Rich and Delicious Coffee Substitute

Posted onJanuary 16, 2012July 13, 2021 Updated onJuly 13, 2021

This Homemade Coffee Substitute is just the thing if you're wanting to ditch caffeine, or just want a cuppa in the evening. It not only tastes great, but it's seriously good for you and is so easy to make!

Why bother with a coffee substitute, and a homemade coffee substitute at that, when the real thing tastes so good?

For folks without health challenges, coffee can be a healthy choice, but for anyone with candida or adrenal issues or thyroid disease, coffee can be a real problem due to it being a stimulant.

If that's you, or if you'd like to get off of coffee for some other reason, this is a naturally caffeine-free alternative that tastes great and is good for you as well.

There are just two ingredients in this super simple substitute (well, three, if you include the water :-)). It's that simple.

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 an option.

My Love of Coffee

I used to drink TONS of it.

I'm not sure when my coffee habit started, but it really got exacerbated when I worked on a trading floor just after coming back from living overseas in Japan for a year.

Somehow (long story), I ended up working as a trading assistant, en route to becoming an options trader on the floor of the Philadelphia Options Exchange. I ended up taking a sideway path and landed a teaching position at the Chicago Board of Options Exchange instead, but that's another story.

Anyhow, it was tough. Tough environment and early mornings, and I leaned heavily on coffee.

Too heavily.

Loads of it with loads of milk and saccharine.

Not a good idea.

In fact, I remember literally drinking 2 REALLY big cups of the stuff just to get me going in the morning, and I do mean REALLY big.

Getting Off of Coffee

Anyhow, years later, when my adrenal and thyroid issues came to a head, I needed to change things, and coffee needed to go.

It took a long time but I finally did it.

One thing that really helped was having another great tasting option that I could have every morning instead of that "cup of Joe."

I recommend going off of coffee gradually instead of cold turkey. Try replacing 1/4 of your coffee with this substitute for 3 days in a row, then 1/2 for 3 days, then 3/4, and then, you're done!

My favorite way to drink this coffee substitute is as follows:

My Favorite Way to Enjoy Coffee Substitute

1 cup of coffee substitute
Top with Homemade Coconut Milk
1 scoop of stevia (read this post on How to Use Stevia)
A squirt of liquid stevia (one I like is KAL Caramel Cream but Lakanto's Drops are amazing--get 20% off with code wholenewmom!. You can also try making your own Homemade Liquid Stevia)
Sometimes I add about 1/4 teaspoon cocoa or carob
Dash of salt (I recommend Real Salt)
1 tablespoon of collagen powder for added protein
About 1 teaspoon coconut oil

I have to say, this is just delicious! I drink at least 2 1/2 cups of this every single morning in my "Best French Press", and if I feel like it, I will make more later in the day.

Interested in a french press and wondering which one you should buy? Read more in my post on The Best French Press.

I put a lot of research into this, so you can save time by finding out which one I use and love.

- No plastic parts
- Super sturdy
- Insulated
- and attractive to boot!

Other Great Add-ins for This Coffee Substitute:

- Easiest Almond Milk Ever
- Homemade Rice Milk
- DIY Vanilla Liquid Stevia
- DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice (for the makings of a Pumpkin Latte)

Recipe Notes and Substitutions

Roasted Dandelion Root: 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. I have no idea why I wasn't doing this from the start! Today was my first day with really rich coffee substitute, and boy did it taste great!
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, but you have to really watch it. It starts to burn easily...not that I've ever done that :-).)
Coconut Milk: I love topping my coffee substitute with freshly-made Homemade Coconut Milk. Of course, I'll also use the milk that's already been made, but when it's freshly made, it has a wonderful frothy topping that reminds me of frothed milk. For more details, please see my post on Easiest Homemade Coconut Milk.
Ice Cubes: 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!
Filtered Water: For best taste and health, please use filtered water. See my post, Is Your Water Safe?

Flavoring Options: If you like flavoring your "coffee", the following are some great options for you:

Add 1/2 teaspoon 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 teaspoon - 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 tablespoon or 1 tablespoon 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!

I so hope you enjoy this and that it helps you in your quest to break yourself from the caffeine habit. Your adrenals will thank you.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chicory root (roasted)
1 tablespoon dandelion root (roasted - see notes above)
32 - 35 ounces water (about 4 cups, plus a little) (preferably filtered)

Instructions

For French Press Owners

Bring water to a boil.
Put chicory and dandelion root in the press.
Add water to french press.
Let stand for at least 4 minutes.
Depress plunger slowly.
Add some sweetener of choice - I use stevia plus a dash of salt, Coconut Milk, plus a little coconut oil and some cocoa.
Enjoy!

If you do not have a french press, then you can alternatively

Place water, chicory root and dandelion root in a pot.
Boil and simmer for 2-10 minutes.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer and serve.

Nutrition

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Where to Buy Coffee Substitute

If you don't feel like making your own Homemade Coffee Substitute or just don't have the ingredients right now, here are some great alternatives.

Dandy Blend

Dandy Blend is a great cold or hot instant coffee substitute that's also loaded with the goodness of dandelion (hence the name). It's great for travel when you might not have access to hot water or a stove. It's a tad cheaper on Iherb, plus you should get a discount using that link.

Sip Herbals

Sip Herbals has both plain and lovely flavored options of herbal coffee substitutes. Choose from Salted Caramel to Dirty Chai, Mocha, or plain to suit your taste, or try all of them in the Sampler Pack!

Do you plan to stop drinking coffee - let's encourage each other to kick the caffeine habit :-)!