7 Ways to Change Your Relationship with Coffee
Coffee is a drink that truly connects the world, and that is only one aspect of its magic. It can get your blood flowing by just taking a few sips—something that, without coffee, can only be provoked by a brisk walk, a few reps of jumping jacks, or some adrenaline-inducing stress experience.
My Early Relationship with Coffee
My first memories of drinking coffee happened so early in my life that it gives me a bit of validation in coming to terms with my addiction.
When I was six or seven years old, my grandma would buy me decadent frozen coffee drinks as a treat when she took me shopping. My mother would be the one to bear the brunt of my caffeine and sugar buzz for hours later.
When I was nine years old, my dad allowed my brother and I to drink coffee in the morning before school, although our mugs were definitely at least half full of sweet milky creamer.
My relationship with coffee only grew stronger as I got older, as it does for most of us. While attending a highly competitive university in Montreal, Canada, I would regularly consume a liter or more of coffee a day during finals season. Coffee also has a huge social component, as it is both stimulating and delicious, often serving to facilitate connection and conversation.
Why Change Your Relationship with Coffee?
All this to say, I love coffee so much I would never ask or even recommend anyone to give it up unless it was completely necessary for their health or wellbeing. However, changing your relationship with coffee to increase your awareness of how you use it and relate to it, as well as what it does for you, could be beneficial for us all.
In my experience, changing my relationship to coffee, though it has been a grueling process, has given me a lot of valuable insight into my own health and habits.
Benefits of Changing Your Coffee Habits
Increased awareness of how coffee affects your body
Better control over coffee consumption
Improved overall health by reducing dependence on caffeine
Understanding our relationship with coffee and regaining control over it has the power to actually help us enjoy our cups of joe even more while maintaining awareness of our choices and tendencies related to coffee.
6 Ways to Change (or Improve) Your Relationship with Coffee
Ryze mushroom coffee with cinnamon stick.
1. Try Switching to Mushroom Coffee
Luckily for us living in modern times, creative people have harnessed the powers of medicinal and edible mushrooms to make their qualities more accessible to us in daily life. We have come a long way from our hunter-gatherer ancestors who may have had to forage for these superfoods.
Mushroom coffee benefits include:
Improved focus and brain health (Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps)
Better gut health and immunity (Turkey Tail and Shiitake)
Mood support (Reishi)
Increased longevity (King Trumpet)
I’ve been drinking Ryze Mushroom Coffee, which blends six different mushrooms with organic arabica coffee. It provides a sustained energy boost with no jitters and has a smooth, golden crema that makes it feel like a café americano.
f you're curious about trying Ryze Mushroom Coffee, it’s definitely worth exploring as an alternative to regular coffee. With its unique blend of medicinal mushrooms, it offers a smooth, sustained energy boost without the usual coffee jitters. It’s a great choice for those looking to mix things up with their coffee routine.
2. Time When You Start & Stop Coffee
Have you ever enjoyed your morning cup of coffee, only to find yourself feeling spacey and groggy in the afternoon? This is a common problem for caffeine dependency. Key Insights:
Adenosine is a hormone released when you wake up that helps you feel awake and alert. Drinking coffee too soon can interfere with this natural process.
Allow 45 minutes after waking up before having your first cup to optimize your energy for the day.
(Mural by Olivia Rose Phipps)
To avoid the afternoon crash, consider stopping coffee consumption by noon, so you can maintain healthy caffeine tolerance and enjoy better sleep.
3. Add Coconut Oil to Your Coffee
If you’ve heard of “bulletproof coffee,” you know it’s made by adding butter to black coffee. But for those avoiding butter, coconut oil works as a great alternative.
Benefits of Coconut Oil in Coffee:
Reduces acidity of coffee, especially on an empty stomach.
Provides healthy fats that help stabilize energy levels.
Balances digestion and supports a healthy gut.
Simply stir 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of coconut oil into your coffee, or use a blender for a smoother texture. You can also add cinnamon or oat milk for extra flavor.
4. Double Down on Tea Bags
Switching from coffee to tea is often recommended, but for coffee addicts, this isn’t always an easy transition. However, tea has its own set of benefits.
How to make tea more satisfying:
Use two tea bags in a larger mug to create a stronger flavor, similar to the depth of coffee.
Caffeinated teas like green tea or earl grey can mimic the stimulating effect of coffee, while herbal teas like chamomile are great for evening relaxation.
5. Stagger Your Coffee Consumption
If you’ve been drinking coffee most of your life, completely quitting might not be realistic. Staggering your coffee consumption is a great way to regain control without giving it up entirely.
Tips:
Gradually reduce coffee intake to avoid caffeine dependence. This could mean stopping after one or two cups instead of three of four. Or it could mean drinking coffee every other day instead of every day. There is no one-size-fits-all here, but rather the invitation to find whats works for you, guided by your “why” at the root of what is inspiring you to change your relationship with coffee.
Try drinking coffee less frequently and in smaller amounts, to experience the benefits without the burnout. Of course, taking a full break from coffee (even a few days to a week) might deliver faster results if you are struggling with energy crash or total coffee dependency, But if you are just wanting to reduce your dependence or shift your habits, drinking a bit less coffee or shifting up the time at which you go for your first swig (perhaps later in the morning instead of right after waking up) could also bring benefits to your health and relationship with coffee.
6. Find a Drink You Love More Than Coffee. or Just as Much
Discovering. a drink you love more than coffee or just as much as you love coffee may sound impossible to a tried-and-true coffee addict, but I promise you it doesn’t have to be. Last summer while in my home city on a visit, I became hooked on a certain strawberry matcha beverage that kept me coming back regularly to the same coffee house, but the idea of ordering an actual coffee was usuaully quite distant from my mind.
My pre-autoimmune self would not have thought twice about pumping my body with acidic black coffee at all hours of the day and night, in order to achieve what I needed to in regard to homework and personal tasks. But my current self considers the impacts this might have on my stomach, gut, skin, energy, and mood, and works to build the habit of considering alternatives and what they may have to offer me.
Other drinks I have realized I love almost as much as coffee include:
matcha in all its forms
yerba mate (cold, with mint and a bit of sugar or honey)
and kombucha (all kombuchas!)
Over time, instead of feeling like I have replaced coffee, I feel like I have broken through a barrier to a mindset when I can offer myself more options and not just go for coffee out of habit, as a given. In some way, this is an example of light mindfulness, thinking before doing, considering with foresight, and assessing the best course of action with the the understanding of the different factors of influence. It was not easy to begin this shift, but I can say it has definitely gotten easier over time.
7. Keep a Coffee Journal / Sensation Observation
Recording your coffee experiences can help you better understand how coffee affects your body and habits.
Benefits of Keeping a Coffee Journal:
Track how coffee impacts your energy, digestion, and mood.
Improve body awareness and make healthier choices based on how you feel after drinking coffee.
Observe trends over time to determine if coffee is supporting your health goals or causing issues.
By following these tips, you can begin to change your relationship with coffee in a way that promotes healthier habits and more mindful consumption. Whether it's switching to mushroom coffee, adjusting your timing, or making small changes to your routine, these strategies can help you enjoy coffee in a healthier and more balanced way.
Conclusion:
Cultivating a Healthier Relationship with Coffee
As you explore new ways to improve your relationship with coffee, it’s essential to stay in tune with your body’s signals. One of the most powerful tools in this journey is keeping a coffee journal or food log. Writing down your observations creates a living document you can refer to as you continue your path toward balance. It allows you to better understand how your body responds to caffeine, and over time, you’ll cultivate greater awareness of your own habits and health needs.
Our bodies speak to us every day, offering subtle clues about what they need. While it’s easy to ignore or overlook these signals, listening with care and attention can help us make decisions that truly support our well-being. Remember, a small break from coffee, whether it’s a few days or longer, can provide valuable insight into how it affects you physically and mentally. When you’re ready to return to your cup, be sure to pay attention to how your body reacts—your brain might crave the comforting warmth, but your stomach, joints, or energy levels may have different messages to share.
At the end of the day, your body wants what’s best for you. By keeping an open conversation with it and tracking your experiences, you’ll uncover the keys to enjoying coffee in a healthier, more mindful way. So go ahead—start your coffee journey with curiosity and self-awareness, and see how it can positively impact your health and energy.
