Swap Your Daily Coffee for These Four Delicious Alternatives
Written by Destiny Vickerie
For the majority of my life, I have been successful at dodging caffeine. Not even the strong and admittedly pleasant scent could persuade me into drinking it. However, once I began my first year of college last year, I faced a rude awakening. After seeing countless students with their hands wrapped around tall cups of iced coffee and seeing the creamy, brown liquid topped off with cold foam, I helplessly fell into the trap. Morning classes were my biggest enemy, and I was left with no choice but to indulge in the college drink craze: coffee. After all, coffee is one of the best energy boosters, right? If you are thinking no, well, I wish I knew that then.
As it turned out, coffee was just like another drink to me. A sugary, milky drink that gave me no ounce of energy whatsoever—regardless of how many times I consumed it. I wonder: does coffee just not work for some people? If not, I find that strange! In any case, I compiled a list of great drink alternatives, refreshing energy boosters for those who cannot find drinking coffee helpful in the mornings or during drowsy periods throughout the day.
Chai Tea
This drink is first on my list for so many reasons. For the sake of me not rambling on, I will only say that the taste of this drink is life-changing and remains to this day a huge staple of mine. Although chai tea does contain traces of caffeine, it is not considered coffee. The typical chai tea is a blend of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, and more. The level of caffeine in chai tea is also dependent upon how it is brewed, the type of tea used, and, of course, serving size (Odenweller, 2025).
Chai tea is a great alternative for you if coffee only worsens drowsiness—which was my issue. Chai tea helps to boost energy without feeling jittery, and provides a sense of calmness. Personally, I love chai tea when it is cold, milky, and sweet.
Iced Tea
Now, you can’t go wrong with a nice glass of iced tea. In either hot or cool seasons, this is the kind of drink you can enjoy no matter the occasion. In particular, I recommend the brands Arizona, Brisk, and Turkey Hill. If you asked me to choose my top favorite, I’d definitely have to go with Arizona, as it is a childhood favorite of mine (I’ll admit, Brisk has been tasting pretty good lately). Iced tea is great for thirst and has this superpower of providing you with instant relief.
Fruit Smoothies
On my campus, there’s a fruit smoothie spot that I like to go to, and their selection is amazing. Grabbing a cup of a berry-blended smoothie is the go-to choice whenever I’m feeling thirsty. Not only am I consuming a healthier drink option, but I’m also actually feeling refreshed and full at the same time. If you’re a college student who takes 8 AM classes (I’m sorry) I’d definitely recommend you quickly grab or even make a fruit smoothie in the mornings—those are excellent pick–me–ups if you’re not a coffee person.
Coconut Water
Last but not least, I have included the infamous coconut water on this list! Okay, okay—I know coconut water isn’t everyone's thing. Nonetheless, it’s still worth trying out. Coconut water contains so many great qualities that to list them all would take ages. For now, I’ll tell you that this drink is a great source of low-calorie hydration and contains antioxidants that help relieve stress, support heart health, kidney health, and other health-related benefits. Are you convinced yet?
Coffee isn’t for everyone, nor does it always provide the “energy boost” that’s needed when one is tired on an early Monday morning. Therefore, it's good to know what other options are out there if need be.
I hope you found these energy drink alternatives to be interesting, and perhaps maybe you’ll try something new! As for me, I will no longer be consuming coffee unless I absolutely have to or if I somehow don’t have access to chai tea, iced tea, fruit smoothies, or coconut water—but believe me, that’s not happening by a long shot.
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