Three Warm Drinks to Sip on This Fall That Aren’t Coffee

Not a coffee person but still want a cozy warm beverage? Here are three functional drinks to try out this season that are coffee-free and absolutely delicious.

Where did summer go?! 🙁 While I love the warmer months, fall always feels so inviting with the cozy sweaters and changing leaves. Midwestern fall is absolutely beautiful, and part of why I still live in this place.

And just like that, we are in PSL, or “pumpkin spice latte”, season. While I do love the flavor of coffee, and I truly do love pumpkin-flavored things, I personally don’t drink coffee. Before you go “WTF! What’s wrong with you?!” just HEAR me out. I swear I have an explanation lol.

Why I Don’t Drink Coffee

When I was in college, I would get a coffee or latte about once a week, mainly because I loved the taste and the comforting feeling of a little treat. I was never someone who was reliant on it for the caffeine hit or felt the need to drink coffee every single day (and I am very thankful for that!).

During my junior year, I began having terrible reactions to drinking caffeine. Even unsweetened green and black tea was giving me out of body experiences, racing heartbeat, crazy jitters, and raging headaches afterwards! At first I didn’t know what it was, but one day I was able to pin point the problem. So I stopped drinking all caffeine, and all of those weird symptoms went away.

I still am not 100% sure what caused the reaction, but I remember being more stressed and anxious than ever, I was drinking every weekend, and not eating the healthiest diet. This was also around the same time that I quit taking hormonal birth control, or “the pill”, and had done nothing to support my hormones coming off of it. The extra stress of college plus the combination of unhealthy lifestyle factors likely caused a mini caffeine intolerance.

Ever since then I’ve experimented with coffee here and there, and even to this day I try to stay away from it. If I do have it, it’s usually a high quality organic decaf. I also make sure to always have a good meal before drinking it to help curb the effects. I can’t say I don’t consume any caffeine as matcha is now my best friend, but I am more mindful of my consumption, and I’ve learned how to do it in a way that works well for my body.

I’m not hear to villainize coffee either, as I know it does have may benefits! But I’ve learned that for me the cons outweigh the pros. If you’re interested in learning more about coffee and caffeine from a health standpoint, comment below and let me know! It really is a topic that deserves a whole blog post. Otherwise, if you’re looking to learn more about finding what works for you, I do offer wellness coaching. (;

But anywaysss, if you’re like me and coffee isn’t for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a warm frothy drink. There are plenty of other options, and in this post I’m giving you three of my go-to recipes!

Matcha: My Favorite Coffee Alternative

My love for matcha began about four years ago. Matcha is a green tea that has many benefits. It definitely has more of an earthy or grassy taste to it on it’s own. I always drink mine with a little sweetener like maple syrup or honey. Some people simply don’t like the taste of it, but I always say if you really hate it that much, the one you tried probably wasn’t a good one. I never order a matcha when I’m out at a coffee shop because the ones I make at home can’t be beat.

One of the benefits of matcha is that it contains l-theanine, which is an amino acid that helps to promote relaxation. L-theanine can help curb that crash that caffeine sometimes leaves you with. It’s an ideal beverage for those looking to enhance cognitive function without the jittery side effects of coffee. Matcha is rich in antioxidants, which help to neutralize free radicals and protect against disease. It also contains vitamins A, C, and E, and minerals such as minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Many people that have switched their coffee for matcha report better sustained energy throughout the day, better sleep, and even less acne and breakouts.

When buying matcha, I recommend buying organic. You’ll also want to look for a vibrant green color. You can tell when matcha is low quality when it looks brownish and murky. I love Rishi tea, and they are very transparent and particular with their tea sourcing. The quality is always excellent, and if you’re in the area, it’s local too!

Is Matcha a Superfood?

Now before you go thinking this is some super tea that’s a cure all for everything, let me stop you right there. ✋🏻 There’s a lot of talk in the wellness space right now about matcha. Matcha IS amazing, but it cannot fix all of your health problems like some people are currently claiming. It’s not some magical alternative to coffee, it just happens to have different benefits than coffee does. Always remember getting to the root cause of any issues you might be experiencing is what will truly heal you.

People also don’t typically load matcha with sweeteners and added pumps of syrup like some people do with their daily Starbucks venti latte. So before you go swapping your bean water for leaf water, consider if sugar and additives might actually be the culprits to your issues.

The Secret to Fluffy Frothy Drinks: Collagen

Not only do I not drink coffee, but I also don’t drink dairy. Collagen is a great way to add protein to a dairy-free drink and to also create that creamy and voluminous fluff. To get that fluff, you’ll still need to use a frother of some sort, but collagen will help you achieve that texture.

From a health standpoint, when looking for a collagen powder, I recommend getting one that’s grass-fed and organic. There are a lot of collagen powders on the market, and not all are create equal in terms of quality and taste. My faaaavorite collagen to use is the Hydrolyzed Collagen from Perfect Supplements. It’s unflavored and blends so well without leaving a gritty texture, so you can put it into basically anything and not even notice it. If you’d like to try it out I also have a discount code you can use (SUSTAINABLEKAY).

Three Warm Fall Drinks That Aren’t Coffee

Vanilla Collagen Matcha Latte

I already gave you my spiel about how much I love matcha, so now it’s time to share how I make it! The way I typically make matcha is quick and easy for convenience sake, however there are more “proper” ways to make a ceremonial cup. I literally never order a matcha when I go out because how I make it at home is hands down the best. I drink this multiple times per week, and in the summer I drink it iced. It’s SO good and so good for you.

Mushroom Hot Cocoa

Mushrooms have sooo many benefits that can enhance a warm and relaxing beverage. Cordyceps, reishi, chaga, and Lion’s mane contain adaptogens that can help with managing stress, and antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation. They are also wonderful for their immune boosting properties, which comes in handy in the colder months. These mushrooms are commonly found in mushroom cocoa and coffee blends.

This super simple mushroom hot cocoa tastes so decadent, even though it has way less sugar than your typical cocoa. I posted this on my Instagram earlier this year and those that said they tried it loved it! The cocoa I love using is the Om Superfood Msuhroom Blend Hot Cocoa. I always pair this with my homemade gut-healing marshmallows. Let me know if you’d like the recipe for those too (:

Turmeric “Golden Milk” Spice Latte

This turmeric latte, also referred to as golden milk, is the perfect spiced drink for cold months. It contains warming spices like cinnamon and ginger and has just the right amount of sweetness. Not only does it taste comforting, but it comes with a health boost.

As mentioned in my Holistic Immune Support blog post, turmeric has amazing anti-inflammatory properties. It’s such a great thing to supplement and add to your food throughout the colder months, or all year round really. Cinnamon is high in antioxidants and can also help with blood sugar regulation. Ginger is also a great thing to add to food and drinks during colder months for it’s warmth and immune boosting properties. If you’re feeling like a cold is coming on but want something more comforting than a juice shot, whip up this latte to help fight it off!

I hope this post gave you some cozy inspiration for your next hot beverage! If coffee isn’t your jam, there are lots of other options out there for you. Let me know if you try any of these, and feel free to comment below and share your favorite cozy fall drink!