Coffee alternatives: 10 healthy stimulants

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Coffee is appreciated worldwide for its fine taste and wake-up effect. Especially on Mondays, we like to drink a cup or two too much.

However, if consumed in the wrong dose or at the wrong time, coffee can also cause a racing heart, sweaty palms, and increased stress or digestive problems. But you can’t do without it. That’s why coffee alternatives are sometimes needed.

In recent years, matcha, the ground green tea from Japan, has become a trendy drink. Frothed milk or milk substitute is an ideal alternative to cappuccino and the like. Although matcha contains more caffeine than coffee, the body processes it differently. The caffeine in matcha is bound to the tannin and is, therefore, not immediately released into the bloodstream in the stomach but only in the digestive tract. This leads to a slower release of caffeine, which keeps you constantly awake for several hours.

Black tea
Black tea is one of the best-known and most popular alternatives to coffee, and not just in the UK. It is valued as a stimulant and tastes excellent with lemon and milk. The best thing about it: on average, a cup of black tea contains around ten milligrams less caffeine (or tein) than a cup of coffee. Despite the lower amount of caffeine, it has a weaker effect but keeps you awake much longer. However, it is important to note that the content can vary considerably depending on the type of black tea, so it is worth researching before buying.

Mate
Mate is an infusion drink made from the leaves of the mate tree and can be drunk both hot and cold. This stimulant has been particularly popular since some drink manufacturers started offering mate in lemonades – at universities, in the office, or at celebrations in vodka and prosecco mate mixes. Mate is, therefore, the ideal coffee alternative for those who would also like to experience a cold energy boost. However, those who want to reduce caffeine are less well advised to try mate, as at 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres, it contains hardly any less than ordinary filter coffee.
Guarana powder
Guarana powder is a good alternative for those who don’t want to miss out on the taste of coffee and its stimulating effect. The fine and slightly nutty taste is similar to that of coffee, and the colour of the brewed powder is reminiscent of filter coffee. Guarana has similar benefits to matcha, as the caffeine in the guarana bean is also bound to tannins. This leads to a slower and gentler breakdown of the caffeine, resulting in a more pleasant and longer-lasting feeling of alertness.

Chai Latte
The Indian spiced tea, refined with ginger, cloves, and cinnamon, among other things, usually has a black tea base and therefore contains caffeine. However, it has an extremely low caffeine content compared to coffee. In contrast to a cup of coffee containing 50 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, depending on how it is prepared and roasted, an average cup of chai has around a third of the caffeine content. In addition, it is often diluted with a little milk substitute, which makes it even milder. It is particularly worth mentioning that it is not only the caffeine in chai that stimulates the metabolism and concentration, but the cinnamon and ginger are also said to have vitalizing effects.

Green tea
Green tea is ideal for fans of bitter substances and those who want to reduce caffeine significantly but not completely do without it. With an average amount of 20 to 30 milligrams of caffeine per 100 milliliters, green tea contains significantly less caffeine than coffee. Green tea is also known for its dehydrating effect and is said to positively affect blood sugar levels.

Teas with a stimulating effect
Tea with ginger and lemon, tea with ginger and ginseng, and dandelion tea with Chaga mushroom, for example, are completely caffeine-free. They all contain ingredients that stimulate circulation, metabolism, and concentration. These teas are also real vitamin boosters that further strengthen the immune system.

Barley or spelt coffee
Cereal coffees have experienced a renaissance recently, having long been known only from war documentaries and the like. Due to their deceptively realistic imitation of the taste of real coffee beans and their low cost for a long time, they were a popular warming agent at the front. Cereal coffee is also ideal for those who suffer from heartburn after drinking coffee, as it is much less acidic than bean coffee.

Decaffeinated coffee
Of course, decaffeinated coffee is also an uncomplicated option for anyone who wants to reduce their caffeine consumption without giving up the taste of coffee. However, it is important to note that there is no such thing as completely “decaffeinated coffee”, as it is always “decaffeinated” afterwards, which can leave small residual amounts of caffeine behind.