What To Drink When You’re Not Drinking (Coffee)
Like most of the world, I love my morning coffee. I mean really love. After my first trimester nausea subsided, I even drank it all throughout my pregnancy (after all, Emily Oster said I could). Coffee is said to be healthy in moderation. In fact, consumption has been consistently associated with a reduced risk of chronic disease. But for some reason, I wasn’t feeling it after having the baby. So, for the past three months (and counting), I’ve been leading a coffee-free life. And you know what? I don’t miss it that much. I know I’ll drink it again one day (probably soon), but, in the meantime, I thought it would be worth sharing a few morning beverages I’m loving right now that aren’t coffee. Because, every so often, it’s nice to take a break! And when you do, it’s comforting to know there are alternative beverages to ease the pain.
On the note of taking a break, Whitney Tingle, one of the founders of Sakara Life, shared her thoughts on coffee not long ago, and her post resonated with me. We all have widely varying experiences and responses to stimuli. Coffee is no exception. A single cup of coffee might leave one person anxious and jittery, and another person completely unaffected. Not to bring up the Glucose Goddess again (sorry, I LOVE HER), but she just talked about this too. In some people, black coffee will spike blood sugar, while in others, it won’t. Science has even shown that the way our bodies metabolize caffeine is linked to genetics. I took the 23 and Me test a few years ago and was pleased to learn that I metabolize caffeine well. Even still, I took a break from coffee because I thought my nervous system might benefit in this transition to motherhood. So, if you drink it regularly and love it, you might not need to ever stop. But if you’re interested in mixing it up, even for just a week, below are some beverages that might tickle your fancy during that time :).
1. Matcha. For the past three months, matcha has been my daily driver. I’ve dabbled with making it for years, but it wasn’t until I discovered Pique that it really became something I consistently did. I now prefer making it myself to buying it out. It’s bright, energizing, and smooth with none of the anxiety or crash that comes from too much coffee. It can actually have a calming, stress-reducing effect while still waking you up. Matcha contains L-theanine, which provides a slow release of caffeine and alertness. It’s exactly what I need in the morning with a three-month-old. It has around 38-88 mg of caffeine per serving (vs ~96-100mg in a standard cup of coffee). The energy from matcha is sustained for about 4-6 hours, versus coffee, which typically burns off after about 3 hours.
Matcha lovers can get really into the ritual of it, but it doesn’t have to be a long process. Here’s how I like to make it: empty one sachet of Pique’s matcha powder (love that they’re pre-portioned) into a spacious mug. Pour hot water over that and mix! There are two ways to do this: with a bamboo whisk or with an electric frother. I am team frother, mostly because time is of the essence these days. If you want to make it more of a latte, simultaneously froth the milk of your choice and pour over (love this frother/steamer). Most days, I go with almond milk (although I try to mix it up to avoid developing a food sensitivity to almonds, which has happened to me before!). To prevent spiking your blood sugar, avoid milk with added sugar. I’ve noticed that I almost always see a spike if I order matcha out, probably because most coffee shops and restaurants use almond milk with added sugar. By the way, the first time I tried making matcha at home, circa maybe 2013, I mixed up the powder ratio and heaped a golf ball size tablespoon of matcha into hot water, only to throw up half an hour later. Thankfully, with pre-portioned sachets like Pique’s, that won’t happen to you, even if it’s your first time.
2. Mud Wtr. This is a coffee alternative made of 100% organic cacao, ayurvedic herbs and functional mushrooms. It has a fraction of the caffeine found in coffee, but still provides energy, focus, and immune support without the jitters, crash, or poor sleep. It is very aptly named, because this beverage looks exactly like mud water. But don’t worry, it tastes much better than it sounds. I also add frothed almond milk on top.
3. Bone Broth. If you read Issue No. 07, you already know I love bone broth. It might not sound like an obvious choice for a morning beverage, but sometimes a mug full of warm bone broth is incredibly soothing and energizing in the AM. This one works particularly well.
4. Mexican Cacao Elixir. Inspired by The Butcher’s Daughter’s drink menu, this spicy, healthy ‘hot chocolate’ is a functional, satisfying pick-me-up with no cortisol impact. Mix 1-2tbsp cacao powder with a pinch of cayenne, reishi, almond milk and (optional) maple syrup (this one has no sugar).
5. Turmeric Ginger Latte. Sometimes referred to as ‘golden milk,’ this can be the perfect warming, energizing, and caffeine-free drink to start your morning. It’s important to make sure you include a fat, like coconut oil or ghee, as well as black pepper in your recipe. I’m working on a newsletter dedicated to the benefits of turmeric, but (spoiler alert) — studies show that fat, as well as piperine (a compound in freshly ground black pepper) help us absorb the curcumin in turmeric up to 1,000 times better. It’s the curcumin that is responsible for turmeric’s famous anti-inflammatory properties.
6. Tea. This one is obvious and already widely celebrated. For tips on ‘better tea,’ take a peek at Issue No. 3.
So there you have it! If you’re in the mood to try something other than coffee, I think you’ll find these beverages do the trick!