The following post contains affiliate links, which sends me a small percentage of any sales at no cost to you.
In the spring, I started ordering Diet Coke when I went out to lunch or dinner. I have loved Diet Coke for years, but I try not to drink soda, and for years, I didn’t drink any at all.
But wow, it tastes so good! I loved it so much that I started buying canned Diet Coke or Coke Zero to keep at home. That meant I drank regular coffee most mornings, then had a Coke at lunch or in the afternoon.
At first, this was fine. But I quickly started noticing that my stress and anxiety symptoms felt amplified. My heart raced, and I found it hard to focus.
Of course, I’m not a doctor, and I have had anxiety for years. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I also don’t need more caffeine in my life. I already have trouble sleeping, and I don’t want to make myself any more anxious.
So, I decided to re-evaluate my caffeine habits, including coffee and soda.
Decaf Coffee: What I’ve Been Drinking
I’ve never felt jittery after drinking coffee, but I felt there was probably room to cut back on caffeine wherever I could.
I started by simply being more mindful in the mornings. What did I really want to drink? Did a hot coffee sound good? An espresso? Or did a hot tea sound better? Or, maybe just a glass of water?
Some days, I just skipped coffee altogether. But I wanted an option for days when I still wanted coffee but didn’t feel like I needed caffeine.
I reached out to some people in my life who rarely drink caffeine, and they all said the same thing: you won’t find anything good.
This was not an acceptable answer. My first stop was one of my favorite coffee brands to support: Bones! Some of my favorite regular coffee flavors are available in decaf, including Smorey Time and Cinnamon Roll, and I ordered those immediately.
I can report back that these taste the same as their regular counterparts and have much less caffeine. Decaf coffee typically has 2-15 mg per cup, while regular coffee has about 95 mg per cup.
Next, I ordered the Four Sigmatic Organic Balance Adaptogen Ground Half-Caf Coffee. I loved the idea of half the caffeine and heard good things about adaptogens.
This coffee has organic ashwagandha extract (stress-reducing), along with organic eleuthero root extract and holy basil extract, which are mind-calming and body-balancing. It also contains organic chaga, which provides antioxidants and supports the immune system.
I really liked this coffee; admittedly, it’s more expensive than I usually go for, but if you’re in the mood to treat yourself, I highly recommend it.
Next up, I tried Kiid Coffee; literally, coffee for kids!
Essentially, this is an individual serving of an instant decaf latte. Put the powder in your mug, add milk or water, then add hot or cold milk. Mix and drink.
Aside from being decaf, it also has calcium, magnesium, iron, Vitamins A-E, and prebiotic fiber. It’s also free of allergens. It’s impressive! It comes in several flavors; I’ve had the original, caramel, and chocolate.
I prefer to drink them in the afternoon or evening, as a treat – they are sweeter than typical coffee, but they are delicious, and I love that I can use the milk I like 🙂
Of course, I’ve also just purchased and drank regular, plain decaf coffee. And it’s fine!
What I’ve found works for me is having a few different things on hand so I have choices. Mostly, I’ve been drinking the Bones-flavored decaf, but I mix in 1-2 tablespoons of regular, plain coffee so it has less caffeine and still tastes great.
Alternative Soda Recommendations
I stopped buying Coke altogether, so that ended that! I also used to buy energy drinks sometimes, typically once a month when I go to Walgreens for my prescription. I used to get one to try, but I stopped.
Instead, I started getting alternative sodas. In the past, I’ve had (and really enjoyed) Olipop! So I am mostly back to drinking that, but I’ve tried others if I see something that looks good.
Here are my favorites:
Olipop Vintage Cola | 50mg: This has the same amount of caffeine as a Diet Coke – ha! My only justification for drinking it is that it has better ingredients than a diet soda, and still fulfills my soda cravings.
Olipop Classic Root Beer | 0mg: This is one of my favorite Olipop flavors, and it’s caffeine-free, as are most Olipop flavors (just not the cola ones); I’ve truly enjoyed all the flavors I’ve tried and am always hunting for the new ones (Pomegranate is the newest flavor I’m watching for!).
Summit Popz Cola | 35mg-50mg: As a result of writing this blog post, I’ve learned that the FDA doesn’t require brands to disclose how much caffeine is in their products! Brands like Olipop list it voluntarily. Anyway… I tried this the last time I went to Aldi, and it’s good!
Poppi Cherry Cola | 40mg: I never really got into Poppi (I know some people are obsessed), mostly because I see fruit flavors primarily. But I found the Cherry Cola at Walgreens, and it’s delish! It still has caffeine, but a little less than a Diet Coke or an Olipop,
Waterloo Root Beer Float | 0mg: Waterloo teamed up with the Mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri, and I honestly bought this thinking it might not be good (I do this sometimes), but it’s DELICIOUS. It’s actually crazy how much… flavor… is in this, and it has no calories, no caffeine, no sugar; it’s water! The catch is that it’s limited edition, so it might be difficult to find, but if you see it, buy it. Trust me!
I’m not declaring myself decaf or anything, but generally just trying to be more mindful of my consumption while still allowing myself treats!
What decaf or lower-caf options have you tried? I’d love to add more to my list.
To see more writing from me, subscribe to The Bitter Lemon by clicking “subscribe” on the right side of your screen. Want even more? Subscribe to my newsletter to get roundups, book recs and lifestyle tips.
