Looking for a warm mug of something besides coffee or espresso? You have come to the right place! Here are 8 Alternatives to Coffee, aka “Not Coffee” Lattes..
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Cozy up to a warm mug … without the coffee!
Why No Coffee? I have no problem with coffee. I used to drink it every day. And we love our Nespresso machine in our house. I make espresso beverages for my husband all the time and he really craves his daily cappuccino. But not everyone does. And a few years ago, my body was telling me that coffee wasn’t so magical anymore. Our bodies are good at letting us know when we have had too much of something. We just have to try and listen.
For me, I eased away from coffee when I started to feel overly jittery, super tired when I missed my morning latte, headache-y after my usual giant latte and my digestion was too acidic-feeling. I had to pop a Tums a few hours after my usual espresso latte-infused breakfast. So I started looking for alternatives. First I found chai. Then eventually, matcha. But there are a bunch of options that are “not coffee.”
And yes, once in a while I still love an espresso latte, but I definitely do not feel like a coffee addict like I once was. But again, if you are a coffee addict and feel great about it — good for you. Our bodies are all so different, I truly believe coffee affects each of us differently.
I usually stick to matcha for a morning energy-boosting latte. But I also like to change it up with golden lattes, red tea lattes, white hot chocolate and more.
Caffeine. Avoiding caffeine? I have some options for you! A few of these beverages are caffeine free, and others contain caffeine, but not as much as a traditional espresso latte.
Fun Ingredients for NOT COFFEE Lattes..
* chai tea — bags, loose leaf or powder
* red tea (Rooibos) — bags, loose leaf or powder (Blue Lotus powder)
* ginger (fresh and ground)
* cinnamon
* cayenne
* maca powder
* sweeteners (maple, agave, coconut sugar, coconut nectar, stevia)
* non-dairy milks (coconut, almond, soy, hemp, and more..) — Tip: I find soy is the frothiest choice. I usually do almond or soy.
* vanilla powder or paste or extract – or whole beans
* peppermint extract
* turmeric
* matcha green tea powder
* cocoa powder and cocoa butters
* mushroom powders like reishi (they are neutral in flavor believe it or not!)
* carob powder
* cacao magic by Philosophie (for yummy superfood hot chocolate)
* coconut milk or flakes
* What else do you like to put in your not coffee lattes?? Let me know in the comments!
So if you are looking for coffee alternatives, like I was, here are 8 sips to try. And bonus, these are all vegan and dairy-free..
8 “Not Coffee” Lattes
1. Matcha Green Tea Latte
(contains Zenergizing caffeine)
This is one of my favorite “not coffee” lattes. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and has a Zenergizing effect on my day. You can even download my free matcha guide here. I love drinking matcha in the late morning. Tip: You get what you pay for with matcha. My fave latte-perfect matcha is from ENCHA.
1 cup non-dairy milk, warmed
½ cup water, warmed
1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder (I use ENCHA)
sweeten to taste
optional: I like to add peppermint extract and vanilla bean
Method: Warm the non-dairy milk and water to a ‘just under boiling’ temperature. Pour both into a blender along with the matcha and any additional ingredients. Blend until frothy.
2. Cinnamon Rooibos (Red Tea Latte) (caffeine free)
I love Rooibos so much! It is a red tea that is loaded with antioxidants and it is dark red in color, yet caffeine free! It is the richest tea I have found that does not contain caffeine. Perfect for making a red tea latte with. I love Rooibos in the late afternoon or even after dinner. I find warming spices like cinnamon, ginger and even cayenne pair well with Rooibos. Tip: For super easy red tea lattes, I really love Blue Lotus powdered Rooibos chai.
1 cup hot Rooibos tea, brewed from a bag or loose leaf (or try a powder like this one!)
½ cup non-dairy milk, warmed
sweeten to taste (I like 1 teaspoon maple syrup)
⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
optional: ginger powder, cayenne, vanilla bean to taste
Method: Brew the Rooibos tea either using a Rooibos tea bag or loose leaf. Warm the non-dairy milk. Pour both into a blender along with any additional ingredients. Blend until frothy. Top with cinnamon to serve.
3. White Chocolate Coconut (light caffeine from the cocoa butter)
This is a soothing and sexy version of “hot chocolate.” Instead of dark chocolate, I use vegan white cocoa butter and melt it into a coconut-based non-dairy milk. I also add in some vanilla for extra lovely flavor.
1 cup coconut-based non-dairy milk, warmed (not the full fat kind)
1 tablespoon coconut flakes, fine
1 tablespoon white chocolate (I use raw cacao butter)
sweeten to taste
optional: vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste or extract
Method: Warm the coconut milk and pour into blender along with the cacao butter and coconut. Blend from low to high for a minute. This will melt the cacao and also pulverize the coconut. Sweeten to taste and add optional vanilla. Top with white chocolate flakes to serve. Note: The coconut flakes kind of float in the foam which I love. If you want though, you can strain them or omit them and use a splash of coconut milk for more coconut flavor.
4. Melted Hot Chocolate (light caffeine from the chocolate)
This is a basic hot chocolate with a melted trick on top! I grate dark chocolate on top of the foam. It then tastes like you are sipping a light and fluffy chocolate candy bar. So good!
1 ½ cups non-dairy milk, warmed
1 ½ tablespoon vegan dark chocolate or 2-3 teaspoon cacao powder
sweeten to taste (1-2 teaspoon coconut sugar is my choice)
chocolate for grating on top
pinch of sea salt
optional: pinch of cayenne or cinnamon or nutmeg (or all three!)
Method: Warm the milk then add it to a blender along with the chocolate. Blend until smooth. Add sweetener and spices. Pour into serving mug and top with grated chocolate — I use a microplane tool. Tip: To make it a “Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate” I always add in a pinch of cayenne and cinnamon.
5. Hot Pumpkin – recipe here (caffeine free)
Love this fall-seasonal sip!
6. Chai Latte (contains caffeine)
Spicy and warming, chai is made using black tea (usually) and is energizing and warming.
1 cup non-dairy milk, warmed
⅓ cup boiling water
1 black tea “chai” tea bag (any brand you like)
1-2 teaspoon sweetener of choice (I like maple syrup or coconut sugar)
optional: cinnamon and cayenne
Method: Steep tea bag in boiling water, then add warmed milk and sweetener. Blend in blender for extra foamy texture. Add a pinch of cayenne and cinnamon for extra spice.
7. Golden Turmeric Ginger Latte (makes 2 servings) (caffeine free)
Recipe here. This golden turmeric latte is a delicious way to get more turmeric in your life. Love the color and spicy sweet flavor.
1 ½ cups nondairy milk
1 ½ cups water
½ teaspoon turmeric
⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated or very thinly sliced
sweeten to taste (1 tablespoon maple syrup)
on top: cayenne (optional)
optional: ½ teaspoon maca can be a fun addition too
Method: Boil water along with the fresh ginger, for 4-5 minutes. Water will reduce a bit when boiling. Strain out the ginger. In a blender, combine the warmed non-dairy milk with the ginger water, spices and sweetener. Blend until smooth and frothy.
8. Pumpkin Nog – recipe here (caffeine free)
Another seasonal beverage that is sooooo good. I use cashews to create homemade non-dairy milk as the base.
disclosure: contains some Amazon affiliate links — I am an Encha ambassador. But all opinions are my own.
