organic chaga fruiting body extract, organic lion's mane fruiting body extract (>15% beta glucans), amino acids like L-Theanine (see full list).

Pros:

• Quality ingredients with full-bodied mushrooms
• Gives long-lasting energy
• Tastes great as a latte with milk or creamer

Cons:

• Won't taste great on its own (add creamer or frothed milk)
• Pricey

11. Four Sigmatic Mushroom 'Think' Instant Coffee Mix

Four sigmatic is another top coffee, mushrooms, and herbal blend. I enjoy the taste, they have a wide variety of flavors and ingredients available, and I can still have a little caffeine boost.

If you’re looking to save money, I suggest trying the ground coffee bags instead of the pre-packaged powders. Although, I do enjoy the powders though as they’re a lot easier to mix & drink rather than brew.

Ingredients list of the 'Think' Instant Coffee Mix: Organic instant coffee powder, organic lion's mane extract (250 mg), organic chaga extract* (250 mg), organic rhodiola rosea extract*.

*Wildcrafted

Pros:

• High-quality, simple ingredients ingredients
• Tastes like coffee
• Highly reviewed

Cons:

• Pricey
• Not as many herbs included

12. Laird Functional Medium Roast Coffee

Laird is a very reputable brand that uses only organic, high-quality ingredients. That being said, I think the flavor and texture of Laird products suffer sometimes due to their devotion to ingredients.

I haven’t tried this medium roast coffee from Laird, but the ingredients list is on point. Reviews mention the taste and texture can differ widely based on third-party sellers so I suggest going straight to the Laird site.

Ingredients: Organic Arabica Coffee, Coffee Cherry Powder, Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Extract.

*50mg caffeine per serving

Pros:

• Good ingredients
• Variety of options
• Tastes like coffee

Cons:

• Some have complained about jitters
• Recommended to go directly to site instead of third-party sellers

13. California Gold Nutrition CaféCeps Instant Coffee

If you’re looking for a simple, affordable, caffeinated herbal coffee, I would recommend this one to most everyone. It might not be as strong in medicinal benefits as others, but you can’t beat the price per serving, plus ingredients are organic.

Ingredients: Organic Instant Coffee (Coffea arabica), Organic Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) Mushroom Powder, Organic Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) Mushroom Powder.

*50mg caffeine per serving

Pros:

• Simple and organic ingredients
• Tastes like coffee
• Very affordable

Cons:

• Not highly reviewed
• Taste and texture differs

My Top 3 Herbal Coffee Recipes

After trying quite a few herbal alternatives to coffee, I have nailed down 3 of my most favorite ways of enjoying some of these herbal coffee products. Try these delicious recipes for yourself and/or try your own DIY coffee alternative recipes and let us know in the comments below!

1. Dandy Blend Coconut Milk Latte

This is my go-to dandy blend latte. The Dandy Blend has a perfect taste, texture, as well as medicinal benefits. I like to cozy up with a dandy blend ‘latte’ at night OR add coffee to make it a dandelion coffee.

You’ll need:

• Dandy Blend
• Coconut Milk (or milk of choice)
• Pure Maple Syrup (or sweetener of choice)

Instructions:

1. Froth your coconut milk until hot & frothy.
2. Pour the hot coconut milk over 2 teaspoons dandy blend.
3. Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup, to taste.
4. Enjoy!

Option to add coffee or espresso!

2. Four Sigmatic Work-Time Coffee

This blend is for my afternoon pick-me-up when I’m working on an article or other project. It allows me to focus, gives me a little energy, and tastes so yummy. With the peppermint & mocha tastes, you’ll feel like you’re drinking a peppermint mocha latte!

You’ll need:

• Four Sigmatic Think Mushroom Coffee Mix
• Cacao Powder
• Coconut Milk
• Pure Maple Syrup

Instructions:

1. Froth or warm your coconut milk (sometimes I use half milk/half hot water).
2. Mix in 1 packet Four Sigmatic Think Mushroom Mix, 1-2 teaspoons cacao powder, and 1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup.
3. Stir well to combine and enjoy! You can also use this with brewed coffee to increase the caffeine effects.

3. Everyday Dose Wake Up Call

This is a high caffeine herbal recipe for my fellow sleepyheads. Because some days call for a little extra caffeine. This herbal coffee recipe is so good I could drink it 3x a day (but I really don’t recommend that). It’s packed with medicinal properties, some collagen, and amino acids to support immunity health and mental well-being.

You’ll need:

• Everyday Dose Coffee Alternative
• Oat milk (or milk of choice)
• 1-2 Tbsp pure maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)

Instructions:

1. Froth or warm your oat milk (sometimes I use half milk/half hot water).
2. Mix in 1 Tbsp Everyday Dose Coffee Alternative and 1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup.
3. Stir well to combine and enjoy!

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