I’m one of those people who never got into the coffee habit. On a roadtrip I’ll have one, if I’m traveling somewhere special I’ll have one (or 50 of them—I’m looking at you, Melbourne), and if it’s in ice cream, yes please. But coffee isn’t something I have to have to start my day. You won’t see me in a t-shirt that says “don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee.”
Some of you may know that I have some fun coffee alternatives on the site for you, and I do love me some roasted dandelion root tea. There is something lovely about the ritual of making a decadent hot beverage for yourself in the morning though, or as a nightcap, or as a treat in the middle of a long work day.
For this reason, I have put all of my favorites into a mix for a coffee-like powerhouse of a drink, and I’m hooked. Go ahead and play with the mixture to suit your tastes/needs, you can leave out certain ingredients, or add more. You can add cinnamon, cardamom, dried, powdered orange zest, maybe some cayenne. I tend to keep the batch basic and change up each mug I make with those goodies. Pantry-to-plate it, customize, and have fun.
Now, you will need a spice/coffee grinder to powder certain ingredients unless you can find them already powdered. If you don’t have one, borrow one from a friend, co-worker, or neighbor and thank them with some (Not)Coffee. 🙂
This makes enough for months. I’ve been working on this giant container for 6+ months…
… so store it in a cool, dark pantry or fridge for optimal freshness. (Not)Coffee is great to have around for non-coffee drinkers and coffee drinkers who are looking for coffee alternatives, trying to cut down, or kick a coffee habit. One teaspoon goes a long way.
Just look at this richness. Not. Coffee.
Ingredients:
Note that amounts are for the ground, “powdered in a coffee/spice grinder” amount. Many of these ingredients are optional, but they make a mighty magical cup of goodness.
(Not)Coffee
1/2 cup roasted chicory root granules, powdered
3/4 cup maca root powder
1/2 cup raw cacao powder (to taste)
2 tablespoons–1/4 cup roasted chaga (optional, I use this one)
1 tablespoon reishi mushroom powder (optional)
1/4 cup lion’s mane mushroom powder (optional)
1/4 cup lucuma powder (optional)
1/4 cup mesquite powder (optional)
1/4 cup lucuma powder (optional)
1/4 teaspoon powdered stevia to taste (optional)
Optional Coconut-Macadamia Latte Foam
I make a batch of this creamy goodness for my (Not)Coffee. I store extra in the fridge and just re-blend to get some foaminess when I have another cup.
1 can full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup macadamia nuts
1 Medjool date, pitted (here’s how)
Pinch fine-ground sea salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Let’s get started.
1. Powder any ingredients in a spice/coffee grinder that aren’t yet.
2. Whisk it all together until uniformly mixed.
3. If making a mug now, boil 1–2 cups water and if you like, blend together the Coconut-Macadamia Latte Foam ingredients until creamy and frothy.
4. Add 1 teaspoon of your (Not)Coffee mix into a mug and add boiling water.
Stir until well mixed, top with foam if you like, and maybe a dash of cinnamon and cardamom for good measure.
Enjoy!
5. Store in an airtight glass jar in the fridge or a cool pantry.
Here are a few highlights about the ingredients.
Chicory root: supports digestion—is a prebiotic (aka food for beneficial bacteria), and also supports the liver, metabolism of fats, and is known to reduce inflammation
Dandelion root tea: a natural diuretic, helps your liver eliminate toxins
Maca root: an adaptogen—which means it goes in to help where your body needs it—known to help balance hormones
Cacao: loaded with antioxidants
Reishi: best in small amounts in your coffee mix as it’s bitter, which is great because it adds some coffee-like bitterness, but too much can be intense in a bad way. Some studies suggest that reishi can combat tumor growth, balance blood pressure and boost immune function
Mesquite powder: not the chips for BBQing, mesquite powder is an amino-acid rich pod that lends a slightly sweet, caramel note to (Not)Coffee
Lucuma: deep, rich flavor like a sweet potato or caramel, nutritious Peruvian fruit known to support healthy skin and digestion
Chaga: Like reishi, best in small amounts in your coffee mix as it’s bitter, but it’s an immunity booster like no other
Lion’s Mane Mushroom: nerve support and mental clarity—I grow my own, dehydrate it and grind for (Not)Coffee
Now I want to hear from YU. Are you a coffee drinker? What do you think of this recipe? Tell us wth a comment below.