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Why bother with a coffee substitute when the real thing tastes so good?
Well, there’s a lot of debate out there about whether or not coffee is healthy for you.
For folks without health challenges, there may be some reason to think it is OK, but for anyone with candida or adrenal issues or copper toxicity, I would say that getting off of coffee asap would be a good thing.
We can touch on that in another post, but today I would like to share with you a naturally caffeine-free alternative that tastes great and is good for you as well!
I personally got off of coffee about a year ago. It wasn’t easy and I will share with you how to do it at some point. But one thing that really helped was having another great tasting option that I could have every morning instead of that “cup of Joe.”
Ever wonder why it’s called “Joe”? Me too. Lots of theories out there on the web. Not sure which one is true.
Anyhow, there are just two ingredients in this super simple substitute (well, three, if you include the water 
). It’s that simple.
And not only are you avoiding the caffeine that can be a problem for so many people, but you are also getting the wonderful health benefits of dandelion root. Dandelion roots are great for liver health. And yes, if you really feel adventurous, you don’t have to purchase dandelion roots pre cut, dried and roasted – you can dig them out of your backyard, clean them well, chop and roast them yourself! Don’t know if I’ll be doing that anytime soon, but it’s good to know .
Recipe for Coffee Substitute
Ingredients
1 Tbsp chicory root, granulated and roasted (I purchase Frontier brand, by the pound)
1 Tbsp dandelion root, granulated and roasted (I purchase Frontier brand as well. See notes below).
32 – 35 ounces (About 4 cups, plus a little) water – preferably filtered.
Method
For Lucky French Press Owners:
1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Put chicory and dandelion root in the press.
3. Add water to french press.
4. Let stand for at least 4 minutes.
5. Depress plunger slowly.
6. Enjoy!
If you do not have a french press, then you can alternatively
1. Place water, chicory root and dandelion root in a pot.
2. Boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
3. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and serve.
Notes
1. Initially I was using plain (not roasted) dandelion root, and my coffee alternative tasted just fine, but it is so much richer with the roasted roots. Don’t know how I missed this! Today was my first day with really rich coffee substitute. Yum!
2. If you like flavoring your “coffee”, here are some great options for you:
- Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon to your press along with the chicory and dandelion roots. If you don’t have a press then add it to the pot and simmer with the grounds.
- I love sweetening my coffee substitute with a scoop (1/32 of a tsp – that’s all it takes!) of stevia extract and then topping it off with a little flavored liquid stevia. Right now my favorite is Sweetleaf’s hazelnut. Sweetleaf’s English Toffee and French Vanilla are also really nice! Puzzled about stevia? I recommend NuNaturals, but I have heard great things about Sweetleaf’s as well. (Tip: don’t be daunted by the price – a little goes a LONG way.)
- Of course, a bit of carob or cocoa powder is nice too. I used to put a 1/2 Tbsp or 1 Tbsp roasted carob powder into the french press. What a rich tasting treat!
- I plan to share some additional wonderful flavoring options for coffee soon – so stay tuned by subscribing to my blog!
3. I love topping my coffee substitute with freshly made Homemade Coconut Milk. Of course, I’ll use the milk that’s already been made as well, but when it’s freshly made, it has a wonderful frothy topping that reminds me of frothed milk. See my post on Easiest Homemade Coconut Milk.
4. When I pour my first cup, it is super hot. Just drop 1-2 ice cubes in your mug before pouring in your coffee substitute and you can enjoy right away!
5. For best taste and health, please use filtered water. See my post, Is Your Water Safe?
6. You can purchase roasted dandelion root or just roast in the oven on a cookie sheet until nicely browned. Often I just toast it in a pan over a medium-low heat. Just watch it. It starts to burn easily…not that I’ve ever done that .)
Interested in a french press yet ? Wondering why you should bother? Read more in my post on The Best French Press. I put a lot of research into this. Save time and find out which one I use and love.
- No plastic parts
- Super sturdy
- Insulated
- and attractive to boot!
I so hope you enjoy this and that it helps you in your quest to break yourself of the caffeine habit. Your adrenals will thank you.
Some things you might enjoy in your coffee or coffee substitute:
- Easiest Coconut Milk – Made Smoother
- Easiest Almond Milk Ever
- Homemade Rice Milk
- DIY Vanilla Liquid Stevia
- DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice (for the makings of a Pumpkin Latte)
Do you plan to stop drinking coffee – let’s encourage each other to kick the caffeine habit !
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer.
Shared at Diet, Dessert, and Dogs
I don’t drink much coffee, I’ll have probably 10 cups of coffee in a year if that, and I always get decaf. I love the taste of coffee, so how does this recipe taste? I’m intrigued by this recipe, I’ll bookmark it and will try to make this.
Can’t wait to check out your homemade coconut milk, sounds like a money saving tip!:)
Hi Lisa. I will say that I really like how this tastes. And I LOVE coffee. I’m thinking I could make a coffee ice cream recipe out of this. I’ll be happy to hear what you think!
I’ve actually done this and loved it! Dug up the roots too. It was fun, and the house smelled wonderful while it roasted. I’ve gotten a bit lazy and have been using Dandy Blend, which even my son enjoys, but it’s still the most fun doing everything from scratch. Great post!
Wow – Diane! I’d be interested in the root thing just to have an excuse to do something with the dandelions! I love Dandy Blend too, but it’s a bit too pricey. Thanks!
I’m not quite ready to give up coffee just yet, but I have a friend who is suffering from some skin issues and has had to give it up. She has seen some great results. She does miss her coffee though. I’ve passed this along. I’ll also keep this in mind for the day (hopefully soon) when I’m ready to kick the habit.
Thanks, France. I hope this helps your friend!
You’ve done it again, Adrienne!! I am so going to try this. I was just getting ready to blog about my wonderful sugar free/dairy free cappuccino using your wonderful recipe for Coconut Milk. I LOVE the froth!!!! But now I am super excited to try dandelion root. Hmmmm. I’ve been reading how acidic coffee is and Candida loves an acidic body. Thanks for sharing a good alternative.
You’re welcome, Kathleen! Thanks for your kind words! I so hope you love it and I’ll have to check out your posts – would you mind sending the link?
I am reading this drinking a cup of the real thing…I know it’s not the greatest, but there are some grey mornings I like a bit of a jolt…
I will be ordering the alternatives, thanks for linking!
Blessings
my new favorite::
http://bit.ly/wyGIcY
You’re welcome! I know – I like the jolt too, but my body doesn’t like the after effects. Hope you like it!
I’ll have to give this a try! For other great diet changing ideas to help with adrenal fatigue, check out Marcelle Pick’s latest book “Are You Tired and Wired?” She includes a 30-day Eating Program and recipes to help jump start the process.
Thanks for the book recommendation! I love Why Am I Always So Tired by Gittleman. I’ll check it out!
Ohh, I know I need to give up the juice but I can’t do it with chicory! I need to keep looking. But I am sending this on to a friend from Lousianna who is trying to give it up but loves chicory.
Have you tried it w/ the dandelion? How about with coconut milk and liquid stevia? And carob perhaps? I must say it’s pretty good
. Just trying to help!
I’m hoping to give up coffee, but I’m hoping to not have to make this to replace it. I really just want to drink my water in the morning and be on my way. My husband makes the coffee, and I have a feeling he won’t make this for me! I’ll keep this in mind just in case.
I’d like to just do water as well. I will say, however, that the things I’ve read about dandelion root are encouraging!
Thanks for linking your great post to FAT TUESDAY. This was very interesting! Hope to see you next week!
Be sure to visit RealFoodForager.com on Sunday for Sunday Snippets – your post from Fat Tuesday may be featured there!
http://realfoodforager.com/fat-tuesday-january-17-2012/
Share your great fermented food recipes at my Probiotic Food Linky – open through Februray 6, 2012.
http://realfoodforager.com/probiotic-food-challenge-linky/
You’re welcome!
Hmmm…very interesting. I just applied for coop membership with Frontier, so I’ll be on the look-out for these.
I forgot to ask. Do you think you could run this through an automatic coffee pot? Or, does it have to steep directly in the hot water?
Yes, Pam – you can. I will say, however, that you may need to play with the measurements and add some extra since the french press makes the “coffee” richer. Thanks for asking. If you try it I’d like to know because I don’t have a coffee maker anymore. Actually, maybe I do still have my old one and a filter or two – I’ll see and maybe give it a try!
I drank lots of roasted dandelion this summer (I’ve had more of a chai craving this winter
If possible I put out the dandelion and water in a pot the night before then in the morning I would slowly simmer it for about 20min to a few hours. This way I’m not only getting a great coffee replacement but I’m also getting the liver-loving benefits of dandelion root. A cold water soak and slow simmer are ideal for getting the inulin out of the root.
Hi Rachel, are you soaking the roasted granules? And do you get a sweeter drink as a result of getting the inulin out?
I am soaking the roasted granules. Most recently I’ve used dried dandelion root from Frontier although the pieces are larger than the roasted dandelion I got from Mountain Rose Herbs (and not quite as tasty as MRH). I don’t know that it changes much with the flavor but then I’ve only ever made it on the stove top letting it simmer for at least a few minutes. I’m eager to get some chicory and add that in to see how it changes the flavor. Buying a pound of each makes a lot of beverage and is way cheaper than the Teechino or DandyBlend I’ve used before.
Thanks for the info, Rachel – I’ll have to check out MR Herbs too. Frontier’s prices have been great. The roasted dandelion root from Frontier is more expensive but the granules have a really rich flavor and they are much smaller than the unroasted. I was grinding / chopping mine until I bought the roasted by mistake
.
I found a pound of organic roasted chicory root for only $9.00 at mountainroseherbs.com. I buy all my herbs there since they are so reasonable and organic!
This is a great recipe.
I don’t think I can ever give up my coffee; I’m pretty satisfied keeping it to a minimum. Good job thinking of a great substitute, though! And thanks for linking up to Healthy 2Day Wednesday!
Hi Anne! I wouldn’t have given it up if I didn’t have too. Love it. Thanks for stopping by!
.
That’s such an interesting idea, and nice that it is good for you too! I gave up caffeine for about six months a few years ago, and I really missed it. It’s amazing how much we depend on it!
Hi April. Yes, it was a real toughy for me. Made me feel like I really had an addiction. In fact, it really is. I am trying now to learn that when I am tired I need to listen to my body
.
I love coffee and I’m going through such a rough time now without it. I am pregnant so I limited it to a cup per week.
Instead of coffee I drink a lot of INKA. It’s a Polish drink that taste almost like coffee but without that strong taste and scent:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inka_%28beverage%29
In America you can buy in online or from your European local store (if you have one). You should try it.
I would be very interested in this but I would need to know the ingredients since I am off of gluten and a lot of these drinks have gluten from barley. Thanks for the suggestion!
it’s got: chicory, roasted barley, rye, sugar beet in it.
Oh well – guess I need to stick with my formula
.
too bad. it’s really delicious!
I have given up a lot of things but never coffee
Blog question. Do you use a WP plugin for your recipes. Not fond of the one I’m trying.
Hi Jill. If you mean the “Printable” function it’s called “Print This.” I like it – there are some others I’ve seen in action that I like a little better, but no time to change it right now
.
I don’t know if I’d like this. Trader Joes has a coffee blend with chicory and I HATED it!
Never tried it. I’d be interested in hearing what you think!
Thx! I just printed this off to try! Just today, my sister-in-law taught me to use a spoonful of unsulphured blackstrap molasses in a cup of boiling water. Who would have ever thought to do that! It looks just like coffee. We added a little half-in-half. It was really delicious and we were pretty happy that we got a dose of calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, folate, potassium, manganese, zinc…need I go on!
You’re welcome! Hope you like it! Nice molasses tip. I know it’s quite good for you.
Great post! Thanks for linking up to the Tuesday Talent Show! I hope to see you again next week!
-Nikki
Chef in Training
http://www.chef-in-training.com
Thanks! Hopefully see you next week!
I found your blog via a linky party over at Common Sense Homesteading blog. I went gluten free on September 1, and just recently started the GAPS diet. One of the first things to go was coffee. I would drink Dandy Blend, which is a gluten free, herbal coffee alternative, that has some dandelion root in it, among other things…but I’ve been looking for just chickory. Thanks for posting a link to where I can find some
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 
Yea! Enjoy! I like dandy blend as well.
I tried chicory and dandelion and I like to add some cinnamon. It tastes pretty good. Thanks for linking up to the Living Well Blog Hop! I can’t wait to see what you link up next week.
Thanks, Jo! See you next week!
I love coffee, especially lattes, and don’t want to give it up but I may have to. Thanks for linking this post to Ricki’s Wellness Weekend. Now I know there is an alternative besides decaf (which is not always totally caffeine-free).
Hi Gretchen! Nice to meet you – also, decaf has a lot of copper in it which can be a real problem for those struggling w/ adrenal issues. Hope to see you around!
I should have mentioned that both regular and decaf have a lot of copper in them. I will be posting more on that in the future. Take care!
A coffee substitute? Awesome!
Thank you so much for sharing your talent and creativity on “A Little Birdie Told Me…” at Rook No. 17! Looking forward to seeing what inspirations you’ll share tomorrow!
Warmest wishes,
Jenn
Thanks, Jenn! Hope you like it! I’ll be over to share something I think – but life has been really crazy here
.
Super interesting! I wonder if my hubby would switch?
Worth a shot…I’ll share tips for getting off of coffee soon hopefully!
Sounds like an interesting combination! I don’t like coffee myself – more of a tea drinker!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by, Jill!
Have you ever tried Teeccino? It’s a good option if someone doesn’t have time or ingredients to mix up their own coffee substitute. Here’s a short review I wrote on it a few months back.
http://healthynbalanced.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/teeccino-mocha-definate-coffee-replacer/
Haven’t tried it – I’m sure I’d like it, however it has barley and dried fruits. I’m off of dried fruits and barley (due to gluten). Thanks anyhow
.
i am brand new to the world of blogging and just started my own site. I am absolutely loving your information. It is really helpful in my conversion to a healthier lifestyle. Living in the Midwest is wonderful but unfortunately not the center of healthy living. Thank you for your information. I am truly enjoying it. I would appreciate your comments on my site http://www.huntingforfaithandhappiness.com
Have a great day.
Welcome to the blogging world, Sheila. Not sure where you are in IL but we used to live there. I wish you well on your new journey. I am on wordpress, but you might find some of the info on my blogging info page to be helpful. And I would, by the way, recommend wordpress enthusiastically if you are in this for the long haul. Take care!
thanks for joining the Frugal Tuesday Tip. http://juliecache.com/2012/01/30/frugal-tuesday-tip-53/.html see you next week?
Hopefully see you then!
This reminds me of a tea I have been drinking. Mate Factor is the brand (Dark Roast). It has roasted yerba mate, roasted chicory, roasted barley and roasted carob. It’s really good. Got it at my local health food store.
Sounds great! I love adding carob to this also while it is brewing in the press, but it does add carbs to the final product for those w/ carb issues.
Hi Adrienne ! I am not a “Whole New Mom,” but a ‘Whole OLD Mom’.
I love your site that I just stumble upon bc I’m also kind of an
old hippie, vegan, & enjoy doing things the way my grandmother
did, being frugal, re-purposing, etc.
Thanx for all of the hard work !
You’re welcome – and well, depending on your perspective, I’m not young either.
. Welcome!
Interesting. I’ve heard of, but never actually seen a recipe for coffee alternative. I don’t like coffee to begin with, but my parents may possibly have it running thru their veins. I may try this out on them. Found you thru Chef-in-Training. Appreciate your sharing this information. Always good to have this tucked away for the future.
Thanks for your encouragement! I know what you mean about the veins. I went to college w/ a woman who drank 6 cups a day and still slept fine. Don’t know if she’s sleeping fine now, though
. Hope to see you around again!
Adrienne, I tried this just now and just realized my dandelion root was not roasted. Bummer. I like the taste, but mine does not taste like coffee at all. Is it suppose to?
Kathleen from Provibdence Farms recently posted..Imposter Creme Brulee
I think it does but not if the dandelion isn’t roasted.
I was thinking I would like to purchase these organic but they are not available organic,granulated. Is it necessary for them to be granulated?
Which item are you talking about – the chicory or the dandelion?
http://www.iherb.com/Frontier-Natural-Products-Organic-Roasted-Chicory-Root-16-oz-453-g/31006
http://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Organic-Dandelion-1-pound/dp/B003AYEHGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333547117&sr=8-1
Thank you for your input!
Diane, I’ve bought that Frontier product. I like it a lot. The other one might be a little too big. You can use it either way I think. I’ve just ground mine a bit in a coffee grinder to make it more like coffee grounds. Hope you enjoy it! I hope to have other nice “coffee helpers” soon!
Hi! I was going to order from Rose Mountain Herb. Not sure if I should order the regular or the powder. Which do you recommend?
Regular for sure. If you would be so inclined to support my site by going through my affiliate link I’d greatly appreciate it. Here it is: Mountain Rose Herbs.
I have a cup of coffee every few years, gave up with noted exception about 35 years ago. I really loved mine extra strong and frequent! You have just reminded me of when I 1st gave up and used a shop bought dandelion coffee instead. I mostly drink Red bush or Rooibosch tea these days but being reminded of the mellow taste of dandelion root I may just dig some up and roast it! My veggie patch would be grateful too! Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome! I’ve got a bucket of dandelions waiting to be washed right now!
Oh my gosh! I just got the chicory and dandelion I ordered after I saw this recipe and made a pot. WOWZA….it tastes really good! Thank you for the recipe
Yea! So glad! I am sipping it now too!
Well, anyone who says WOWZA wins me over. I have to try this now. I have been wanting to get off of coffee (well, I sort of want to
Did I say “wowza”??
Whoops! I was trying to reply to Carol Nathan!!!!
Sherry Fredley recently posted..The Ultimate Gluten Free Bean List: 101 Bean Recipes
I need to get off the coffee and this is something to think about. I guess I am not looking forward to the ‘roasting’ and I drink iced coffee, really strong….. But thanks for the info on the french press, I have wanted one!!!
You can buy it roasted if you like. Hope you enjoy it!
Well, now I seem to not have any excuses to get off of coffee……hhhmmmmm….. and just in time for the New Year too, isn’t that fancy.
Thank you for the help- it just keeps getting better and better over here at Whole New Mom!!
You’re welcome much.
You can buy the dandelion already roasted as well. You’re welcome!
do you roast the chicory and dandelion? Or do they come roasted? How do you roast them if you have to do it?
I think I wrote this in the post. I buy the chicory roasted and the dandelion not b/c it is a fortune to buy roasted. Check the post and LMK.
Would this work in the K-Cup basket (where you fill your own coffee/tea in)?? I got rid of our “traditional” coffee pot and don’t have a French Press.
I don’t see why not – let us know!
I drink a glass every morning and sometimes one in the afternoon. I bought a tea ball and it works great. Thanks for the recipe!
Jess
Great idea!!! Thanks!
Check out Dandyblend too… It’s super good. http://www.amazon.com/Dandy-Blend-Singles-25-pack/dp/B000W9QLDY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1362239671&sr=8-4&keywords=dandy+blend many local stores carry it here.
I like that but it’s a little pricey
.
Adrienne – I was so glad to see this recipe for coffee substitute. I am recovering from adrenal fatigue, mild dysbiosis, mild candida, with several food sensitivities/intolerances, and have been off-and-on with coffee for a couple of years. I went cold-turkey off of both coffee and chocolate when I started having a lot of heart flutters/palps, a few weeks ago. Anyway, when I read about your recipe, I bought a bag of roasted dandelion and chicory root (expensive!!)right away. The first day, I swilled down at least two large mugs, and was so happy. The second day, my stomach was upset, and after researching, found that dandelion can produce excess acid in the stomach. So I made some with just the chicory and couldn’t understand why I was so sluggish and tired (that darned being off coffee!!), and researched that chicory is a sedative!! So, just beware in case anyone else has these reactions. I am so sad, because this was a delicious substitute, that unfortunately won’t work for me.
Very interesting and disconcerting. I will have to think about this. My understanding is that dandelion root is super good for the liver but I will check into this…..Thanks for sharing.
By the way, Barb, I am for sure no doctor, but I have read over and over that as we age there is less stomach acid so that part doesn’t really give me too much concern at all. But I will look into the chicory. Thanks again! Maybe if you read my post on rosacea you will see what I mean. One of the health bloggers whom I respect a bunch, Divine Health from the Inside Out, says so many people are deficient in stomach acid.
Hey, this sounds wonderful! Do you think this would steep well in a normal tea bag?
Yes, I do.
I have moderate adrenal fatigue which I am working on overcoming and healing. I do have to say that sometimes coffee sounds better than herbal tea… but I can’t drink coffee, even decaffeinated coffee. So I have found that Pero with carob powder, stevia, raw milk and homemade vanilla extract tastes divine. I can’t have chocolate, especially raw cacao because of the theobromine… so that is why I use carob. Once healed my doctor says he thinks I will be able to start eating chocolate again, which is good, since I have an awesome recipe for homemade chocolate with raw cacao, coconut oil, honey, etc.
You can still use the carob to make the chocolate recipe–please share
!
I’ve been cutting down on coffee by brewing up a mixture of roasted dandelion root and real coffee, for a few years now. (And I have to admit to liking a teaspoon of honey it it….
)
Another way to spice it up is to add a sprinkle of cardamon – they add this to the strong black coffee in the Middle East, and it goes very well. Try it!
Hmmm…Might have to go try the cardamom now
.