Today, I want to talk about coffee.

If you told me 5 years ago that I would no longer be a coffee drinker, I would have straight up laughed.
But here I am this morning, watching the sun rise and sipping a foamy cup of Dandy Blend - happy as can be.

2 years ago, I gave up coffee completely - and now, I want to share why I did, how I did it, and what I drink instead.

My journey with coffee

I started drinking coffee back when I was 16. At first, it was just an occasional treat purchased while out on a date with friends. But slowly, coffee made it’s way into my daily routine. It started with a cup on the weekends, and then one every morning, and then a second in the afternoon. Before I knew it, I was drinking a minimum of 2-3 cups per day just to keep awake.

I love the taste of coffee. The smell of a fresh brew first thing in the morning, it’s earthy, bitter taste, and that pleasurable feeling when you take the first sip - it’s a whole experience.

But what I thought would be a life-long relationship came to a sudden halt 3 years ago, when I started to experience a whole list of health complaints: bloating, cramps, loose stools, trouble sleeping, and feeling “anxious” all the time. After a visit with my naturopathic doctor, I was encouraged to do 3 things: remove a few food sensitivities, take a couple of supplements, and stop drinking caffeine.

How caffeine affects the gut

Caffeine (and in particular, the type of caffeine found in coffee) negatively affects our gut in two main ways: First, caffeine is a natural laxative. This means it promotes bowel movements by increasing the rate at which food moves through our digestive system. If you’re already experiencing loose stools or having trouble absorbing nutrients, going to the bathroom more frequently means an increased chance of malabsorption. And if you struggle with IBS, diarrhea, or constipation, coffee will likely make symptoms worse. Second, caffeine is inherently “acidic”. Acidic foods can irritate our gut lining, increase digestive issues, and contribute to ‘leaky gut’.

Coffee, anxiety, and hormone imbalance

Have you ever finished a cup of coffee, and suddenly felt your heart begin to race? Does caffeine make you feel jittery, shaky, anxious for no reason, “wired and tired”, and unable to sleep? That’s because coffee is a stimulant. It “stimulates” our mind and nervous system, switching us from a state 'of “rest and digest” to a state of “fight or flight”. Caffeine also stimulates our body to release the stress hormone cortisol. If we’re drinking coffee on a regular basis, we’re constantly stressing our body out. To much coffee encourages blood sugar to rise and crash, creating a vicious stress cycle and negatively impacting other hormones. When one hormone becomes out of balance, so do the rest!

My dependancy + addiction

Aside from worsening gut issues and over-stimulating my already active mind, there was one unhealthy affect that was more than just physical - it was emotional. When I really reflected on my relationship with coffee, I realized my addiction was more deep routed then simply loving the taste. For years, I used caffeine as a crutch.

Coffee gave me the false belief that I didn’t need sleep. I found myself in a routine of staying up late and waking up early - convinced that sleep wasn’t important or necessary. Instead of allowing myself deep rest, I relied on coffee for energy (when really, my adrenal glands desperately needed support!) I also used coffee in unhealthy ways, like drinking a cup when I was hungry to suppress my appetite.

A note - every body is unique and individual. What works for me may not work for you. Instead of labelling caffeine as “good” or “bad”, I encourage you to tune in and re-evaluate your personal relationship with coffee. Why do you drink it? How does it make you feel?

What I drink instead

When I finally decided to give up coffee, my one requirement was to have an alternative that was actually enjoyable and tasted somewhat similar. If I can’t have coffee, I at least want to feeeeeel like I’m having coffee, right?! Unfortunately, many coffee alternatives on the market don’t taste even remotely close, and often contain weird filler ingredients.

After lots of experimentation, I wanted to share this list of the best coffee alternatives I’ve found. Dandy Blend, by far, takes the cake. Out of every caffeine alternative I’ve tried, nothing compares to Dandy Blend. It’s the closest drink I’ve found to “real coffee”, and contains all those delicious, earthy, slightly bitter sweet notes. Letting go of coffee isn’t easy, but it’s a whole lot easier when you have a delicious replacement to sip on.

Dandy Blend is a powdered blend of roasted barley, rye, chicory root, dandelion root, and sugar beet extracts. But no, it doesn’t contain gluten. That’s because the extracts of these plants are used, and not the whole plant itself! Dandy Blend is smooth, rich, full-bodied, and actually tastes like coffee. But the best part is the ingredients list! As a holistic nutritionist, I deeply care about the ingredients in my food. Unlike your typical coffee alternative (which usually contains gluten + fillers), Dandy Blend incorporates medicinal plants that support our internal health and well-being.

Other herbal coffee alternatives:

Dandelions

Chicory

Rooibos

Cacao

Carob

Purchase Dandy Blend Here:

Creamy Dandelion “Coffee” Latte Recipe:

2 tsp Dandy Blend
1 tbsp coconut butter
A mug full of hot water
Optional add-in’s
1/2 tsp vanilla
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend for about 1 minute until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, add ingredients to a pot and warm on the stovetop to let the coconut butter dissolve. Pour into your favourite mug, and sip slowly.

This post is in partnership with Dandy Blend, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. By purchasing product through my link, I make a small commission without any additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Wholistically Hannah and making this blog possible!

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My Coffee Journey + Why I Made the Switch