How To Make A Healthy Cup Of Coffee
Start Your Day With A Healthy Boost!
If you’re anything like us, there’s a good chance you fall asleep at night looking forward to the next day’s cup of coffee. And since we’re all about starting the day as vibrant and energized as possible, we’ve been experimenting with a few ways to make that cup of coffee healthier, and sneak in a dose of super charged nutrition while we’re at it.
Read on to check out our favorite ways to brew up a special cup coffee—the benefits (and added flavor) are just too good…..From boosting mood and energy to protecting your heart, to improving mental clarity, we’re all for adding these 6 natural boosts to our daily caffeine routine. Sip, savor and enjoy!
6 Healthy Ingredients To Add To Your Morning Coffee
Cinnamon: One of our favorite spices and a powerful medicinal herb. Cinnamon is well known for balancing blood sugar and has one of the highest antioxidant levels of any spice. It’s also rich in manganese, iron, and calcium –which help to boost your immune system. We use Ceylon Cinnamon, also known as “true cinnamon”.
To serve: Stir 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon into your cup of coffee, or brew your coffee with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon mixed right into the grounds. You can also brew your coffee with a cinnamon stick so the spice has extra time to infuse.
Cacao: We think chocolate and coffee together is heavenly, and definitely our favorite combo! Cacao is the organic, raw form of cocoa or chocolate, and has many more health benefits. Cacao has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, it’s very high in antioxidants, and rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron – all important for helping us feel more calm and awake.
To serve: Stir 1 tablespoon of raw cacao into your cup of coffee for a boost in dietary fiber, antioxidants, and magnesium.
Vanilla Extract: If you like your coffee a little sweet, try a few drops of pure vanilla extract. Vanilla is a well know antioxidant and anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. It has also been proven to relieve digestive issues, joint pain, and stress. (The aroma is actually relaxing!)
To serve: Add a few drops of pure extract to your cup or pot of coffee. You can also add a vanilla bean to your coffee grounds so the flavor infuses as it brews.
Coconut Milk: Coconut milk is the perfect non-dairy creamer for coffee. It provides that silky texture, plus a healthy dose of vitamins C, E, and B, antioxidants, magnesium, and iron—all of which promote a healthy brain and a healthy heart.
To serve: Add a tablespoon or two of organic, unsweetened coconut to black coffee. If you want it extra sweet, you can add some maple syrup—vanilla extract and cinnamon are great with it, too!
Ghee: You’ve probably heard of bulletproof coffee or butter coffee - It’s been touted in the health and wellness world as a coffee drink that will give you more energy, mental clarity, wake up your metabolism, and keep you feeling full. Lately, we have been loving our Good Clean version made with ghee. Ghee helps cut down acidity and inflammation in the body. It also contains the good kind of fat- butyric acid and Omega-3s, which is good for your gut health. Both of these healthy fat add-ins will wake up your metabolism, and keep you feeling full. It’s also a great source of energy when you need it most!
To serve: The key to a creamy cup of butter coffee is to blend in a blender. Add a small amount of ghee to your coffee and blend. This drink is extra delicious with a dash of almond milk (you don’t need much), cinnamon and cacao added in.
Cacao Butter: For a vegan version of bulletproof coffee - we think this version is even tastier and more nutrient rich than the original. Making a bulletproof coffee with cacao butter or cocoa butter gives you a creamy coffee with a rich chocolatey flavor and aroma. Cacao butter is another Omega-3 fatty acid rich and high-antioxidant food, containing a significant amount of polyphenol and flavanoid antioxidants that are associated with many health benefits that include lowering inflammation, glowing skin, improving heart health, and improved immunity. Recipe for vegan bulletproof coffee below!
How To Make Vegan Bulletproof Coffee
Ingredients
1 ounce organic raw cacao butter (cocoa butter)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin organic coconut oil
2 tablespoons almond butter
1/4 cup oat milk (other milk alternatives would also work)
2 cups coffee
Instructions
Heat the cocoa butter, coconut oil and almond butter on the stove top over medium heat, until melted. Stir in the oat milk and gently heat until warm, about 30 more seconds. Add in the coffee and blend everything together with a handheld milk frother or a in a high speed blender until creamy.
Pour into 2 mugs and serve immediately.
Healthy Alternatives To Morning Coffee
Coffee just isn’t your thing? We actually have a few favorite alternatives to start your day off strong.
Four Sigmatic “coffee”: Our all time favorite coffee substitute is made from - of all things - mushrooms! We know it sounds crazy, but certain mushrooms are natural energy boosters and have incredible health benefits. (More details here.) We love the Four Sigmatic Golden Latte and Chai Latte Blends, especially when we are taking a break from caffeine for awhile.
.Good Clean Matcha Latte: If you haven’t tried our matcha latte yet, you’re about to become addicted! It’s a healthy alternative to our regular caffeine fix, but will still give you a clean energy boost to jump start the day. It’s packed with antioxidants that help us to not only gain our focus in the morning, but also lead to clear skin and aid in fighting off illness. Study.
How To Make a Matcha Latte:
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 small piece of ginger, peeled (1-2 inches)
1/2 teaspoon whole cardamom
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 cup coconut cream
1 teaspoon matcha powder
1 date
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Pour water into small saucepan. Add cinnamon, cardamom, peeled ginger, and a pinch of sea salt to water.
Bring water to a boil over high heat. Immediately turn heat to low and cover. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Using a mesh strainer over a glass bowl, strain liquid and discard ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. Pour the liquid back into the saucepan. Now, add the matcha powder and using a matcha whisk, stir until fully combined.
Add coconut cream, vanilla and the date to the matcha. Heat over low, whisking continuously until the milk is heated through.
Once heated, put the matcha tea and date into the blender. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes.