Alternatives to coffee

Yes, beyond its taste, coffee has some positive health attributes, such as its antioxidant properties.

Its most well-known molecule, caffeine, is an alkaloid that stimulates the nervous system by promoting the production of a hormone called noradrenaline.

Caffeine improves intestinal transit and temporarily increases metabolism, and therefore energy expenditure, which can mobilise more sugars and fats (though with a rebound effect). However, heavy coffee consumption can make the intestine dependent on caffeine to stimulate its peristalsis and maintain healthy transit — stopping coffee intake can then lead to constipation…

Having sung the praises of coffee, it's time to shed some light on its downsides. Rest assured, the second part of this article will present a whole range of coffee alternatives just as varied as its drawbacks!

As a precautionary measure, coffee should be avoided, or at least limited, during pregnancy. 

A study by Inserm highlights the fact that a baby's brain development may be disrupted by the expectant mother's coffee consumption.

Its effects do not stop there — to find out more, see our article on coffee and pregnancy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women limit themselves to 300 mg of caffeine per day, equivalent to approximately 3 cups of filter coffee. Other foods also contain molecules similar to caffeine, such as cocoa, cola and tea: it is therefore preferable to reduce coffee consumption during pregnancy, without getting bogged down in complex calculations. And to remember this naturopathic mantra: nothing is a poison, everything is a poison — only the dose makes the difference!

To find out about breastfeeding, see our article on coffee and breastfeeding.

There are many alternatives to coffee, and this range of options allows you to vary the pleasures creatively:

Herbal teas 

Herbal teas are an excellent alternative to coffee. Caffeine-free, you benefit from the therapeutic properties of the pregnancy herbal tea. Choose dried loose-leaf plants rather than bags (often bleached with chlorine). You can also combine a pinch of several plants and steep them in a teapot or tea ball. Do be careful with your choice of plants, however, as many of them are not compatible with pregnancy.

Tea 

Tea, with its antioxidant and therapeutic benefits, is of course among the alternatives to coffee. Opt for green, white or red tea rather than black tea, which contains large amounts of theine and has the same effects as caffeine.

Rooibos 

Rooibos, a traditional South African drink, has the advantage of being theine-free and antioxidant. You'll find wonderful blends in health food shops…

Carob 

Carob powder, made from the seeds of the carob tree, a shrub that grows in the Mediterranean basin, is also free from caffeine and acrylamide. Its slightly caramelised flavour combined with chocolatey aromas has the advantage of being far less caloric than chocolate.

Green coffee 

Green coffee, still relatively unknown, also has its place on the list of coffee alternatives. It consists of unroasted coffee beans. It is 4 times more antioxidant than coffee and is alkalising. However, don't expect to find the taste of roasted coffee. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should limit themselves to one cup per day. Others may have two.

Chi coffee 

Another alternative is chi coffee, which contains natural caffeine from coffee and guarana.

Chi coffee is a blend of mild Arabica and Robusta coffee, particularly rich in soluble acacia dietary fibres (acacia gum), along with guarana extract, aromatic plants and ginseng.

Latte drinks

A collagen food supplement in powder form can make an excellent latte alternative to coffee. Collagen is also beneficial during pregnancy to support skin tissue, elasticity and hydration. 

Déca Mama is made for you! With barley, a natural coffee flavour, and no caffeine, it lets you enjoy your favourite drink while stocking up on collagen. 

Our chocolate and hazelnut powder, rich in organic plant-based protein, Choconut power, is also an excellent alternative. 

• If coffee remains essential for you, keep the one cup that brings you the most pleasure during the day. Savour it slowly, mindfully.
• Choose organic, whole-bean coffee with a traditional roast. Avoid industrial coffee and capsules as much as possible, and steer clear of coffee prepared with a paper filter. Ideally, prepare your coffee using a percolator.
• Be cautious with decaffeinated coffee, as chlorine is very often used to remove the caffeine.
• Go for an Arabica coffee rather than Robusta — the latter contains twice as much caffeine, and as its flavour is stronger, you'll tend to want to sweeten it.
• Avoid sweetening your coffee. If you have an irresistible urge for something sweet, add a dash of agave syrup, a pinch of unrefined sugar or coconut sugar, rather than white sugar — or worse, aspartame or sweetener tablets.
• To help with the digestion of your coffee, if you like it with milk, opt for a plant-based milk rather than cow's milk.
• Drink your coffee away from meals (at least 2 hours after eating) to avoid the nutritional deficiencies that coffee can cause.

As with every daily habit, the impact of a cup of coffee is linked to the meaning you give it. So, what if you started by asking yourself: what does coffee give you?