Nothing tastes exactly like coffee except – well, coffee. If you’re going to live a coffee-free lifestyle, you need to get that through your head right now, because you’re going to be disappointed in every coffee alternative that you try. However, if you sit down and think about what, precisely, coffee has that pleases you, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that you can find other beverages that meet the same “pleasure need”.

You may find that you enjoy the warmth of the beverage (assuming that you’re not an iced coffee lover). If that’s the case, finding an alternate drink will be fairly easy. There are more teas, blends, and herbal beverages than you can shake the proverbial stick at; there’re bound to be several that meet your warmth need with a taste you find pleasing.

Black Tea

If you’re looking for the boost that coffee gives you, especially in times of low energy such as the morning, black teas and chocolate based drinks will give you a hit of caffeine without the bean. If you’ve decided to avoid caffeine, look for herbal blends that carry either a zingy taste or a vitamin and antioxidant boost. Red Zinger tea, by Celestial Seasonings, is one tea that, while caffeine free, offers a kick of flavor that really can help perk you up. Green teas and rooibos teas carry heavy loads of antioxidants, but green teas do pack a smidgen of caffeine, too, so be aware of that.

If you’re a black coffee drinker, you might find that the acidity and bitterness of the drink is what attracts you to that cup o’ joe. Look for blends that will evoke that same bitterness without the coffee.

Finally, the thick creaminess of a cup of coffee with cream and sugar might be your weakness. If this is the case, consider trying a chai latte, the westernized version of masala chai. Made of black tea, spices, milk and sweeteners, this drink can keep you away from the java for good.

Chai Tea

Instead of trying to replicate the taste you’re leaving behind, considering what you like about coffee can help you find a alternative that keeps you happy and healthy.