Coffee Alternatives That Won't Break the Bank

Whether it’s to jump-start the morning or wind down the night with friends, Americans love their coffee. Consumption of the caffeine-fueled drink has reached a two-decade high, with two-thirds of people consuming coffee each day, according to the National Coffee Association.

Considering its popularity, it’s of no surprise that the price tag to get your daily fix of caffeine is rather hefty – around $2,000 per year ($2,327 for women; $1,934 for men), according to one report. The problem is, between inflation and environmental factors, coffee prices have skyrocketed, leaving some to look for cheaper alternatives without sacrificing taste and functionality. 

Coffee prices

Coffee alternatives have been on the market long before prices increased, as some health-conscious Americans are more interested in lowering their caffeine intake. But now there is even more of an emphasis on these alternatives thanks to sky-high coffee prices during the past year.

A cup of coffee will now set you back $4.90 on average, up 7.6 percent from a year ago, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Of course, you can save money by buying coffee beans or ground by the pound and brewing a cup at home. But even that has increased, too.

The average pound for a price of coffee has reached $6.11, as of this past summer, which is a 34 percent increase from the price of $4.56 in 2021. Last winter, Arabica coffee futures skyrocketed 76 percent – from $1.30 per pound to $2.37 in a calendar year– to market the largest gain since 2010.

Even single-use pods have been a part of the price hike. In 2022, Nespresso announced a 5 percent increase on its coffee pods. Currently, the pods range anywhere from $0.76 to $1.20 per pod. Generic and off-brand pods can be purchased for around $0.50 per serving. By comparison, a Keurig single-serve K-cup is about $0.62 per pod. Generic brands are sold for as little as $0.40 per pod.

Why have prices increased?

Most of the world’s coffee beans come from Brazil. The South American country dealt with unprecedented weather – first a drought and then a frost – that damaged a significant portion of the coffee crops. Weather also affected crops in Colombia, a country also known for being a major player in the coffee bean industry.

To date, the pricing has reflected these issues, but there is also concern for a shortage of upcoming crops that could drive coffee prices even higher.

Healthy alternatives to coffee

If you’re looking for an alternative to your typical cup of joe, consider these products you can find at your local grocery store or online.

Chicory root

Made popular by coffee drinkers in New Orleans, chicory root comes from a woody, flowering plant native to European countries. The roots are dried, ground and sold in powdered form. Chicory root, which is caffeine free, can be sold on its own, although it’s often combined with ground coffee. Because of its high fiber content, chicory root can be beneficial to gut health.

A pound of ground chicory root is around $6.50 and costs slightly more than a pound of coffee, but is still cost effective per serving. For example, brewing a pot of coffee typically calls for 1 to 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water. By comparison, you use 1 to 2 tablespoons of chicory root for every 2 cups (16 ounces) of water. Per serving, that comes out to about $0.20 per cup.

Dandelion root

This flowering plant will often show up in your yard during the summer months, but its root is cooked, dried and ground into a caffeine-free powder as a substitute to coffee or tea. Dandelion root is known as a natural laxative and can help with digestion.

Some products are sold as pure ground dandelion root, while others are combined with other ingredients. Dandy Blend combines barley, rye, chicory root, dandelion root and sugar beet into a powder. A single bag sells for $13.38 and contains 200 servings, which comes out to $0.07 per 8-ounce serving. 

Maya seed

Sometimes called Maya nut, Maya seed comes from a large rainforest tree called Brosimum alicastrum found in Mexico. The seeds are dried, ground and sold in powder form as a coffee alternative. Naturally caffeine-free, Maya seed is high in fiber, especially prebiotic fiber. Maya seed is one of the pricier coffee alternatives, as a 1-pound bag cost $20. However, the per-serving price of $0.63 is on par with some coffee products.

Clearing nut and kasmard

The clearing nut tree, also called Strychnos potatorum, is a flowering tree found in India whose seeds are used to purify water. Kasmard is an herb found in India. When ground, clearing nut and kasmard are ingredients of several coffee alternatives. For example, Raja’s Cup combines clearing nut and kasmard with licorice and winter cherry to form a powdered tea. An 8-ounce container sells for $12 online, and you can make 108 to 162 cups (depending on how strong you like it), which comes out to about an average of $0.09 per serving.

Cacao beans

Cacao beans – the same beans used to make chocolate – can be ground up raw and used to brew just like you would coffee ground. A 10-ounce bag has 23 servings, which averages out to $0.60 per cup. The high fiber content of raw cacao beans can help prevent constipation.

Rooibos 

Known for its red hue, rooibos tea originates from leaves of a shrub found in the mountains of South Africa. Rooibos is rich in antioxidants and plant chemicals called polyphenols. You can buy 80 tea bags for around $14, which comes out to less than $0.18 per 8-ounce serving.

Mushroom coffee alternative

In the world of cooking, mushrooms have a reputation for being a versatile vegetable that adds an umami flavor to dishes. What you may not have known is how drink connoisseurs have now turned to mushrooms as a coffee alternative.

Mushrooms are harvested, dried and blended either in a pure powder form or added to coffee to be used for drinks. There are four main types of mushrooms found in coffee alternatives.

Reishi: This mushroom is most common in coffee alternatives and is popular in Asian countries as a way to increase energy and boost the immune system.

Chaga: This mushroom grows on birch trees in cold climates. Chaga is so bitter that it’s almost exclusively used in drinks such as teas. Proponents of chaga believe it can boost your immune system.

Lion’s mane: As the name suggests, this type of mushroom is big and white and looks like a lion's mane. Lion’s mane mushrooms may help brain health.

Cordyceps: Popular in traditional Chinese medicine, cordyceps is an odd-looking fungus that grows on caterpillars. It has been used to fight illnesses and improve strength.

Shroom Coffee, which combines instant Arabica coffee with chaga, cordyceps and Lion’s Mane mushroom extracts, contains 50 mg caffeine per serving. The 60-serving container runs $40, which comes out to $0.66 per serving. You add hot water just like you would regular instant coffee.

You can also buy just mushroom powder to use in a standalone drink or add it to tea. For example, an 8-ounce bag of reishi mushroom powder sells for $18.99. There are 112 servings (2 grams each) which comes out to $0.17 per serving.

Coffee alternatives for energy

Although coffee alternatives boast less caffeine and can be more affordable, some people still prefer the energy-boosting qualities found in traditional coffee.

One way to match that is to look for products that contain natural stimulants. Examples include:

Ginkgo biloba: This tree, which is one of the oldest living species, produces seeds and leaves used for teas and as a dietary supplement in powder form. Ginkgo doesn’t contain any caffeine, but it does improve circulation which is believed to provide an energy boost. An 8-ounce container costs about $20, but the price per serving is low at $0.03 per serving (a scant 1/16 of a teaspoon is the recommended serving size).

Green tea: Green tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant that produces black tea. Leaves from the plant are steamed, pan fried and dried. Green tea has less caffeine than a cup of coffee, ranging from 20 mg to 50 mg depending on the type. A single-serve green tea bag is about $0.05.

Guarana: Guarana is a plant found in the Amazon that produces berries. The berries are then ground up into tea blends or sold in powder form. A little goes a long way, though, as a serving size is just 1 teaspoon and costs just $0.15 per serving when mixed with a cup of liquid.

Matcha tea: From matcha lattes and matcha iced drinks, this green tea powder has become a popular alternative at coffee shops. At about 50 mg to 60 mg of caffeine, matcha is less potent than coffee but stronger than green tea. On average, matcha powder costs $0.26 per serving.

Yerba mate: A popular energy alternative to coffee, yerba mate comes from a plant native to South America. The leaves and twigs of the plant are dried and steeped to make tea. Yerba mate has roughly the same caffeine as a cup of coffee (85 mg). Single-serve Yerba mate bags cost $0.18.

Maca: Maca, also known as Peruvian ginseng, is a herb that grows in the Andes Mountains. Some athletes use maca to give them a jolt of energy. Maca tea bags are among the more pricier tea bags at $0.42 per serving.

Talk to your doctor before introducing new supplements or energy drinks to your diet. Certain supplements can have negative reactions with medications.

For more food, lifestyle and wellness content, visit the INTEGRIS Health For You blog.