The 10 Best Coffee Substitutes
Updated by · How we research
Grain drinks, chicory, herbal blends and cacao compared on gluten, caffeine and flavor. Teeccino Vanilla Nut leads for a brewed, caffeine-free cup. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Most classic coffee substitutes, from grain instants to many herbal blends, are made with roasted barley, and often rye, so they aren't safe for people with celiac disease. Roasted chicory and a few barley-free blends are. Nothing here tastes exactly like coffee, but these give you a dark, warm cup without the jitters or a late-night caffeine buzz.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
A brewed cup still beats a stirred one for most people giving up coffee, so Teeccino Vanilla Nut leads: it works in any coffee maker and has a fuller body than the instants, with no caffeine. Dandy Blend is the pick for anyone who wants instant.
The biggest change is gluten. Most grain drinks contain barley, and Pero, Kaffree Roma and often Cafix add rye, so we added Anthony's Instant Chicory, Worldwide Botanicals French Chicory and Teeccino Dandelion Dark Roast as barley-free choices. To sort them we read every ingredient panel, Gluten Free Watchdog's retests of Dandy Blend and Teeccino's note on its gluten lab results.
Zest Tea High Octane is gone, since it's now a caffeinated tea and out of stock, and so are Barlee and Inka. Postum is back on store shelves but hard to buy here, so it moves to special honors. MUD\WTR moves there too, because it still has some caffeine.
November 04, 2020:
Among our priorities when updating this list was ensuring we kept it as diverse as those who enjoy their coffee alternatives, so you'll find everything from ground cacao and chicory to fruit enhanced options and even highly-caffeinated tea. The goal was to provide solid substitutes for people who are switching over from coffee for a multitude of reasons, whether due to stomach issues or mental health reasons.
While we still think Coffig Original Roasted Fig Beverage is a strong contender, the taste can be polarizing and many feel it doesn't quite clear the bar as a stand in for coffee. It's also pricey for such a small amount. We thought we'd bring on Barlee Alternative in its stead, which has the subtle fruitiness of blueberry along with the health benefits of chicory and nutty, earthy taste reminiscent of coffee. It has fewer calories than Coffig and can be made instantly.
Also joining the ranks today is Crio Bru Ecuador French Roast, a cacao-based drink that offers a strong, extremely pleasant chocolate aroma during preparation. It's bright and subtle with an earthy flavor and is roasted, ground, and brewed just like coffee, so it's easy to use in your standard drip machine. Drinkers also benefit from its inherent antioxidants and natural energy boost.
Something some people don't immediately think of is how versatile these substitutes can be in recipes. Dandy Blend Herbal is great when you're looking to add coffee flavor to a dessert, while Tattva's Herbs Capomo is solid for adding nuttiness and various extra nutrients to a smoothie or pre-workout drink.
November 08, 2019:
People can be just as divided on their coffee substitute preferences as they are on how they take the real stuff, so we made sure that, whether you are into dark and bold, sweet and light, or complex and nutty when you sip on actual java, you'll find something to your liking on this list.
Those looking for an uplifting beverage with health benefits will like Tattva's Herbs Capomo, which is rich in vitamins and minerals, and Pero Natural, which boasts prebiotic properties. Dandy Blend Herbal caught our attention, too, with just seven calories per serving. On that note, we removed Vergonix Capomo, as it, unfortunately, had a whopping 50 calories per serving — which really adds up if you consume several cups a day.
While many of our options seek to mimic the flavor of regular joe, if that's not what you're after, but you do want significant caffeine, there is Zest Tea High Octane. It should energize you just as much as that cappuccino or espresso would have. Coffig Original Fig Beverage is also a good choice for those looking to branch out beyond the flavor of roasted beans, as it's made of its namesake fruit and is slightly sweet.
If you do, after all, want your warm drink to resemble true coffee as much as possible, Teeccino Medium Roast Vanilla Nut Chicory is a great choice. You can even use your standard drip coffee maker to brew the stuff. While Cafix Crystals came quite close in taste to the real stuff, it did, upon further inspection, contain carcinogenic ingredients, so it had to be removed.
Special Honors
Postum The instant grain drink many readers grew up with came back after Kraft dropped it, and Eliza's Quest Food now makes it from wheat bran, wheat and molasses. It has no caffeine and tastes sweeter and maltier than most chicory blends. The maker sells it on its own site, often in multipacks. The wheat means it doesn't suit a gluten-free diet. postum.com
MUD\WTR For anyone who wants to cut back rather than quit, MUD\WTR blends masala chai, cacao, turmeric, cinnamon and four mushroom powders. The brand puts the caffeine at about 35 milligrams a serving, roughly a third of a cup of coffee. Cleveland Clinic says the research doesn't strongly back the health claims made for mushroom drinks, and a serving costs several times what a grain instant does. mudwtr.com
Gluten: Read The Grain Before The Flavor
Roasted barley is the backbone of most classic coffee substitutes, and barley contains gluten.
Roasted barley is the backbone of most classic coffee substitutes, and barley contains gluten. Pero lists barley, malted barley, chicory and rye. Kaffree Roma lists barley, malt and chicory, and some retailers add rye. Cafix is also barley based and not certified gluten free.
Two brands complicate the picture. Dandy Blend says its water extraction leaves the gluten behind, and Gluten Free Watchdog has retested it several times with results that differ between rounds, so people with celiac disease should read those reports first. Teeccino says an independent lab found no detectable gluten in its barley blends when brewed through a paper filter, but it also sells barley-free blends for anyone who reacts.
The safest route is a single ingredient: roasted chicory root, dandelion root or maya nut, labeled gluten free.
Caffeine: None, A Trace Or Some
Roasted chicory, grain drinks and herbal blends like Teeccino have no caffeine at all, since none of them contain coffee, tea or cacao. Healthline notes that chicory is naturally caffeine free and suggests about 2 tablespoons of ground root per cup of water.
Brewed cacao is close to zero but not quite there. Crio Bru puts its cup at about 10 milligrams, according to Caffeine Advisor. Mushroom drinks vary: MUD\WTR gets about 35 milligrams a serving from its black tea, and many mushroom coffees are regular coffee with mushroom powder added. Cleveland Clinic points out that yerba mate carries about as much caffeine as coffee, so it doesn't help anyone quitting.
To quit without headaches, mix ground chicory or an herbal blend into regular grounds, start at about a third, and raise the share over a few weeks.
Instant Or Brewed, And Easing Into The Taste
Instant grain drinks and chicory powders take a teaspoon or two in hot water or warm milk. Ground blends like Teeccino brew in a drip machine, French press, moka pot or espresso maker; the maker suggests about a tablespoon for a 10-ounce cup, and a paper filter keeps the fine particles out. Brewed herbal coffee keeps in the fridge for several days.
Chicory is rich in inulin, a fiber that feeds gut bacteria. Medical News Today notes it can cause gas and bloating, so start with a small cup. Chicory belongs to the same plant family as ragweed, so people with that pollen allergy should avoid it, and research on chicory during pregnancy is thin, so ask a doctor first.
If you're hunting for Postum, it's still made: Eliza's Quest Food brought it back with a wheat bran, wheat and molasses recipe, so it isn't gluten free either.
How we researched this
We compared 19 coffee substitutes, from grain instants and roasted chicory to herbal, cacao, maya nut and mushroom blends. We read the ingredient panels and makers' notes for the 10 picks, Gluten Free Watchdog's retests, and health guidance from Healthline, Medical News Today and Cleveland Clinic, analyzed patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Frequently asked questions
Do coffee substitutes have caffeine?
Most don't. Roasted chicory, grain drinks such as Pero and Kaffree Roma, and herbal blends such as Teeccino have none. Brewed cacao has a trace, about 10 milligrams a cup for Crio Bru, and mushroom drinks with tea, such as MUD\WTR, have about 35 milligrams.
Which coffee substitutes are gluten free?
Single-ingredient chicory such as Anthony's Instant Chicory and Worldwide Botanicals French Chicory, barley-free herbal blends such as Teeccino Dandelion Dark Roast, and maya nut. Pero, Kaffree Roma and Cafix contain barley. Dandy Blend claims its gluten is removed, but retest results vary.
What's the difference between Postum and Pero?
Both are caffeine-free instant grain drinks. Today's Postum is made from wheat bran, wheat and molasses, which gives it a sweeter, maltier taste. Pero uses barley, malted barley, chicory and rye for a lighter, toastier cup. Neither is gluten free.
Are coffee substitutes good for acid reflux?
There's no clinical proof that any of them treats reflux. Some people with reflux feel better after cutting coffee, and caffeine-free drinks let them keep a warm morning cup. Try a small cup first and talk to a doctor about ongoing symptoms.
Is chicory coffee safe during pregnancy?
Research on chicory during pregnancy and breastfeeding is limited, and some health sources advise against large amounts. Ask your doctor or midwife before making it a daily drink.
Why does chicory make me gassy?
Chicory root is rich in inulin, a fiber that gut bacteria ferment, which can cause gas, bloating or loose stools. Start with a weak cup and build up over a week or two.
