Coffee Alternatives UK: 9 Options Sorted by Caffeine
3 min read By Mataye
In brief
Looking for a coffee alternative in the UK? Nine options grouped by how much caffeine they have, from none to about the same as a mug of coffee.
The right coffee alternative depends on why you want one. If you want no caffeine at all, pick a roasted grain, chicory or herbal drink. If you want less caffeine, tea and matcha sit in the middle. If you still want a lift but a different drink, yerba mate and mushroom coffee keep some caffeine. Here are nine coffee alternatives you can buy in the UK, sorted that way.
Quick comparison
| Drink | Caffeine | Tastes like |
|---|---|---|
| Chicory | None | Roasted, slightly bitter, close to coffee |
| Barley or grain coffee | None | Malty, toasty |
| Dandelion root | None | Earthy, a little bitter |
| Rooibos | None | Sweet, nutty tea |
| Cacao or mushroom cacao | Very little | Light chocolate |
| Green tea | Low to medium | Grassy |
| Matcha | Medium, depends on the amount of powder | Grassy, creamy with milk |
| Yerba mate | Medium, about a mug of coffee per serving | Herbal, like strong green tea |
| Mushroom coffee | Same as the coffee in the blend | Smooth, slightly earthy coffee |
For reference, the NHS estimates about 100 mg of caffeine in a mug of instant coffee and 75 mg in a mug of tea.
Caffeine-free coffee alternatives
1. Chicory
Roasted chicory root is the closest thing to coffee without caffeine. It is sold in UK supermarkets as a powder or liquid and is often blended with barley. It has a bitter, roasted taste and works with milk.
2. Barley or grain coffee
Roasted barley, rye or a mix of grains. Malty and mild, popular in Italy as caffè d'orzo. Not suitable if you avoid gluten.
3. Dandelion root
Roasted dandelion root brews into a dark, earthy drink. Sold as tea bags or granules in health food shops.
4. Rooibos
A South African red bush tea with no caffeine and a sweet, nutty taste. Good for an afternoon or evening cup.
5. Cacao and mushroom cacao
Hot cacao has a small amount of caffeine and theobromine. Some brands mix it with mushroom powders as a caffeine-light "coffee alternative".
Lower caffeine options
6. Green tea
Less caffeine than coffee for most people's mug. A simple swap for a second or third coffee.
7. Matcha
Powdered green tea, so you drink the whole leaf. The caffeine depends on how much powder you use: a large latte can come close to a coffee.
Alternatives that keep the caffeine
8. Yerba mate
A South American holly leaf drunk like tea. It has a similar amount of caffeine to coffee, with a herbal taste. It is drunk hot from a gourd or, increasingly, cold. Our Super Yerba Mate is a cold-mix sachet with around 100 mg of caffeine per serving. More in how much caffeine is in yerba mate.
9. Mushroom coffee
Not caffeine-free: it is coffee blended with mushroom powders such as lion's mane and reishi. People choose it to change their daily coffee rather than drop it. See what is mushroom coffee and how much caffeine it has.
How to cut down on coffee without a headache
- Swap one cup at a time, starting with the afternoon one.
- Cut down over a week or two rather than stopping all at once; sudden stops can bring headaches and tiredness for a few days.
- Drink enough water through the day.
Which one should you choose?
- No caffeine, coffee-like taste: chicory or a chicory and barley blend.
- Less caffeine, still a lift: green tea or a small matcha.
- A cold drink with about a coffee's caffeine: Super Yerba Mate.
- Keep your morning coffee but change what is in it: Mataye Mushroom Coffee.
Keep reading: our full yerba mate guide, how to make tereré and the mushroom coffee guide.
Fasting this month? See what to drink during Ramadan.
Read next: arabica vs robusta caffeine, how to drink yerba mate, erythritol sweetener.
Read next: yerba mate benefits.
Sources
- NHS, Foods to avoid in pregnancy: caffeine
- European Food Safety Authority, Caffeine
